We were lucky to catch up with Ember Rice recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Ember, thanks for joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

Usually when people ask me this question I don’t really know the answer. I honestly can’t remember when I first realized that I wanted to be a performer. I genuinely just always remember knowing that I was meant to be a performer. When I was younger, my mom would take me out to the ballet, and I always had feeling that I was supposed to be up there with them. I have a specific memory when my mom took me to see Beauty and the beast at my local community theatre. I remember I was so in awe of everyone and when it was over I told my mom “I wanna do that forever” (as I was pointing at the stage). My family has even told me stories of how when my mom was pregnant she would pat the beats of songs on her belly and I would tap them back. Whether or not that’s true I’ll never truly know but I do know from the moment I was born I was meant to be a performer.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am Ember, I am originally from Las Vegas where I grew up performing. I’ve done everything from a professional ballet company to being in the circus! I started dancing originally when I was 2 years old and immediately fell in love. I started acting and singing around the same time at about 5 or 6 years old. I orginally wanted to do movies and be a singer until I fell in love with theatre at 11 years old. I listened to the Dear Evan Hansen soundtrack and immediately knew I wanted to be a part of something like that. Now I am a 21 year old living in NYC pursuing my childhood dream!

In my career, so far I have been in a variety of roles ranging from on stage to off, and I’ve enjoyed every second of it. Recently I was the lead choreographer for a musical. It was so exciting to see my work be put up on stage. Even when I’m not on stage myself I enjoy the creative process of shows from any perspective.

I feel that I’m very different from other artists because I can do multiple things. Not even just acting,singing and dancing, but choreographing, playwriting, directing, makeup, costume. I just love being creative. I believe that’s why I’ve been able to make a career out of this, because I can always be part of a creative project, no matter the position.

So far the thing in my career I’m most proud of is the fact that I moved to the other side of the country by myself at 18 years old, and I was able to continue pursuing my dreams. With the support of my family and friends I am able to thrive in New York City. I’m so proud of all the amazing new relationships I’ve made with so many other artists. In this career my goal isn’t just to have my name in lights, but to make an impact on the people around me and hopefully one day the whole world. I would rather be remembered for the love, laughs and fun times I’ve brought to people more than anything else.

When I think about what I want people to know about me the most, I want them to think of me as an all around artist, in every sense of the word. someone who can create something out of nothing and have it blossom in to something amazing. I just love creating art and telling stories that most people wouldn’t get to hear.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

When I was 14 my whole life was flipped upside down. My older brother who was the person I always looked up to, tragically passed away. He was shot and killed in a case of mistaken identity. He was only 23 years old and studying at UNLV to be a physical therapist. My whole life I always looked up to him and everything he accomplished. His laughter and smile filled up every room he walked into. I always say he was the type of person to see the good in you before the bad. He was always so happy to have a little sister who performed. He would always brag to friends about me and always supported me in my creative endeavors. I miss him everyday, and try to honor him by continuing to follow my dreams. I know he would be so proud to see me where I am today. Something in me tells me that he’s cheering me on everyday and his spirit helps me to continue on and keep going in my career and creative journey.

I felt so powerless when when my brother was taken away from me. I felt like another number, a statistic. just another black kid that had lost their family member to gun violence. Then I realized the pain that I feel was felt by so many other kids just like me from all over the world. My story and my pain is something so many people can relate to. To know that my work can inspire others and let them know they aren’t alone they too can accomplish their dreams regardless of such tragedies, is the main reason I continue down this creative road and journey.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is the impact my art has had on other people. Especially being a black queer person seeing someone who looks like me on stage, is so important. So when younger kids come up to me after shows to tell me how much of an impact the show had on them, it really makes me so happy to know that kids can see someone who looks like them on stage. I love knowing that people were impacted by my storytelling or that they were even inspired by the work that I have done.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @Embsidian

Image Credits

first 5 photos by Carol Rosegg
last two photos by Hanjie Chow