We recently connected with Camal Pugh and have shared our conversation below.

Camal, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I didn’t see myself wanting to pursue a career professionally as an artist until my mid twenties. Growing up sports was a main thing in my family so no form of arts were exposed to me. I start dabbling in dance in college but had to sneak to do it because I was on track scholarship. The more I dabbled in it the more interested I became in wanting to dance. I didn’t know you could have a career in it until post college when I began to train more in dance and meet people who were doing it full-time. You couldn’t have told me 10yrs ago that I would be a full-time dancer in Los Angeles. I believe it was something was deep inside of me just needing to be awakened.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I’ve been working professionally in the industry for 11 years now and am now based in Los Angeles. I did not start dancing until after college because growing up it wasn’t allowed in the household as well as not having enough outlets to develop. I am a creative director, choreographer, dance teacher and dancer. I work with different artists for artist development, prep them for shows, perform in shows as a dancer, and teach at a few public schools. I always try to let people know that it’s never too late to go after those burning desires that are in you heart. My first dance class wasn’t until 19 and to be doing what I’m doing now?! It blows my mind everyday. One thing I will say I’m most proud of outside of my choreographer and dance accomplishments is being able to teach kids and inspire them to go after dream. Above all I want that to be my mission and ultimately my legacy.

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

I have 2 major goals that’s driving me on my creative journey. Winning and Emmy for choreography but the big one is booking a national tour and one of its stops being in my hometown in Washington, DC. Would love for my parents to be in the front row celebrating that moment with me as well as local students I teach friends and family. That moment is more for them to see first hand that no matter where you come from just work hard and dreams can come true.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

I think non-creatives struggle with full time creatives not having a set time (9-5) like them as well as acknowledging/respecting the fact that any type of creative (dancer, painter, artist, singer, etc) is a profession and a paid career. Speaking from where I’m from, that metropolitan area is about title, stature, politics etc. so they don’t see being a professional dancer as a career. which is sad. I actually believe having g a career/job that you love is better for the mental then a job that you don’t want to go to. I used to work for the government years ago and I hated it. Since becoming a professional artist I love going to work, working late, working off the clock, anything. If someone does an loves it it should be respected

Contact Info:

• Instagram: cnote_moves

Image Credits
Alissa Roseborough