Rising Stars: Meet Imani Underwood of North Hollywood

Today we’d like to introduce you to Imani Underwood.

Hi Imani, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always been interested in entertainment ever since I was a kid. From recreating scenes in movies to dancing at every family event. Dance has always been apart of me, although I didn’t begin technically training until my freshman year of high school. That’s when my love for dance really came to light. I knew I wanted to continue dancing when I went to college, and I had my sights set on San Diego State. But, things didn’t pan out the way I had hoped. After hearing the news of not being accepted into the dance program there, I almost gave up on pursuing dance. But I got a letter from AMDA and thought why not give it a try out. I sent in an audition video, and was soon accepted to study dance theatre at the LA campus! My time at AMDA LA was an experience I am grateful for pursuing. I met some incredible people, and learned so much about myself as a creative and a human being. I was able to come into my own as a dancer and strengthen my visions of where my passion for dance would take me. After graduating, I auditioned and trained, living life as a dancer in LA. Then I landed that one amazing opportunity: hosting Disney On Ice. Not the gig I thought I would book, but the actor in me was on cloud nine. This opportunity changed everything for me. I got the chance to travel all over the world, perform for so many different audiences, and learn some cool skills along the way like fire skating and aerial work.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It wasn’t smooth in the beginning, especially with how I would work through things. Mentally, I wasn’t as strong as I am now. My self talk was very negative, I doubted a lot of my abilities and compared myself to others more often than not. And the moment I started college, that’s when my mentality was put to the test. I was faced with living in a new place surrounded by so many different personalities, multiple different teaching styles and actively putting myself in a state that is out of my comfort zone. But staying out of my comfort zone is what shaped me into the person I am today. Nothing ever comes easy in life, and the challenges we go through are what make us strong enough to continue moving forward.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am proud of all the opportunities I have been given the chance to be apart of since graduating college. I have been apart of a few concept videos, a short film, tried out some voice acting, and the greatest achievement is traveling with Disney On Ice as a host. These opportunities have helped me explore different characters and dive deeper into my artistry. I am definitely a storyteller, and love to make the audience feel something whenever they watch a performance.

What does success mean to you?
Success to me is more like a feeling. The feeling I get after a performance, or learning a dance from a video. I feel like I have succeeded because I am able to do what I love, and that feeling never grows old. I can be in the middle of a show week on a Saturday with one more show of the day and might feel tired, but once I step out onto the floor and the lights come one, all of that washes away. I am rejuvenated and filled with energy. That to me is success.

Contact Info:

• Website: underwood.imani@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_imaniiu_/
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/imani.underwood