Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Banks.
Michael, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I want to say I started underground ballroom performance when I was eighteen. I danced all throughout high school. Then I found out what vogue was, and immediately I was hooked. I started going to compete statewide, and before I knew it, I moved from North Carolina to Dallas, Texas and started a new life of ballroom. I then joined different community groups, promoted underground ballroom. I studied and learned different types of categories, and found that I had a niche for being a commentator, which I was very talented in the area. These two skills bring me to today where I perform and MC different ballroom event in Dallas. I hope to take this and grow in the coming years.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
My Art is Commentating first, and foremost. Commentating is not like any other sound you will hear in music. Commentating is a multitude of things. When a person is performing vogue, I have to give them a chant or a sound that will heighten the energy of them performing, and the audience watching. Being on the microphone, you are the center of the function or event. This means you have to be the eyes, ears, and voice of the room. Performing in the ballroom is a little different. The people came to see something, and it’s your job to give each audience member a live photo shoot. While dancing, you must pose and use the elements of vogue to excite the audience and beat any competitors against you.
The sterotype of a starving artist scares away many potentially talented artists from pursuing art – any advice or thoughts about how to deal with the financial concerns an aspiring artist might be concerned about?
I will say only one thing. If you really want it in your life, you will make it work no matter what the cost period.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
I perform at different functions in Dallas check out my social media to find out where!
Contact Info:
- Phone: 817-791-3918
- Email: micah007@yahooo.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/micahb098/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michael.a.banks.35
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition, please let us know here.
