Meet Austin Branks: Dancer, Singer, Actor, Choreographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Austin Branks and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Austin, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
I have always valued words of affirmation that can go on a journey with me that are not fleeting and just go over my head. I love hearing quotes that keep me going and drive me towards success, happiness, calmness, breathe, etc. My all time favorite is: “Lions don’t lose sleep over the opinions of sheep.” We can’t go living our lives letting every person’s opinion of us matter. There is always going to be someone that does not like you or agree with you, but you can’t let that weigh down your happiness. You have to stand tall, be grounded in what you believe in, and live your life unapologetically. As a performer, this is such an important lesson to hold on to because in the arts as a whole, our entire world can sometimes based off of other people’s opinions of us. By using putting ourselves on stage or on film or even just in a studio covered in mirrors, we so often put ourselves into a vulnerable state that can be an inescapable darkness if we focus so much on every single person’s (good or bad) judgements of us. That vulnerability is so crucial in my industry because we are encouraged to constantly make new choices that liven up our performance. I have been in numerous situations where I have had to remind myself that I am the lion and not the sheep. I started dancing when I was 15 years old, so I inherently thought that I was late to the game and would never catch up to the dancers around me. I would be in dance class and see myself as the sheep. I knew that this outlook make me burn out quickly, so I told myself I had to make a change. That is when I came across this affirmation, and I ran with it. Fast forward 6 years later, and I booked my first professional contract as a dancer in a musical. 

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I have been singing my entire life, but I started seriously training in dance, music, and drama when I was 15 years old at Pebblebrook High School as a student in their performing arts magnet program (CCCEPA). I performed in numerous musicals in high school such as “Les Miserables”, “West Side Story”, and “Pippin”, and I was a member of “ComPAny”. CCCEPA’s song and dance ensemble. I just graduated in April 2020 from The University of Central Florida with my BFA in musical theatre and dance minor where I also got to perform in many shows including “Young Frankenstein”, “Titanic”, and “Oklahoma!” During the summers of 2018 and 2019 was when I danced professionally in “TEXAS: The Outdoor Musical” in the Palo Duro Canyon in Canyon, TX. This is also where I started my journey into choreography by getting to set two full length pieces on groups of dancers in a show held at the end of each summer, and I got the opportunity to teach a couple classes throughout the 2 summers I was there. The hardest obstacle I have faced in my performance journey is my own self. There have been times where I doubted myself and where I thought I would truly never be successful. I had to remind myself that everyone has their own path and there is no schedule to life. Just because the people around you are successful does not mean that you are not. There are so many more aspects to your existence than your career. Something that I have always prided myself in is my optimism towards any situation life has thrown me. We all have our waves of doubt and sadness, but I have always kept moving forward and picked myself right back up. Any feeling is valid, but it is important to use different situations as moments of growth. Even in the darkest times, you are merely planting a seed that is going to grow into something that is absolutely beautiful. It may take time, but it will definitely happen. Right now my industry is taking a brief intermission with the pandemic going on, so I have branched out into the retail industry with a job at lululemon. I was pretty nervous at first, but I have quickly learned that I can find the aspect of fun in any situation. This year has been so sorrowful for a variety of reasons. I never thought I would be working in a retail store without even the chance to perform, but I still go to work every day and find an aspect of fun in the day. Whether that be with my coworkers, receiving new products, or just simply dancing around the store throughout the day while helping guests, I will always find some sort of source of joy and purpose in my everyday life. I can’t wait to start performing again to see how the lessons I have learned in 2020 reflect in my art.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
One of the first things that we would have to do is hike Kennesaw Mountain. It’s a pretty easy hike, and the view at the top is spectacular. You get such a great view of the skyline of the city. I am such a city person, but I also love to be outside in nature. Seeing the Atlanta skyline while being on top of a mountain is like the best of both worlds! Another super fun thing to do is drive up to the Blue Ridge mountains because the views are breathtaking. I especially love it when it is fall, and the leaves change to shades of red and orange. I am also a big night-out type of guy, so pretty much anywhere in midtown or downtown where you can dance and have a have fun is definitely a go-to for me. 2020 is obviously a special circumstance, but I am counting down the days until I can go out with my friends again! Another highlight is the Marietta Square. My friends and I hang out there all the time, and they have the best restaurants. Taqueria Tsunami is one of my favorite restaurants (highly recommend the All-American Bowl), and pho from House of Lu is unbeatable. One of my favorite spots to shop around at is Ponce City Market. I love the aesthetic of it, and it is such a fun experience. Also, it is connected to the Belt Line which I have always wanted to walk! I grew up seeing shows at The Fox Theatre, and it will forever be one of my favorite theater’s in the world. If there was a show playing, we would definitely have to get tickets. The ceiling that looks like the sky with twinkling lights that look like stars is worth the price of the ticket. Georgia is one of my favorite places in the world because of all of the diverse landscapes and fun things to do! Very proud to be from the peach state.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are too many people to name that have played crucial roles in my story. First of all, my wonderful family who has been the most supportive since day 1 and who has always encouraged me to be the absolute best I can be without any qualms. I would also be a fool to not give a shout out to all of the teachers and mentors I have learned from over the years. More specifically, all of the teachers and professors I studied under at The University of Central Florida and The Cobb County Center for Excellence in the Performing Arts (CCCEPA). High school was when I started taking my arts training seriously, and it is when I solidified musical theatre as my career. If I had not transferred to Pebblebrook High School (home of CCCEPA) my sophomore year, I can truly say from the bottom of my heart that I am clueless as to what my path would have been. I grew like I never have before, and I took a ton of knowledge away from that school and it’s teachers. For that I will forever be grateful. Going into college, I was very unsure of UCF. I did not think that was the place for me, but once I started school I saw the love and dedication that the professors put into their students and their individual growth. It was so inspiring, and I am so thankful to have had such a wonderful four years surrounded by hard-working and dedicated artists. Teachers are the people who shape generations, and I believe they deserve too much credit to even put into a tangible amount. Without teachers and mentors we are truly empty.

Website: www.austinbranks.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/austinbranks/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/austinbranks
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/austin.branks/

Image Credits
Marcigliano Photography