Today we’d like to introduce you to Robin Olive.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I was born in a small town in N.C. on a dairy farm. I always knew I was a dancer. I started class when I was just three years old. When I was four years old, I had an accident with a riding lawnmower and lost my baby toe. I went right back to dance class. Dance is me. I moved to Los Angeles from the Southeast in 2002 to live out my dreams of working in Entertainment. Since then, I’ve done so. I’ve traveled the World as a dancer/choreographer. I lived in Japan in 2003 to teach dance. I’ve done choreography for music videos and live performances, including Bret Micheals and Limp Bizkit. And I’ve worked with Insomniac Events since 2008 as a performer, choreographer, performer manager doing some of the largest most spectacular shows I could ever imagine. But the one thing I am most proud of is my Non-Profit Straight Up Abilities. In 2008 I met an amazing woman, Zina Bethune, she had a program she needed teachers for that taught students with special needs dancing. I instantly thought this is something I would be interested in doing part-time. I had no idea how much it would inspire my life. When Zina passed away unexpectedly, I decided to create Straight Up Abilities. We now have dance programs for all ability dancers all over the greater Los Angeles area and are expanding. We also do shows that help promote inclusion and acceptance. And we tour doing school assemblies to spread our message of love and non-bullying to the youth. This Summer some of my students will be training with the Royal Ballet in Downtown Los Angeles. And I am flying with a group of my performers to Wichita, Kansas to perform. Next year we are flying to Alaska for a performance. The sky is the limit for this group. I look forward to being able to connect all of my Worlds together in the near future.
Please tell us about your art.
I love juxtaposition. I love things that you would not “normally” see together. Those are the things that catch my eye. That’s what I hope to bring into my dances and my life in general.
Choosing a creative or artistic path comes with many financial challenges. Any advice for those struggling to focus on their artwork due to financial concerns?
I wasted many years spending most of my time waiting tables to make enough money to do all of the things I wanted to do with dance. If you really dive into your art, you will find ways to make money actually doing things that you love doing that relate to your art. As a dancer you can find small gigs for dancing, you can teach, there really is a lot to do. Do what you love.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
Please check out my Non Profit at www.straightupabilities.com. Or on all social media outlets @straightupabilities
Contact Info:
- Website: www.straightupabilities.com
- Email: straightupabilities@gmail.com
- Instagram: @straightupabilities @placidfluidity
- Facebook: Facebook.com/placidfluidity Facebook.com/straightupabilities
Image Credit:
Bruno O’Hara
David V’Chi
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