I started this blog because I realized I was surrounded by people whose stories I felt should be told. The amazingly talented and rambunctious ATLien, Antwan Sessions, is no different!
Antwan quickly made a name for himself on the Atlanta scene as a dancer, but now he's taken the lead by starting his own company, Lamorris Namari. Learn more about Antwan and his new company below...
Antwan’s Roots
Antwan played baseball growing up and admits he was quite good at the sport. He was a part of a touring team and says he would probably be on a professional team if he hadn’t gotten burnt out. Antwan says even when playing baseball he had a love for dance. He would watch and learn choreography from Britney Spears, Janet Jackson and the Spice Girls music videos “just to name a few”, he laughs, and perform them at middle school dances. Upon graduating middle school he was approached by his counselor to audition for the North Springs High School Dance Program. “...so without knowing what a plié was I audition and that day my counselor called me to tell me I made it.” says Sessions.
He shares that he didn’t really take dance seriously, in the beginning, until he saw Ulysses Dove's Episodes. After seeing amazing dancers like Desmond Richardson and Desire Vlad he was so impressed; especially by Ms. Vlad because she was such a beautiful dancer and, not to mention, “...she was dark chocolate like me. Mr. Desmond put me under a spell from the very first moment I saw him dance. Ugh, those legs are what I wanted! So, after seeing that, ballet dance became my heartbeat.", says Sessions.
Since then Antwan has trained at several schools under full scholarship like: Total Dance, RISPA , Tolbert Yilmaz, and Metropolitan Ballet Theater where he trained in ballet, modern, jazz, and hip hop. He has taught and performed in Atlanta, Denver, and San Francisco. He’s also traveled as far as Mexico, Canada, China, Europe, and Africa to share his gift. He has danced with several awarding winning choreographers like: Tracy Vogt, Lonnie Davis Jr, Kim Robards, Kiki Ely, SYTYCD, Beyonce's choreographer Jeffrey Page, Cirque Du Soleil Choreographer/former dancer Stephan Reynolds, and alongside Nikki Jane.
What Keeps Antwan Going
“When I wake up in the morning I kid you not, I put my headphones on and I dance until I'm satisfied, and then coffee!!!”
Antwan says that his drive comes from a determination to make his dreams a reality. He says he has this underlying fear of never making his dreams come true, but is also filled with excitement and joy when he thinks about the future and those dreams are realized.
“Never give up! Do what makes you happy in life.”, says Sessions. Drifting back into the future, he says that when he leaves this world he wants to be at peace with his legacy and know that he achieved what he wanted in his lifetime.
What’s in a Name?
“The name of my company is Lamorris Namari Ballet. When I was a young, hungry dancer I was wild, full of energy and had so much power. Every time I would dance or go across the floor my teacher, Ms. Terrie "Ajile" Axam owner of Total Dance, would yell "Antwan calm down you BIG BLACK CAT!”, I would smile and laugh. So, from those moments I became very interested in panthers. I was intrigued by their black fur, beauty, and the ability to command respect just by their presence---on top of being dangerous, proud creatures of the animal kingdom. So, when it came down to creating a name for my company I combined my middle name, Lamorris, with Panther in Swahili 'namiri'…
….Which is another funny story. When I finally got the name approved through the system to be a Georgia business I went back to Google to double check the meaning of the name and I couldn’t find it. So, I started panicking; I kept searching but, no luck. Finally, I realized the name I got approved I misspelled. Black Panther in Swahili is "namiri" , I spelled it “namari”, he laughs. “So I don't know the meaning, but I fell in love with it and kept it.", says Sessions about the name of his company.
Location, Location!
“I think Atlanta is the perfect place for my company because I wanted to give the talented dancers here a chance to shine. I also wanted my company to blossom from the South not having to go to LA or New York.”
Antwan says he wanted his company to grow from an Atlanta based dance company to a global corporation reaching as many different people around the world as possible by having multiple shows traveling at the same time. “My company started based on an idea I had on how I wanted to dance in other companies. I am inspired by so many different talented companies. I thought, ‘what if I can show the world my interpretation of dance as well as bring a new breed of entertainment.'
I asked Antwan what type of company is Lamorris Namari and I can picture him lighting up as he answers…
“Lamorris Namari is a Multi racial contemporary ballet company. I wanted to create a company that entertains and inspires people! This won't be your average ballet company. I want to incorporate pyrotechnics, live music, avant garde choreography, dancers coming from the ceiling and hitting the step! I want all the visuals you can possibly ever want, I want your imagination running wild and leave our shows wanting more and more! It is important to me to appeal to everyone and not just those involved in the arts. This will be a company everyone will enjoy!”
What Antwan looks for in a WERKing dancer
“I look for dancers with strong technique, performance quality, and stage presence. I want the underdogs; people who go for broke. I do not see body type or color. I don't care if you're thick, tall, short, skinny, athletic, Black, White, Asian, Hispanic, or Arabic! As long as you can hit the steps —with my requirements— I want you!!
—Right now when Lamorris Namari performs, entertainment is number one with me. I carefully pick my music, add breathtaking light effects, daring choreography, and talented dancers. These four things are the very essence of my company.”
Antwan leaves us with quotes from the great Alvin Ailey. ‘Inspire the people not shut them out. "Dance came from the people and should be delivered back to the people."
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