LOS ANGELES — Singer-songwriter Billie Eilish made history Sunday night on the Grammys when she became the youngest (and only the second) artist to win all four of the big categories: Best New Artist, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Record of the Year.
Even though you may have heard that news already, what you might not know is that Eilish’s former dance teacher is from North Little Rock.
Julie Kay Stallcup is the co-owner and director at Revolution Dance Center in Los Angeles these days. But her roots are deeply planted in Dogtown.
“I’m so proud of where I’m from,” Stallcup said in a FaceTime interview with THV11. “Go Charging Wildcats!”
Just a couple of years ago, before Billie Eilish was a Grammy winner, she and her brother Finneas took classes at Revolution under Stallcup and director Fred Diaz.
When Diaz asked Eilish to record a song for an upcoming dance performance, Finneas gave his sister a song he had written called “Ocean Eyes.” Eilish later posted her recording on SoundCloud, and the song skyrocketed her to fame.
“That’s what’s so special about it. She got to watch it, we got to make it come alive onstage,” Stallcup remembered.
Stallcup says she focuses on being a compassionate and understanding mentor to every student she teaches. She’s even in the process of becoming a certified life coach.
She said that while growing up in Arkansas, she had many teachers and mentors that helped her become the teacher she is today.
“I feel so blessed that I was dealt the cards that I was dealt,” she said.