Today we’d like to introduce you to Quaran Branker.
Quaran, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was always dancing throughout the house, even learning choreography, back when I didn’t even know dance could be a profession. My first ever dance class was at I Am Phresh Dance Academy in Philadelphia right before my 14th birthday. At that studio where I learned a lot of my foundation in hip-hop. A year or so into training, I also started going to different dance conventions to get a small taste of the industry. Along the journey, I was blessed to learn from a lot of people that had accomplished the things I had wanted to. I moved to LA 2 weeks before my 18th birthday, right after high school, for Rhapsody James’ Motivating Excellence Program (Season 4). It was her first time doing this program in LA. After the program, I never went back home, and the rest is history.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I had to accept the struggle that comes with starting fresh in the dance industry. When I first got to LA, I would make it to the end of most auditions, but never get the job. I never understood why, which hurt. Then it all clicked and since then, I’ve been very fortunate to have stayed pretty busy. I had a lot of insecurities when I first started dancing. I never liked my height. How I saw it, dance took way more “work” for me. I had to get used to all of my limbs. My mentor used to call me Bambi. I’m grateful to have gained a lot more self-love throughout my journey. I think without that self-love, it would be hard to make it as a professional dancer, in LA, and in life in general.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I am a professional dancer in the entertainment industry. I have a diverse resume with employment from Pepsi, Beyoncé, Gwen Stefani & Janet Jackson. What’s special to me about my work is my versatility. I have done a wide range of jobs on the entertainment spectrum. I would consider my self a chameleon in this industry. I feel very lucky to have an art form as my job because the process of bringing an idea to life really inspires me! I consider myself an artist first. Artists are creative. Creating art is a form of expression, and there are many different outlets within the arts that speak to me.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success is definitely a tricky thing to measure. I think we all have different things we want to learn and achieve during our time spent on earth. For me, it starts and ends with self-love. Success to me is measured in all areas of your life. Mind, body, spirit, not just material.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: instagram.com/QuaranBranker
- Twitter: twitter.com/QuaranBranker
Image Credit:
FarrenHeight (@farrenheight_cr)
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