Meet Dawn Atkins | Principal Dancer, Miami City Ballet

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dawn Atkins and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dawn, any advice for those thinking about whether to keep going or to give up?
I think that in any worthwhile pursuit, one goes through challenges and faces road blocks. I’ve never heard someone that achieved a lifelong dream say “it was easy”. I know I certainly faced my share of challenges while pursuing my dream of dancing professionally and becoming a Principal dancer. There were moments I wondered if I should just stop and redirect my focus to something easier, however, any time that thought crossed my mind there was a visceral response that told me that wasn’t right; I had declared a goal and I had to continue pushing forward. I did and when I got the news that I had been promoted to Principal dancer, I remember thinking that the 5 year old that dreamt of this would be so proud. So, to anyone that is debating persevering or giving up, I’d say to remember the person you were when you created this dream. Would they be proud of you? Would they want you to keep going?

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I fell in love with ballet when I was quite young. I remember feeling more myself on stage than anywhere else. I’ve worked hard to become a professional ballet dancer where I can experience that feeling regularly, but it was not easy. Ballet is competitive so simply achieving the skill level is difficult, the toll the profession takes on your body is immense and the mental dedication is not for the faint of heart. I’ve suffered setbacks and injuries and what I always came to find, and the greatest lesson I’ve learned, is that I’m stronger than I think. We are all stronger and more capable than we think! I’ve found that keeping this in the forefront of my mind makes it easier the climb the mountain when I’m standing at the bottom looking up. Believing you can do hard things helps give you the strength to do hard things.

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.
South Florida has wonderful beaches and that is one of my favorite things about living here! Catching the sunrise at the beach is definitely a must- but requires an early alarm. From there I’d recommend heading to Sunlife Organics in Miami Beach as it is my favorite breakfast spot. Sunset Harbour in Miami Beach is a good place to people watch and check out the boats on the intercostal. If you want to shop, I’d recommend making your way to Bal Harbour Shops. The Wynwood Walls is a sight not to be missed. It’s a really neat street art museum. There are countless restaurants and bars that are worth a visit in Miami but recently I went to Komodo and would highly recommend it!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I am so blessed to have an outstanding support system. Between my husband, sister and mom, my dearest friends, and late grandmother, I’ve been so supported throughout my journey as a professional ballet dancer. The phrase “it takes a village” really resonates with me and I regularly think about how all the love these people have shown me has really made it possible for me to push myself to reach my goals. I never had to look far for reassurance that I could do it, and I always had someone believing in me even when I didn’t believe in myself. I’m so grateful for that – it kept me going!

Instagram: dawnatkinshilty

Image Credits
Alexander Iziliaev, George Skouras, Neil Gandhi