Meet Stephanie Bassett | Owner/Choreographer of Destiny Dance Production

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

Hi Stephanie, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
My thought process in starting my own business is that I knew that I love dance and I wanted to share it with as many people as possible. Being an island girl from the Caribbean island of Haiti, I wanted to share my culture through movement. Growing up in church, I wanted to share God’s love through dance. Every aspect of my life can trace back to dance and I wanted to share that. That was the birthplace of Destiny Dance Production, my simple love for dance.

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.
What sets me apart from other dancers is that It’s never just dance I strive to have dancers that have the ability to emote. To allow the audience to see their hearts. What’s the point of seeing a dancer with amazing technique but no emotion, no heart. So in rehearsals we work toward connecting, making the dance personal and at times it turns into a whole therapy session producing a work of art with texture, layers and heart.

What makes me most excited is producing whole dancers, seeing a dancer transformed, seeing the light bulb go off and you see it in their bodies. I also love seeing a vision of what a dance could be and the dancers bring the vision to life. There is nothing like seeing the vision come to life. Also, I am a mom and seeing my daughter who is 9months already dancing. With or without music she is always dancing and that excite me most of all.

My lovely Haitian parents did not want this dance life for me at all and they made it hard for me but I pushed for dance and I took as many dance classes as I could in college to, what I thought at the time, catch up to where all the other dancers my age was. At some point I had to be ok with where I was embrace that and that’s when what I do best came alive. I went from doing work for free to now getting paid and making a living with dance.

Along the way I learned 1. Trust God through it all, good times and the bad trust that He got me, and He still got me leading and guiding me opening doors of opportunities and closing doors that was not for me. 2. Never give up there were times that I wanted to throw in the towel times when I doubted that dance should be in my life at all but thank God for putting the right people around me that encouraged me and reminded me how many lives have been impacted by me dancing and teaching dance 3. Know your why. Knowing my why has been the encouragement that I needed it has been my driving force to keep going even when I don’t feel like it. Also again as a mom I want to leave a legacy for my daughter. 7n I would hope that even if dance doesn’t become a thing for her but she has the example of what hard work look like. That is the top three lessons there are more but those are top three.

What I would like the world to know about me, my brand and story is my passion for God my family and dance. know me by my work ethic, know me by the impact I have made on these dancers that I have worked with.

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.
If my best friend was in town we would visit as many restaurants as possible. We would eat up Houston.

Breakfast would be at one of these places.
Dandelion cafe
Mo’ Better Brew
Day 6 coffee co

Lunch would be at one or more of these places
Jus’ Mac and wings Houston
Cool runnings
Peru Gourmet
Hiccups

Dinner we would dress up and go to
Mad Houston or places like
Peli Peli or Blue Nile for some African delights

That’s just to name a few not to mention Post Houston the post office in downtown that is filled with restaurants and sights to see.

Then there are museums to see like
Frida immersive exhibit that is something I know best friend would love to go see.

The silos in 5th ward would be another place to go see and eat at some of the restaurants there.

And of course because best friend is a dancer we would have to link up with the amazing dance community here in Houston. We could go see a show or take a dance class at places like SoReal Houston.

That is what a week here in Houston would look like.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I know it’s cliche but first I have to acknowledge God’s mighty role in my life with His guidance I am where I am today. It’s with His vision that I am able to have a dance company. Secondly I thank my husband Isaiah Bassett of Bassett Film Co. For all of his love and encouragement. 3rd I thank my sisters Dayel B. and Renee Shepherd of She Power Inc. and lastly I would be remised if I didn’t acknowledge both of my mentors Shani Diouf and Stacy Mayo. With these incredible women and mothers my life is forever better with them in it. I can proudly say that God has surrounded me with some amazing business, like minded people who are so inspiring, and encouraging.

Instagram: @DestinyDanceProductionLLC

Facebook: Destiny Dance Production LLC

Image Credits
Bassett Film Co. Jason Anderson