Meet Taylor Hartman of Kansas City

Today we’d like to introduce you to Taylor Hartman

Hi Taylor, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My favorite starter when asked this question is “you know how all Midwest moms put their daughters in baby ballet,” which is true. It all started when my mom started taking workout classes that were hosted at a dance studio, and once I was old enough to take dance class, I started.

Of course, like most little girls I started in one of those ballet/tap/jazz combo classes, where you spend about twenty minutes of an hour class on each style. Dance was something that I very quickly fell in love with. As a shy kid, and still pretty introverted adult, I always felt that dance was my way of talking. For me, it’s always been easier to get up onstage and dance, than to talk to a room full of people. Though, I think I’ve gotten better at the latter over the years.

My love for dance never left me, I’ve trained in nearly every style in the Midwest dance zeitgeist– ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, contemporary, theatrical, you name it, I’ve probably done it at least once. My love for dance led me to a love for theatre, which I now also study at college. Currently I am in my third year at Missouri State University pursuing my Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in dance performance, with two minors, one in theatre arts and one in advertising!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Every dancer, artist, creative, etc. will tell you that it’s not an easy road. Of course, there’s worlds of rejection before you get the one ‘yes’ that jumpstarts your professional career. Most notably for myself, I grew up in a very academically gifted family. My oldest sister holds her BS in Computer Science from The University of Alabama, and is working on her Masters in Data Science at the University of Cincinnati. My twin is currently in nursing school at Missouri State University. The path I’ve taken definitely diverges from the ones the rest of my family has, and growing up it was always hard for me to grasp that just because I am more artistically gifted, over academically gifted, it doesn’t make you less talented or less impressive.

There is also just the general perception that art isn’t a sustainable career path. Adults in my highschool would always ask what I wanted to do with my BFA, not understanding why I’d go to college to purse a career path that won’t make me that money back. Highschool was marked by feeling very looked down upon by my peers and some teachers. While my peers were gearing up to go get science degrees,I was gearing up to chase my dreams at full force.

My biggest piece to young artists, debating if they should “go the safer route” is that if you can’t imagine yourself being happy anywhere else, if this creative path is what sets your soul on fire, you have to go chase it. You have to fight for it, this love and passion wasn’t ignited in you by chance, this is your path. The entire world is out there for you, go get it.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
As a dance major, I’ve had plenty of opportunity to find my voice as an artist. I would like to shoutout Azaria Hogans and Brittany Banaei, two of my wonderful professors and mentors in the MSU dance department who have really pushed me to discover my artistic voice.

To my core, I’m a performer. I love being on the stage, I afore the rehearsal process, the community that is created within a cast. In addition, during my time at MSU I’ve become a choreographer, a dance teacher, a director.

I’m a staff member at Ozark Dance Academy, where I teach dance to people of all ages, from four years old, all the way up to adults! I love seeing a passion and enjoyment for dance in my students.

Artistically, I gravitate towards a blend of theatre and dance. I an driven by story, all of my work has a narrative quality to it. I’m most proud of my dance film, “Caesar on a TV Screen,” I directed, filmed, edited, and choreographed it. The film started as a school project, but very quickly blossomed into a passion project for me. Starring one of my good friends, Anna Schnakenberg, “Caesar” tells the story of the way I felt the first time I ever put on a suit. The film is my love letter to the movies (another art form that I find great love and inspiration in), the way costumes can transform us, and of course, dance as a storytelling vehicle.

The film premiered back in May 2024, and can be watched on my YouTube channel!

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Off the top, it has to be having a bedtime. All of my friends reading this are laughing right now because I always say this, but having a bedtime is my secret to success. Sleep is critical to your mental and physical health, especially as a dancer. We are high level athletes, and getting good, restful sleep every night helps our bodies recover.

Currently, I stick to a 10pm bedtime, and I’m rigid about it. I’ve been known to leave functions because it’s getting close to my bedtime, my friends know that if they need something past 9:30pm, there’s a solid chance I won’t see the text until the morning. Of course, when rehearsals are scheduled late, or I’m onstage performing, of course, I’ll be awake past ten, but if I can control it, I am making that bedtime. Getting a solid eight hours of sleep is so important to me.

On a less silly note, I value my work ethic. I’m thankful for my intrinsic motivation to succeed. Another reminder for the artists out there: always be the hardest working person in the room.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.taylorghartman.com
• Instagram: @tay.does.ballet
• Youtube: @tay.does.ballet

Image Credits
Staples Dance Media, Arden Dickinson Photo, Taylor’s Personal Photos