How do you go from “super shy” to “super fly?”
“My mom put me in dance when I was four-years-old to help me with social skills,” Ali Darr laughed. “I was super shy.”
Fast forward 19 years. Miss Ali is anything but shy and hasn’t stopped dancing.
She danced competitively through high school, and went on to receive a degree in Dance Performance & Choreography from Palm Beach Atlantic University.
“It was at university where I fell in love with dancing.” Ali said,“Using dance as a way to inspire others and nurture their soul is my passion.”
She was an original member of the Dancing Waters Company formed out of her university. Their four core values are centered around love, creativity, social justice, and spirituality. Ali traveled with the company to Colombia to teach others how to express themselves through dance.
“People were so hungry to learn and make a spiritual connection through dance, but no one had ever taught them,” Ali said. “It’s so different than teaching in America where we have so many resources.”
During her junior year, Ali studied dance abroad in Italy for a semester. She focused on flamenco, and modern and ballet technique. She also participated in an international dance festival in South Korea, and worked with one of the best modern choreographers in the city.
In 2018, Ali packed up her car and drove 25 hours (1,200 miles) to teach at Bloom Dance Studio. She taught 25 classes and choreographed around 18 dances for the recital.
“I’m so used to this competitive harsh dance environment that I love but also feel stressed by,” Ali said.
“But at Bloom, the emphasis is on loving our students and introducing them to dance. The atmosphere is so unique, and I haven’t experienced it anywhere else.”
This year, Ali is the lead teacher at the Blondo location, creating curriculum, and making sure our students are taught at their level. She is also a part of Bloom’s social media team (@danceatbloom).
“Ali has brought a level of excellence and professionalism to Bloom that has allowed us to go deeper as a studio,” Erin Jensen, owner of Bloom Dance Studio. “She challenges her students to give their best each time they enter the studio.”
Ali’s favorite part of Bloom is the team.
“It feels like a sorority of sorts because it’s all girls and we love hanging out with each other,” Ali said. “We love collaborating and working together.”
Ali will also direct the NEW Bloom Dance Company. SURPRISE!
The Bloom Dance Company consists solely of Bloom teachers who meet early Tuesday mornings. They will choreograph a show for the spring of 2020 as a fundraiser for a trip to Thailand.
“It’s really special how these opportunities continue to open up for me,” Ali said. “I feel so blessed that I can use something I love so much to connect me to people around the world.”