Conversations with Da’ante Bowman

Today we’d like to introduce you to Da’ante Bowman

Hi Da’ante , we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hello, People reading this. Thank you for taking the time to sit with me and want to hear part of my story. For me, this whole dream and pursuit started for me 10 years ago when I was 17. I was in high school and thinking about my what I wanted to do with my life. Where I’m from In Kentucky a lot of people dream but never really go for it. I just grew up not wanting to be that person that held themselves back. I saw it play out to many times. In my family, my friends and coworkers I just learned that so many people want to do things with their lives they are just afraid. Led by fear and afraid of their own potential.

It started with me being on the basketball team. My junior year I tore my ACL and one of my friends while I was on the bench healing joked about me joining the dance team.

I thought about it and something about it just sparked and idea that just felt like me. So once I was fully healed I tried out and I was the first male dancer ever to make the team. I ended up having to start the basketball game jumping for the ball and then at halftime I would to change and dance at the half time show.

I was really like Troy Bolton and my senior year solidified that I had a calling and knew all along that I was a star and I needed to lean on my dreams. It started then and I knew I was bound to make it to LA.

I remember we went to nationals for dance and there we got a standing ovation twice and afterwards a little boy ran up to me and was like when I grow up I want to dance like you and it just warmed my heart and ever sense then I knew that performing and creating was going to be my life.

At first, I didn’t even want to go to college. I had already known what I wanted to do. Move to Los Angeles right after high school and become a waiter and work for 24/7 at some Denny’s and call it a day. It didn’t quite work out like that and I ended up just moving to Los Angeles for 3 months over the summer with long lost family that eventually kicked me out because they found out I was “Gay” and that I was lying to them about it. (Which I wasn’t”)

Long story short, I got banned from LA from my family and I was back in Kentucky in school. I loved college but I just knew that it wasn’t me. I love socializing and talking the parties and clubs but I knew my heart was LA. So one semester during finals I just booked a flight back to LA and decided to move and I didn’t tell anyone I just left.

As far as the dream, it started back when I was a kid. I would lay in the floor and write movies and tv shows and things I wanted to watch. We didn’t have cable at times and didn’t have a lot of money growing up so my imagination ran rampant. It’s my best asset. It’s what keeps me going.

I think our lives play out a certain way for us to learn certain lessons we are supposed to learn in order to elevate and help us in the future.

So to answer your question I started from the bottom. It was hard. It was rough. It was lonely. I came from a lot of fear in what I wanted to do. I had to prove that I was talented because people are a see it to believe kind of folk they don’t just believe you and have faith in you unless they see it.

Adversity taught me my most Valuable lessons. In this journey it was like I went to Earth university where I just learned gems and hard truths. That’s what being and artist is. Reflecting your experience here in and very artistic way.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
For me there have been so many struggles. I think the biggest I’ve encountered at this big ole age is “Letting go of fear”. I think fear has held me back in so many aspects of my life. It held me back from auditioning, practicing, training, putting myself out there, networking, believing in myself. So many things that in being an artist you have to have.

I was afraid of “they” what would they say? What would they think? Maybe this isn’t good enough and they will talk about me or maybe I shouldn’t post this it might not get any views or if I do and no one likes it.

I had to let all that go and in doing a type of ego death took place and starting the frame work of my book “ Hello Fear, my old friend” which is out on E-books right now. The link in below

https://www.lulu.com/shop/daante-bowman/hello-fear-my-old-friend/ebook/product-84nmedr.html?q=Da%E2%80%99Ante+Bowman&page=1&pageSize=4

I wrote this in my time when I was at my lowest. I had nothing. I was recently evicted in my apartment. I had no job, no money and I was sleeping in my car. I literally felt so alone. I didn’t have anyone to talk to so I just opened up my computer and just began to vent and it popped out.

My struggles are outlined in there please give it a read and a share:)

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I believe my title if I had to give myself just one would be Creative Director. I’m a Choreographer, Dancer, Actor , Writer and Director/ Filmmaker. I think up to date would be my recent Directorial Debut for my short film “ Like Father, Like Daughter” written by Da’Ante Bowman. It is my first piece of work that I’ve entered in film festivals and that I created and it definitely shaped my love for filmmaking. I love being able to tell stories that hold weight and matter. I think we have a lot of art and media out that doesn’t reflect who we are a people with my movies and tv shows I want us to feel again. So I strive to make films and tv that sparks conversation, that makes you think and pushes the envelope because that’s life.

I’m an artist that lives outside the rules of the world because I think that is where true creation lies.

I’m also most proud of releasing my Book “ Hello Fear, my old friend” because it’s so vulnerable. I literally tore a piece out of my diary and just sent it to the world and that was scary and a big moment for me in trusting my story because I believe that what we go through has the potential and power to save someone else. Our stories matter each and every one of us.

Dancing I love working with Artist. I love making choreography and concepts for their music videos and giving them the confidence within their bodies to deliver.

The way I choreograph is as if I’m the artist I want to feel what they feel and I make it my mission to relate that through my dance which makes it unique and more like storytelling.

My writing as a scriptwriter takes me all over the world I can go so far into my mind that it allows me to play.

Right now I’m writing a tv show called “The island of misfitz” and a feature called “Seedz” and a short film called “ Romeo and Julian”. I’m also I’m looking for executive producers and producers to come aboard and bring this world to life.

There are so many things I want to create and put out and people I want to connect with so anyone out there that is serious about their craft and wanting to leave this world with art that can shape the next generation then connect with me.

@daantes_inferno
Bowmandaante@gmail.com

Who else deserves credit in your story?
There are so many people that believe in me who have supported me that deserve credit. First I want to say God because without that relationship I know for a fact I would not be in Los Angeles. God has guided my steps the entire time I’ve been here and I’m grateful!

My first dance coaches Mrs. fox and Mrs. Mitchell. To coach myles and coach D. To Mrs. Stephens for believing in my writing my mom, ( Jillian) and dad( Nathan) for never giving up when life got hard. My Brother (Deaven) and sisters (Bria, Kamari and Aniyah) I’m the oldest so who I do all of this for.
My grandmother(Lillie) & Grandfather( Bobby) for loving me and supporting me. My family for that matter always believing in me even if differences came up. My aunts (Brooke and Lauren). Uncle Bobby. Lily. Everyone from Madisonville that always believed in me. Ryde or dies. My best friends( Dieshia, Brandon, Reese, Lauryn, and Kendal) who’ve I’ve known for YEARSSS they’ve been through every transition and era of my life.

Also everyone I follow on Instagram that really supports and loves me. I get so many dm’s about how they needed to hear what I have to say and I just want to publicly share everyone that has shown love in my life and that has helped me. There have been couches I’ve sleeper on and rooms I’ve shared and floors I’ve occupied for all this to happen and I don’t take it lightly. I deeply wholeheartedly appreciate it. So shout out to my family. I love you all.

Pricing:

• $18.88 is how much my book is!!!!!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lulu.com/shop/daante-bowman/hello-fear-my-old-friend/ebook/product-84nmedr.html
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/daantes_inferno
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@daantesinferno3575