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Bloggers & Friends Podcast
Bloggers & Friends Podcast builds community by sharing the experiences, personal journeys, and thoughts, of our guests and our host; having important conversations that resonate and connect us to one another. We talk life, we talk change, we talk wellness and culture, and we do it all with a little bit of laughter! Join us...we just may be the podcast you didn't know you needed.
Bloggers & Friends Podcast
Bloggers & Friends Podcast X Durante Lambert
On this episode we are joined by Dancer, Choreographer, Artist Developer, Mentor, Producer, Durante Lambert. We are talking about his recent Legends Award as well as his journey as a creative and the endeavors that are ahead. Tune in and join the conversation!
Hey y'all. I'm Janelle Yarbrough and welcome to Bloggers and Friends. This is your podcast for discussions around relevant topics and experiences that resonate with the culture. For those of you who roll with me, you know we talk a lot about embracing the possibility of change. We'll continue to touch on that and lots more. Sound good Word. Let's get into it. Hey, hey y'all. Thank you so much for joining us here today. I am super excited. I know it's been a minute since I've been here recording Not too much on me today. We'll talk about that later. Today we are joined by a very special guest, and not just special because of his talent, not just special because of his creativity, but special because he is a whole friend of mine that over time became family, and I'm super excited to have him with us here today. We are joined today by dancer, choreographer, talent developer, producer, director Portland's very own Durante Lambert.
Speaker 2:Hello, hello, what's up y'all? I'm sure I missed some boxes.
Speaker 1:I missed some boxes. What else did I miss? Let's just for the funsies. What did I anything?
Speaker 2:I think you've done a lot, uh, choreographer, dancer, artistic director, uh, career, career man, I mean I got a job too come on um mentor. Uh, yes, overall just a well-rounded person period, so yeah, yeah, grateful. Period, yeah, grateful.
Speaker 1:All the things.
Speaker 2:All the things.
Speaker 1:Well, I'm excited to have you here today, and I'm going to tell you what sparked me to invite you.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:Not just because I love you, but we both received an award. There is an event in Portland, an annual event. Shout out to DJ OG1, portland's premier DJ. Shout out to him Right. He has an event that he co-founded and it's PDX Hip Hop Week Within that week, which has a ton of awesome events in and around Portland. He has an event called the Star Awards, where he acknowledges different artists and talent waymakers, business owners, entrepreneurs in this event, and Durante and I were privileged enough, along with our great friend Dana Fuller-Shepard, to receive an award called the Legends Award.
Speaker 2:Yes, yes. Very exciting, right, because not often we get flowers for the things that we get to do.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:And it's been this long.
Speaker 1:I was going to say we've been in the game now a long time, over 25, over 25 years over 25 years. For, for the record, let's, let's, let's tell the people um how old were you when we first met?
Speaker 2:I was a teen yeah, so I think when I first met you, I was 13.
Speaker 1:Right 13.
Speaker 2:Yeah, 13. Because I had auditioned for Northwest African American Ballet at the age of 13.
Speaker 1:Were you doing OBT? I was going to say, were you doing the old?
Speaker 2:OBT, yeah, me and Jonte, yeah, and he was one year older than me and I was 13 years old. I had no business, I had no idea Nothing about what a professional company is or anything, but I just loved to dance and I knew I was good at doing African dance. So I threw myself into this audition with no expectation and I got in as an apprentice. And that's when I first met you. It was like this girl's bomb. The first connection was there. So, yes, I've known you for a long time.
Speaker 1:It's crazy We've grown up together essentially. Even though there's like a gap in our age like we essentially were both, I mean I think you were so you were an early teen and I was a late teen, for sure, and and we've been doing this dance thing together individually for some years, and I'll just say that it's been Such an honor.
Speaker 1:I always I'm a watcher and I'm an observer, and just watching people and how they flourish and grow and plant their seeds is such a beautiful thing to me. So that award really was full circle for both of us to be there. And even though Dana wasn't able to be there, having her nominate I mean having her as a recipient also was just a beautiful thing. And so what made me, what made me say we've got to get on, we've got to get on, we've got to get on and record right, yeah, um was first of all.
Speaker 1:I felt so like big sisterly in the moment, because I was like is he? Is he nervous, is he gonna be all right up there? Because we each had to get up there and do a stage right, I was like, is he gonna be? I just wanted to be there holding your hand, and I don't know why I could not, for the life of you, tell me why I felt so protective of you in that moment.
Speaker 2:But you always been like that though. So like that's why I love you, because you're a big sis, you know. So, for so long, like you said, we grew up together and I've always looked up to you and followed you, helped me, lead the way to where I am now, being so young and getting into this game. So, yeah, of course you have those same tendencies there and that's why I think, that's why we're so close and we, even though we, you know we might not see each other, blah blah, blah that love and unity and family is still there all the time. So, of course, you should feel that way. I love that. I felt that, so I appreciate that.
Speaker 1:Yes. So you got up there and you talked about two things that had me melting in my seat. I know, I know, no, I'm a softie. My eyes are sweating right now. I know, gosh, why am I made this way, but I love it about me and also can't stand it. You talked about your grandmother and the role that she played in your craft and and how you know she motivates you and inspires you, and this is the one that got me, though.
Speaker 1:This is the one that got me, though. You talked about your mom, and you thanked her. You thanked her for letting you be a little boy that dances, yeah and my heart melted because I know right, I know, um, I'm not even gonna speak to to to largely, but within the black right, the way that we raise sons, the old school way of raising sons, is very specific right Don't touch a dog, don't you, don't.
Speaker 2:Lots of don'ts.
Speaker 1:Move your neck, don't. Dancing is not for boys.
Speaker 2:Stop hanging out with all those.
Speaker 1:Don't write all the things, and so when you said that, my heart just melted. Can you talk about that a little more, what that's meant for you and even some of like the challenges that you and y'all shout out to young Fifi? Okay, shout out to Fifi.
Speaker 2:We come over here in a minute anyway. Oh my gosh, I hope she accidentally gets to pop in over here. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:But but right, like shout out to, to to. I call her Fifi y'all, but shout out to her for for, for giving you that lane. Talk about what that was like for you, what that's meant for you and maybe even some of the lessons learned through you for her in letting you be just exactly who you are.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I would just say, you know, being young I grew up with a single mom, my mom's a single mom, so I didn't have a father or dad in the household since such a young age. So I only grew up with my mom, my grandmother, my aunt. That was my. You know my intermediate family, those with my mom, my grandmother, my aunt, that was my. You know my intermediate family. Those were my mom, my dads, my uncles and stuff like that. So I think for me the creative juices started really young and I just say because my mom's strength and my grandmother's strength and allowing me to just be who I am and not putting a, I would say, like a title on me that I need to play sports or I need to do that, which a lot of, I would say, fathers or sometimes mothers, especially in the.
Speaker 2:Black community would put that on young Black boys or whatever, but I would say getting my creative juices so young and then my mom just allowed me. You do you whatever makes you happy. I'm happy for you and I support that. And being grown up in that kind of household and family, such a young age, I was able to, you know, explore different things that made me happy. And what made me happy stuck to me was dance. I started dancing, I think my first.
Speaker 1:you know we would always dance around the house and do this, and I was always dancing at the you know the family gatherings and do this, do that move, stop acting up. You know how we were acting up.
Speaker 2:So like then, that was just being freestyle and just playing around and like like watching the music, the Michael Jackson videos and mimicking the moves and things like that, and so I think that's where I started finding my love, that I I was maybe good at that and then so I got my first love at. I started taking professional classes at Beaumont Middle School at like six and then Jonte we all love Jonte. That was my mentor because Jonte was been doing it, doing, it, doing it, I wanted to follow the footsteps of Jonte.
Speaker 1:And y'all were brotherly. We were, y'all are, yeah, we still are, yep.
Speaker 2:That's my godbrother and Louise, my godmom. So being around that and them allowing us to just be wild, we were just wild. We were really just wild, just dancing and dancing. My mom always said you know, if that's what you want to do, do it. So she allowed me to take dance classes. From there on I started taking, like going to Matt Dishman Community Center and taking African classes and things like that.
Speaker 2:So, honestly, that was my pride and joy. My mom let me go full force with that, not knowing what the really reality was going to be now, that I still would be doing this where I'm at now, and she just gave me love, love. My grandmother, my aunt Cynthia and gave me love, allowed me to just do that and be free and not have a label or feel bad of what people may think or say about me. And I took that full force and still keep that to my heart and that's what I think keeps letting me thrive, you know, to this day Like that. So I really honestly, my mom is everything she really is. She still is everything and still supports me to this day and comes to all my shows and my biggest fan is, I would say, my mom, my Aunt Cynthia, and my grandmother and my sister and brother. You know all y'all yes.
Speaker 1:Anything I got going on y'all. They move, thick they move, they don't play they don't play about it. They don't play about him let me tell y'all something they. They showed up to this um award ceremony. They showed up to this event, honey in in in shirts with his face plastered on it all of them same shirt all of them same shirt in unison lockstep honey, they did not come to play about you and they've always been that way and I love that so much like so grateful y'all y'all have.
Speaker 1:Y'all have gatherings together and it's all y'all. Y'all y'all you do a show. You have something going on. It's all up, right, like Y'all you do a show you have something going on. It's all up, right, like showing up.
Speaker 1:I love that so much because I think that that story is somewhat unique, right, and what I actually wish Fifi was here so she could answer this question, but I'm going to ask you, just in being the person on the other end of it what advice would you give? I'm going to ask two questions who has a son that is looking to explore the arts? And two, what encouragement would you give a son, a young man, who is looking to explore the arts and not sure about what that means for them in terms of how people will see them, what support they will get? And this is regardless of identity, right. This is regardless because one doesn't equal the other, right? And so, like, what advice would you give a parent who may, be like, struggling to figure out how to support their son, based on, you know, the stereotypes that they have come into, or into, um, or just the old school ways with which they're parenting and what did? What encouragement would you give um, a young man who is like I'm creative as hell, I'm good at this and I want to do it, but I'm worried about what people will say or think, or maybe I don't have the support of of people.
Speaker 2:I would say for the parent. I think times are so different now. I would say times are different now. Listen, I think it's important to support what your child wants to do, like, let your child be who they want to be. Let them do what they want to do and not worry about the stigma of what people may think around you. And times are so different, so people are doing all kinds of things these days. This is your child. If they want to dance, they want to sing, let them allow them to do that, because you have to support them as a parent. Like that's your job as a parent is to support and love them and support what they want to do, whether you like it, because that's their life. That's what I would say that. So you have to take you as the parent out of it and just be there. You might not agree or whatever, but still love and support them. And I think that's what my family did. Not everything they agreed to what I was doing, but the love and the support was there and that's what kept me thriving. So let them be, let them be. Love is everything and we feel that. We accept all that. We feel that when we get that support in the household. That's what I would say to a parent and then for the son or the daughter who wants to go dance, explore that, do that, don't worry again.
Speaker 2:I it wasn't always easy for me I will tell you that I got I got not bullied but talked about. And this dad, he's running around and I just got like through middle school and through high school but you can't allow that noise to get in your ear. You got to just do you and do what makes you happy and not worry about that, because at the end of the day, at the end of of the tunnel, there is a light at the end of the tunnel and look where I am now. I did not allow all the outside noise to affect me and how I felt and what made me happy. So explore those options and those opportunities that you want to do and you feel and do it and do it.
Speaker 2:Like I said, everyone, especially when it comes to dance now, is different. Men are dancing, women are dancing is everywhere, singing is everywhere. So just you have to be who you are, because if it makes you happy, that's you got to do that. So that's what I would say. Like little Durante, I'm proud of little Durante, because little Durante did not, like I said, did not listen to all the people talking and doing this and doing that, and because of that is where my success is today.
Speaker 1:So that's my advice to you is go and do it and be your best life for real. Yeah, yeah, be you, be you, I tell people all the time like I was just today's. Today it's Kennedy's birthday and but I was telling her in my, in my birthday message, because I messaged her before I call her, because I got to get all the all the fuzzy things out, you know, and I like it to always be something they can go back and read whenever they need to for encouragement and just like confirmation.
Speaker 1:But I was telling her like there's only one of you right, that there's only one of you, like there is no competition. And that's not to say you know, or to tell people you're better than everybody is to say you are unique and perfect in who you are Right. That doesn't mean we don't evolve, that doesn't mean that there's zero growth required of us in our behaviors, our aspirations or whatever it is right. But you are uniquely perfect and there is no other right, and so the only competition in this world you have is you. And really that's up here, that's in your head, right and so. And not that she's struggling with that. But I like to confirm that in my kids, like you, you are, you are her, you are it, you are excellent, you are everything like. Don't you, don't you, don't you ever forget it. What would adult dorante tell? Little dorante, you ain't gonna shoot me, as you, mister and actor, we left actor, oh yeah we forgot about that.
Speaker 1:I love it, though, but what? What would Durante, knowing what he knows now right about life, um, and about how he's been able to come to the other side of so many things, what would, what would, what would grown Durante turn back around and tell?
Speaker 2:Durante. Yeah, I would say grown Durante would tell little Durante. The road is not going to be easy. You are going to go through obstacles. You're going to go through ups and downs. You're going to have people who like what you do. You're going to have people who don't like what you do, but continue to be who you are because at the end of the day, when you get older, you're going to be loved, you're going to be supported, you're going to be a mentor and you're going to inspire others to be somebody.
Speaker 2:So go through those trenches and those roads and the leaps and bounds and the trials and tribulations, because at the end of the day, when you get older, it's all going to make sense and it's all going to be worth it and you are going to be an inspiration to others yes, and there's that and there's that, but that's true, though, like I mean, that has honestly have been my journey for real, like it's been trials, and tribulations like ups and downs and leaps and bounds, and yeah, I mean it's been trials and tribulations like ups and downs and leaps, and bounds, and yeah, I mean it's like that.
Speaker 2:Now it's still kind of sort of you know, in your adult life you still kind of go through those things, but you know it's life, right it's life, life would be life, but you can maneuver and manage it different because you have more wisdom. I would say Tools, the tools you pick up over time. Yes, and the tools?
Speaker 1:you pick up over time, yes, and once you've gotten to the other side of a hard thing, it tells you that you're capable of doing that in the future, right? So how you navigate, you build wisdom and endurance and knowledge about how to navigate certain things so that when you are going through life's normal ups and downs, you are able to dig into that tool belt, honey, and say got it, hammered that shit out, right?
Speaker 2:Exactly so. That's I mean. I think that's the best, that's what I mean. I think that's exactly everything. Like I'm very proud of myself, I'll say I'm very proud of myself, of where I am now. Like I'm very I'm, I'm very happy. Like I'm very happy. I wouldn't do anything different as a child up, leading to where I am now any different.
Speaker 1:It's all been worth it for real then I would have done this differently, but I also wouldn't have had this wisdom that I have now, had things been differently, right, I mean, had things gone differently. I have this unique set of wisdom. We all have this unique set of wisdom that is granted to us by way of the things that we experience, good or bad, or tough or unsavory, whatever right we have. Our tool belt is filled with the things that we've gathered via those experiences, and so I say I never wish like certain things of my growing up, my childhood.
Speaker 1:I don't wish it on anybody else. However, I'm grateful for how I came to the other side of those things, because my tool belt is healthy. Honey we got. We got all the tools over here, all the tools.
Speaker 2:We're gathering, right still gathering the tools for one.
Speaker 1:I love it yeah, I love that.
Speaker 1:I love that. What, um? There's something that you said when you're like I'm happy, I'm happy today, and I love that. And I think people sometimes misinterpret that happy days versus happiness, right, like people sometimes can have happy moments, happy days, man, you know, which is very different to me than living in a state of happiness, for sure. And so one of the things that I think of when I think of happiness is our ability to tap into joy, right, and no dance is joy for you because it's passion. Work, right, you love it because you're passionate about it, it, it. You know, sometimes it can feel thankless, other times it's like these highs and lows, right yeah, yeah you, you, you.
Speaker 1:You tap into those euphoric moments where it's just like ah right, and you do these creative projects, you do these things. It's like ah right, and you do these creative projects, you do these things. It's like it's amazing. But then you also hit these spots where it's like ah, Exactly, exactly Like why aren't things adding up the way I want them to? Why aren't I getting this for that? What is you know the struggle? What, besides dance, brings you joy?
Speaker 2:It's a good question. Um, you know, I think, besides dance, everything that I want to do, I'm able, I'm doing right now. I would say um, I'm helped, I'm healthy, um, I feel young hold on, let's pause right there.
Speaker 1:I'm healthy. I'm healthy. No, I'm serious. Yeah, people't have, people don't have the luxury of good health sometimes, and I'm not saying it to smash it in their face. I'm saying it because we often take it for granted, right and so being able to wake up every day and be thankful for waking up, being thankful for your health, like that's a big deal. So I have to pause on that one and say that's a big deal. So I have to pause on that one and say shout out to good health.
Speaker 2:Come on, I'm healthy, I have family, I got family. I would say that family and we are a tight unit.
Speaker 2:Family brings me joy. We don't have I mean, I didn't grow up in a huge, huge family my intermediate family. It literally is just like my aunt and my mom, my brother, my sister. I mean we're in my, in my grandmother, who's passed, passed away almost a year ago. But like we are a unit and so I grew up in a very tight unit and I would say, since the passing of my grandmother, my family have gotten even closer and that brings me joy.
Speaker 2:Like you, like you mentioned earlier, we're always together. Like I don't. It's family is everything to me. So we're cooking, we're partying, we're coming over on the phone, we're on a group chat, where that brings me a lot of joy. And then also my partner, marcus, shout out to Marcus, marcus, and they're listening somewhere.
Speaker 2:We've been together 19 years, so he brings a lot of joy and stability in my life too, and the fact that my family has brought him in and he's now part of that in all the good things and everything, I sometimes feel that they love him more than they love me.
Speaker 2:I'll tell my mom all the time she goes we're my best friends. They got their own relationship, but that brings joy too being able to come home and share all these things I've been able to do in life with a partner and family. That all brings me joy besides dan, so I couldn't ask for anything else. And then also, like my friends and outside of my family, that that love and support and, you know, pull up and pull up for me on events and things like that all that stuff brings me joy. Um, besides health and, like I said, I wouldn't be I'm happy of everything I'm doing in the moment. For the past I'm good. I wouldn't ask for anything different, so that all puts a smile and a little fuzzies in me every day, being able to wake up and have all that all the time. You know, because I think not everyone's fortunate to have that. Not everyone has family and has good health, big or small.
Speaker 2:Big. All they were small a lot of people don't, yeah. So I I'm grateful, like, honestly, just like, and just just like we just did the awards and our wmba family just came like, yes, the, the friendships, the long-term friendships that we've, I've had, we've got had that come around like that brings me joy, too, being able to still connect with people that have seen me grow, grow.
Speaker 1:And I think it says so much. Okay, so a little backstory. We prior to the awards, we are leading up to the awards. I guess I should say we had some friends come in town. Additional background Durante and I both dance for the WNBA and the NBA, but this particular group, we danced with most of them in the WNBA team and shout out to Portland Fire, shout out to the return of the Portland.
Speaker 2:Fire. Ok, we're so excited.
Speaker 1:We love women's sports, we love, we love the NBA, we love the WNBA, ok, and so we're super excited to have them back in Portland. But we gained. So we were so young and we got onto this team and there was such a range of talent on this team right, a diverse backgrounds of people, right and so we came into this team and we got our whole life lesson on getting right in the studio.
Speaker 2:We were in there, we got, we got in trouble listen day one.
Speaker 1:They was telling us quick yeah, yeah, for real right like we learned a different discipline, I think, in a space outside of the spaces that we were used to being in. And so, anywho, we, we danced some seasons with this team, we grew these relationships and I think we are both you and I, very much relationship orientated, invested people. I think we love people deep and hard and I think that that shows in the relationships that we've been able to keep with people over the years, despite, like, we don't talk to people every day, right, and especially the folks from those groups, because we're talking about many years ago, right, but we kept in touch in different ways. We've, you know, we, we show love to each other, we show love to each other and I think the stars just aligned for this particular time in life, because it wasn't an official reunion, it was some friends that got together. The stars aligned for people to come into town that live out of town and, oh my heavens, y'all, we had a time.
Speaker 2:That time was had for real. It was so awesome.
Speaker 1:It was so awesome and they were able to join us at the awards and that felt really special.
Speaker 2:It did. Yeah, Over what? Was it 20 years? Has it been 20 years?
Speaker 1:Yes, or longer? Yeah, it's been longer than 20 years.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah. And so that was a really special moment that they were down to come and support you and I getting that award and just and just, also just reconnect for the weekend. I think that was really, really awesome because, again, those people have also seen, met me when I was 15, 16 years old, so they've along like you, have watched me grow up and help mentor and make it who I am today, so that was a great moment. So, like all those types of things is what brings joy to life other than dance. You know life, friendships and things like that, support and all that. So I'm very grateful.
Speaker 1:I'm grateful yeah yeah, what, um?
Speaker 1:what is something that I think people feel like, um, when the dance world is just really interesting, because people, when they connect to you, they connect to you Right. And when you start working in these spaces, like people want to know you, they want to know all the things about you. They feel like they know you if they've danced with you for a while or even for a moment, right, and and, and I think even people who feel like, oh, that's my friend, because you've danced with them for a minute or here or there, what is something about you that people don't know about you that might be surprising to them Fun fact, what's a good fun fact about Durante that's a hard question, because I feel like I'm an open book all the time.
Speaker 2:You are like Leo Leo, energy Leo, you, I mean I'm. I feel like I'm an open book.
Speaker 2:Um one thing about me hmm, there's a I mean I'm trying to, I'm being, we might have to ask Marcus yeah, you might have to ask yeah, because I feel like I feel like, like I said, I'm an open book, I'm the same all the time. I don't have anything like, oh, like I'm not an introvert, I don't like to do this. Like I feel like, like I said, I'm an open book, I'm the same all the time. I don't have anything like, ooh, like I'm not an introvert, I don't like to do this. I feel like I'm just open all the time. So, yeah, that might be a question. Honestly, I don't even know, I can't even answer that.
Speaker 1:I'm trying to think that's funny. I don't have downtime.
Speaker 2:Like I don't. I'm always. I love being around people all the time. You know, I like to be out outside, in terms of not going in the clubs, but just like out doing things yeah, doing things. And dancing, so I'm always around people all the time, and so I don't know. I honestly don't know.
Speaker 1:Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.
Speaker 2:Mm-hmm. Um, I don't know, I don't know.
Speaker 1:I don't know. I don't have no answer to that, so I feel like I'm just asking. I'm gonna tell you you said there are no secrets.
Speaker 2:I think that for me, I know something about me.
Speaker 1:No, I don't know things about you that somebody else would be surprised. Yeah, right, like I don't think. I think you're, you're right there, you're very transparent, very open. You're, you're right there, you're very transparent, very open, and and I am the same way. I think that for me, though I think people are surprised to know that I am, um, oh, what do they call it? They call it an ambivert um that you're both um oh, introvert and extrovert. Yeah, um, I love people. You know when I get outside.
Speaker 2:I'm outside, yeah, I'm with you, right? Yeah, yeah, for real, I'm outside.
Speaker 1:It's gonna be a time it's gonna be a vibe 100. Yeah, it just will be right for sure. Um, but I also really love um the recharge, like. I really love like Sundays I used to be very, very strict about. I don't know if you recall that I used to be very strict, um about my Sundays. I'm not doing anything on Sunday. I'm washing my girlfriends, I'm doing my self care, I'm getting ready for the week. I'm doing nothing on Sunday.
Speaker 1:I don't want to, I don't like to, right right um and part of that was because Sunday was like my recharge day and so I think that, for as extroverted as I am and as much of a people person as I am, I think people might be like right you have introverted ways also, like yeah, I can see yeah, yeah, yeah because. I'm so right Like.
Speaker 2:I'm so expressive.
Speaker 1:I'm so, you know, trying to get into people's souls all the time I'm so, but that could be exhausting because I'm that way, right.
Speaker 2:You're getting so much out all the time.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, you're not getting the receipt. But I think Marcus and I was just talking about this the other day I don't have any downtime and I don't even feel like I even require it. It's so. It's so bad Cause I'm and and that could be bad, though, too, because I'm always giving, pouring out to other people but there are times I'm like if we had a conversation, if we had a conversation and the conversation was dang, I'm all. I think I was like dang. I'm always reaching out to people like, oh, let's go do this or let's do that, I said, but dang, no one actually asked, set the tone or set the plan for me to be like Durante, come over and do like. No one ever checks on me, and that was interesting for me to know. I'm like I don't know when. The last time, someone was just like hey, just checking in to see how you're doing, or meet me here. So I get how I'm a giver, giver, giver, giver, but sometimes I don't. I've noticed that I don't get that back from a lot of people.
Speaker 1:That's why I like digging into you when we're together. That's why I be asking all the 5,000 questions Exactly Y'all. I'll be listening.
Speaker 2:Channel 6.
Speaker 1:News.
Speaker 2:Here we go. Okay, team z. Yeah, that's, that's you for sure all the time, okay.
Speaker 1:One because I love you, right, but also also because, um, I just love getting into people's souls. But two, we don't get a lot of time you and I to um, because we're both like doing our things right, and so when we do get together like I, I value that time spent so much that it's like let me get in his soul and I love it, I love it and marcus, I'll be trying to get into his soul too, marcus, low-key, scared when he come around you because he, he know he the skill about to be exposed no breath.
Speaker 2:No breath like oh, we're gonna see janelle, uh-huh, get it together, figure it out I love him, I'm kidding, he loves you down.
Speaker 2:Like, yeah, we love you so much. We literally all the friends say you're all of our therapists, literally me, madora and I, we're all talking about that. We're like you're like all your our friends therapists, like you know how we go to you, and that's true. We go to you because you have wisdom, you're, you're such a good person to talk to. You understand, you're not biased, you just you just say how it is and try to give us what you feel and what you think, and still lets us be who we are, make our own decisions, but you're just such a good person to talk to, so you're definitely the one to go to when it's when you got something going on, to see your perspective of things, and and I think that's why I resonate and love you so much is because of that.
Speaker 1:So like, yeah, get into our solo we love, we love a good dig, yeah, I just. I like to make sure people are good, right, and anyone but the people I love, I like to just like. I like to. First of all, I'm a hugger and so like my hugging and I've said this before like it's the energy reader, like I'm reading people through that and and so sometimes also those hugs tell me things, and so sometimes I've been needing to like.
Speaker 2:Wait sums up.
Speaker 1:You know I'm side eyeing that energy. But but yeah, I, I know what you, I know how you. I can relate. I don't know how you feel. I can relate to how you feel because I am also a person that I say so like I have to check myself because it makes me feel like a brat sometimes, but I'm like, so just ain't nobody out here checking on me, huh, right, right right, right, exactly like you're.
Speaker 1:You're a person to others that checks on others, or exactly or. Or. You know people are used to you being good. Like you're good, they're fine, like there's nothing that that. That that says to a person let me check on them because we walk around good you know what I mean, even if we're juggling something people don't necessarily know, because I'm not going to wear it. It's not for me to abuse you with. I'm not going to put my stuff on you, however I mean, you know yeah, that's facts right there.
Speaker 2:That's true. Like I always walk around, I feel like I'm always on, if that makes sense, like I'm always on. So even if there's something going on, you would know and, like you said, that's not my job to put that on you and I'm not that person. I don't pour my things that are going on to other people. So, even if something's going on, you're gonna get the same durante.
Speaker 1:Yes, so, yes, because I'm gonna, I'm gonna consider you, I'm gonna think of you, I'm gonna say let me shake this off. So that I'm not going in there like this or well, weird energy, yeah, it's just not now. I may be a little bit like oh yeah, no, I'm fine, I'm good, yeah, give me a second.
Speaker 1:I'm gonna get there right, um, but I'm not gonna put it on a person, but I'm going to get there, right, but I'm not going to put it on a person, but I think, because we're people that carry it well, like people don't think, and we're also surrounded by not not everyone, but a lot of the people we're surrounded by are busy shakers and movers also, right. And so it's like I think sometimes people can't see past themselves themselves to think about or consider like. Let me check on Durante.
Speaker 1:Let me check on Janelle, you know what I mean, like anything like that, and so I don't hold it against anybody Me either, but have two clocked it.
Speaker 2:If it happens, it's nice. But have two clocked it Right and it's nice and it feels good when it happens. But I mean, I don't hold it against anybody, it is what it is, whatever.
Speaker 1:We see y'all.
Speaker 2:We see y'all.
Speaker 1:No, I'm kidding.
Speaker 2:Right, right, right, not calling nobody out.
Speaker 1:Not calling anybody out.
Speaker 2:Just calling the thing a thing.
Speaker 1:We love y'all Every now and then hey, girl, hey, even if it's this fat, I will say this though I, I, I, I will admit, um, I will admit that I probably also don't give people a ton of room to to um, everyone knows I hate talking on the phone, um, I hate it. I don't want to pick, like yesterday I called you and that was a big deal for me. If you ever see me call you, you answer, cause I don't call people, I don't like the phone, and again it's. It goes back to the um giving regularly so much of myself that I cannot imagine sitting with a phone to my ear. To kiki, no, no, no, guess what? Though? I'll meet you for happy hour and we could do it real time, in real life, and we could. You know what I mean. That's how I flow, like I'm a real time energy person. I'm not about to sit on the phone, but we can get in person and the time will be had.
Speaker 2:In the same way. And then also, which is interesting, is that I'm a voice texter all day, every day.
Speaker 1:I will text I will voice text.
Speaker 2:I don't know, I just feel like that's more personal. I don't want to be on the phone. You will never, probably. I don't know when the last time I actually called other than my mom I think my mom's the only one I actually, and Marcus is the only one I actually talk on the phone with, but I'll sit all day and voice text somebody.
Speaker 2:Isn't that ridiculous? That's ridiculous Because I feel like that's even better than texting, because texting I can't interpret what you're, I can't interpret what you're saying. I mean, like things can be different in energy and verbiage tone.
Speaker 1:So at least with a voice I can hear your voice and though if it's you, give me one short period, or you give me one extra exclamation mark and I'm exclamation mark. I'm saying who are you talking to Exactly? Why are you?
Speaker 2:yelling Like. Why are you?
Speaker 1:yelling.
Speaker 2:Exactly. So, yeah, but I think the only person I'm talking on the phone to is my mom like seriously, and so yeah, but I think the only person I'm talking on the phone to is my mom like seriously, and even that is short and she, she'll test for that. Like I'll just be I'm get to the point type of guy like I used to me. My girl used to laugh at my mom because my mom goes miles in tribulations when the dog needs a haircut, but she gonna go to New York and Africa and New Zealand, take the extended route to get to the point, Just to say oh, I dropped off a dog to get groomed and I'm like I don't my, when are we trying to get to?
Speaker 2:I'm literally on the other side of the phone for some people going yeah, it just drives me crazy. You know what I mean. For anybody, it's like what are we? Who, what, when, what, what are we that? I mean that and that's really messed up as a person, but I've always been. No, it's not messed up. I think that's because, also, my mind's always on. I'm always thinking like I feel like I'm always on go mode in my mind, no matter what, like I'm planning this, I'm doing this. I'm thinking like my mind's always that like always, you know, to be honest. But I'm always like okay, I have that class, I got to choreograph that, but still trying to have a conversation with you. So I feel like I'm all over the place, but I'm not ADD or nothing, but it's just like where are we? What is the problem or what's the? Where are we?
Speaker 1:What do you want? What do you want? What do you want? What do you want? What do you without saying why are you calling me? Because everyone knows I hate the phone, so you're calling me. You're calling me for something I don't. I'm not a small talker. I'm not a small talker. Um, what do you want? Please tell me in the beginning, quickly, I'm the same way, quickly I'll. And there's a few like I. There's.
Speaker 1:I have a short list of people who I will entertain on the phone, and two of them are my children. Right, my children. They can get me. However, whenever they can talk, and I'm fine with it. My kids can call me about whatever, whenever I'm fine with it. Anybody else, though I mean there's a couple, right, but I'm like even my sister, um, one of my sisters will call me and she'll will. She'll be like I'm not gonna. Everyone who calls me this is, except my kids. This is what they say. Just, really quick, this is gonna be really quick, that's the first thing. Or, or nothing's wrong. They'll say nothing's wrong, right, right, um, but there is this short list of of of people that I will be on the phone with and she will say we'll get you know. The conversation will start going and then I'll say, ok, I'm getting off the phone. Like I have to end abruptly, I'm getting off the phone, I don't want to talk.
Speaker 2:I don't want to talk. I don't want to talk. But yeah, like meeting up with someone is very different. One is very different, like that's. That's a whole experience. At that point, you know, I mean so it should. And I'm about experiences in like meaningful conversations, like, like you said, one-on-one and with a cocktail and some food, like that's love.
Speaker 1:But that's love that is a love language of mine, right like I like. Yes, let's. Let's break bread together like because that's where all the good stuff happens in my opinion Right, I don't want to sit on the phone. That makes me feel like a gossiper. I don't want to sit on the phone.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I don't know when was the last time I had a long conversation on the phone. It might have been a long time. My kids are it, and I ain't got none, none of mom, you couldn't just text me, but I love her to death.
Speaker 1:But I love her to death, yes yes, yes, yes, yes, and grateful to have the right right, exactly, exactly, um what um uh in I talk um. I have a lot of conversations with people who um have experienced loss, right um I know your grandmother played a very prominent role in your life, in your upbringing center of your family, matriarch, right like 100 um what? What has her passing taught you?
Speaker 2:I would say her passing has taught me to live life every day like it's your last. No day is promised to you I mean, I've always known that but all the things that you want to do and accomplish. The time is now, because things can happen unexpectedly.
Speaker 2:I would say and yeah, I would say that's probably the biggest thing.
Speaker 2:All the things, the list of things that I want to do and accomplish in this lifetime that I've been putting in on the back burner, you know I'll do. That is like, do that now, like make the progress and get some plans to do, do those things, because you never know when what can happen. I would say that, um, and also love, love more, even more. I would say that you know, like, because you, the I love you could be the last time you see say that to somebody you know I mean last time you see say that to somebody you know I mean so, like I would say that. But other than that, yeah, it's definitely been hard, but you know, I am proud of myself, of I feel like I've been coping it well, more than you, more than usual, because I would say me and her were very, very, very close and people would, if you know her or know us, you would say I was her favorite, I, I was her favorite. I shouldn't say that my brother and sister are going to kill me, but they know that.
Speaker 1:The truth is the truth.
Speaker 2:Yeah, like I was always at her house, I was always spending time as a kid, I was always, you know, grandma's kid, like she was like my second mom, so, and we were very close, like she wouldn't even come to function unless she knew that me and Marcus was gonna be there. Like, like, honestly, like is Geronte and Marcus gonna?
Speaker 1:be there, not gravy, and like who all gonna be there? Or yeah, who all gonna be?
Speaker 2:there, or like literally, like my mom would call and be like your grandmother's here and she's asking where you at, like stuff like that. But it's just like so we were very very close.
Speaker 1:Because where are you? Yeah, because I'm here and I don't come outside. What you thought this was, yeah.
Speaker 2:So we were very, very, very close and so I would say I've been handling it more well than usual. And the crazy thing is when that happened, I was in the middle of a show, producing a show Ecstasy so that definitely threw a left curveball in the middle of producing and directing and choreographing a big show. So, um, but also because of that show that got to help me get my mind off of that and stay productive, because that's kind of what she would want me to do. Like she was probably my biggest fan, especially when it came to like dance and the art and the movies. Like when I was doing like the movies and tv shows, she was on set with me, with my mom, so like she was literally our everything.
Speaker 2:So I would say our family has definitely gotten much closer in a good way. We were already close, but we're much more closer now and I would say live your life just like it's your last day. So I try to wake up and be very grateful for having breath in my lungs every day. I mean, I always look like that, but even more, you know, like all those things going off and doing the things I want to do, like so I've been in progress of like doing all, like the list of, like check marks, and trying to accomplish it now, because you never know. Like I said when she passed away, that was very, very, very unexpected.
Speaker 2:Like that wasn't you know, sometimes with family members you can kind of see a decline of health or things like that. But preparing yourself. But no, we had no idea, you know. And in the end but the glory of it is I was able to spend the the day before with her doing the things that we love to do cooking and kiki and gossiping. My grandmother was spicy, spicy and shady shady and we love we love her for it.
Speaker 2:All this, all that and she was all that until the day that that happened. So I'm glad I got to have that last little kiki moment. She literally told me I was cooking some stir fry for her, for the family, because we were kind of all over there, and she literally told me I didn't put enough seasoning in my food. I said, oh, pull up, she goes. No, you cook good, but today you forgot but on today you yeah, okay so the shade again.
Speaker 2:So, and you she's so on and spicy. So I love that woman to death and miss her every day, and I would say I still feel her presence, energy around me today, still um, in the most good and amazing sense, and I think having that around me and little signs in here, that still keeps me thriving and going today, because I know she wants me to be the best that I could and can be, even as a little kid. So, yeah, I love her. Shout out to grandmother, yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and I think it's important in moments like this and other moments wherever like, um keeping her memory and her spirit in the now right. Like like to to feel like no in this moment. She was very much with me in this moment.
Speaker 2:When I did that.
Speaker 1:I very much felt her on my shoulder. I very much, you know, I think being being able to be in a present space where you can feel like and I tell people, don't think past those thoughts right, like, if you feel her, that's her. You know what I mean. Like, like, like, feel that in whatever way you think, whatever you think, that means right.
Speaker 1:I'm not saying that somebody gonna float down and part the clouds and but I'm saying like it's the gift that she is continuing to give her, um, give you is is her presence in the things you do, the things that you feel, the thoughts that you have. Um, so I, um.
Speaker 2:What a gift you know, yeah, yeah, so I'm very grateful, I'm very grateful. I feel that I feel the love and the energy still around, um, so that's, i'm'm grateful for that you know and I think that still helps me with the grieving process. I guess you always grieve forever, I guess, and and I've also had no one pass away that close to me ever, you know. So that was a different types of feels and energies that I was coping with, but like I think for the most part, I'm doing okay, I'm doing okay, I think the family's doing okay.
Speaker 2:You never forget and you never stop grieving. But I think for the most part that has helped me on the artistic side still to this day, but more so to push me and motivate me more to do the things and be great. I always wanted that, so I carry that here. Yeah, I love it, I love it. I, I love it. Shout out to her.
Speaker 1:She's listen. So og, oh, so og, in a way that I think like um, a lot of, um, a lot of people, communities, um are missing, right In that we are missing our elders, who are really elders, right right right. Sorry, I don't know if you can hear that that was me.
Speaker 2:No, I can. That was good. I don't know, like grandmothers and moms and stuff are built different, we don't got them like the old, old Gs, the ones you used to be scared to go to their house.
Speaker 1:You know what I mean listen, that you are getting your get right, that you are making sure that you're approaching things respectfully, responsibly. I mean, when you know the people who earn the right to gather folks in the neighborhood, like you know, the the, the people who earn the right to gather folks in the neighborhood, like you know. We're missing that. So I think that anyone who has a granny that's like you know or has been able to experience having a granny through their adulthood, you know what I mean.
Speaker 1:Like I think that's that's so dope yeah, yeah, for sure, right, right because it's really missing and I'm not talking about, I mean, shout out to the young grant. Well, they're probably not called grannies at that point, but shout out to the young, uh, the, the young grandmothers, but they have different names. Now, my sisters, um, they're both grandparents. Shout out to them and they, they, um, their grandparent name is nani both that's cool nani, it's cute, I love it.
Speaker 1:It's cute and my mom's, my niece and nephew call my mom nana we have a nana yeah we have a nana also, and then, um, my kids, uh, so one one of my kids grandmothers is nana.
Speaker 2:The other grandmother is grandma so they say grandma, grandma, grandma, grandma, g-r-a-m-o honey grandma my grandmother said do not call me literally when we were kids. Don't call me grandma. Grandma, nothing, nothing. Grandmother.
Speaker 1:Period. Give me my respect. Yeah, say the whole thing, grandmother.
Speaker 2:That was it. I'm not answering nothing else but that. So we Grandmother Missed, call her.
Speaker 1:That's because she was of age to be a grandmother, right, right. But when you start, you know we have these, we have younger grandmothers, and and and. No, nothing wrong with it, I'm not saying that because I'm saying that because of that. You see, like, hold on, grandma feels older than what I'm prepared to be right now.
Speaker 2:Let Let me get something cute here.
Speaker 1:Right, and so you see like I think that's where you start to see like the you know the creative names for grandma or you know, grandmother that people are comfortable with, right? Yeah, there's a lot of them out there. There is, there is, there is.
Speaker 2:Shout out to y'all, shout out to them.
Speaker 2:yeah, right, right you had an event last night yes talk a little bit about it yeah, so fusion um is a event that I produce and direct um, and it's been going on oh, oh, my God, I was talking with someone, I think, almost 20 years now, almost coming up, 20 years and what it is? It is a community. It's an event that I put on that, you know, local or whatever choreographers, dancers, people of art can come under one roof and showcase what they want to do. So they come and they choreograph pieces, dancers, dance, sometimes there's musical artists like singers and yeah, and this is a big community event we do like kind of every quarterly and it's just such a great event to see all the local talent come under one roof and celebrate the art and support each other and dance and it's just such a good time and a good vibe and it's awesome.
Speaker 2:So I try to do that every once, every three months or so, and we had a lot of seattle come up last night and we had some spokane and eugene. So this is basically at the pacific northwest comes under one roof. Um, it's very piggybacked on, like carnival in california and la and club jeté, so it's like that in portland that wanted to. I think Portland needed that. We needed to have a space where people can come under one roof and celebrate dance and choreography, art and all the vibes and all the good things. And so it's just been such a great thing that Portland has, you know, accepted, embraced, and it's almost been 20 years, and so it's great, it's awesome, and people just submit like anyone can be a part of it.
Speaker 1:You just submit your work online and, um, we go through it and make sure it's aligned with the values and and not value values yeah, um, and things that's acceptable and it's aligned with the spirit of the event there you go, yeah and so, but for the most part it's celebrated.
Speaker 2:I mean we get to celebrate each other and support each other and do all the wonderful things, and so it's great it's called fusion.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so we're grateful that he made it to this recording today. I know it was a time I've been to. I've been to a show before and we have a time, and it's always the time, so I know that last night was nothing short of that, so super exciting. What, what is in the future for you? What is the next project? What is the next?
Speaker 2:I think I, man, that's a good loaded question. So I'm gearing up to do a dance intensive program, so almost like a mentorship program. But I've done a mentorship program before in the past but I kind of revamped it and reprogrammed it to what I think the needs are that people need now, and it's going to be like a six week program, dance intensive program for people who want to like really elevate their dance technique and performance quality and things like that. So I'm going to gear up for something like that in the fall, but like a six-week program. I haven't been teaching a consistent class yet in Portland for it's been a couple of months, so I may dibble and dabble and maybe start putting my foot in the studio a little bit more on a consistent basis, maybe like a drop.
Speaker 1:Oh, consistent Okay.
Speaker 2:And consistent, not weekly, because I think for me, in the space that I'm in now, I think weekly doesn't align well with what I want to do. For me, I think, when dance and teaching starts to become work and it's just where I'm having to be forced to choreograph and do things that does not bring me joy and it's not good for me. And it's not good for my students either, because it's not. I don't become the best teacher for them.
Speaker 1:You say you're going to teach a little bit more. Do you have any productions coming up here soon?
Speaker 2:Not, at the time, I think I kind of took a look, put the productions on a back burner. Yeah, at the time I think I kind of took a look at, put the productions on a back burner. Um, you know, I've been doing it for so long and it's I think now I'm just trying to really see whatever is next for me. Like I, I, like I wouldn't. I would love to do more.
Speaker 1:Bring back concept videos you know like I would love.
Speaker 2:I like to be on the. I like to be on the director side and more.
Speaker 1:I want to really learn more on the camera side yeah, like more what that feels like and I mean, I would love that for you yeah, like I direct shows and all that stuff.
Speaker 2:But yeah, I do like what that looks like to be on the camera side and more on, like the director, on that type stuff like cinema, like yeah, you know that type bad if I'm, yeah, I'm ready for the next thing and I'm gonna. I want to learn. I'm in a learning state right now. Like I want to love that more about that, like invest in getting a camera, so even if I'm filming things on my own maybe that's what people don't know about you and and maybe that see how that came out.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, like, because I I think I want to get like, get a camera and start you start directing and filming my own and editing my own stuff. Cause if I can get that, along with all the other stuff, if I can direct, choreograph, cast film and edit all that like, I think that's what will level me up more. So and I'm willing to learn from, yes, what that feels like and look like and invest in that. So I think that's probably the next thing that I want.
Speaker 1:I don't think so much more production of like dance production, I think it's more like concept videos and that stuff full, full, and and it's not that you you're not in full artistry now, but like um a wider range, a wider range.
Speaker 2:A wider range of things.
Speaker 1:You're expanding yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Evolving in your artistry. That's it. I like that word expanding.
Speaker 2:So I think I'm on that.
Speaker 1:Come on, level up, level up, because you got to. We don't grow as people. We don't level up.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, yeah, you can't stay, you can't stay.
Speaker 1:I stay here like right I got in, which we should all.
Speaker 2:I think people get married to the idea of like this is my, this is what I'm striving for this.
Speaker 1:Once I accomplish this, I'm successful. And I'm like, well, that depends on your definition of success. Like, yeah, you, you, you successfully reach that place. Are you happy in that space? Because happiness is the true definition of success for me, right, and you can be over here making a shitload of money and be unhappy, but you're making all the money, you're getting to do some of the things, but you're miserable. But over here you could be doing something you love and not making a shitload of money, but you're the happiest, right, you're the happiest in this space, which I think a lot of artists and creatives struggle with. That because you know, in your passion, work, that's really where your happiness lies, right, and so, anywho, I say all that to say like, your career can evolve, evolve, evolve, evolve. You don't have to stick to one thing your whole life Right.
Speaker 2:I think people get caught up in that.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, I love that. I up in that. Yeah, yeah, I love that.
Speaker 2:I gotta, I gotta keep it. I gotta, I gotta do it like for me. You know it makes sense as the next.
Speaker 1:It makes sense as the next step and I and I love that it is related to, um, you know, or can be related to dance and movement, but it could also open you up to lots of different opportunities, right? So?
Speaker 2:I love that a lot for you, exactly so I think that's what I do Investment, investing, investing in that, yeah, that's the next thing, yeah, so yeah, let's see.
Speaker 1:Yeah, okay, I'm going to. I'm going to wrap this up, because I know you're on a timetable here and you know I can just sit here and talk forever.
Speaker 2:We're not even on camera Low key. I kind of forgot. I feel like you're sitting here.
Speaker 1:Yeah, we really wanted to do this in person and I'm going to try to get them back when we can do it in person. But yeah, it will be a whole other vibe in that situation Put a little something cute.
Speaker 2:Put a little something cute on your charcuterie board, then you're really going to get some tea.
Speaker 1:Listen, let me tell you something okay.
Speaker 2:Let me tell you something.
Speaker 1:We might open it up and answer questions from people.
Speaker 2:That's actually dope, dope and scary, but dope, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:Funny, it'll be funny.
Speaker 2:Fun, fun and funny what what?
Speaker 1:what do you hope to be remembered by in? This in this, in this work that you do what, what, what is the stamp that you, that you hope you, have placed?
Speaker 2:in this work, in this work, so I would say like my main or in life.
Speaker 1:Let's open it up it doesn't have to be about dance, just in life. What do you hope you stamped on the universe kindness period.
Speaker 2:Kindness, um, I feel like I'm I'm a very kind person, kind and respectful to everybody, regardless of whatever. Um kindness, um hard work. Yeah, I'm just naming things that I could, yeah, relate to that I would think that people would let's talk legacy though. Legacy.
Speaker 1:What do you want Durante Lambert to be remembered for? Mr Durante, mr Durante Lambert.
Speaker 2:I would say someone oh man, there's just so many things. Oh man, that's such a. I would say, ooh, I've never been asked this before. I would want to be remembered as, or my.
Speaker 1:my stamp would be um, there's just things, um this is why good conversations are important, because I love getting asked these questions and I'm not even talking about for recording purposes, I'm saying I love being asked questions that I would not have thought of.
Speaker 2:Yeah, for myself I would say like a visionary, like I'm a visionary, come on, a visionary, like a visionary, everything, like when it comes to the arts and the art, the form of art, I'm a visionary and I've left that. I think that's stamp here. I've left that. I think that, stamp here.
Speaker 2:I've done classes, I've done productions, I've done, think quality, vision like a visionary person like I think that's what real rounds me up to what people would remember me by here. He was a visionary and I brought to life so much art in this, in this city, you know, so I think that's the only thing I can think of. You know all the community builder yep um bridging the gap. I mean within the same thing community, community builder yeah, yeah um that's what I think about when I think about you.
Speaker 1:Like you, I think you created like a good community yeah of people and I think there's multiple communities within the community. Right and not to silo off or click you know, make it sound clicky but I think there's multiple communities within the community. Right and not to silo off or click you know make it sound clicky, but I think there's various parts of of the dance world here and I think you've done a good job of showing or creating a pathway for people to see what's possible for themselves.
Speaker 1:Now, that's not guaranteeing somebody any level of success in it, but showing them. Here's a door, here's a pathway. And even if someone says, okay, performance isn't for me, maybe it's just class or performance isn't for me, but I'm gonna support all of the things because I love it and I think we see a lot of that in the dance world is maybe people who are not about like life outside of class, or even some people who aren't. They're not even here for class, but they want to be a part of the community, of supporting that community. Sorry, I keep getting stuck.
Speaker 2:I'm not sure why I'm freezing here.
Speaker 1:Anywho, that's probably my cue to wrap this thing up.
Speaker 1:Last question OK, it's not a deep one, it's an easy one, because I love the one of the things that I love about the dance world and just individuals and their connection to music is like all of the different things that we're inspired by, all of the different artists we're inspired by in the way with which we hear music and listen to music. Right, what do I like to listen to when I'm needing to pick me up? What do I like to listen to at the top of the morning? What gets me in my creative bag? What is going to get me out my seat? What is the turn up that I want to hear when I'm out? What are a couple of songs that that that are moving you, a couple songs about artists, whatever, um, that that move, that are moving you right now. Um, I think music, for right now, music is. I have this conversation. I'm always having a conversation.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, yeah. But, um, I was talking to the coach of the Washington Wizards NBA team. Um, I'm actually going out there to DC in a week and a half to choreograph on them. But we were talking about, yeah, love the Wizards. Shout out to Derek and the Wizards Come on. We were talking about music and trying to find music for the team and we were just saying music right now is not for me in the moment. Nothing's motivating me. Music is in a weird space right now. I think there's not any good music out right now. But I would say my artist for all time and you probably know the answer for this, but that for different genres and things that gets me when I'm sad, gets me going, that I hear any of the songs I'm going to get up and gets my creative juices going. My artist of all time is Beyonce.
Speaker 1:Period.
Speaker 2:Honestly, come on.
Speaker 1:Beyonce is, and for so long anyone who knows me you know, durante, the president of the beehive, is right here, the CEO. So okay, well, I guess I'll take BP.
Speaker 2:I'll take BP yeah, yeah, um, but I would say, right, her music, even her music is so timeless to me, even her old stuff up until now, like it just gets me together. And you can ask marcus, every single day I wake up, I do my little prayer, do my little stuff, but you're gonna have beyonce on the live room, on the surround town period, some beyonce station, but it just gets. She brings so much joy to me, like to me as a person, for just so many reasons, and she just has great music. I mean, yes, a lot of people can argue me down that, but I think she gets me going, she gets my creative juices going. For any project that I have going on, I'm playing her in the background or in the car, but I think that is my artist, that kind of thrives, my passion for dance and art. So, yeah, so there's no song in particular. I think all her, all her songs get me together and whatever, different times, different reasons.
Speaker 1:Listen, she's one of those artists that any year, any day, you can pluck a song or mix a song, whatever, and it can inspire a whole thing. Her and Rihanna is another one who. I feel like their music is different in in terms of like, their, um different right, yeah, different very different, um, but in terms of their music though, like rihanna makes timeless music like for sure, I can pull from any one of her albums something, something right when I get into a space of like dang.
Speaker 2:What am I?
Speaker 1:what do I want to? Yeah, yeah, you know, I can. I can listen to either one of them and pull something from it.
Speaker 2:that makes me want to move, or yeah, I love it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, there's, there's I. People aren't making full, thoughtful, intentional albums, something that I really miss. I think a lot of people and it's probably industry driven where they're they're making a viral hit, right, like, what's going to make TikTok? What can we put on TikTok? That's going to be what can we create a viral dance to? What can we do Like Right, yeah. So when we're talking about intentionality, beyonce don't got to sell another record in her life. Rihanna don't got to sell another record in her life.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:Like their their their portfolio is deep. Right but they do it because they love it. Rihanna hasn't done it and I think that's telling right. I think it's telling Like I haven't done it because it's not on my spirit to do, because it's not Right right. You have to have a level of intentionality, right. Beyonce, she's a machine, right. Like I enjoy more as much as I enjoy her music, any glimpse that she's given us into her process is a blessing.
Speaker 2:It's a blessing.
Speaker 1:Right Like her process is crazy and inspiring and always leaves me feeling like shit, girl, you ain't doing enough.
Speaker 2:I'll be feeling literally.
Speaker 1:Whatever it is, I'm not even talking about it. You know, being a dancer, or creative or anything, life in general talking about it, you know, being a, a dancer or creative or anything like like. Like thinking about what's possible for you, and it's not about comparing yourself to somebody else. We're talking just possibility. I think we limit our me to think about what's possible, not in comparison, but for me, for what is possible. Take that ceiling off right. I see the ceiling in my whole life Shout out blue, right, no, but, um, but, but things like that.
Speaker 1:So that's dope. Yeah, I miss the days of of being able to shout out like, oh, this artist, this artist, this artist, this artist it hasn't been like that for a while.
Speaker 2:Yeah, for me at least.
Speaker 1:You know what I do, I find and I'm I am gonna wrap it up, I promise find artists on TikTok, underground artists or like not you know who I love right now, and it's not. It's not for, for dance is for my spirit more than.
Speaker 2:I love.
Speaker 1:Oh, what is her last name? Her first name is Jazz. Hold on Now. I got to look, I got to look.
Speaker 2:Hold on Now. I got to look, I got to look.
Speaker 1:Isaiah Falls. These are like. This isn't about like dance, right. Like this is about just artists who I like to hear. Hold on, I'm about to find it Jazz Karras.
Speaker 2:Never heard, never heard. She Like G-A-Z-Z on I'm about to find it um jazz caris never heard. Never heard she um like g, a, j a, z, z or j a z j a z caris k a r I s um.
Speaker 1:I'll post her to my stories and I'll tell you in it um but um, I listened to that album, no joke, just because the smoothness of it, and I did get dance vibes off of this one because you hear, like you hear, the inspiration in her music. Um but um, I listened to that album straight for at least four months every day, every day, yeah, every day, the whole album wow the entire album and it's rare that you're not skipping through. Oh, I like four songs. Oh, I like the few songs.
Speaker 1:All right, oh, and chris brown oh, chris brown forever oh, yeah, again you don't think you're working hard enough, you don't think you could, uh, come to the other side of adversity. Chris brown, I'm not. I'm not talking perfection. Don't nobody come for me. I don't care what opinion you have on this him whatever. I'm not judge, I'm not saying any of that. I'm saying he's an artist also. Let's also take into consideration our life is not on the public stage for ridicule, so we don't know what it's like to go through those things publicly in that way, so then I'm gonna leave it there right um not justifying right justifying.
Speaker 2:I'll be having to make it clear not justifying anything.
Speaker 1:I'm saying that I'm yeah, I'll leave it there but he's another one, rihanna chris brown, um beyonce but, isaiah falls um jazz caris, um, those are two, two like low-key artists that I can just play. And let play not for dance-bys but just for like.
Speaker 2:I like what y'all doing here, yeah, yeah so I'm gonna wrap this up here, but.
Speaker 1:I because if I don't, you ain't never gonna make it to where you got to go but I love you so much and. I'm so grateful for you joining me here today, and we are going to have to do this again when we can sit on the couch and do it in the same space and place, and I'm just really thankful for, you know, the relationship that we've been able to maintain over the years.
Speaker 1:It's been such a privilege to have a front row seat to your life and just watching you grow and develop and continue becoming as an artist, as a creative, you know, exploring many different endeavors, still continuing to explore for yourself, and, and love, love, love that you are looking at like the next level of things for yourself, and, and and I just think that that's so amazing so thanks for having me.
Speaker 2:I love you too.
Speaker 1:This was fun, yes tell folks, I mean, we, we have a lot of listeners, um, um, overseas, um and within the states, and so, um, shout out to look germany, hey y'all, because, yeah, shout out to y'all, we have a ton of listeners from there and um, I don't know how we got there, but thankful for it. Um, but uh, in in a lot of other places, that's just um, outside of the states.
Speaker 2:That's our, our highest um it's because of you, it's's what you do, your voice it's you.
Speaker 1:I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, but we love it, we love all the people from all the places that tune in, but tell them how they can reach you and where they can find you. Shoot them your handles, Facebook, IG.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so my website. I got a website too. Yeah, so my website is just uh, durante lambertcom. Um, you'll find all kinds of things about me video, class videos, a lot of the choreography jobs likea collection of things, not everything, but a collection of my classes, my choreography, um and productions and things I've done.
Speaker 2:My Instagram handle is Durante Lambert and then my choreography handle is Durante Lambert Choreography, and then on there you can see all my other side projects at Fusion and my mentorship program and any other things I have going on there. But for the main part, you can just go to my website. Everything's on there and you can learn about me, my journey and all the fun things that I've'm doing and my process and all that stuff. So come check me out.
Speaker 1:And you heard about what he's, he's, he's looking into doing next. So we've heard it here, and so figure out or connect, right, they connected to him.
Speaker 1:Don't just be an observer. A lot of times people will observe you but they won't go on and click that follow button. Y'all gone and click the like button and the follow button, the subscribe button to his website. Um, make sure to do all of those things, um, the support um is, um is is so important, so valuable um in in these spaces, right? So, um Durante, thank you so much Y'all. I'll be back and we'll talk about where I've been for the last year. It's just another topic.
Speaker 2:We definitely want to know, so we're going to hold you to that.
Speaker 1:Yes, yes, yes, but y'all be well and we will be back to do it again. Sounds good. Thanks y'all If and we will be back to do it again.
Speaker 2:Sounds good. Thanks y'all.
Speaker 1:If you like this episode, be sure to subscribe so that you are notified when a new episode is posted. You can stay connected between podcasts by following us on Instagram at fearnotthejourney. You can also join our page on Facebook at Fear Not the Journey, or you can subscribe to our website and blog by visiting wwwfearnotthejourneycom. Thank you for joining us for this episode and until next time be well.