Meet Ra’Ven Young | Dancer & Creative Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ra’Ven Young and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ra’Ven, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
I have enough. I do enough. I am enough. Comparison has become borderline deadly because of social media. Others are willing to destroy themselves to “fit in” or to keep up. You have to constantly remind yourself that their path is not yours. You have your own journey. Your grass would be just as green if you tend to it.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I call myself Jack of all Rae’s. I have a lot of gifts and I have made them my own. I always lead with being a dancer, because I have become a professional. My actual first love was singing and fashion design. As a kid I used to sing at talent shows and write songs/rap verses. I was always remixing things to my perspective. I have journals of old songs and fashion sketches. I was always dancing, performing, and choreographing with my cousins. Dancing was always my first choice when someone asked me to perform for them. Til this day I can barely stand still. Dancing was like breathing. Nerves and fear were nonexistent. In the 7th grade, I won 2nd place in a High School talent show. My first talent show of me just dancing and freestyling. The crowd was reluctant at first but once i let loose I had their full attention. I was still into fashion and trying new things in style. I was heavily into retro pieces and redesigning. Thrifting was my escape. I didn’t get the best “reviews” but i had everyone’s attention. I loved my style and I showed up everyday, as Rae. In high school, I started to travel and perform praise dance on a professional level. I mentored and taught youth at local churches. In high school I was dance captain for Chorus 4 Honors and Drama 4 Honors for my junior and senior year. After high school, my friend, Raven Greene of New Moon Visuals, asked me to be apart of her first visual. That’s what started my journey in modeling. I wasn’t the most confident when i started, but I kept showing up as me. As I walked further down this journey, I was asked to be featured in Marie Claire. There were 11 girls who were selected for interviews. Only a few were selected to make the printed magazine. I was slightly intimidated, but once again I showed up as myself and I was selected! One of my favorite testimonies, but it reminds me to keep going. What is meant for me will not miss me. Fast forward to 2020, I was always into drawing and sketching but I never thought about painting. Two days before official lockdown, my mom texted me saying one of the local craft stores were going out of business. I love crafting so I made time before work to stop by. Next thing you know my cart was filled with painting supplies. I had no idea what was going to come out of it, but the Holy Spirit said “It’s all for a reason”. Being obedient and pressing through, I went to the register $200 later. It was raining, it was a struggle getting everything into my Jeep. I had to make it to work straight after. I made it to work and everything was going smoothly. One of the high scholars came to me and told me that my car was broken into. I forgot i left my wallet on the front seat. I went outside and felt so violated. It was still raining. My mom came as soon as she could. Thank God for my job, they stayed with me while i contacted the authorities and my banks. They even patched up my window. One of my colleagues said “Everything can be replaced, Thank God for your life”. I didn’t comprehend that at the time because of my emotions, but she was right. All they took was my wallet. They didn’t touch my $200 worth of supplies. She was right, everything was replaced the next day. I said all that to say those same supplies have carried me through 2020. I discovered a hidden gift. It has comforted me and was there for me to express myself the entire year. I still have some canvases and paint left, but my family and friends have invested in my newly found gift. What could be viewed as the worst day, has brought me through. I have no idea where it’ll take me but God doesn’t give you things just for kicks. He will give it to you for victory, and I’m going to seek his purpose in all of my gifts. I have returned to my carefree fashion choices. I am a creative director. Every shoot I am offered or collaborating on, I have made it into my own. My ideas come from the Holy Spirit, not from trends or what “looks cool”. I challenge myself to be outside of the box and I love to make my ideas come to life. I am so blessed to have creative friends who bring their ideas to the table and create magic.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
One of the first places I would take them to would be a hidden trail on Sullivans Island. Sullivans Island is my happy place. We would get our favorite snacks. I would create a great playlist for the long ride. The trail is a slight adventure in itself, if you haven’t been before. After the trail, we would go across the street to view the ocean and watch the sunset. There are various restaurants on the strip, but I personally like Mex 1.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I dedicated this shoutout to my mother. She’s been supportive and encouraging with every creative project. I am always humble about things I have accomplished, but she always reminds me of who I am.

Website: https://instagram.com/sheisrae_?igshid=1970gq1wayb0b

Instagram: https://instagram.com/jackofallraes?igshid=1w2bnsw24omds

Image Credits
New Moon Visuals, camxyou, CLD9INE