Working IT support might be her day job, but being a Creative Director is her dream. Daphne Curry started dancing around the age of three in a variety of genres. Born and raised in Augusta, Georgia, she fell in love with the art, which has taken her places like Scotland and London.
During an exclusive interview with Curry, she explained that the dance industry in Atlanta is super competitive. “There are a lot of talented dancers out here. So you tend to see the same dancers at different events and classes,” Curry said. “Atlanta is becoming one of the biggest cities for productions, movies and all types of entertainment. So the Atlanta dance industry is just growing and growing every day.”
Santana: You started dancing at the age of three. Tell us a little bit about that.
Daphne: At three, my mom put me in dance classes because I wouldn’t be still as a kid. I just kind of stuck to it. When I got older – maybe around the age of four or five – I went to Augusta West for about two years. Then, I left and went to the Augusta Dance of Music, which was owned by Ferneasa Cutno. She changed the studio name soon after. I was there with her from maybe around the age of five to sixteen. So I was dancing at that studio for years training in ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop and African. In conjunction with that, I actually auditioned for John S. Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School in Augusta, Georgia. I was dancing there as well. So I’ve been surrounded by it pretty much my whole life.
Santana: I see that you are a huge Kendrick Lamar fan. How big of an influence is he in your life?
Daphne: The biggest thing I love about him is that he’s so real. Everybody has seen him performing on stage. Whether watching a visual or just listening to his music, the biggest thing about him is his passion. It just screams off of whatever he does. Even when his sound has changed, he’s still passionate about it. And that’s really what I respect the most about him.
Even the Grammy performance that he did… Who’s done that? He basically went on stage and said, ‘Forget y’all. Black Lives Matter.’ He was like, ‘We’re proud of who we are and all of this other stuff is dead.’
I was proud. My boyfriend did that! (laughs) He’s just dope.
I met him at a show. I told him that I just respect everything he does and to never lose the meaning behind whatever he does. And he called me Boo. So we were good to go! (laughs) That’s all I needed to know!
Santana: You have your own hip-hop sessions in Augusta. How has that experience been for you?
Daphne: I’m just a regular person that went home and was like, ‘I’m gone throw a class.’ That was it.
It’s just me seeing it as something the community wants. I’m still on the journey to see what happens. A lot of people say they like it, it’s fun and they enjoy it. I just really want people to come out and have fun.
Santana: I had a chance to watch one of your videos. When it comes to visuals, how do you come up with the concepts?
Daphne: Like when King’s Dead came out on SoundCloud before the album, I had to get to work! If you’ve seen the video, the guys and I did a preview. That one was like a continuation of another one.
I’ll have these ideas in my head and I’ll be like, ‘I’m gonna do it.’
Santana: What advice would you give an aspiring dancer, visual artist or choreographer who would like to follow the same path as you?
Daphne: I’m still somebody that’s striving to get to a certain point. I’m just doing something I love to do.
If it’s something you like to do and you’re passionate about it, just do it. That’s it. Just do it!
SOUTHERN LACED 