We were lucky to catch up with Rahquelah Conyers recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Rahquelah thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
Creation was always something that enthralled me. I was obsessed with how things were made, to see people convey emotions at the drop of a hat. Ever since a youngin, I knew I wanted in. Entertainment was a world without limits in my young eyes, and as a child, I constantly craved this freedom. I didn’t know, or rather, it didn’t matter to me exactly how I wanted to create for a while, yet I always felt it would involve music. Music became a safe place for me, and I knew I either had to make it, sing to it, or let it move me. I tried it all, having some stints in chorus and with the violin, both of which furthered my knowledge of music, but nothing compared to the feeling I got (and still get) from being active.
I was incredibly shy as a child, so this was somewhat of a surprise to my family when they saw how I shed any timid restraints to share my love for movement with others. There were insights of me becoming a lawyer or teacher, since academia was another one of my top interests, but I knew deep down that I had to move. I first began performing at 5 in the realm of cheer. When questioned, as virtually every creative goes through, I retorted that this would be a more “reasonable” avenue to make money; I could own a gym and there were talks of cheerleading being a part of the Olympics, (is that still gonna happen?) so I was gonna find a career in this somehow! This would last for 16 years, and I became extremely burnt out. Yeah, there was music involved and I absolutely lived for the moments we would do choreography, however due to it being a sport, it became repetitive and rigid real fast, especially once I started cheering at the university level. The competitions were cutthroat and there was no room for variance. It had to be perfect every time in order to impress judges. I met those expectations and was a leader in this arena, however my confidence, happiness, and body began to pay the price.
Dance was hard to come by in Asheville, so I dabbled in anything I could find. I was fortunate to be a part of a school that held the arts in high regard so I was able to experience a different side of physicality; one driven by emotion and feeling. Cheer requires you to be the poster girl of preppy joy and my life often was the complete opposite at the time. I could feel the facade breaking each time I took the field and became very bitter. Once I relocated to Charlotte for college, this mask completely broke, and I finally garnered the courage to quit cheer. I was met with immense push back from family, peers, coaches – but I could not go another day plastering a fake smile on my face for a sport I don’t even care about. (Don’t get me wrong, football is a no, but basketball was my thing – still I was over it!!) I officially began professionally training in dance in 2017 at UNC Charlotte and this new world was daunting to say the least, but I had a renewed sense of purpose. It forced me to reckon with the grief, stress, and uncertainty my mind and body held on to for so long. It continues to be a conduit for relief, diligence, and acceptance that has also been fairly fruitful. I always say I would do this for free but I am beyond blessed and honored to know that I do not have to.
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 have an innate love for performance and art that explores the commonalities and intricacies of human nature. My movement and creations are a culmination of my studies in Psychology, Sociology, and Human Sexuality at UNC Charlotte. Formerly, I was a member of Moving Spirits Inc. and an agency dancer for Fuzion Force Entertainment Academy. Now, I am an active main company dancer of Baran Dance and I participate in Kinetic Works for their NC Choreographer’s Residency Project. My training in Modern, West African, African Brazilian, and Commercial Dance, including the forms of Hip Hop, Street Jazz, and Heels, are embedded into my practice. I am motivated by collaboration with artists outside of dance to create expansive art that continues to seek out venues that can make a difference. Concept videos, dance photography, and incorporating other mediums such as sculptures and acting adds breadth to expression and emotion, which is the fulcrum of my work.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
It all starts with stripping this notion that everything you do has to be your ticket to “success”, which all too often gets conflated with fame. “Oh you sing? Where’s your album? How are you going to make a living, you have to be signed to a label for that. That’s a tall order/unrealistic/selfish/insert discouraging sentiment here”. Many people are led away from taking the first steps to pursue a passion because we have put immense pressure to “become” someone through it. We don’t ask aspiring physicians what they plan on doing to become the next Dr. Oz. Come on now. Yes, creatives who have put in the work behind their craft deserve every bit of recognition and the accolades that come with it, which can lead to stardom, but that shouldn’t be, and typically isn’t, the only goal for creative professionals. There are many active professionals who make a living in their own communities and the power of having hobbies is one often overlooked. It stimulates the brain and generates a sense of self that is essential for humans to function.
In general, we tend to think of art as disposable and frivolous, when it is intrinsically vital to and indicative of our current world – of society. Providing avenues for people to safely explore and learn the tips and tricks of artistic trade promotes a better understanding of human nature. It creates opportunity for expression and generates ideas for the betterment of people. And it can predict when things are about to go left. Think of social media; yes, it’s a doozy, however, without that creative incentive to connect and share, it wouldn’t even exist in the first place. Someone had to design it. Think of architecture. This is an art! An ecosystem has many moving parts: the tenders, the builders, the healers, the scholars. They all involve creation, innovation, and rely on each other to function, so to deny funding for artist organizations in public sectors stifles the ability to find inspiration and answers to life’s questions. And it would make for quite a boring planet.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding part of this line of work is that it almost never gets old. Specifically, with dance, we pull from the pedestrian movements of those before us, constantly adapting and shifting to convey the attitudes and daily movements we witness. Even if/when there comes a time that we ourselves can no longer produce our preferred medium, it is a wonderful feeling to know you have contributed and can leave an imprint.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @rahquelah
- Facebook: Rahquelah Conyers
Image Credits
Butch Delatina Toby Shearer Samuel Brenton Bent Indrani Nayar-Gall Brian Twitty Kat Lawrence