Meet Adia Nuno | Visionary | Founder of KickStart Country, The Edge Dance Event, and Adia Dance Brand

We had the good fortune of connecting with Adia Nuno and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Adia, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
In my journey, risks have been imperative. Many said what we do couldn’t be done; that no one would patriciate; that people wouldn’t understand.

Additionally, it was risky to make plans without finances in place. I’d always say, each ticket pays for 1 piece of dance floor and slower but surely we will cover our expenses.

You never know what will or wont happen until you take a faithful leap towards your dreams.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My most recent, and truest-to-self life work began when I decided to simply live from a lace of passion instead of obligation or where I thought I SHOULD be sending my time and energy.

In the midst of a deep depression, I found the gift of Line and Country dancing. It was changing my life with every time that I stepped on the dance floor. Slowly, but surely began to heal from the inside out.

It was 2018 when I went to an event that had many different styles of line dancing. It blew my mind. It had this heavy of an impact on me because all my life I wanted to be a dancer. But as it was, growing up without a lot of household income, it wasn’t a training I was able to pursue.

This opportunity to dance Line Dance within genres of waltz, nightclub, Two Step, cha-cha, salsa, Samba, swing, and more, my heart burst with joy as I was able to find a new way to express myself through this beautiful movement.

I wanted so badly to share this gift with my peers, the people who I was dancing with on a week to week basis, people who never heard of such events… and likely would not have been interested in a six day long convention.

I wanted so badly for them to have access to the expression and freedom that I had experienced.

So I decided to create an event that would be a bridge to go between what happened in the “bar” & ”circuit “.

A few months later I created, planned, and executed an event called the Edge dance event in Southern California. Me and then my business partner, Byran Roberson, were excited to bring this model to our community.

It was a lot of work! It was a lot of risk. There were no guarantees! I’d never put on an event before so everything was new to me. I planned it by feeling my way through. What felt good? What did I see had been done? What did I want for my community?

When it was all said and done, we had about 100 attendees and everyone had an amazing time!

I began teaching workshops a little more regularly, teaching these dances that were creating such freedom in my life so that it might have the same kind of impact on others, in their way.

I branded myself “All Out Dance with Adia”… Because that’s how I was on the dance floor, pouring my heart out with every move and every song.

Fast forward, I now am a creator and director of many dance events all around the country, including ShoreLine and Country Swing in Florida .

With each event, unique in its element yet familiar and it’s culture, my KickStart Country team and I provide opportunities for people to have life-changing experiences on and off the Dancefloor.

Our events reconnect friends, light or reignite passion for dance and movement, and give people such a healthy “high” full of positive energy that attendees are able to take back with them and applied to so many areas of our life.

What we’re doing is unique because although there are conventions for lots of different styles of dance, as well as their are music festivals that incorporate dance lessons now and again, our model is different. Dance education is the foundation, Social, dancing, competitions, and in many cases, live music, community building are elements you can find at a KickStart Country event. The biggest thing that makes us different is that we cater to what we like to call the “bar crowd” – All the dancers who casually dance as a fun hobby week after week in saloons and dancehalls, all across the country, all across the world.

In addition to creating country dance events, I’ve also created and spearheaded program called the KickStart Instructor Training program, aka KIT, whose aim is to equip and empower individuals who are on a journey of sharing dance with others through instruction.

It is incredibly fulfilling to guide and support all these instructors, wherever they are in their journey, so that they may then go in impact countless lives.

It is definitely a ripple effect.

Through the conventions, workshops, as well as the KickStart instructor training program, we help individuals get from where they are, to where they want to be… We help them turn their dreams into a reality by giving them the space to create, to express, and to heal.

Our KickStart slogan is “Golden Service by the Golden Rule” and our mission is to provide experiences that incorporate Good Times. Good Vibes, Good people.

Additionally, over the last couple of years, I’ve enhanced my personal brand Adia Dance – All Out, As Is – the one that started it all, All Out, As Is is my message to the world of encouragement for everyone to live all out their way… Just as they are. It acknowledges that we’re all on a journey to becoming the best versions of ourselves, but you are EXACTLY where you should be in this moment. I want to encourage as many people as possible to embrace that and live All Out, their way. Not in a state of constant comparison to others succumbing to what culture says they should be doing.

Some of my favorite projects outside of dance are creating As Is: Dance and Wellness Retreat, writing and sharing the As Is: Guided Journal , and impacting peoples lives on a personal and one-on-one level through my life coaching and wellness programs.

Along this journey, I’ve had to learn – an am still learning- a lot of lessons about life, business, and relationships. Some of them have been incredibly painful and also so insightful that I wouldn’t trade the experiences for the world. There have been many stressful moments, wondering if we’re going to hit our bottom line or go in the massive debt. But all of it is worth it to know that someone’s life is going to be changed, maybe even saved, like that of my own.

While, there’s quite a few more assets to what we/I do, through all of our endeavors, our goal is to elevate people.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
So I love Miami but figured I’d ask a friend for some advice on this one. For a tri to Miami, First stop—South Beach for some ocean air and people-watching, then lunch at Nikki Beach right on the sand. We’ll vibe with the art scene in Wynwood, snap photos of murals, and sip rooftop cocktails at Sugar overlooking the skyline. One night-or two-, we’ll head to The Round Up Saloon for a night of country dancing, Miami-style—it’s gonna be a blast. A day trip to Key Largo for snorkeling sounds perfect, followed by poolside relaxation at The Standard. We’ll wrap up with sunset drinks at The Wharf.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
To my kids, Aaron, Avalon , and Abel, who relentlessly support – and endure- my crazy dreams.

To my KickStart Team for their endless work in enhancing and impacting the lives of people all over the globe.

To all of my social media followers and event/workshop attendees who give me a reason to keep providing incredibly life-changing opportunities.

To my mom, who reminds me of how proud of me she is… although I am the one proud of her.

Website: https://www.KickStartCountry.com

Instagram: @AdiaDance @KicStartCountry

Facebook: @AdiaDance @KickStartCountry

Image Credits
New Boot Media
Dance with Gabe