We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ramon Ivey a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Ramon, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you feel you or your work has ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized? If so, tell us the story and how/why it happened and if there are any interesting learnings or insights you took from the experience?

My story is very complicated but I have learned to own it. I have found a sense of peace in it. Many think of me as just a Choreographer/Dancer, and it use to piss me off lol. Now that I have learned to focus on only how I feel about me, and much less of the outside world, I am happier.

I was born a creative, but many have only seen me dance. While I love dance and choreography, I also paint, draw, sing, create custom websites, branding, I write song lyrics and produce fashion shows and live stage shows. I train and develop models and music artists to be professionals. My passion is to teach and bring out the light in people through the arts. Not only is it my passion but it’s my purpose.

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 was very young when I got started. I grew up in San Diego, CA which is known for beaches, Military, Universities and tourism. Growing up in a city is very different than only visiting. I grew up poor in the inner parts of San Diego they don’t advertise. I was my mother’s first born, but my father’s fourth. I was raised by my mother; single parent situation. My parents never married. I watched my mother struggle to raise me on her own, so doing extra curricular activities were not exactly easy for me. Thankfully there were church activities and public school programs. I got to join step teams, drill teams, dance teams. I begged my mom to put me in singing lessons, but she could only afford one lesson. I loved, and still love to sing, but let’s go back a bit.

At nine years old I joined a Christian music and dance ministry called “Steps of Praise”. There was a lot of good and bad that came from being part of that group for nearly a decade; I’m thankful for the goods and have processed the bad. With them I learned the art of performance. I gained my stage presence, we toured with Gospel icons, like Kirk Franklin. I even worked my way up to becoming a choreographer for the group, having the opportunity to choreograph for Bishop TD Jakes song titled, “Hemotions”. I was convinced that dance was my purpose but I struggled trying to understand why I still loved singing and song writing. I continued to write songs and sing to myself. Although I loved being on stage, I was very shy in person; meek and introverted. Later, I discover in therapy where that came from, but that’s a whole other story.

Remember, this entire time I was still a kid. My mom made me go to public schools and I’m grateful for it. I Was able to understand music more by joining band in middle school for 3 years. I played an instrument I didn’t want to learn; the trombone. I’m glad I stuck with it because the musicality I developed from it enhanced my choreography, and singing abilities.
In High School I was in student government, Associated Student Body (ASB). I hated school but ASB and creative activities were the only things that kept me going. That is where my interest in other arts sparked. I loved creating events as a team; everything from Homecoming floats and dances, to pep-ralleys and Airbands. I won first place in the Talent Show my Sophomore year. I was in the school news paper several times for winning Airbands and becoming Snowball (Winter Formal Prince). I became Junior Class President, and learned many skills. I taught myself the basics of coding a website. I discovered there was a class called Virtual Enterprise, which taught students how to create a business from scratch. It included creating business plans, branding, building a website and creating a product or service. We even got a chance to go to a student business convention. We had to design and set up our own booths. Looking back at it makes me smile because it puts everything into perspective. For a long time I struggled to understand why I was gifted to have the opportunity to develop so many skills and talents. I didn’t know what my purpose was exactly, but I knew it had something to do with the arts.

While I was learning and growing in school, I was still rehearsing and performing with the gospel music group.
I had the desire to move on in dance and expand outside of the church, but I was scared. I was told I would be prostituting my gift to the world, allowing Satan to use me. The brainwashing from the church had a hold on me, but there was this internal pull to grow, that was stronger than the brainwashing. I decided to expand. At the age of 18-19, I ended up leaving the group to move on. I had an opportunity to dance and teach for Culture Shock Dance Center, joined their dance troupe, and later on, other crews like: Urban FX, Body Poets, and even co-creating a dance crew called Darkivey. Dance awarded me opportunities to tour and live in China for many years.; to be on TV shows dancing background for music artists, to be on the Christian Music Awards, the San Diego Emmy Awards, and to sing for the Best of the Best Award Show in Shanghai, China.

When life got hard for me, I prayed to center myself, and took the down time to learn or develop my skills. I went back to college and got my degree in Graphic Arts. I bought a camera, and started remembering how to use it, and did so in more creative ways.

I attribute my success to the many people in my life that have mentored me, because I decided to take a chance on myself in a positive way; and ultimately because I surrender to God and the universe. I treat people kindly and I make things right when I make mistakes. I put my passion in every project, treating them like they are my own businesses.

I have earned the title, Creative Professional. I put in the years of development to obtain the skills from a very young age. I am the proud owner of ramonivey.com where I offer a multitude of Creative Services such as: Branding, Graphic and Custom Web Design (Business Cards, Posters Flyers for Small or Large Businesses, Music Artists), Photography (Head shots, Family Portraits, Grad Photos, Birthdays and Events), Videography, Dance Instruction (Private Parties, Weddings, Dance Studios, Schools), Choreography (Music Videos, Cheer Teams, Concerts), Event Planning and Casting (Launch Parties, Auditions, Award Shows – small or large).

I am most proud of the experiences and life lessons the creative space has gifted me. I have met amazing people from all around the world. I have memories and stories I can pass on to help others. I am able to sustain life as a true Artist, when I was told as a child that I couldn’t; that it wasn’t possible. I am proud of myself for fighting and defying the odds.

My clients know that I work hard and I produce quality work; that I am realistic in execution and communication. I don’t just get the job done, I poor myself into my work to have the best outcome. I end up having lasting relationships with my clients; we have real conversations and support each other when possible. I am honest and respectful with my clients. I’m okay with saying, “I do not have the answer, but I can connect you to someone that does”. I believe in getting the job done, that means doing what is best for the project.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I had a lot of inward focus in a negative way. I was self centered and arrogant. I was trained to think and act like I was the best, so I did…. This was all while being in the Gospel group. I am not for bashing the church at all, it’s really about the leadership and how an organization functions internally that matters….When I transitioned into the dance community, the arrogance was off putting to many people. It took a few people to have a few conversations with me, before I could understand what I was doing wrong. I was a child thinking my crap smelled like roses because I didn’t know any better.

It’s ok to to think highly of yourself. Everyone should. It is even more important to know that everyone has value and something to offer. No one is “better” than any one human being. We are all just as important, and should do our part to help the world grow in a positive direction. At the same time – it is our own responsibility to teach others how to treat us as individuals, because the world is not only filled with light, but darkness as well.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

Non-creatives have a hard time understanding the value of art. For example, before there was a Dancers Alliance, dancers were used and taken advantage of. We were used as if we were just a 99 cent prop. Negotiating pay without representation was always a struggle. Clients use to say, “Well, it’s only a little dance, it’s not that hard”, or “Why so expensive for 3 minutes”. They didn’t consider the years of classes, rehearsals, and free shows it took to get to a professional level for many dancers. They didn’t consider the amount of money and sacrifice it takes to get to a pro level. A dance degree didn’t even exist when I was coming up as a dancer until I was in my 20’s. By then I was my own manager negotiating my own contracts.

For those that are dancers and want to continue on this journey, get representation. Also take some business classes. It’s important to understand the industry you are in. It is just as important to think about the long term; learn how to teach, and produce shows. Take modeling and acting classes as well to learn how to speak on camera. Stay ready for multiple opportunities, that is how you obtain longevity.

Contact Info:

• Website: ramonivey.com
• Instagram: @1ramonivey
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008567859317
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramon-ivey-8ba90749/
• Other: I have just started a Podcast, to be released very soon (early July 2023). It’s called “The Model Call Podcast”. My partner, Tiffany Williams and I talk about the ins and outs of the modeling, fashion and entertainment industry. @themodelcallpod on IG – @themodelcallpodcast on YouTube.

Image Credits
Ramon Ivey, Paris Hilton, Tiffany Williams, Christian Wakefield, Drea Dominique, Huron Report, Club Links Shanghai, CN, Best of the Best Awards Shanghai, CN