Written By- Alisyn Re
Journalist
New Orleans- Kamryn Vance is a nineteen-year-old, multi-talented young woman who started out very young in the world of art. At the age of five, she started taking dance classes at Studio G Dance and Gymnastics. She spent the majority of her life there learning different styles of dance and furthering her technique. She then fell in love with acting and singing. Soon she was being trained by Raion Ramsey at Young Starz of Nola to strengthen her vocal abilities. With these three art forms, she wanted to take things to the next level and decided to audition for the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, more specifically, the Musical Theatre program. Throughout her high school years, she grew as an artist and as a person. She is now a sophomore at New York University pursuing a degree in Drama while pursuing her dream career!
Who is Kamryn Vance?
“I am a 19-year-old African-American woman living in New York City, attending NYU to study musical theatre. In addition to that, I am a very loving, caring, and kind individual! I’m a foodie, so if you ever decide to take me out, I promise you I’ll eat it.”
When did you discover who you were destined to be?
“I was about 15 years old, during my sophomore year of high school. I knew this was what I wanted to do with my life especially because I started off doing this so young. At first, I wanted to be a teacher but then I chose the musical theatre route. I remember being so excited just to be like a mini student teacher every time my teacher left the classroom. She would pick me to “watch over the class” when she had to step out for a bit. I never expected this but at the same time I am very grateful that my life went in this direction.”
What made you choose the path you chose?
“It was mainly the creativity and art form process. I feel like performing in general is a freeing experience. Although it’s hard, tiring, and stressful at times it is also something that opens your mind to new possibilities. It also opens up your body physically and you’re able to express yourself very differently than you ever could or would. It’s one of the most important things that I have discovered over the years of training. I would say dance is one of the best forms that this showcases. With dance you can express how you feel or what you wanna say through body movement, you tell a story essentially. For me, everything that I do has a message behind it whether that’s singing, dancing, and/or acting. I feel like there should be a connection to the work, there has to be some type of layering or meaning behind it. It’s an art form, we have to connect it back to reality. It’s not all just fiction, there is some realness to it and I think that’s what makes it so special.”
What do you want to accomplish in the acting field?
“Although I want to do TV, film, and Broadway, my main goal is to inspire, make a change, and open doors for fellow black women. This career path is predominantly white and you can feel doubtful at times but I want to open doors for as many black women as I can. Not even just black women but many younger artists who might not have as much inspiration from where they come from, or may not know what they want to do. As of now, I’m still trying to open up doors for myself because there are black women that have opened up doors for other black women including myself! I’m finding my own way of opening doors because I never want to be just like someone else, I am Kamryn Vance, and I want to be known as Kamryn Vance not more as a “copycat”. We as people always want to find more authentic ways of pursuing what we love while having a connection with the world. I’m finding what makes Kamryn stand out! “
So far, have you been in any films?
“I wouldn’t say films but I did sing on a show! In New Orleans, where I grew up, I was a part of this singing organization called “Young Starz Of NOLA”. My vocal coach, Raion Ramsey, who is the president and founder of this organization I’ve known since I was a kid and she’s just one of the most amazing people I have ever worked with. She also has a lot of connections within the entertainment industry and we got the opportunity to sing on an episode of NCIS: New Orleans in February 2020! We recorded “Lift Every Voice and Sing”. The episode that we recorded for was the very last episode of the season! The episode covered the story of a black man who was murdered by the police, it was a very sad and heartbreaking storyline but as we know this does happen in real life which makes it hit closer to home. We were on set, it was a memorial setting, for quite a while actually. It was very cold and dark but it was such an amazing experience. I had the pleasure of meeting Charles Michael Davis from The Originals! We saw what actually goes on behind the scenes and we had the pleasure of speaking to the director about his thoughts on what it takes to put into a piece. It was such an amazing experience and I am very grateful to have Raion get us into doing things like that.”
Who is someone you would look forward to working with in the future?
“I would love to work with people around my age, more specifically Marsai Martin! Even though she’s younger than me she has done so many things at such a young age. I would also love to just sit down and talk with her, she’s a powerhouse! I really look up to her! She’s just this ball of energy, just making moves at such a young age. I really look up to her. She’s one of my biggest inspirations! I would also love to act with her one day! Some of the other women that I would love to work with are Taraji P. Henson, Viola Davis, and Angela Bassett. They have opened doors for black women in many different ways and I would just love to work with them one day! They are powerhouses and their work is amazing! If I ever receive the pleasure of working with any of those women it will be the best day of my life!”
How did you get into dancing?
“When I was about 5 years old my mom enrolled me in dance classes. My auntie V was the one who informed my mom about this studio that was opened called “Studio G Dance and Gymnastics.” My aunt actually enrolled her daughters in the same studio. For the next 12 years, I took dance classes there, competed, perfected my craft, etc. Fun fact, I actually popped my elbow out of its socket attempting to do an aerial. But, dance is still near and dear to my heart. I love that my mom put me into dance because it’s something that makes me who I am. There are so many different elements that go into dancing! Some of my favorite categories of dance would have to be tap, contemporary, and hip-hop. Dancing is truly an outlet for me. You don’t have to be perfect nor do you have to know everything about it. I wouldn’t consider myself perfect by a long shot. I don’t have to perfect splits, pirouettes, or points. I really think people tend to always think you have to be this all-around perfectionist dancer and that’s far from the truth. Dancing is about expressing yourself and how you choose to express yourself. If you want to train, go train but at the same time make sure you’re doing it for yourself and only you. Everybody should do what makes them happy. You don’t have to have the perfect split or the highest leg. Just do what makes you happy.”
Who do you hope to work with in the future in the field of dance, and why?
“There are so many incredible dancers and choreographers that I follow on Instagram whom I would love to work with one day. I would love to work with Parris Goebel, in my eyes she’s a phenomenon. She’s just recently won an Emmy for her work! She’s worked with many different artists including Rhianna and Normani. Ysabelle Capitule is another amazing dancer/choregrapher that I would love to work with. She has also worked with different artists including Chris Brown, Usher, and Victoria Monet. Misty Copeland is someone that I would love to work with in the future. She is the most well-known black ballerina in the world! Even though I’m not a ballerina I would love to sit and talk with her one day! But those are just some of the dancers/choreographers that I would love to work with in the near future.”
When and how did you get into singing?
“I’ve been singing since I was a kid, I just never thought it would’ve been a career path for me. But I would sing any and everywhere. You would be able to catch me singing in the house, my room, in the shower, the store, the car, etc. I started singing professionally around Mardi Gras of 2012 or 2013 but I remember being at my auntie’s house celebrating Mardi Gras. My little sister and I decided to put on a show for the family. After the show was over my other aunt commented on my voice. She said, “Kam has such an amazing voice!” And she continued to comment on my voice. My parents were like “You think so?” and she was like “Yea! I’m telling you, she has a gift.” In my head, I was like “It’s about some time somebody recognized me!” After that, we found out about the choir at my school that had recently opened up. I wanted to give it a shot and I auditioned. My audition song was “Take Me To The King” by Tamela Mann. I did get accepted, I was a soprano! Mind you, I had no type of training back then. I was very loud, I still am, and I couldn’t hold a note correctly. I had a voice but I needed to know how to use it correctly. That’s actually how I met my vocal coach, Raion Ramsey. We went from the choir and advanced to ‘Young Starz of NOLA’. I kept working with her and it was just up from there. My vocals are definitely stronger today from where they were just a year ago. I also enjoy songwriting. Now I'm learning piano, so I would go into the piano room with my notebook to sit down, play around with some notes, and find out what goes best with the lyrics.”
Who would you say your “soundalike” is?
“I really do not know, nobody has really ever told me I sound like someone. If someone ever hears me sing and feels like I sound like someone, please let me know.”
Is there an artist you would like to work with in the future?
“Beyonce. She has my heart, my biggest inspiration, and she’s a powerhouse. She is one of the reasons why I started singing! If Beyonce listened to my music and told me that I had a beautiful voice I would just cry. It would be one of the best days of my life. I love her. She’s a performer, she’s a powerhouse and she’s just everything that I want to be and more. Even if I don’t have the chance to work with her, I would love to sit down and talk with her.”
What are you working on next?
“As of right now, I am working on a Shakespeare’s Text within my program that we will be showing in the Spring of 2023. There are some study-abroad projects that are in the works. And I am currently auditioning for some shows and movies, I will keep you updated on that! But there are a lot of things that I am getting myself into this year. It’s super exciting!”
Who do you consider to be your biggest supporters?
“My family, my ENTIRE family. They have always been my number 1s. They’ve always pushed me, always challenged me, and they’ve always shown support. They’ve always shown support, they’ve literally shown up to every single show I have ever been in. I couldn’t thank them enough for everything. They’ve sacrificed so much for me to get where I am at today. I wouldn’t be here without their love and support. It’s still so surreal that I’ve made it this far. But, I am very grateful for them.”
Where could we reach you for questions or just to follow you on your journey?
“You can follow me on Instagram at “Kammievofficial”. I have a few singing videos on there and I have pictures of myself posted!”
“Pursue what you love, never what somebody else wants you to love. At the end of the day, this is your life and this is what you want to do. Never choose something because it’s what someone else wants for you. If you go down that path and it isn’t what you want to do, you’re going to be unhappy. Specifically for the field that I am in, it is hard and challenging but it’s also something that makes you want to wake up every day and go fight for it. I can definitely say I have done that and I’m going to continue to fight no matter how hard it gets because I love it. Do something that you love. Don’t let any fears, worries, doubts, or anybody get in your ear and tell you that you can’t do it. If you put your mind to it, you can do it. I’ve accomplished so many things that I would’ve never imagined. It’s amazing how God makes these pathways for you when you believe in yourself. Go do what you love and never give up on yourself.” - Kamryn V.
Beautifully written!