We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Darling Squire a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Darling, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

I started dancing in the 6th grade, although it wasn’t formal training. I performed in a school talent show, and everyone loved it. They asked if I was taking classes somewhere and how long I had been dancing. When I shared with them that I’d never taken a dance class and learned the choreography from a video, everyone was amazed. This began what I now can call “operation twirl”, which was my guidance counselors working to get me into a performing arts high school. Which I did get into. That is when I started my formal training.

There was nothing I could have done to speed up the process; I had to take class, get on stage, and learn in real-time.

Everything was and still is essential, how to keep training and the mind open to new ways to connect and explore, and express, it never ends.

The biggest obstacle was facing the fear giants of my mind. Overcoming a pessimistic inner monologue

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 got into dance at the age of 11 and started formal training at age 14. I was raised on classic movie musicals, within the Chicago house music/club scene, and around the music industry with up-close exposure to icons and legends from the black community.

My Services are performance and teaching.

What sets me apart is that I aim to approach things with a childlike perspective and deep understanding of energy, frequency, and vibration. In my work, there is always a major component of upliftment and elevation. I am aware that spirit is in everything we are and do as humans, and therefore, I make deep connections with my audiences/onlookers.

I’m most proud of my ease in connection with all walks of life. We are cooperative components to each other in a symbiotic relationship, and my work reflects that.

We(that is the royal we) teach and share that life is meant to be full and imbued with love and joy and experiences. Life is meant to be lived, and one must be true to oneself on their journey.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

There are 5 books I study and apply to help me navigate all aspects of my life:

The game of life and how to play it
Your word is your wand
Your invisible power
The science of being
Think and grow rich

These books are on the mental sciences that Jesus, Krishna, and Buddha taught. The share the way to gain one’s fullest potential. Based in metaphysics, they show how one must hold true to one’s vision, be fearless, and know that God-Souce/Infinite Intelligence is the driving force that holds our lives together and backs and supports all endeavors we seek to accomplish.

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

My work is fueled by the observations of the social structure of America and the foundation it was built. Being a gender nonconforming artist of color, my work revolves specifically around the conversation of minority groups in America, but more so, the overall human experience. Creating works through the medium of classical modern, and contemporary dance, I give my viewers an experience that displays the emotions and thoughts of what is going on with those who may not speak out or have the space or opportunity to. Often sharing both sides of the story, I give a space for the audience to see and experience the wave of emotions that our societies often shy away from representing.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: empress darling shear

Image Credits

Jumping photo: Joel Maisonet

Onstage with fabric photo: Erik Kommer