Meet Aerick Luckie

Today we’d like to introduce you to Aerick Luckie.

Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
Born and raised in Inglewood, CA. The City of Champions. I’ve always been lost in a cloud of imagination. Even as a kid, curating lighting, costumes, choreography, and story lines gave me a joyfully overwhelming sense of escape. Being able to connect to an audience through performance was an exciting concept. I was in Elementary school when I became addicted to the elements of production. My mom enrolled me in a musical theater performance group called the Apollo West Carson Players. It was a predominantly Black cast of well-versed dancers, singers, and actors from all over LA. She would drive me to rehearsals 2-3 times a weeknight and sit in the parking lot grading papers that had to be returned to students the next day. Looking back, I can see where a lot of my inspiration came from. Being able to experience the meticulous craft of lighting and dress rehearsals gave me time to absorb the magic of the stage and all the elements that went into setting each scene. By the 10th grade, I was 100% in my zone. Performing in talent shows, choreographing the school dance teams, then finding Mama Tasha and the Get Em Up Clowns.

At the time, clown dancing was taking over LA, so there were a number of crews in different areas. We’d battle in the streets and at competitions, which gave us a chance to meet people outside our neighborhood. Since our crew was being asked to perform around the city at different events, we always had to come with new looks. I’d consider this to be my first job as a “Creative Director.” Mama Tasha, who managed the group, gave me the creative space to design costumes, set the show order, and manage artist development strategies for anyone in our crew that wanted to sing. She eventually negotiated an umbrella contract for us to be represented by Bloc Dance Agency.

During my 12th grade year, I was introduced to a 14 year old singer named Jhene Aiko. She was signed under the same management as B2K and happened to live 7 mins from my house. After we hit it off (in the most platonic way), I’d take the 212 up Slauson to her grandparent’s house to rehearse her songs and be random. It always felt like a cookout because she has a lot of family and they loved spending time cracking each other up in the kitchen. We went on a handful of school tours then I eventually met and started dancing/choreographing for ORyan.

By graduation, I’d booked a semi-lead role in the movie Thirteen, choreographed a Sunny Delight commercial, danced with the crew in Black Eyed Peas “Hey Mama” video, and got “Dirrty” with Christina Aguilera.

Being surrounded by a group of hungry, talented people from my neighborhood gave us the sense of family that we still carry now. I see these same people I grew up with thriving in their industries, being trailblazers in every facet of arts and entertainment.

Through the years, I’ve stayed committed to keeping a fresh excitement for what I do and bringing it into every project I’m a part of.

Please tell us about your art.
Simply enough. I like to create magic. Its when you watch a performance or see a photoshoot that captivates your spirit. You’re transformed into a different world for a moment in time. That escape is what I want people to experience when they see my work. I’m a creative director-choreographer and instructor. An artist is ever-expanding, which is how I started focusing on set design, art installations, and directing music videos. I’ve created a 90’s cardio fitness class with my wife that gets people of all levels and backgrounds feeling too legit to quit. No matter what it is, I go into every project, rehearsal, class, and production meeting looking to concoct a magical formula with people passionate about what they do.

As an artist, how do you define success and what quality or characteristic do you feel is essential to success as an artist?
I think gratefulness is essential to success. If you’re not grateful for what you have, you’ll always be chasing an idea of success that may already be your reality from a different perspective. Success is continuing to be happy with my personal journey, even when life doesn’t feel Instagram worthy. That never means settling for less or building a home in my comfort zone. But I think that knowing your worth and standing in your truth will keep the things that don’t need to be in your life out of your orbit.

Knowing that God’s abundance is endless keeps me motivated to consistently work on being the best version of myself I possibly can. Success is every time I feel myself step more into the person He’s calling me to be.

How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
Follow @thatsluckie_ on IG
Put a little funk in your fitness by following @oldschoolskinny on IG and Youtube.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.oldschoolskinny.com
• Phone: 3106861516
• Email: oldschoolskinny@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatsluckie_/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oldschoolskinny/

Image Credit:
Carrington Mitchell Photographer – Lori Ann Garcia Photographer – Public Domain Good Morning America – Kadar Pierre Photographer

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