Today we’d like to introduce you to Isabella Akel.
Hi Isabella, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My story starts with dance and family. I started dancing at four years old, competed on the dance competition circuit, and eventually went to Kennesaw State University to study Dance, with a focus on Ballet. In my third year of college, I made the decision to leave school and become a professional dancer full time.
My family — Mom, Dad, and my two older sisters — supported me and my dancing throughout my adolescent career. At different points, at least one of them worked as my manager. My dad never missed a performance. He understood my passion for dance, and he understood that I needed to travel the world with it to get exposure. While other kids went to sleepaway camp, I spent my summers at ballet intensives. Dance shaped who I am today — the discipline, the feeling of missing out, and learning to never give up even after hearing a thousand no’s.
A dance career is not for the weak. How does one even build a career in an art discipline? That was the question on my family’s mind after I graduated high school. They supported me, but they didn’t fully understand how I’d make a living from it — especially in New York City.
I decided to move to NYC after leaving school. I’d spent the summer before, in 2018, making incredible connections and wanting to see where they’d take me. That decision paid off: I’m now signed to a top NYC and LA talent agency that has opened amazing doors and given me lifelong friendships in the entertainment industry. I also joined a legendary LGBTQIA+ ballroom community by becoming a member of the House of Xtravaganza. They taught me how to vogue, and more than that, they taught me how to live the New York City lifestyle.
Living in NYC is not for the weak either. The Xtravaganzas taught me the importance of family, of having a community to turn to when you’re not feeling like yourself, and of being unapologetically you. As a Southern girl who has now lived in the big city for about seven years, that was a real adjustment — learning that not everyone is nice. But I learned quickly.
The final part of my story, so far, is about injury and reinvention. I tore my meniscus during college and had surgery at the start of 2019. I was back on stage within six weeks. I was 21 years old, and I felt unstoppable — that injury wasn’t going to stop me.
Seven years later, at 28, I injured my knee again during a performance — this time from the cumulative toll of years of hard work on my body. It’s been a long year of healing and trying to stay active. Dance had become my personality, which I don’t recommend, so when I had to stop performing, I went down a rabbit hole trying to figure out what came next. What I kept coming back to was how much I’ve always loved teaching and choreographing — watching that light turn on inside someone when they find the movement.
Today, I work as a performance coach for artists in the music industry who want to reach their performance goals — another word for it is movement director. I choreograph their music videos and live shows, cast their dancers, and train them across various dance styles. Right now I work with TOMGIRL504EVER, a New Orleans bounce and hyperpop artist, and Alexis Jae, who makes freestyle music that brings back the Puerto Rican sound we all loved from the ’80s. I love my girls — we work together to make our dreams happen, and that’s where the magic begins.
My ultimate dream is to direct world tours and commercials — Gap, Old Navy, Agent Provocateur — while building an ultimate training dance program for all ages and a dance production company. I want to work with pristine artists who are dedicated to their craft, and create something bigger than ourselves. I’m currently building my own dance company, inspired by legends like Bob Fosse, Debbie Allen, and Alvin Ailey. What draws me to them is that their movement is instantly recognizable anywhere in the world. I believe my style is just as distinct, and it deserves to be shared — to inspire people to move and to let go. If I can’t do the moves myself one day, I’ll train the people who will, and build something remarkable in the meantime.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Looking back at my career, there was no “how to achieve your dance dreams” guidebook, so I had to spend a lot of money training with top-notch choreographers and instructors to get where I was going. Since COVID, there’s a lot more accessibility to commercial dance training and to learning how to actually make it in this industry.
Another struggle was deciding between LA and New York. I loved NYC and its culture too much, so I decided to stay.
The final struggle was discovering, through Gyrotonics, that I have a hypermobile body type. Gyrotonics is an alternative exercise method that uses circular, spiraling movements and specialized pulley equipment to build strength, flexibility, and joint mobility.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a Performance Coach, Dance Teacher, and Choreographer. I teach at various studios across NYC, specializing in Vogue and Heels training. What I’m most proud of is sticking to my craft and believing in myself. I am different, and I always will be — and I hope to inspire others to stay unique too.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
The advice I would give to people just starting out is to never give up, even when times get hard, and to believe in yourself. If there’s one thing I wish I knew starting out, it’s that I always had it in me.
Pricing:
- $100 an hour for Performance Coaching, does not include studio cost + taxes
- $25 a class at PJM Dance in LIC
- $100 for privates, dance training
- Music Video & Live Show choreography: pricing by quote”
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/isabellaakelnyc_/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabella-akel/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Isabellaakelnyc
