“Another thing that I know is that the overflow of gratitude equals joy, so in order to have that joy and that strength, you have to have a thank you. That overflow of thank you is what brings joy, and I've always had a thank you…When I was walking down the street and I had an EBT card and we were living in section eight and I was watching people get shot in front of me, literally…it was normal, honestly, it became normal that ‘This is how life should be.’ But there was something in me that knew that I had something more...I have moments on stage randomly, where if I think about it too much, my eyes start to water because I am just truly so grateful.”
This week we chat with actor, dancer, producer, creative director, and wellness enthusiast Leroy Church. The Chita Rivera and Antonyo Award winner shares his story, starting with his church dance beginnings at age 13 all the way to his current expansion into producing and creative directing, like he did with the renowned Dreamgirls production on Clubhouse in 2021. We discuss why he believes in the power of gratitude, how we can dismantle the gatekeeping of the Broadway industry, and what led to his signature catchphrase, “Thank you, Happy New Year.”
Recommendation: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Philadanco, Dallas Black Dance Theatre, Lula Washington Dance Theatre
Shout out: Kalilah Black
Follow Leroy Church on Instagram.
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