Interview with dancer Mikaela Fenton

In this insightful conversation, I sit down with the incredibly talented Mikaela Fenton: a professional dancer, choreographer, educator, movement director, and creative director from New Jersey. Mikaela shares her journey from a recreational dance start at age two or three (where she initially thought the dancers were ice skating!) to becoming a dedicated professional. With a musician father, Mikaela explains how music was her first love, with dance as a close second, and how those two passions ultimately matched up.

We dive into the pivotal moment when she decided to pursue dance seriously, navigating the pressure of having a "Plan B" while firmly believing that full commitment to Plan A was necessary for success. Mikaela discusses her experience at the University of the Arts (UArts), where she appreciated being trained as an artist first, allowing her to tap into film, music, and animation communities rather than focusing only on dance technique. She also touches on the challenges of learning the business side of art, including grants and sustainability, which she believes should be more thoroughly integrated into art education.

Mikaela recounts her unique transition into the professional world: while still in college, she joined the second company of Philadanco for three years. Based on her dedication and incredible work ethic, she secured a contract with the main company immediately upon graduation—a rare and smooth start to a career that lasted a decade with the organization. As a photographer who works with many dancers, I ask Mikaela about her relationship with the camera. She explains that being a performer is a quality that naturally lives inside her, allowing her to transpose that authenticity and approach to any medium—from the stage to the lens. We discuss the challenges dancers face in front of the camera (like feeling flat or two-dimensional) and what photographers can do to foster better shoots, emphasizing the importance of rhythm, open dialogue, and shared intention in collaboration.

Finally, Mikaela opens up about her creative process, which often involves diving in and improvising until the intention becomes clear, and her vision for the future. She is excited to explore movement direction, choreography, and world-building through film and photography, hoping to create a collaborative community for diverse artists, similar to the vibrant exchange she experienced at UArts. Tune in for an in-depth look at what it takes to build a sustainable, authentic, and decades-long career in dance!