We recently connected with Keenan Cooks and have shared our conversation below.

Keenan, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

Yes, I have been able to earn a full-time living from my creative work. The process was not easy, but I am a firm believer is telling people what you want. That belief is what allowed me to begin to make a living from my creative work/passion.

April of 2012 I got in trouble for dancing in the mirror at my job at Urban Outfitters, as a fitting room associate. I don’t know what got into me, but I quit on the spot. I made a promise to myself from that moment forward I would only make money doing what I love. I had no idea how I was going to do it, but I had no excuse but to make it happen. A year prior I let a major choreographer Rhapsody James know that I would love to sub her dance class, if she ever wasn’t able to teach it. At the time I was not qualified, and she looked at me like I was crazy! lol

Literally 2 month after quitting my job at Urban, she needed a sub for her class and no one she trusted was available. Guess who she asked as a last resort? ME!! I did not take that offensively, I thought “this was my moment to show and prove”. And I did just that! I had over 65 students in class at one of the biggest studios in NYC. That seed that I planted led me to that opportunity, and my life literally changed forever. I began to sub other teachers classes weekly allowing me to not only share my choreography with people in the industry, but it also gave me additional income. My classes and popularity begin to grow and before I knew it, I had my own class. And people begin to notice my niche style of dance and choreography.

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?

My name is Keenan Cooks, I am a Choreographer and Dance Instructor who resides in NYC. I moved to NYC from my hometown Boston in 2008, in hopes of making it big as a dancer, choreographer, and dance instructor. And I have been lucky enough to have achieved all the goals i set out for myself.

I have had the amazing opportunities as a dancer, working with artist such as Big Sean, Jennifer Lopez, Nicki Minaj, Ne-Yo, Flo- Rida, Kendrick Lamar, Prince Royce, Hailee Steinfeld, Halsey, and Dua Lipa. I’ve also dance on Saturday Night Live, America’s Got Talent, Today Show, Good Morning America, MTV Music Video Awards.

As a choreographer I’ve worked for the likes of David Guetta, J Balvin, Bebe Rexha, Meek Mill, and Yo Gotti. I’ve also been the assistant choreographer on projects for Kelly Rowland, Lizzo, and the Kid’s Choice Awards. Most recently I choreographed Ice’s Spice Coachella performance, and I’m the choreographer for her ‘Y2K World Tour”.

As an instructor, I’m on faculty at one of the most popular studios in New York City Broadway Dance Center. I’m also on Guest faculty at Movement Lifestyle and T Milly Dance studio in Los Angeles. I’ve had the opportunity to travel international and teach on multiple occasion traveling to almost 20 counties includ- ing Japan, South Korea, China,Germany, Paris, Argentina, Spain, Canada, South Africa, Switzerland, and Italy. You can also catch me on Netflix’s new Choreographers Competition “Dance 100” streaming now!

I’m most proud of the fact that I made all my dreams come true, after suffering from a brain tumor at a young age which doctors said would hinder me from ever dancing again.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

Im going to keep this very simple, society can best support artist and creative paying them/us MORE. We do so much, and provide art and joy for so many people. So many artist, executives , etc benefit from our creativity a lot more than we do. Often we get the worst end of the stick, get treated the worst, and paid the least.

Whether you’re a dancer, a visual artist, a writer we deserves more financially for what we do. So all artist can say they make a living from their art, and not have to work multiple jobs just to survive.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My goal is and has always been to make my mother proud, show my little sister you can do anything, and be financially stable/free.

I come from a single parent home. Just me, my mom, and my sister. I had to grow up quickly and learn how to take care of my family. I work hard every day to make them proud, and be able to provide for myself and my mom and sister if I need to. Everything I do, every decision I make I have those three things in my mind.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://keenancooks.com
• Instagram: @ayokeenan
• Facebook: KeenanCooksDance
• Twitter: @ayokeenan_
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/keenancooks

Image Credits

Jon Taylor