Pop-Culturalist.com

Sarah-Jade “SJ” Bleau is a dancer, choreographer, advocate, content creator, fashionista, and rising star who has taken the entertainment industry by storm. The French-Canadian has nearly seventeen million followers across multiple social media channels and it’s her authenticity that has resonated with fans around the world. But more importantly, Sarah-Jade is using her platform to create impact. Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to speak with Sarah-Jade about discovering her passion for dance, how she turned to content creation during the pandemic to hone her craft, and more. Plus, Sarah-Jade shares advice to aspiring young dancers who want to follow in her footsteps.

PC: You discovered your passion for dance at a young age. Because of the pandemic, you turned to content creation to keep up with your craft. Could you ever imagine how much your voice would resonate with fans around the world?
Sarah-Jade: It’s still so strange to me that I can reach people all over the world. It’s honestly mind-blowing. I can’t make sense of it all. [laughs] But I’m super grateful.

PC: I’ve always appreciated that you’ve made content that is authentic to you, instead of jumping on current trends. Why has that been so important to you? Has that been the recipe to your success?
Sarah-Jade: I love that you noticed that because that’s been my goal. I want people to see that I’m being authentic to myself. As you said, I’m not trying to jump on current trends. I’m doing my own thing. I think that’s a big reason why I’ve been able to grow my platform, which is still crazy to think about. I think it’s that authenticity and my creativity that’s helped me grow so fast.

PC: What is your process like as you’re creating new content? Have any of the responses to your videos surprised you?
Sarah-Jade: All the time. The videos that have done really well are the ones that I had no idea would and didn’t have any expectations for. I don’t think there’s a specific video that comes to mind, but I know people love my robot dancing videos.

PC: You’ve been open about the ups and downs of social media and the negativity that you’ve faced. How were you able to silence that noise and continue to push forward?
Sarah-Jade: I always tell myself that I’m doing something that I love and that there are so many people out there that enjoy it. I always focus on the positive rather than the negative. Ever since I started that’s how I approach things. I’m always trying to show everyone that it’s better to lead with love and be positive. Don’t focus on the negative comments because it’s usually not directed towards you. It’s because they have something going on within themselves. I have a lot of empathy for people who spread hate because it means that they’re going through something internally.

PC: This industry isn’t easy to be a part of. Who have been the people in your own life who have shaped the creator and dancer you are today?
Sarah-Jade: Definitely my family. They’ve always been my number one supporters. I have danced my whole life ever since I was seven years old, so definitely everyone who has helped me along my dance evolution. I appreciate every single person that has been in my life and been with me through everything that I’ve been through.

PC: You’ve also had so much success throughout your career. When you look back, is there a moment that stands out?
Sarah-Jade: I don’t think there’s a particular moment. Every single day is a blessing and an opportunity to grow and learn. I’m grateful to be doing what I am doing. I see it as one big accomplishment and not a specific moment.

Every single day there’s something going on that I’m blessed and grateful for. Like today, it’s this interview. It’s a blessing to be able to share my voice and what I do and have people appreciate it as much as I do. It means everything.

PC: You’re such a multifaceted talent. What advice would you give aspiring dancers who are trying to follow in a similar path?
Sarah-Jade: This is so cheesy, but dance like no one is watching. In the past, I was so focused on what people were going to think about me and my dancing. But why stress about that? I just want to be free to have fun and be less in my head. To aspiring dancers, I would tell them to be creative, always be true to yourself, and dance like no one is watching.

PC: You’ve also always used your platform to bring awareness to causes that you’re incredibly passionate about. How did you discover your voice as an advocate?
Sarah-Jade: I recognized that I do have a platform and I’m able to use it to reach a lot of ears and eyes. I want to do what’s best for the world. I want to support more environmental causes and make it illegal to kill sharks. That’s a big one. I also want to help end homelessness because no one should be on the streets without a home. There’s so much money in the world and that shouldn’t be the case. I realized that I have a lot of young people following me, and it’s always strange when they DM me and tell me that they idolize me because I’m just a human being like they are. But if they do look up to me, I want to make sure that I’m talking about important things in my life such as self-love and the environment.

PC: As we look ahead to the rest of 2023, what can fans expect from you? What’s left on the bucket list to accomplish?
Sarah-Jade: I will definitely be doing a lot of traveling. That’s my goal. I love to travel. I hope to be in Europe soon. I also want to start my own clothing company. It’s a great question because I have so many goals. But I think for right now, it’s traveling and my clothing company.

To keep up with Sarah-Jade, follow her on Instagram and TikTok.