Thriving Through Balance - Crystal Jackson Singletary

therutsstudio
5 days ago
3 min read

Calm, cool, collected… and let’s not forget fun! That’s a solid sum-up of what Crystal Jackson Singletary brings to her Grooves class at Rūts Dance Studio.

Born and raised in Tampa, Florida, Crystal has been surrounded by the arts her entire life. Her mother, a dancer herself, put Crystal, age 5, into everything dance-related: tap, ballet, jazz, gymnastics, and cheer. At 18, she was introduced to the street dance scene and threw herself into training, specifically in foundational Hip Hop, Popping, and Whacking. A couple of years later, along with an Associate’s Degree from her local community college and a determination to pursue a career in commercial dance, she boldly proceeded to pack up her things and make the move to Los Angeles.

Crystal very quickly established a grounded and influential reputation in the SoCal dance community. Diny and Eileen reached out to Crystal about a teaching position at Rūts, and she has since been teaching weekly at the studio for almost four years.

Now a well-known and beloved member of the Rūts staff, Crystal has a special place in her heart for the Rūts community. “A lot of people are just here for joy, and that’s my favorite part!”

As someone in the industry and surrounded by dancing professionals, Crystal explains that it’s very refreshing to have a space like Rūts in L.A., as it can be rare to find a community of adults who are passionate about dance, simply for the joy of dancing.

Another standout part about this community that she loves is the potential to meet people she might have never met in other spaces. While dancers come to learn from her, she comes to class just as open and eager to connect with any student who walks through the door.

Open-level classes like Grooves can feel nerve-wracking, awkward, and a bit intimidating for beginners, yet Crystal shines in her ability to cut the tension and meet her students where they’re at.

“I’m a dancer, I get it!” she says, as she explains how there will always be rooms that are intimidating to walk into at any level. That’s why she so thoughtfully takes the time to ease any nerves and makes sure students leave in a positive light. Her goal is to have everyone walk out having learned at least one skill they can take with them.

“I like breaking my classes into little specifics! Foundation isn’t something I invented; it’s a curriculum, so I always come with at least 3-4 pieces of vocabulary to every class. I want to make sure that regardless of what we do, people have something [tangible] to take home.”

An intentional instructor, dancer, and artist who explores so many facets of her creativity, Crystal is nothing short of a creative powerhouse. For those who also thrive on having many irons in the fire, she mentions the importance of finding balance as a key to success.

“I’m definitely still figuring balance out! I think we all are,” she says. She goes on to share a piece of advice she received from creative mentor and dance visionary Sorah Yang that continues to help her throughout her journey.

“Balance isn't always going to look like 50-50! Different phases in your life require you to give different percentages of yourself to different things. So, balance is about finding out how much you can give to each thing, not giving each thing 100%. And I think that allows you to give yourself grace because you physically cannot give everything, everything, all the time.”

Finally, gratitude is what keeps her going. Above all, Crystal says she’s so thankful for each and every person who shows up for class. Teaching is mutual, and she learns just as much from the students as they learn from her.

“I’m just grateful! I’m excited for what life is going to bring with dance and art and friendships.”

Thoughtful, carefully calculated, and a true gem for the dance community, you can’t help but feel seen and well taken care of when stepping into a class with Crystal.

What’s on the come up?

More work with her husband, Tyler Singletary, and DJing!

Check out the power duo here.

Where can you find Crystal?

Don’t miss her regular class at Rūts Dance Studio on Fridays at 9:00 p.m.

Find Crystal in The Council Women — a collective of strong women taking up space in the street dance community.

Catch one of her DJ sets!

Find her on IG: @crystaljackson_