Today we’d like to introduce you to Kara Cannella.
Kara, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I am a professional dancer/ content creator. I’ve been dancing for about 16+ years and have a BFA in Dance / Business from The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA. I started my Tiktok Career in 2020 doing small little dances, and seeing the recognition from people I didn’t know felt so empowering. I continued on my choreography journey on TikTok and started growing my following by making cute, trendy dances that got me to meet the most incredible people in the world and pursue my dreams in LA as a working dancer/choreographer.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
My social media journey has been a long time coming! I have been discredited from so many of my dances. My content has been suppressed because of my skin color. I have choreographed pieces with “friends” and they steal my credit and make it theirs online. The list goes on and on. I always try to stay positive and continue my social media journey. But it’s hard when you feel like the world is against you.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I love nothing more than to perform and be on stage! I have set pieces on dancers since I was a sophomore in high school! I was part of a new generation where dancing on social media for money was taboo. When I started choreographing on social media, it brought me such a new audience and perspective. Being recognized by Cardi B for my UP dance, Flo Milli for Conceited, and my most viral dance by Nikki Minaj. It’s been such an honor to make dances for POC artists, but also women POC artists has been my best accomplishment!
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
I think Covid put a lot of perspective into people’s minds. When I HAD to go home for Covid because my school shut down. Dancing remote was probably the most destroying thing for a dancer. My physical activity went down, the pieces I auditioned for school were just gone. I was a junior, and that was my most important year. I was devastated. I always loved social media and I always wanted to start my own YT page and TikTok. So spring break when I got let go from school I started my Tik Tok. Growth in 2020 was so much faster than it is now. But once I found out I could get pay for making 15 seconds videos… my 21 years old mind flipped out in the best way possible.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @karacannella
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@karaleighcannella?lang=en
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@karaleighcannella329
Image Credits
Photographers Shayden J. Schoonover Jess Alba
