Today we’d like to introduce you to Shanell Brooks.
Shanell, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
In the famous quote from Kevin Durant, I’m “Just a youngin from Maryland, tryna get it..” I knew I loved dancing and acting ever since I was a kid but I never knew that being both was a thing. I don’t blame my Mom for not putting me into dancing and acting because I was a very quiet kid until it was time to put on a show for my family. I was always the girl around the way who knew how to dance but I didn’t get my first “ah ha” moment until my freshman year of high school when I auditioned for the Dance Company. There were so many things that I realized I didn’t know about dance as an art form. That was the first time I ever was introduced to ‘across the floor’; I was so fearless then. I just did my best. I didn’t make it through. I later on auditioned for my school’s Poms Squad and I got it! That’s when the beginning of my dance training began. From Jazz, Ballet, Leaps, HipHop, etc. I was a sponge. I literally just turned into what it felt like to me at the time, a trained dancer overnight. I wasn’t afraid of failing or how I looked. I just knew that I want to figure out a way to master a different style of dance that I was a late bloomer to. 18 is when I started taking dance more seriously. It was times where I was probably the oldest or one of the oldest in the class but I didn’t care. I just wanted to train and get better. During that time of discovery, I joined different dance companies in the area and trained as hard as I allowed myself to. Fast forward to today, I am currently living in Atlanta pursuing my dancing, acting, and whatever else I feel like pursuing FULL TIME at the age of 30!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Whew, it hasn’t been a smooth road at all. I was 18, fresh out of high school. All of my friends went away to college and I was just home, at a community college trying to figure out life. I didn’t have the grades leaving out of high school so I knew going straight into college was an absolute no. I didn’t know who I wanted to be. I felt like I had to go to college, I was told that. I didn’t know a life outside of what was presented to me. At the age of 20 going on 21, I decided to transfer to Salisbury University where I earned my Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theatre. I said to myself that if I’m going to do this college thing then I am going to do what I want to do. I still struggled through college. Not grade wise. I actually did pretty well, which surprised me. It still surprises me. I still didn’t know who I was. I still felt like I needed more. I was still focusing on what people were telling me what I should do with my life and career once I got out of college. I still didn’t pursue what I wanted to pursue so badly which was dancing and acting full time. I was going from job to job instead of believing that I could do it. I didn’t have the support from myself. I didn’t believe that I could have more. I am most proud of getting through depression. The nos aren’t particularly that hard to deal with in this industry but this no last year was really really tough for me. I auditioned for something and I just knew that I had it and I didn’t get it. It was literally right up my alley and I didn’t get it. At that time, I thought being exceptionally great and not making it was way worst than doing okay and not getting booked. I was devastated. It completely broke me. I was shattered. Like just imagine a vase falling on a hardwood floor. I stopped dancing, acting, and being creative as a whole. Everything that I loved and wanted to be, I didn’t love or wanted to be anymore. I literally lost all hope in this craft, this industry, and myself. I called my Mom hysterically crying; you would’ve thought that my nonexistent dog died. I encourage everyone, especially Black People, to go to therapy. It really helps and being a part of this industry is hard and hard work! You gotta have tough skin man. Fast forward, I started getting into Pole and it eased me back into dancing and being creative again. To watch myself grow in Pole Dancing is an amazing journey. Pole pretty much saved my life. Maybe you’ll see your girl on P-Valley one of these days! You never know!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I want to know more as Shanell the Artist. The woman who can literally step into anything and eat it up! The “Renaissance Black Woman”. Outside of dancing and acting, I’ve been writing a lot. I write short stories and scenes that I want to develop into shoes and/or movies. I try to join in on writing classes when I have the time. I used to write music when I was younger too! So if you know any Black Writers group, send them my way! I’m easing my way back into photographer so I’m about to start getting my “home studio” together. Stay tuned! I’m working on getting back into sewing so I can start making my own clothes! I also had the pleasure of being a Wardrobe Assistant for a movie that will be coming out later on this year and I absolutely loved it! I want to get into styling other artists and do more movies and tv shows. I started my ‘Stretching With Shanella’ brand where I teach stretch classes via zoom or IG, share stretching tips, bomb playlist and more during the first wave of the pandemic. I’m revamping that page but feel free to follow me @stretchingwithshanella! I’m known for always being ready to put on a show no matter how introverted I am! I started getting into Pole and it eased me back into dancing and being creative again. Pole pretty much saved my life and now I love it! Maybe you’ll see your girl on P-Valley one of these days! You never know! In this industry, I can’t worry about what sets me apart from others because it will mess with my mental. The older I get the more I realize how unhealthy it is to compare myself to others whether in a good or bad way.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
What I’ve learned and what I’m still learning is that I can’t live in regret. I can’t lie, I still struggle with this. I always think about what I could have or should have done! There’s no person alive who doesn’t think about stuff like that. I’m learning to embrace my journey and to understand that there were a lot of things that I just wasn’t ready for. I can swear up and down that I was ready for it but in all actuality, I wasn’t. I didn’t know myself and that’s okay because I know who I am now! Now it’s time for the world to know who I am too! Another thing that I’m learning now is to just ask. Whether I’m on set, at a networking event, grocery store, etc. If you have a burning question and it can be something that is life-changing to your career and you don’t want to leave that place feeling like “dang, I should’ve asked if…” then just ask. You never know where that question can take you. The worst anyone can say is no and half of the time, that’s not even a bad thing. I learned to take time for myself and training. Making money is good and all but if it’s interfering with training and becoming a better artist then I have to manage my time better. Also, not all money is good money! Making time for myself is so important to me too! I never want to feel burnt out. I learned to not focus on those who don’t support me and focus on those who do! A bit of advice for my fellow Actors and Dancers that I am learning is to figure out your brand. What type of artist are you? You don’t have to limit yourself to one thing, however, really hone in on that craft that you see yourself doing for the long run. Understand that this is EXPENSIVE and you have to be fully committed!! You have to be your own Agent, Manager, Stylist, Accountant, Photographer (when you can’t afford to take professional headshots), Therapist (because you be ready to give up) and this list goes on! Last but most certainly not least, Phillipians 4:6-7 “Don’t worry about anything, instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” God will always provide and he will always be there to stir me to the right direction and because of that I always meet him halfway. I also make sure I give thanks to what I have already accomplished and I know through faith and to stop worrying (I’m working on it), that there’s no way that I won’t be who I destined to be through his image.
Contact Info:
- Email: therealshanellbrooks@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealshanella/
- Other: www.tiktok.com/@heyshanellaaaa
Image Credits
@djcoreyphotography @destanimechelephotography @slingshotsatl
