Meet Carmen Xotica | Performer & Influencer

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

Hi Carmen, we’d love to hear what makes you happy.
What makes me happy is the ability to be a creative. Every since I was a child, my imagination and creativity has given me an outlet of freedom. Being able to bring your imagination to life is so beautiful within itself, because its authentically you! Theatre and performing arts sparked a joy in my heart when I was nine years old. I was a part of an organization called All Walks of Life Inc. I was later casted for acting roles, but I quickly fell in love with dance. During hardships in my life, performing was the only thing that gave me happiness and peace. Dance makes me happy, because it taught me the true meaning of self-love and confidence at a young age. As a dancer, your confidence show you trust and believe in yourself. I enjoy the feeling of being able to connect with the audience through movement and tell the story. Dance is not just happiness, it’s therapy for the soul.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My name is Sharia Philadelphia as known as Carmen Xotica. I was born and raised in Savannah, Georgia. I was raised on the south side in the Windsor Forest community. When I was a child, I would always want to dance. I would show my parents, and start a full blown performance. I began dancing at 3 years old, but I didn’t take it serious until I was nine years old. I remember watching Beyonce perform on DVD. My mother came home with the Beyonce “I Am… Tour.” I watched the whole thing, I immediately felt compelled to dance. I seen the show and was like ” Wow I could do that, I can be a performer.” It was something about being on stage that fascinated me. The freedom of expression and confidence Beyonce showcased; I knew this is what I wanted to. My dance craft started off with hip-hop . At the age of 9 years old, I made an addition to dancing. I decided to add acting, stepping into the theatre world was a big step for me. It also was a challenge and quickly made me realize how competitive this field becomes. Once I graduated high school, I attended Savannah State University as a Mass communications major for audio and video. I auditioned for the SSU band auxiliary majorette team the “Majestic Jewels,” in summer 2019. I am very proud of myself for relocating and giving myself the resources to continue my growth. One of my biggest challenges moving to Atlanta was believing in myself and understanding this experience will be a learning process. I started dance training at She’Meka Ann Studios located in Atlanta, GA. I completed my first show in the membership program. After the program ended, I started receiving bookings from local talent in Atlanta. I believe what sets me apart from others is authenticity, humbleness, discipline, and faith. I have always been true to myself and trust that god will take care of everything. I believe that’s how I got where I am today. What God has for me, will never pass me. Navigating the dance world is challenging, but anything that is worth it does not come easy. What’s most challenging for me was vulnerability while performing. I would learn challenging choreography that I never felt my body do and not commit to the movement entirely. I learned to be more comfortable in my body, play with textures in music, and versatility. It’s great to master a genre, however being well rounded in different dance genres provides more opportunities for you. The best way to overcome challenges is consistency and staying open-minded to change. The best thing to do is enjoy the journey. It’s so rewarding to see the growth as a dancer. The lesson I learned is it’s always best to take a leap on faith. I don’t care if you do it happy, scared, frustrated, or afraid. Don’t ever give up on your dreams. I also learned its not about the win all the time. The real growth starts in the obstacles and how you overcome it. Although it’s easy to be inspired by what success looks like. We have to appreciate the hard work it take for those victories big or small.

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.
My favorite spot to get tacos and birria’s from is RReal Tacos! They have the best food and drinks if you are looking for Mexican food. My favorite place to get African food is Ike’s Cafe and Grill. I absolutely love going there during the week. The food is authentic and the waitresses are super helpful while your navigating the menu. One of my favorite clubs in the city is Revel. I absolutely love this club. I had a great time when I was there. If you’re on the north side Tiger Tiger is a nice club. When I want dessert I love to go to Sweet Red Peach bakery at the West End. They have really great options and the cakes are so good.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would love to give a special thank you to everyone who supports me as I continue my journey. I would love to give a special thank you to my mother and father for always displaying true strength, courage, and wisdom. Thank you to All Walks of Life, Inc. for providing a nurturing space for talented young people in Savannah, GA during my childhood. I want to give a royal recognition and love to Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. Thank you for being an encouraging sisterhood, and support through my all endeavors. I want to give a special recognition and love to Alpha Epsilon Delta Phi Delta Dance Fraternity, Inc. Thank you for all the love, support, and guidance on my dance journey.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cxrmen_xotica/reels/?__d=11

Image Credits
Image credit:

Somi Benson
Seth Tate
Terez Balboa
RichyRichVisuals
2Twelve Visuals Photography