Q: Can you talk a little bit about how you first became involved in dance, the very beginning kind of your childhood and upbringing?‍

I think dance was always around me. My family is a music family so everyone was really into music and I grew up being very driven towards music, of course Michael Jackson being a huge inspiration. I remember dancing around the house. My mom used to make me dance when family came around and that became a thing. At my elementary school they had this outreach program called the Joffrey Middle School, and they would have a different style of dance.  First year it was African and second year salsa. I believe that my last show was Ragtime or something like that.

In middle school, this guy named Peter Lockett saw me through this program and ended up giving me a scholarship to the Joffrey Ballet. At the time I was into sports and playing football, so I didn't want to do it because I didn't want to wear tights. He gave me tickets to see the Joffrey Ballet and The Nutcracker, and I wasn't a fan of it at all. Then I saw Ailey and everything changed for me, I was sold on dance as a profession. So from then I got into dance, you know, actually in a dance class. I remember being like, “hello people on stage, that look like myself!” I was like, Whoa! Two dudes dancing together?  I never saw that before and I liked it. And, you know, of course, beautiful women and it was just, I was in awe! I remember having my first dance class and I was just surrounded by girls the entire time so I was like, ‘Okay, this is what it's going to be like?’‍

‍

Q: What has dance taught you that you've applied to your everyday life and how you engage with the world?

Being aware. I think my body is more spatially aware. Also having attention to detail in my everyday life. It has also taught me character and having a Mamba mentality.‍

‍

Q: Has dance helped you overcome any hardships in your life?‍

Yes. My mom passed in 2013. I had the opportunity to go to the Air Force, or come to New York City and train at the Ailey school. The Air Force seemed like a better opportunity for me and my family coming from the south side of Chicago, but my mom instilled with me faith at a young age. So I took that huge leap to come out here in New York City, and dance.

‍

‍Q: What have been some challenges and either your pretty professional or professional dance career?‍

I think a huge challenge for a lot of dancers and myself is knowing your own worth. When you come to New York City, it's a situation when everyone wants to choreograph, and everybody wants to get the job. But if you don't have the funds to pay, and I mean, respectively, pay your dancers for their rehearsal and XYZ, don't have it, because these are humans, with lives. We see now during this pandemic that it's hard. It's going to be hard for artists, you know, this is going to affect a lot of artists in situations.  Yes they have unemployment and money grants that you can fill out for but that's only so much of what you could have been making and what you could have been doing.‍

‍

Q: How do you think that dance can be a platform for social justice issues? ‍

Art imitates life. Art is a reflection of what's going on in this time. For example, Kyle Abraham has a piece titled “America”, which is about the transition from slavery to the civil rights movement. It talks about the connections between private corporations and the jail system. That is empowerment in itself. Just getting the message out there and having people listen and see it. But it's up to you (the audience remember) to research more and really get into it.‍

‍

Q: Can you talk a little bit about how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected you as a performing artist?‍

As a performing artist, the pandemic has affected me in ways that I don't even know yet. In the present day I don't have access to studios or the gym. Of course I was cut from my upcoming gigs and teaching. This has opened my eyes up and made me thank God for the people that surround me in my life and that I kind of prepared for rainy days before.  ‍

‍

Q: Can you talk a little bit about initial reactions to the shutdown in New York City specifically what process you were in and what that looked like? ‍

I think the first idea was just like everything stopped. People were in a panic, and were going overboard in stores stocking up on things. New York City is always busy and to see it at a  zero is very weird. It's surreal, almost like a horror movie.‍

‍

Q: How have you seen the dance community in New York City responding to the pandemic? How people have been supporting each other during this time of social distance? ‍

The dance community in New York is doing great with a lot of support from the community. I'm seeing classes, different dancers are doing their own workouts online.  Most do donation based or free and are all open to the public which I think is great. We're using social media platforms to our advantage. Everyone is sharing things now. I think that's just what it's about. Now if we can keep that energy, you know once all of this is over there will be even more love and support. ‍

‍

Q: Can you talk a little bit about what a daily routine looks like for you?‍

I wake up at ten. I make breakfast, and take a shower. Stretch and paint. I do a lot of painting these days, and spending time with my lady. ‍

‍

Q: Have you been taking any online classes?‍

To be honest, no. I've been doing workouts on my own like push ups and sit ups, but I want to do more cardio. I do a little stretching here and there. But the space I am in I can’t really move around. The online classes are amazing though that I see. ‍

‍

Q: What would you like to see, after the pandemic ends, in terms of more equity and access to dance in the performing arts world? ‍

I think big companies that have more resources, and even nonprofit organizations should not only do outreach but have a system where smaller companies can come in and have free rehearsals, or use their space when they are not. I don't know if it should be some kind of system where smaller companies aren't paying for studio space, so they can also be able to pay their dancers, a respectable, you know, pay a fee.  Also respectively pay dancers across the board.