Local StoriesNovember 22, 2023

Meet Michaela McKenzie

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Michaela McKenzie. She shared their story with us below:

Michaela McKenzie

Michaela “Mikki” McKenzie is a 21-year-old College Senior from Montgomery, Alabama. She began her technical dance training at the age of five at Carver Elementary Arts & Magnet School, located in Montgomery, Alabama, under Mrs. Linda Moore. She then received her training from Baldwin Middle Magnet School and Booker T. Washington Magnet High School as the years progressed. Michaela is trained in Ballet, Jazz, Modern, African, and Hip Hop. Michaela has worked & studied with Symphony Q Academy of Dance, Alabama Contemporary Ballet Theatre, MGM Dance Works, Nathan Trice, Nobis Licea, the Arts Council of Montgomery, the Tonea Stewart Performing Arts Camps, Brenau University, and the Ballet Hartford. She has also choreographed for several elementary, middle, and high school show choirs, musical theater assembles, and dance departments.

In the summer of 2022, the young artist got the opportunity to perform with Sheila E. Yolanda Adams, Tony Toni Tone, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Ruben Studdard, and Pastor Mike Jr. in the World Games Opening and Closing Ceremonies. Michaela also works in dance on film and theatrical film works that have been shown across the globe in several film festival showings. Michaela recently has shadowed & been awarded with an artistic fellowship with the Wideman Davis Dance Company. The young starlet also recently became a newly published author. In the summer of 2023, she released two books titled “Chocolate Hearts: A Collection of Short Stories About Black Love” & “Not You Reading My Diary!: A Book of Black Girl Emotions In Rhyme”.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As a black dancer growing up in the Deep South, I have had countless moments where I didn’t feel good enough or qualified to follow the dreams God gave me as a result of my background and skin color. But through my faith, dedication, & an amazing support system, I now feel equipped to do all that I have been called to do. I’m ready to take the arts industry by storm!

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
In the fall of 2022, I was awarded an artistic fellowship from the Wideman Davis Dance Company, funded by the Mellon Foundation. At 20 years old, I was the youngest fellow. With this fellowship grant, I was able to create my first major original dance theatre project titled “Vonnie”. This artistic work combined dance & theatre in a musical theatre-like fashion (without the singing) as it walked through the gorgeous love story of young writer & southern Belle Vonnie Marie Wilson & Paul Taylor, a charismatic northerner from the south side of Chicago. Their tale of love at first sight took place in 1955 in Montgomery, AL around the time of Rosa Parks’s arrest. I starred in the show as Vonnie Marie alongside my dear friend, performer Keith Allen Davis Jr who played Paul. The show was a hit & the audience sat beyond full capacity. As the show ended, it became standing-room only! Without the Wideman Davis Dance Company’s aid, I would have never been able to see my vision come to life. I will forever be grateful for them.

Outside of the fellowship, I also got the opportunity to take company classes and shadow this professional African-American led dance company. I will never forget the feeling of being allowed in the company’s space as a young, collegiate black dancer. They made me feel seen and oh so welcome to do the very thing I love. I will forever be transformed as a dancer & artist due to my experience with them.

We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
I define success as the end result of “getting the thing done”. If you finish something that was tough down the journey – even with a few bumps in the road it is still a SUCCESS!

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Jazmyne Isaac ; @sondersdiary on ig

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