We recently connected with J. Shannon Filmore and have shared our conversation below.
Hi J. Shannon , thanks for joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
One of my most meaningful projects that I have had the pleasure and honor to work on was putting together a live performance show for Wonderball 2023 at the Columbus Museum of Art. I created and directed a 1 and half hour long performance. That was a dancing, lip syncing, and full of fashion. It was a true nod to my own life inspirations and experience in ball and gay culture. and scene and how that culture influenced my artistry as a whole. I had previously co-directed shows and performances but this would be the first time where I had complete creative control. This performance not only feature the dance crew I directed and founded TK mega Crew but we also featured local Drag artist Djs and Make up artist. This performance and just overall creative process meant so much to me as during the time I was going through one of the most difficulty times of my life being the care taker of my grandmother who had passed as i was creating the show and this was light through it all.
J. Shannon , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
J. Shannon Filmore is a graduate of Fort Hayes Performing Arts High School, where his passion for dance began. He has also studied at BalletMet Columbus and with the Columbus Youth Ballet. In his early days, Shannon trained with and performed in local productions under the direction of Shelly Steward, Lawrence Lemon, and Gamal Brown. Shannon’s development as a dance artist is characterized by his extreme tenacity and ambition, pursuing diverse affiliations and performance opportunities from the East Coast to the West. In his professional career, Shannon has participated as a dancer and choreographer/creative director with Xclaim Dance Company since 2011. Shannon’s Choreography and creative direction have been featured all over the midwest in festivals, concerts, and shows. Including Columbus Museum of art festival called Wonderball 2023 and in Columbus fashion week 2021 and 2023 He’s worked closely with various recording artists as a dancer and choreographer/creative director for live performances, in music videos, and on tours. He is a former coach for The Columbus Optimistic Ladies (an award-winning Majorette dance team). Shannon has also served as an instructor of various dance styles with a focus on Contemporary, Hip Hop, and other African Diaspora forms, which he’s taught widely in Ohio and throughout the Midwest. He’s been teaching as a part of the Xclaim Faculty and Funklab/Modern elements dance studios since 2019. He is currently a part of the Star Dance Alliance as a traveling Competition Judge.
Shannon is the President of Tru Kingdom Mega Crew Inc., an all-styles dance crew he co-founded in 2017. The group has performed in several collaborations with Xclaim and other dance companies throughout Central Ohio. TKMC received “2021 Best Dance Crew in Ohio” and the “2022 Grace Dance Award for Excellence in Hip Hop”. Shannon’s accolades include: “2021 Buckeye Choreographer and Dancer of the Year”. Shannon has received individual artist grants from the Greater Columbus Arts Council (in 2021 ,2022 & 2023). Recently graduated, the Lincoln theater Artist program sponsored by GCAC. His Choreography has also been awarded and featured in the 2022 Ohio Dance Festival and taught as part of the festival in 2023.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
I had just shared that during the creation of performance for wonderball 2023 I was going through one of my most difficult times of my life. Dance truly saved me and kept me tethered and grounded to myself and when at times I felt so lost. The experience of creating meaningful work with a group of individuals who have the same passion for the work we are sharing also made this such a better and just overall beautiful experience. I had the support of dance Captains and Co-director of the crew as well to help out and pick up when things had slipped through the cracks. I was honored and forever grateful that I had such a wonderful team around me as well. This made me more resilient and believe that no matter what, we were going to make it great show and we did!!!
Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
Grants and funding opportunities. I think this is something that is missing as far educating young or new artist on the scene that there are options to get money to help produce and make art. There are City, state and federal grants and funding opportunities for artist and you can even collaborate with bigger more established companies for funding opportunities as well. This is one of the things that I am very passionate about and something I often share and educate those around me
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @jshannonfilmore
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/james.filmore
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq_MMxmKbI0wg3OVJJvwSAw
Image Credits
Neverseen Visuals Redmango Films