During her early years, Danella Dutton’s Grandmother sparked her interest in the arts. So, by age 4 she signed up Danella for tap and ballet classes. Even though at home, Danella was very much the performer her Parents and Grandmother found out quickly she was shy in front of others. Her Grandmother then signed her up for something private lesson based instead, Baton Twirling. Danella excelled at Twirling for 10 years, winning many Regional & National championships, giving her confidence to perform in front of others.
Sadly, during her senior year, an injury led to Danella walking on the Cross Country team at Clayton State University. This path is what eventually led her back to dancing and the arts. Some friends of hers from Cross-Country began to break-dance; one day Danella and a friend decided to tag along to a practice. This eventually led to the two of them having a conversation about a secret passion for learning Salsa Dancing.
In 2003, Danella started learning Salsa in Atlanta, Georgia. After a year of being extremely dedicated to Salsa Dancing, Danella trained and taught at the studio she began at for about 8 months before she expanded out on her own as an independent dance instructor. She has been running her own company since 2005. Thus leaving college to pursue her passions. She focused mostly on Salsa; she also competed & trained in ballroom and crossed trained with Hip-Hop & Jazz Funk. This has led to her performing/teaching for several theater productions, industrials, films, music videos and television shows. As well as, producing and choreographing projects.
An almost life ending event & the economy during 2008-2009 gave Danella the push to move to Los Angeles, in 2010, where she continues to chase her dreams in the performing arts. While in Los Angeles, in addition to growing her dance career, she began to pursue her passion for Acting. Danella began her training very small and privately, just like the other arts in her life. Then she eventually took Commercial Workshops, Improv a Groundlings and then in 2015 she finally made the leap to scene study classes.
Today, Danella still teaches dance lessons in Los Angeles and will continue to do so as long as life permits. Her passion for being a positive outlet for people is still burning strong. She is also still actively pursuing an acting career along with her newest found abilities, Directing. Hoping to one day be able to impact a difference in people’s lives at a higher level.