Meet Breana Watkins aka Brie Watts: Dancer & Fitness Instructor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Breana Watkins aka Brie Watts and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Breana, have you ever found yourself in a spot where you had to decide whether to give up or keep going? How did you make the choice?
I have to determine whether or not the outcome of the situation would be worth it or not. When I was an engineer at Boeing, I was happy at first because it was a great job for me being fresh out of college. However, I didn’t have a passion for it. If I had stayed at that job, even though it paid well and gave me a really cool job title, I would have been miserable to be there for years or even decades doing something I didn’t like. So I gave up.

With pursuing a professional dance career in Los Angeles, I continue to keep going even though I encountered several major hurdles. I’ve been dancing since I was 8 years old, and I continue to feel alive to this day through the passion I have from dance. It’s worth it to take risks for something that brings me such joy, so I choose to keep going because this is something I truly love!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I love calling myself an artist when I dance because I have always loved being creative! I have a ton of energy when I’m in the creative zone! I also taught myself how to edit on Adobe Premiere Pro, so I use a lot of different editing elements in my dance concept videos.

I’ve learned that there aren’t any “formulas” for success in a creative profession, which was hard for me to accept coming from a science background. But in some ways I did use my background to help me go through the trial-and-error process in a meticulous fashion. I really paid attention to what was working on my dance journey and what I needed to tweak or let go.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned was to revisit certain things that weren’t working before and try them again. I’m constantly evolving, and something I once tried could be the very thing that opens doors for me now.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Some of my favorite spots of course are dance studios! Not only do I love sharing the energy in the room with other dancers, but it’s fun when there is an audience of friends, family, or people just curious about the dance scene.

Another fav of mine: traveling along the Pacific Coast Highway! I love the beautiful views and meditating on the beach.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I have to always shoutout my mom because she’s my biggest cheerleader, and I am so appreciative of her love and support!

Instagram: www.instagram.com/thebriewatts

Image Credits
Claudio Robles Wes Klain