Today we’d like to introduce you to Brooke McPheeters.
Hi Brooke, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’m a native of Liberty, Missouri and I have been dancing since the age of three years old. My mother knew to sign me up fast for dance class when I was dancing with the windowshield wiper noise, the timer was going off and when the music of the movie credits rolled. After my first dance class with Instructor Shirley, we all knew I had found my passion.
I grew up taking all of the dance classes from Jazz to Gymnastics at Shirley’s School of Dance and then furthered my classes at Elite Dance Company. After competing for years at multiple Dance Competitions, I found myself at Studio 10 Dance and Cheer where I found long-lasting relationships inside and outside of dance. The two owners of the studio at the time, Cassie and Mandy, are very close to my heart and will forever will be my mentors and role models. They have taught me life lessons and more about myself than anyone could. I remember the long talks we would have after our dance sessions were done just to talk about life and the opportunities that they would give me in order to further my dance education. These moments will never go unnoticed in my mind and heart.
I had always looked up to the Liberty High School Sapphires Dance Team to the point to where I would cry happy tears watching them perform. Finally as a Freshmen, I was given the opportunity to audition for this prestigious team and make the squad! For four consecutive years, I performed as a Liberty Sapphire and had 3 State Champions under my belt. I was named “All American” and “Best Showmanship” throughout NDA Dance Camps and was a Co-Captain my fourth year as a Senior.
After Senior Year, I was accepted into the University of Missouri – Kansas City Conservatory of Music and Dance. I studied Dance and Business on top of being the Co-President of the Conservatory of Dance Association. I was given the chance to perform at the Kansas City Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts and the White Recital Hall as well as at multiple Kansas City venues. This time was so special as I found my voice through dance within choreography, classes, relationships and the community. Offstage, I learned how to be a Stage Manager for multiple UMKC shows. I traveled to Indiana with the Conservatory for the American College Dance Association to do the lighting and cueing for different pieces that made it into the National Conference.
I was a part of UMKC’s Alpha Delta Pi Sorority as Spirit Chair and choreographed all of the dances for every event. With late hours and lots of work, I got to see everyone’s dance side come to life. I believe that every human has a dancer inside of them. You just have to find it and move with it.
Through college, I was also a NFL Kansas City Chiefs Cheerleader for four consecutive years and became Co-Captain my last two years. I performed at the Wembley Stadium in London when the Chiefs played the Detriot Lions in 2015 while also performing in London, Germany, Texas, and Tennessee on military trips. I modeled in Aruba, St. Lucia and St. Thomas for Swimsuit Calendars while modeling for boutiques, salons and fashion runways. During these vibrant times, I realized how much I love traveling and the life lessons that go with it. To travel with close friends is one thing, but to be able to share art all around the world is another. People’s faces lit up getting to watch a live performance in front of them at the different bases. It was unlike anything I had ever done to give back to a community that works so hard for this world.
The traveling did not stop there! After college, I traveled through 33 countries dancing and singing for Norwegian Cruise Lines. I performed Vegas the Show, Dancing Fool, Tuxedo and Lights, Camera, Music as well as my own choreographed solo/duet pieces. These shows meant the literal “world” to me and to share these special moments with amazing humans was so great. Australia was my favorite place to go as the culture, accent, kangaroos and feeling was so exciting. One day I will be back there!
After coming back on land, I made the move to the big apple. New York City has always been a sight to see, the literal apple of my eye. The dreams of becoming a Radio City Rockette has always been so clear for me to see. I was selected for the Radio City Rockettes Intensive for five consecutive summers to train at the New York Radio City Music Hall where I was selected to be a part of the Invitational Week. Before Covid, I was a Radio City Rockette Assistant for the Dance Education Department. These moments will always stick in my brain as top-notch as there is nothing like the precise woman of the line.
During my first year in New York, I auditioned for the New York City Knicks City Dancers. This devine group of dancers had always been another dream of mine as I made a wish come true! I danced at Madison Square Garden for two years and performed with a Boogie with da Hoodie, TPain, Fat Joe and A$AP Ferg to name a few. This team, family and organization will forever be so special in my heart.
Outside of these performances, I have gigged with Silpada Jewelry through ZAP Productions, Elan Artists, She’s So Corporate Productions, RWS Entertainment Group and Melange Fashion Show. I love how dance has so many layers to the name within performing, choreographing, teaching, judging and creating. I have worked with numerous Dance Teams, Studios, and Dance Competitions as well as choreographed for Weddings, Quinceaneras, Birthday Parties, Churches, Dance Privates and Master Classes. I am also a Brand Ambassador for Heartbeat Advertising Agency and Staffed Inc. where I have worked for Google, Youtube, Redken and Samsung to name a couple. In the city, I worked at Chacott by Freed of London as a Sales Associate was a Party Motivator for Total Entertainment at multiple Bar Mitzvahs.
Some awards that I have received are High School Homecoming Queen and ADPI College Courtwarming Queen as well as a National Miss America Miss Finalist. I was awarded the Denise Ash Scholarship, Heartbeat Award, “Best Performer” and “Best Legs” from the NFL Kansas City Chiefs Cheerleaders.
Coming back to my hometown during Covid brought me back to my roots. My roots in dance, relationships, community and life. It was a life lesson time of teaching dance back at where I started at Studio 10 Dance and Cheer and other dance studios, Event Managing an iconic KC Dance Experience called KCJDI, performing with KC Contemporary Dance Company and teaching at Dance Fit Flow in the Crossroads where the dance floor meets the soul. It was an expansive time within myself and others as I am still learning through going through the process. My next Dance Adventure leads me to Viva Las Vegas where I plan to Showgirl, Back Up Dance and find more opportunities to Move and Groove!
Dance shaped me to the person that I am today because of how open the movement is to each and every human. It is the Universal Language of the World – where everyone is accepted. Within this atmosphere, us dancers learned more than 5, 6, 7 and 8.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
A smooth road has always had bumps in the past! I believe that you learn the most about yourself when nothing is going right. There is no way of going more down, so the only way is to go up.
I have not always gotten what my heart was set on during relationships, dance contracts and just through life. You’re going to get WAY more “no’s,” then you get “yes” and it hurts, but it also teaches you. There are so many days/nights where I cried myself to sleep because that audition did not go as planned, or that boy did not say what I thought he would say. But later on you see why all of it happened how it did.
What’s right for you will always come to you naturally, and to force anything within those moments never work. One of my dance choreographers once said, “Things don’t happen to you, they happen for you.” This statement has always resonated with me as it goes through any life happening from dance to day to day.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I tried to not move my body for one week and it was the hardest week of my entire life. I realized after that week that I was made to move, to help others through movement.
I am an Artist finding different ways to create and think through this insane world of life. Whether it be through choreography, production, costuming, you name it I am willing to learn and to help others learn. I specialize in dance but love anything that is around art. It sets the soul on fire and lets people personalize themselves. The individuality of it all really sets it apart from anything that is on this Earth.
My specialty would have to be teaching and taking Commercial Jazz, Precision Jazz, Jazz Funk, NFL/NBA Dance and Musical Theater, but I adore every style of dance and love to explore! Classical Jazz just gives me an inner boost of happiness anytime that I am around the feeling or movement. There is so much history in dance that gives so much depth within each style.
I am most proud of the fact that through the thick and thin of this Roller Coaster as an Artist, I have still held true to myself. I have found my boundaries, found my true friends and found what really makes me who I am. I want to see others achieve their goals and stick to what they believe in. No shortcuts, no cheating, but knowing that they did everything for the right reasons and that feeling of success will be even more sweet!
Some say I am funky, spunky and courageous, but truthfully I am just a Curly Haired Dancer taking each “Dance Step” at a time.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Success looks different on each and every human. Success is happiness at the end of the day with some scars. It is that feeling you get when you are growing towards your goal and doing your ultimate best. It is giving yourself room to balance work with passion, overcoming fear and knowing that losing a few battles can help you win the war. It is going to your edge and softening and what is filling your cup. Not anyone else’s as it isn’t their life, but yours.
Being present in the moment and realizing your success is a big one as well. We live in a world where we are always striving for the next big thing when we need to stop and remember we are living the life we have once dreamed of.
Success can be defined in many ways. If you are experiencing happiness, love, or adventure in this moment, you’ve already found success. Keep it up!
Contact Info:
- Email: Brookemcpheeters@gmail.com
- Website: http://www.brookemcpheeters.com/
- Instagram: @Brookemcfab
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brookemcpheeters/
- Twitter: @Brookemcfab
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQKNpsg51M-bviuT5Nf5dcA
Image Credits
Paul F. McMillian Steve Sanders Gene Starr Justin Patterson
