We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Adam Dapkus . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Adam below.
Hi Adam , thanks for joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
Hard to narrow it down to just one being the most. I’ve been lucky enough to live many dreams as an artist. Started in grade school with performance arts after and unexpected injury playing soccer and the devastation with that that led me to drama class in high-school. I found a new love and life time love of performance in theatrical arts and acting specifically. I even enjoyed the challenges of so many lines to memorize and all the interactions with new people. I went on after high-school to perform in other areas of theater and after college for a living of sorts. Teaching children,puppetry, mime, building sets and adding music. Prior to all that I was in a very popular band in high-school Yellow #5 and was the lead singer and wrote most of the lyrics too. I loved that..felt like it was my purpose…felt so alive creating my thoughts to express for my own mental health as well as with others when I could face the stage fright to perform. So it’s hard to say what was most meaningful because they all were.
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?
Well shoot I feel I answered this in the last question so sorry if I repeat myself a bit. Perhaps I’ll start earlier in life.
My 1st ever acting performance was portraying baby Jesus when I was less then 2 months old.
I grew up in a family of musicians.
My mom sang and played the guitar and my dad sang and played piano.
Me and my siblings sang in church events but I also sang at the mall.
My mom would get us all dressed up and I’d sing Christmas songs. I absolutely loved it..have fond memories and feel grateful my mom exposed me to such things. Helped light a path to me feeling my life’s purpose to connect and entertain. To this day I still feel that electricity and bond when I’m my full creative self. To be able to at almost any point when needed pick up my guitar and belt out in song cries of joy and pain. I feel a connection within my soul to things much greater then me and in that I feel at peace.
So I have 2 passions really music and acting.
I’ve done a little camera work and had an agent. But I really loved live perform on stage or as Santa.
I also loved teaching and showing others the joy they too can have by letting go of what they fear of being silly or pretending.
I’m not really selling anything. But we did have an online virtual Santa during covid that we were really proud of. (When I say we I’m referring to my partner Jami..they need to do one of these too, they have so much to offer too!)
And each year we promote me portraying Santa. Have my own YouTube channel https://youtube.com/@AdamDapkuswith several clips and me reading books on top of all our original music clips and videos. We also had a company called Virtual holiday visits for all the holidays. Please check out all the content on my channel and leave me a message so we can connect!
We also had a show called Connecting with Adam every Wed evening during Covid as well as a Poetry section with Jami and a kids corner too hosted by our child.
Once Covid lifted we started performing out. That’s where I met Michael Capshaw
And started connecting with local Loveland performers and musicians.
My current project is with the noco drag community doing a benefit show for people with Ehlers danlos performance at Jads Sat May 18th, where I’ll be performing 4 original songs singing and playing guitar. With a very special song with my partner called Transform
Oh yeah forgot to mention we have another Lil company called LoveGrams. Where we write original tunes to connect all sorts of people and relationships here in Colorado some in other states and even in Scotland.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
Again I feel I may have already answered this in the last question. But I’m more then happy to share again.
Was almost gonna do the question that asks what my purpose or mission is but it’s all the same too…
It’s all about connection with me. I feel my fullest self when I can connect and help. When I’m able to step out of myself and ego and have compassion for others and their situations. I haven’t always had the right words to say or gentle ways to express. But I have through performance in acting and music. Especially performing my original music. It’s something deep with in me that I’m being vulnerable in sharing and I’ve seen time and time again how that breaks down walls between each other and there’s this refreshing bond felt even with strangers. It helps fuel me and guide me that I’m doing what I’m good at and also what helps me face my fears of performance and failure.
When I’m performing as Santa Clause it gives me similar feelings of good will to mankind. People of all ages all beliefs somehow are able to let that go just for a few moments to suspend ones beliefs and take in the joy of Christmas..the smells the food the joy and laughter…
Feel Santa embodies all that. And I get to feel it and bring the joy.
To get paid for something like that too is a dream come true. Just wish I was able to promote myself more.
We’ve got the talents and the work to show…just struggle getting folks to see it
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
Oh boy…so many lessons…I’m still learning unlearning and relearning. I feel and see that in my writings and lyrics. At times I’ve been performing songs that I wish I was doing in real life and it doesn’t click for several years. Teaching myself the wise version of me over the one who somehow tends to have the wheel. It’s interesting to be a performer I feel ya gotta have some grit and attitude bravery..but ya also have to not get too big headed or egotistical
I’ve learned and honestly still need the reminder from time to time to share the stage so to speak. To see from others view points. To not take things personally. To being in the moment. Not stuck in what was or could be. Just now…reminds me of a song I wrote called Here..I’ll be performing that @ Jads in May
Contact Info:
- Website: Adamdapkus.wordpress.com
- Instagram: @adamdapkus
- Facebook: @adamdapkus
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@AdamDapkus