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

Hi Danielle, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
I am extremely passionate about healthy work-life balance especially after just quitting my 9-5 last month to create a healthy work life for myself. Before selling my soul to 9-5 sales I was working at a 3 job minimum not to just make ends meet but to enjoy a financially abundant life for myself and because I had multiple jobs I had the luxury of having some control over my 2 additional jobs and a set scheduled with the NBA (I was a professional NBA Dancer for the San Antonio Spurs for 3 years). I bet you can only imagine how set that schedule was. But as per usual I was extremely busy. So I assumed transitioning into another set lifestyle, 9-5, I thought I could handle that, piece of cake. False. I struggled immensely because something I realized was that it was trapping my creativity and this piggy backs on another question in this discussion, is why choose the creative route for a career?! Well when I realized it was hard trying to maintain my digital creator lifestyle i once had where all my creativity was being trapped by a cubicle for 8 hours a day and I found myself being burnt out trying to be creative after a long day of being told im not sh*t one cold call after another, I left me extremely unmotivated to do the thing I have loved and been doing for years. And it bring me be back to the main topic of balance. The 9-5 was killing my spirit and no matter how much money the financial security of the corporate life was giving me, it was killing my person and that was not a good balance for me! I don’t think doing or partaking in any job that you not only don’t enjoy but you can FEEL is killing your spirit and you find yourself returning home feeling drained and ungrateful it’s not going to be fulfilling and you’ll start to resent your life when there are SO MANY OTHER POSSIBILITIES to do something that you love and if there isn’t one CREATE ONE FOR YOURSELF and find a way to turn your passion into money because its not going to feel like “work”. It’s going to turn into something that you GET to do. You life starts to feel more enjoyable and balanced. When I had those 3 jobs I LOVED every single one of them. I was stretched thin, exhausted physically, but that was the absolute most happiest time of my life and work life because I had balance that I was in control of and I encourage everyone to do the same. Now, I still get up and work the same hours as my 9-5 but it valiant, ethical work that I enjoy, thats my work working for myself, and something that I have a passion in and that feeling is priceless.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My career has been a MOVIE! Where do I begin. I was a competitive and recreational dancer for a little less than a decade. At the end of my competitive dance career I went to one the top dance studios in the nation Murrieta Dance Project which led me to one of my most fulfilling jobs which was being a Professional dancer for the San Antonio Spurs for 3 years. Whilst doing that I was teaching as a dance instructor at two dance studios, Jewel of the Arts and my other extremely fulfilling dance job being an instructor for Diva Dance San Antonio where my choreography was featured on the same stage I was sharing with the Spurs players. Talk about a dance teacher and dancers dream come true. My job as a Spurs dancer was nothing shy of amazing, unthinkable, perfect, etc. I have danced for a city that has been multi time winners and have met the craziest people and got to travel to the Dominican Republic to represent the NBA for NBA Latin for the 2022 Finals. 3 weeks after I got back from DR I left to Spain to go film my for my appearance on Are You the One: Global Edition! BEST EXPERIENCE EVER. The show aired 6 months later and that has changed my life immensely. I moved to Arizona a couple months after filming the show to further my content creator dreams by giving myself more reach back to the west coast area. I think my proudest moments of my career is definitely my time in the NBA because it was a big moment for my dance career because I kind of didnt imagine myself fulfilling my dance career any farther than college and to say I was able to be apart of that is major. It changed my life in so many ways. It gave me a level of discipline for myself as well cause if you dont know a NBA dancers salary isnt that liveable and I found myself working hard for a life I could maintain and a life that I wanted. Now those jobs sometimes included wearing a bikini to work but that was something I enjoyed and found confidence in. I was a household face around the city and I’m proud of my mark San Antonio has made on me and vice versa. Transitioning from a dancer to TV Personality was HARD because it was a secret for so long and I got alot of back handed ridicule for not returning the Spurs and what people expectations were of me after leaving the nba. They thought I was “focusing” on bartending which wasnt true. I got alot of “I knew you were to good to just be a bartender” when the show was announced and even though thats sweet and rude at the same time lol it was also true. Alot of my financial benefit was coming from bartending and I knew myself after leaving the NBA world that I wanted more for myself no matter HOW MUCH money I was making. And when I moved to Arizona and found myself jobless I started to regret my choice because my life truly was financially so beneficial there but I knew there was more to me and it was time to get uncomfortable and find my way and I’m proud of myself It’s been a year and we’ve hit bumps along the way but I see those as major lessons. Theyre definitely not enjoyable to go through during the moment but I appreciate that growth because it’s brought me here today being able to share and tell my story of going from up to the bottom and back up then back down again. Life is not meant to be linear and I’m grateful for the journey that has taught me that. I want people to know that NOTHING is guaranteed in life. Remember the dream your chasing might not be the thing that is meant to fulfill you its the lessons along the way. I thought I was going to be so involuntarily famous after being on a tv show. And its not dependent on the situation but the realization that nothing is guaranteed BUT also to BELIEVE IN YOURSELF. Things will only happen to you and come to you when you show the universe that energy back. You have to work for it. My story may sound flashy and amazing but I still struggle and being at the top, those people forget to remind you that they feel at the bottom alot of the time trying to be good enough too, so don’t stress yourself out trying to be everyone else because 9/10 theyre going through the same thing you are so just live YOUR life cause I promise all that hoopla is nothing special. We’re all just out here on this rock trying to make it. So focus on your historical footprint and live life like its YOUR movie because YOURE in control. (sorry that was alot, lots of passion)

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love this question. Since I’m only a year in let me share the little that I know. First of all my FAVORITE thing is that there is ALWAYS something to do at any time in Arizona and its easy to find. Whether thats First Fridays in DTPHX which i am OBSESSED with theres events what feels like almost every weekend. People love to be out here and i enjoy that more than just going to your local dive bar like some other cities I’ve lived in. Friday we’d go to FF if its the first week of the month and eat all the good food and buy a bunch of stuff we dont need to support our local vendors! I also enjoy live music! Blue Martini is a HOOT AND HOLLER with the cover band they have!! I took my parents there a couple months ago and we danced our butts off!! A must see!! Also the FOOD!!! Where do I begin. So when I moved here I had to opportunity to work at Buck and Rider and I’m not just saying this cause i worked there cause they also fired me so i have no reason but to speak the truth lol but that food they have there makes you roll your eyes to the back of your head. And my favorite part is the menu features things that I feel like people turn an eye too, like brussel sprouts, but thats ones of the hottest things on the menu! And they have an oyster bar in the middle of the restaurant where theyre on display shucking the oysters made to order. I never ate there before working there and I FELL IN LOVE. I do have to mention i do like the chefs at the scottsdale location better but dont put that in cause theyre honestly both good but if youre reading this and thinking of going i highly suggest that location it just taste better LOL. Also Obon Bistoro!!!! I could cry over that restaurant it is SOOOO DAMN GOOOOOD!!! It’s in Biltmore, a lovely area I dream of moving to! As an influencer I get invited to alot of events and restaurants so we definitely would hit some of those up: Hash Kitchen and take a bike ride with Pink Bike Tours sounds like a perfect Saturday morning! I love the sites so those electric bikes are key to getting around to all the cities in under two hours. Plus the hikes and trails, hole in the rock!! I just love Arizona. And ofcourse cause I’m a natural born baddie we would make our way to Old Town to go dancing at the clubs! All the clubs are always a good time with the HOTTEST people of Arizona are always there so I like to pay my contributions here and there LOL. Also my sister is a real estate agent, my whole family is, and we really enjoy driving around and looking at the beautiful homes and I love taking people who are visiting to see the real estate around this city its CRAZY!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Wow. The amount of credit I can give. Books come to mind immediately. One written by a good friend of mine I was actually on Are You the One with. He wrote a book called “The Marathon-Journey To Your Destination” by Nathan Grant. He wrote a bibliography of his self journey and journey to a successful business. He quoted some of my other favorite books “Atomic Habits” and “The Power of Now”. Both really eye opening and added so much value to my career right now. Also amazing influential influencers who are also on or have gone through similar experiences in growing your overall brand that i go back and fourth to some being: Mai Pham, I really admire her approach to life as a human and creator. She encouraged me to read and journal more and have been a major impact on me. Her tenacity to keep doing more and that the sky is the limit and that showing value in manifestation because it is extremely powerful. I find myself referring back to Jade Beason’s channel alot to stay on top of social media trends in the industry and guidance on to continue pushing and help iron out my adhd creator brain. Wow so many influencers to mention but they come to mind first. Another major support that has helped me to connect with their influencers and creators in the Arizona scene I pay all credit to the team for Arizona Fashion Week! I was invited as a influencer in September and the connections I’ve made there has continued to take me SO far as having a stance in the fashion world and creator space in the valley. It’s been extremely important to me to continue to support people and creatos in this space because that’s what we all need right now especially with the same interest. With the our social experiences all feeling very the same its rewarding to connect with people in your niche to help extend each other farther and farther for ample amounts of success and I thank and am proud of everyone I’ve met and loved on this journey they have truly changed my life. Also my family!! My number one supporters. I want to shoutout my dad for believing in me and my passion to be a creator and allowing me the opportunity to focus on what I love to do, I can’t thank him enough. And my sister for helping supporting my dream by helping me behind the camera at all times no matter what. I pay alot of thank you’s to her. My mom is just a rockstar and thinks her daughter is a rockstar, she’s my biggest cheerleader and I will forever cherish that support.

Website: daniellebonaparte.com

Instagram: dani_bonaparte

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-bonaparte-774747286

Twitter: www.twitter.com/dani_bonaparte

Facebook: www.facebook.com/daniellebonaparte

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@daniellebonaparte4061?si=aumSyvNM7Mybnhr3

Other: Tik Tok: daniellebonaparte1

Image Credits
The images from the show are screen grabs or sent to me from Paramount. The Spurs photos are taken by Tony Garcia. The rest are personally taken.

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutArizona is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.