November 1, 2024
Mount Dora Teen Breaking Boundaries and Popping Moves in the World of Hip-Hop Dance
By Roxanne Brown
Mount Dora Teen Breaking Boundaries and Popping Moves in the World of Hip-Hop Dance
Leyla D’Jermanos
At just 16, Leyla D’Jermanos is already making waves in the dance world.
As the youngest member of Motiv Crew, a nationally recognized Orlando-based dance company, Leyla balances her life as a student at Mount Dora Christian Academy (MDCA) with her passion for dance.
Dancing has been a part of Leyla’s life since she was 5, and over the years, it has become her means of self-expression.
“Dancing is a way that I can express myself. It’s always been something I’ve been super passionate about, so it feels effortless because it’s so natural on me; it’s lived within me for so many years,” Leyla says. “It just feels freeing, like that’s my superpower.”
Leyla built her foundation with other companies before joining Motiv Crew.
After leaving competitive dance, she went back to her roots and trained exclusively at Mount Dora Ballet, but her love for hip-hop brought her to Motiv Crew, where she auditioned in February 2023 and earned a coveted spot.
Since then, some of her proudest and most exhilarating moments include headlining at World of Dance as part of the crew alongside Motiv’s founder Marlee Hightower, a world-renowned dancer, choreographer and instructor regularly invited to perform and judge the event. She was also part of a concept video called “Blackbird” Motiv Crew filmed. And soon, she hopes to be choreographing and teaching like her mentor, Marlee.
“Motiv Crew is big in the industry, and not only have I gotten so many opportunities, but it’s helped me understand what the dance industry is really all about,” Leyla says, adding that she’s traveled to places like Georgia, Texas and even Los Angeles for performances.
Despite being the youngest member of Motiv Crew, Leyla doesn’t shy away from the challenges. “It was intimidating at first because everyone was so talented and had so much more experience,” she says. “But being around such great dancers inspired me to push myself to become better.”
As for her support system, Leyla credits God for blessing her with so many opportunities and her family—mom Alejandra, especially—for being present every step of the way and allowing her dreams to unfold.
Looking to the future, she hopes to continue dancing and inspire others through her work.
“I’d love to tour the world teaching and being an example,” she says.
Her advice for aspiring dancers is simple yet powerful: “Always show up, put in the extra effort and practice. You can do anything if you work hard enough and that’s how you grow.”
Originally from Nogales, Arizona, Roxanne worked in the customer service industry while practicing freelance writing for years. She came on board with Akers Media in July 2020 as a full-time staff writer for Lake & Sumter Style Magazine and was promoted to Managing Editor in October 2023—her dream job come true. Prior to that and after just having moved to Florida in 1999, Roxanne had re-directed her prior career path to focus more on journalism and went on to become a reporter for The Daily Commercial/South Lake Press newspapers for 16 years. Additionally, Roxanne—now an award-winning journalist recognized by the Florida Press Club and the Florida chapter of The Society of Professional Journalism—continues working toward her secondary goal of becoming a published author of children’s books.
