The Student Lens: The Mckenna Interview

 

Hello everyone, and welcome back to the Student Lens series. Today, I will be chatting with McKenna, a student who is also a staff member at the studio and has been a consistent student there for some time now. She has a very bubbly, upbeat, and energetic personality that is truly unlike anyone else. Her passion and drive explore different styles is incredible, and I am personally excited to get to know her. 

Before we get into the interview, let's learn a little bit about McKenna.

 She is an Ex-Mormon from Utah, a horror lover, dork, filmmaker/content creator, and forever working on leveling up. She says, "I'm here to dance, learn, connect, and keep becoming the best, most fun version of me!!"

Let's get into the interview, shall we?

1. How did you find out about Elemental Studios?

McKenna: "I saw them on Instagram! I really needed to get out of the house and try something new, and a little scary! I saw some videos of Serina's Beginner heels class, grabbed the only chunky heels I had at the time, and started my journey. "

2. What was your first class at Elemental Studios, and how was that experience for you?

McKenna: "My first ever class was Beginner Heels taught by Cici! She was subbing for Serina, who at the time was out due to an injury. I remember the song (Burning Blue) so well and being so nervous in my car outside the studio, having no clue what was going on or how everything worked. But as soon as I got into the studio, I was greeted by an amazing, welcoming group of people who automatically made it feel like a safe space. I laughed at the jokes Cici made in class, cried on the inside when I fell over a couple of times, but left feeling so proud of myself and sexy! And even though I left immediately when class was over because I was too shy to say hi to anyone, I still remember Cici waving goodbye as I left. I was impressed with the atmosphere of the class, I HAD to go back!"

3. Do you have any favorite classes at the moment? If you do, what are they?

McKenna: "I absolutely adore Nova's Floorwork class! I look forward to her class to let off steam and look damn good doing it! She always brings sexy choreo to the floor, and I've never left her class feeling unsatisfied with my floorwork progress because her choreo is open level, so it's beginner-friendly (for me) but also pushes me in areas where I need to be stronger. Her class always leaves me feeling stronger mentally and physically, and maybe a couple of bruises for good measure. 

I also like any beginner or intro classes because I am still working on my foundations in dance!"

4. What do you look forward to the most when you come to Elemental Studios?

McKenna: "When I go to the studio, I so look forward to the community and the routine of the studio. Without a doubt, I will see a friendly face and catch up with a fellow student who I haven't seen in a while. Then, I look forward to warming up in class, filling up my water bottle, and making sure my phone is charged enough so I can take videos lol. Then, I get to learn choreo from someone who's a friend, amazing and talented, all the while feeling supported by everyone around me. There's never a negative competitive vibe at the studio; everyone supports everyone in whatever stage of their dancing journey, whether that be a total beginner or super advanced!"

5. Who are your favorite dancers in the dance community that you admire or aspire to be like?

McKenna: "Where do I begin?? I really admire Paige Austin! She's a hip-hop dancer, and I can't get over how good she is! Every time I see her dance, she inspires me to get in there and take more hip-hop classes so we can groove and bust a move together! 

And speaking of grooves, I really admire Alejandro! He has a great Intro to Grooves class that I like to take as a beginner. He and Katie's (a hip-hop instructor) style of dancing is so contagious, its hard NOT to enjoy yourself when learning from either of them!

I also adore Melanie! (Reggaeton and Femme Funk Instructor). She has the most lovely aura, and being around her just makes me want to smile and dance more! 

I also love Kelli de Thomas! She's an incredible fellow heels dancer, but she also kills it in multiple styles! Her movement is so fluid and free; she inspires me to let go. She taught me that being a good dancer isn't always about having control its also about letting go. Surprising myself so I can surprise my audience and transcend!"

6. Is there a dance style that you have wanted to try but were intimidated by, and why?

McKenna: "Not really! I haven't tried a K-pop class yet, and it's a style I need to give a try!"

7.  When did you start your dance journey?

McKenna: "I started dancing in high school! I was a part of a dance class/team, and we performed in all styles of ballroom dance. We learned the tango, waltz, the foxtrot, line dances, etc. Then I danced/performed in college in theater (like Midsummer's Night Dream), which was really fun and different to try, but so worth it!  Then, I didn't dance until the summer of 2025, when I started to come to the studio! A wild ride."

8. What is a fun fact about yourself that you would like us to know?

McKenna: "That I am a proud ex-Mormon! I grew up in a small town in Utah in the Mormon church. In the 70s, there was a huge push from the Mormon church to adopt more Native American kids, and that's how my family and the church intertwine. However, I left the church when I was a teenager and never looked back!"

9. What are some hobbies/interests that you have outside of dance?

McKenna: "I'm starting a YouTube reaction channel, and that's fun and exciting! I am a huge fan of anything in the horror universe, and I will be talking/reacting to anything horror-related on my channel, so please check that out! I love to be a filmmaker/videographer in my spare time for my fellow dancers/filmmakers. I also model for fun with my photographer friends! I love to cook, garden, spend time with my loved ones, and put on cozy horror vhs on in the background for vibes."

10. Do you have any dance goals for yourself in this new year?

McKenna: "Yes! Get better, be better, be more consistent, be more engaged, be more grounded in my feet, and stronger in my arms. I want to level up on everything!"

Thank you to McKenna for interviewing with me. I had a great time getting to know you and your journey and story with dance. If you ever see McKenna at the studio, make sure to say hi and follow her on Instagram at @ms.kennayoshi. I will see you all in the next Student Lens interview!