Today we’d like to introduce you to Kerry Wee
Hi Kerry, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
In 2000, I moved out to LA with one friend and a dream of making it as a commercial dancer. Obsessing over Janet Jackson’s IF album and artists like Britney Spears, TLC and Christina Aguilera, I fantasized a career as a backup dancer on music videos and the biggest prize, going on a world tour.
It was the heyday of the pop dance world and I enveloped myself in it. I got lucky and was signed by an agent then started the process of full-time auditioning which in reality was part-time rejection. Today I recognize that I was fortunate simply because there were auditions to go to. Back then we had so much opportunity to succeed if we could just rise up to it. I ended up dancing professionally for over twenty-years and it formed who I am today.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I developed a resilience by having enough nuggets of success to balance the shear number of no’s. Los Angeles is a tough town. I shared all of the same challenges in the race to the top. Over the years, I’ve found that the difference between winners & losers is simply not giving up. Some have it easier or harder if their look stands out or they have financial support coming from other sources, including myself. However, the characteristic that successful artists had in common was not necessarily financial support or even talent, it was GRIT.
Auditioning is HARD. You show up as your best and have to put yourself out there every single time. Grab the wins that you can, work on your craft, create content on your own if you’re not already working on a paid gig, or in the gaps between gigs. Many people end up throwing in the towel on Hollywood and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The entertainment industry doesn’t care about you. Everyone needs to weigh how they’re investing their time and young years.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I started to train aerial arts halfway through my dance career and have since pivoted to dancing in the air on silks, lyra and other apparatuses. In the commercial circus world, I’m known for aerial dance where I try to marry dance with aerial technique. My digital business is called Wrap Your Head Around Silks where any aerialist around the world can access me as a teacher.
My teaching approach is unique because the beginning was not easy for me. I had ZERO upper body strength and didn’t build it easily. I figured out micro-progressions to build strength and consequently found better ways to articulate the lessons that I now teach worldwide.
I love teaching through many mediums – in my classroom here in San Antonio at The Aerium aerial studio, but also through teaching workshops all over the world and podcasts. I host and produce The Expecting Aerialist, Greener Grass and launching in Jan 2025, The Artist Entrepreneur for creatives in business.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
My partner, daughter and I made the big move here to San Antonio after being in Los Angeles for our entire adults lives. I was nervous at first, but SA has turned out to be a god-sent to us. The affordability has really changed our lives and it has incredible diversity as well as the friendliest people I’ve ever met.
From the artistic side, I’ve found The Aerium which is an aerial studio close to the airport brought to us by professionals Dara Minkin & Claudia Torkelson. Finding an artistic home to lay my head along side super talented people has been a game changer and made our big change less scary.
Both Texas and California seem to get a bad rap in the news media, but we love both of them. It’s an amazing place to raise a family and we’re excited to buy a house here.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://wrapyourheadaroundsilks.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kerrywee1/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@wrapyourheadaroundsilks4234
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@kerryweepilates?_t=8s4sctPnWb0&_r=1
Image Credits
JC Argetsinger photos
