Today we’d like to introduce you to Latifat Sulaimon.
Hi Latifat, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Creative storytelling has shaped my life since I first stepped foot in America. At the age of three, my family moved from Lagos, Nigeria, to Columbus, Ohio. With most of my family still living in Nigeria, I learned a great deal about America through the media I consumed growing up. At the same time, I noticed how rarely people who looked like me were represented in meaningful ways. Those experiences, combined with moments of discrimination I faced as a child, planted the seed for the work I create today: stories that help people feel seen.
Because my family was focused on building a new life from the ground up, I often taught myself the creative skills I was most passionate about. I studied films starring actors like Denzel Washington and Will Smith alongside Nollywood productions, while spending hours recreating choreography from dance movies like Step Up and music videos. What started as curiosity quickly grew into a passion for acting, dance, directing, and storytelling.
Throughout high school, I immersed myself in theater and dance, acting in productions, choreographing performances, and helping create Black History Month showcases. When I entered The Ohio State University during the COVID-19 pandemic, alongside my Communication of Technology degree I doubled down on my artistic training. Over four years, I studied ballet, contemporary, house, hip-hop, West African traditional dance, and Afro styles while continuing to perform, choreograph, and direct original work.
As my network grew, so did my opportunities. I founded AfroDanceOhio to bring African dance and culture to local communities, taught classes throughout Ohio, and sought training opportunities across the United States and abroad. Traveling to Barcelona for Afro dance festivals and training under renowned choreographer Antoine Troupe helped expand my perspective as both a performer and creative director. Those experiences gave me confidence that my work could resonate far beyond my hometown.
After graduating from Ohio State in 2025, I moved to Dallas, Texas, determined to immerse myself in a thriving creative community and push my artistry further. Over the past year, I have directed multiple dance films, created Silent Cell, a narrative short film raising awareness about sickle cell disease, performed alongside artists such as Maleek Berry and BNXN, and joined ODUMODUBLVCK’s North American tour as a co-choreographer and performer. At the same time, I continue to return to Ohio to support the community that helped shape me, serving as Hair Choreographer for Jaja’s African Hair Braiding with The Contemporary Theatre of Ohio, directing/choreographing videos, teaching through AfroDanceOhio, and performing with Afrobeatstotheworld.
Today, whether I’m directing a film, choreographing a performance, acting on stage, or teaching a class, my mission remains the same: to create work rooted in curiosity, culture, community, and lived experience. I want people to walk away feeling inspired, represented, and connected through storytelling.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely has not been a smooth road, though I am grateful for every challenge along the way because each one taught me something valuable.
One of my biggest obstacles was learning how to navigate self-doubt and imposter syndrome, especially during my time at The Ohio State University. I entered the dance program with a lot of ambition and a commitment to growth. I had always been known for my performance quality, stage presence, facial expressions, and energy, but I knew I wanted more than that. I wanted the technical foundation to help me understand my body better, which would allow me to communicate through movement at an even deeper level.
The reality was that joining and training within an advanced dance program was no easy feat. Many of my peers had been training in ballet and contemporary dance since they were three or four years old, while I was building those foundations much later. There were moments when I questioned whether I belonged in those spaces at all. It is easy to compare yourself to others when you are surrounded by incredibly talented people.
What helped me was realizing that everyone’s journey is different. Everyone enters the room with different experiences, goals, and strengths. While it may have taken me longer to become comfortable in certain techniques, that did not change how badly I wanted it or how passionate I was about growing as an artist. I learned that progress is not always about being the best in the room. Sometimes it is about showing up consistently, putting in the work, and trusting the process even when the results are not immediate.
That experience taught me grit and discipline. More importantly, it taught me not to let anxiety dictate my decisions. Instead of viewing my unique background as a disadvantage, I began to see it as one of my greatest strengths. My experiences in acting, directing, and storytelling gave me a different perspective as a performer. Over time, I learned how to blend those disciplines together, bringing emotion, intention, texture, and narrative into my movement.
Looking back, I believe those challenges helped shape me into the artist I am today. They taught me that growth is rarely linear and that consistency and belief in yourself can carry you much further than perfection ever will.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a multidisciplinary storyteller, working across film, dance, theater, choreography, and creative direction. At the center of everything I create is a desire to tell meaningful stories that connect people. While many people know me as a dancer and choreographer, I often think of myself first as a storyteller. Whether I am directing a short film, performing on stage, choreographing a piece, or acting in a production, I am always asking the same question: “How can I make people feel something?” My work frequently explores identity, community, relationships, and experiences that are often overlooked, while creating space for people from all backgrounds to feel seen.
I specialize in blending movement with narrative. What sets me apart is that I do not view dance, acting, directing, and filmmaking as separate pursuits. Each discipline informs the others. My acting background influences how I choreograph. My directing curiosity and experience shape how I perform. My understanding of movement impacts how I tell stories on screen. Together, they allow me to create work that is both visually compelling and emotionally grounded.
One project that reflects this approach was a dance film I directed that explored depression and the role dance has played in helping me navigate difficult seasons of life. Inspired by Inside Out, I personified different emotions through dancers who moved alongside me throughout the film. By combining acting, choreography, and filmmaking, I was able to communicate feelings that are often difficult to put into words. Projects like that remind me why I create in the first place. More recently, I directed Silent Cell, a narrative short film raising awareness for sickle cell disease through both storytelling and movement. Across my work, I am constantly searching for ways to bridge disciplines and create experiences that resonate emotionally with audiences.
What I am most proud of is the impact my work has on others. Some of my favorite moments come from hearing someone tell me they felt seen, represented, or inspired by a project. Whether the audience is ten people or ten thousand, creating meaningful experiences for others is what drives me.
I also balance my creative work alongside a full-time corporate career, which has taught me discipline, leadership, and the importance of building systems that allow creativity to thrive. No matter the environment, I find myself drawn to the same thing: bringing people together and creating spaces where stories can be shared.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
One of the biggest things I’ve learned is that mentorship doesn’t always look the way people expect it to. Early on, I thought a mentor had to be one person who took me under their wing and guided every step of my journey. In reality, I’ve gained different lessons from different people depending on where I was in my life and career.
What has worked best for me is showing up consistently and being genuinely curious. Whether it was attending classes, volunteering on productions, introducing myself after workshops, or simply asking thoughtful questions, I found that relationships developed naturally over time. People are often much more willing to help than we think, but they usually want to see your commitment first.
I also learned not to limit myself to people who looked exactly like me or had the exact career path I wanted. Some of my most valuable mentors have taught me about leadership, professionalism, storytelling, creativity, and confidence from completely different backgrounds. I’ve taken pieces of wisdom from each of them and applied them to my own journey.
Networking has always felt more authentic when I approach it as community building rather than trying to get something from someone. Instead of asking, “What can this person do for me?” I try to ask, “How can we connect?” or “What can I learn from this person?” Some of my biggest opportunities came from relationships I built years before I ever needed anything.
Most importantly, don’t be afraid to put yourself in rooms where you’re not the most experienced person. Some of my greatest growth happened when I was uncomfortable, whether training in new cities, auditioning for programs I wasn’t sure I could get into, or introducing myself to people I admired. Confidence comes after taking the leap, not before.
The relationships that have impacted me most started with a simple conversation, so my advice is to stay open, stay curious, and keep showing up.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/naijaish/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LatifatTSulaimon/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/latifatsulaimon
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@LatifatS
