Rising Stars: Meet Ra Adey

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ra Adey.

Hi Ra, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
As a kid, I have always had a knack for entertainment and hospitality. I started doing school shows, plays, joined the dance team and cheer team. At one point in time, I tried to do cheer and basketball at the same time. Needless to say that did not work. I quickly found that basketball was not my sport, but getting the crowd engaged and chanting along suited me well. I must say at this time, I didn’t fully grasp the idea of entertaining, acting or being a choreographer professionally. That happened when my father told me a story about how when I was around two years old, I would make him sit on the couch and then run to hide behind the curtain just to pop out singing a song or reciting my favorite movie lines obviously in gibberish. That story began my intention to become an entertainer and I quickly saw how I had been following the path to where I am today all along. In middle school, I participated in the majority of our musicals due to choir class and my wonderful teacher Mrs. Nance. I also wanted extracurricular activities to add to my high school transcripts. During this period is where I found the stage in theater and to be on stage became very much enticing. Moving into high school, I was in choir, but I no longer had the desire to only sing. I wanted to connect singing and acting as well as dance with each other and there was no class for that so I opted out of the choir and joined theater. First play I was a part of I was the understudy for the main character, but never got the chance to actually play the character because the girl who got the role was a senior at the time and really locked in. Not to discredit her at all. She was indeed talented but I look at it this way she was going to college for theater next year and I would have the stage all to myself afterward. I became bored with the play because she never missed rehearsals and didn’t want to run lines with me. I went to opening night and then never returned to the theater. I didn’t give up the stage at this point.

Finally, my senior year comes and I had a one-on-one with my counselor and I distinctly remember her telling me I needed to get “realistic” when I expressed I would be pursuing a degree in theater and dreams to be an actress/entertainer. Her non-encouraging words really shook my core and it sat with me for a while. Though I’m glad it didn’t stop me from making theater my minor I do wish I would have went with my first gut and had it as my major in college. First year of college was bittersweet. There were so many groups and activities to join my top three were trying out for the dance team, the step team, and auditioning for the play. When I tell you I did tryouts for all three and expected at least one to say no but they all said yes. I was in complete shock and had to now choose which activity to put my attention into. Of course, it was theater, we were doing “Color Purple The Musical” and this checked all my boxes (singing, dancing, and acting) which resulted in us making history on campus so for that I am forever grateful. Things ended up not working out with that college so after my first year back home, I ended up getting a factory job and “being realistic”. But you see, God had different plans cause this factory job is what led me to LA in-coincidentally. A childhood friend introduced me to The New York Film Academy. She had just come back in town and was working to save up money so that she could fly back out to LA. I picked her brain every chance I got until I worked up the courage and applied to the school myself. I was sweating bricks until my acceptance letter hit the mail. As funny as it is or is not, I ended up getting pregnant with my first child, but I didn’t let that stop me. I was in those classes every day with my belly growing bigger and bigger.

My NYFA people became a family and accepted me as well as my child. But again life got intense and I was not able to finish my last semester of school which resulted in me having to drop all classes and live “realistically” once again. I look back now on all that I have conquered and I literally laugh because there was so many instances where I had reasons to give up and go back to the Midwest, but the hunger inside of me, that fire would never fully go out so I could never gather up the guts to leave. I now have been in LA for five years now going on 6 in July and I am still exploring the land. I am perfecting my craft in acting classes, networking at awesome events, making new friends, and still going after my dream. I was not made to live a “normal” life and I owe it to my younger self and who I am now, but also my son to chase my dreams. I wouldn’t dare tell him to stop so why would I. These days I am training to become a Peer-Support Medí-Cal Specialist, taking acting classes, running a business, and being a full-time mom. I recently did my first music video with a talented artist and friend by the name of Javonte Rose. I am also working on starting up my own dance classes with a friend or two in mind to help teach them. I have lots more to do and the the universe is continuing to guide me in the right direction.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
This journey has not been smooth but I am grateful for what has happened. Los Angeles is an expensive place and you don’t need me to say that for it to be true, the proof is in the pudding. I do not only mean expensive when it comes to finances. We all know this is an expensive place to live. I mean also energetically and spiritually this place can be draining. In the beginning, it was all rainbows and sunshine even with a newborn I felt on top of the world, but then finances began to disappear. My health plummeted right along with them. After giving birth to my son, I was back in the hospital 3-4 weeks later. I remember walking around Hollywood Boulevard with my mom and my child’s fathers’ mother who were here to help with the baby and I keep feeling a sharp pain in my leg. It felt like I needed a good stretch and couldn’t satisfy my muscle. I went to sleep okay and woke up in excruciating pain. I couldn’t move my leg at all and it was so swollen I cried. I was very much confused on what was happening. Finally, I went to the hospital and that’s when they revealed to me I had multiple blood clots. I was hospitalized from my four-week-old baby for a week and a half. Not to mention when I first went to the hospital, they gave me some medication and dismissed me just for me to come back a day later and get hospitalized and put on a 24hr watch. This experience takes the cake for me when it comes to this journey in LA.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a master of all trades that I participate in. I act, sing, dance, cook, and give others a place of comfort when needed and when I’m capable to do so. I specialize in being structured and intentional. I know I’ve worked hard to get to where I am and I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t have my intentions set and priorities structured to reach success. I don’t believe I’m known for anything besides being a sweetheart. Not to toot my own horn but lots of people tell me daily how much of a sweetheart I am and how it is easy to talk to me about anything. I do have a gift of a listening ear meaning I don’t only hear the words you say but I hear the words you don’t say but intend to. I am most proud of getting to LA and not losing myself but bettering myself and others around me. Spiritually, physically, and emotionally I have elevated since being here. I have unlocked so many pathways I just know I wouldn’t have had the chance to do being in the Midwest. Another thing I am most proud of is having a strong healthy co-parent relationship with my child’s father that helps a lot. Lastly, I am most proud to have my family here. Without them, I’m not sure how much I would’ve been able to accomplish within this timeline. They all help tremendously and I am truly grateful for them taking a leap of faith and coming to the west coast with me.

Discipline is what sets me apart from others. Patience and my faith that everything is working for me. I have a strong faith and connection with God and the cosmos and that’s because of my upbringing. I would love to go to church with my grandma and sing in the choir or learn praise dances. This was and is still a highlight for me because my grandma taught me to have that connection and how to strengthen it. I walk in faith through everything.

Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
I’m still new to selling my brand and my brand being ME but I love it so far. I’m always looking for collaborative opportunities and networking chances. I love getting around those with the same mindset and that can teach me new ways as well.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @private_artwork
• Twitter: @private_ARTwork
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@RaLaLand