Rising Stars: Meet Kameron Saunders

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kameron Saunders.

Hi Kameron, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
I am originally from St. Louis, MO. I initially found dance when I was young and my mother would bring me to a West African dance class she took. They would let me run around and watch. I was completely enamored by everything I saw. When I got to 6th grade my mother enrolled me in a performing arts middle school.

At the same time, I was doing praise dance at my church. Once I got to high school, I naturally wanted to continue with dance and go to the performing arts high school that all of my friends would be attending, but my mother had other plans. She enrolled me in a high school that was super academia-focused, which I loved, but I loved to dance more.

We had a huge fight and it was then that we found the Center of Creative Arts, or COCA, as a compromise for me to stay at that high school as she wanted and still be able to dance as I wanted.

At COCA, I was a part of their pre-professional program. I took 9 classes a week on a 90% scholarship my first year and then 100% scholarship my following years until graduating high school. I was also a part of their student dance company, COCADance. COCA ignited the huge passion I have as a performer, but it also exposed me to choreography which I have a talent for as well. After graduating high school I did two years at Webster University in the dance department as a dance major. I later transferred and finished out my undergrad at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music and Dance graduating with my BFA in 2014.

After college, I moved back home and became a dance teacher full time and freelancing as a choreographer whenever I got the opportunity. In 2019, my brother was drafted as a player for the Kansas City Chiefs and I moved to New York City. I taught at some of the leading studios out there – Gibney, Broadway Dance Center, Peridance, etc.

Once the pandemic hit, I moved back home and started a dance initiative with my business partner, Prince Lyons, called the K/P Project dedicated to creating performance opportunities for artists/dancers that are often overlooked, which I know very personally as a plus-size dancer.

This past October, I wrapped on a six-month movie project with Ryan Reynolds, Octavia Spencer, and Will Ferrell where I was a principal dancer. It was the first time I ever had a gig like that and it left me feeling seen and valued as a dancer and artist.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Today the dance world is getting much better at representation and inclusion, but when I came across classical forms a lot shifted for me.

I had countless teachers try to talk to me about my size and how if I wanted to be a successful dancer that I would have to lose weight and really start watching what and how much I eat. That was the beginning of a LOT of self-doubt, but I loved to dance too much so it was never enough to break me, although it was very VERY hard watching my peers who I often felt like I was more eager than, be rewarded certain things over me for what was seeming because I was a bigger guy/dancer.

My first love was West African dance. There is no size requirement. There is no flexibility requirement. It’s about the spirit/heart of the dance and dancer and the relationship of dance to drum/sound. It is the most freeing I have ever felt which is why is still holds so much space in my heart in comparison to other dance styles. I was never made to feel wrong or like I didn’t belong because of something out of my control. Especially at a young age.

Because I also had a talent for choreography I started to put a lot of my attention into doing more of that. I didn’t have to be skinny or flexible to be a choreographer. I could stand at the front of the room and make others bring my ideas to life. And it wasn’t until the past 2 years, at now almost 30 years old, that I realized I was hiding. I was using choreography as a crutch to not pursue my heart’s desire to dance/perform because I didn’t think I could or deserved it.

That someone somewhere would look at me and I wouldn’t be given the chance/opportunity because of my size. So I didn’t even want to audition for things to avoid more hurt and heartache. That lasted from about 16 years old until now.

Now that I have had this incredible experience on my first movie and I felt so celebrated and important to every step of the process I am finally honoring what I’ve been wanting to do all along and it feels GOOD!

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a dancer/choreographer/creative director.

In 2018, I was one of only 8 internationally selected choreographers for a fellowship at Jacob’s Pillow in its inaugural year. In 2020, I was the movement director for a creative campaign by Burberry x Vogue I’ve choreographed on some of the best contemporary companies and universities and presented my work at festivals like APAP in New York City I’ve worked with amazing artists like Will Ferrell, Ryan Reynolds, Octavia Spencer, Ken Page, and more

What sets me apart from the others is my spirit. As a dancer, there are many people who are extraordinary and who can make you watch them. As a choreographer, there are many that have a great eye for detail. But in all of that your spirit and energy never lies and I think that’s what many people love about me and why through all of the madness I’ve been through I’m continually blessed with amazing opportunities.

How do you define success?
Success, for me, is boiled down to your happiness and your purpose/passion being aligned. Money will come. That can never be the focus. If you are honoring what you feel you are called to do in this life and doing it with grace and dignity and honor, then literally everything else will come to you.

I’ve seen it happen many times with artists and people I admire and I’m beginning to feel that starting to happen with my own story. Success also includes others. We get nowhere in this life on our own, even if it feels lonely, there is always someone to help us on the journey. And the true success continues that cycle and helps/brings up others too.

Contact Info:

• Email: kameron.saunders@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kamnsaunders/?hl=en

Image Credits
Matt Seidel, James Raby, Robert Altman