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

Hi Shonica, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I was raised more specifically on the Decatur end of Glenwood. I grew up with young parents so my Grandmother Shirley Gooden and Papa Frank Gooden played a major part in my upbringing. My Grandmother was president of the missionaries at her church, so I spent a lot of time in church and at prayer meetings. Spirituality and the power of faith and prayer have always been a part of me. My Papa was well respected in the community and played father, Uncle, and Papa to many people that weren’t even blood related to us. They both truly believed in community and taking care of your neighbors, even if it often meant sometimes them giving their last.

My father is a successful entrepreneur who always instilled in me the power of being your own boss and having your own. My mother always taught me to strive for excellence and to never allow your circumstances to determine your future. My parents both always allowed me to dream and never made me feel like my dreams were ever out of reach. Quitting was never an option. Pivoting, however, always was.

I do not take for granted the love and support I was blessed to grow up with. I honor the sacrifices my parents and grandparents made for me in order for me to reach my goals of becoming a successful professional dancer and now entrepreneur/community arts leader by not just continuing to level up in my career, but by also reaching back to the next generation of young dancers in ATL. Through my community arts organization, The Black Artists Dance Collective, I will honor the core values behind the foundation of both the artists and human I have grown to be.

The Black Artists Dance Collective is an alliance of black dance professionals who vow to uplift, support, inspire, and empower Atlanta’s black dance community. As a collective, it is our mission to connect the Atlanta Black Dance Community to network resources and opportunities both nationally and internationally. We believe it is our duty to create brave spaces for the voices of our community to unapologetically be amplified at their highest frequency.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
For the past 11 years, I have been performing on Broadway and in TV/Film. Currently I am a part of the Broadway Cast of Hamilton the Musical. I consider myself to be a “Triple Threat Performer” which essentially means that I can sing, dance, and act. One of the many challenges I faced in the beginning of my career was playing catch up vocally. Majority of my life I was always known as a dancer. Though I had other gifts like acting and singing within my will house, I truly did not begin nurturing these gifts until after I graduated from college (Point Park University; BFA Modern Dance). My first big professional job I booked right out of college was the 1st National Tour of “Bring it On: The Musical”, and it was literally the first musical I have ever done in my life. I had no idea how to sight read music and I didn’t really even fully understand how to prepare for the experience. Quite honestly, I never saw myself doing musical theatre really, I thought the people were too crazy and loud LOL. Come to realize, that they actually were “my people”, and through some encouragement from cast mates, I opened up my heart to the idea that the Broadway World was actually exactly where I was supposed to be. However, I knew that if I wanted to be taken serious in this side of the industry and actually be able to continue to compete with the best of the best, I had to start training vocally. After going through being diagnosed with polyps on my cords and having surgery for their removal, the world of voice truly opened up to me. Under the tutelage of Deric Rosenblatt and Doug Oberhamer, I became stronger and more confident in my vocal skills. I went from being an artists who only saw herself as a dancer, to performing some of the most vocally challenging roles in the industry, “Delores Van Cartier” in “Sister Act: The Musical” (Music Theatre Wichita) , “Felicia Farrel” in “Memphis” (Cape Fear Regional Theatre), and “Rumpleteazer” in “CATS” (Broadway Revival).

Understanding the challenge of playing catch up so late in life and the fear behind even opening your mouth to sing on stage as a dancer, one of the bonus classes we offer at our Tuition Free Intensives at The Black Artists Dance Collective is a “Voice for Dancers” class taught by professional BGV Artists Jazmin Crumley (The Outlet of Vocal Expression). It is important to me that we equip the dancers with as many tools in their toolbox as we possibly can to help with their career development. Our goal is to ensure that they feel comfortable and confident to walk into any audition room no matter if they are asking them to hit the step or sing a 16 bar cut of an audition song. As the oldie but goodie saying goes, “If you stay ready, you never have to get ready”.

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.
Whenever I am home in ATL, there are two restaurants that I just have to hit up, “Milk & Honey” on Wesley Chapel Rd. in Decatur and “Tassili’s Raw Reality Cafe”. At Milk & Honey” my go to is the shrimp and grits. At “Tassili’s” my go to is the Punany Wrap.

If you’re looking for an “Only in Atlanta” good time moment, go to “Sidebar” down on Poplar Street. The three different levels concept is dope to me because there truly is a level that caters to every type of vibe; chill level, good music vibes level, and then “Hotlanta”/party level. So if you’re ever with a group of friends and they all can’t quite figure out where they want to go and everybody is looking for various vibes, take them there.

To experience true artistry of different kinds and discover the creative talent in Atlanta, check out The Goat Farm Arts Center. It’s truly the hotspot for art curation and collaboration.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would first like to dedicate this shoutout to my husband Jared Williams and our baby boy Grant Williams. Thank you for your unconditional love and unwavering support for this busy mom.

Secondly, I would like to shoutout my fellow founding members and Ambassadors of The Black Artists Dance Collective, Jamal White, Francesca Frederick, Terrance Martin, Wendell Gray, Amber Jackson, Danielle Swatzie, Vinson Fraley, Takia Hopson, Brianne Sellars, Leah Prince, Deonna Francois, Nia Bellinger, and Annosha Biggins. You all were and still are the inspiration behind the pulse and vibration of the work we do through the Collective. Shoutout to 3 of our major mentors and supporters Mr. Eric Winchester, Chanel DaSilva, and Nigel Campbell. Mr. Win, thank you all for always allowing us to give you late night text or calls for sound wisdom and advisement. Chanel and Nigel, thank you for the blueprint that is MOVE(NYC). Seeing the example you have set along with the impact and selfless work you are doing for the city of NY, inspired me to do the same for my hometown.

Shoutout to New York Foundation for the Arts for believing in our vision and being our fiscal sponsors for The Black Artists Dance Collective

Shoutout to all of the incredible Donors of The Black Artists Dance Collective. Because of your support, we have been able to bring our dream of hosting TUITION FREE intensives for young, elite black dancers to a reality.

Shoutout to the city of Atlanta and the incredible dance community within it. Thank you to those that have welcomed our organization into the city and allowed us to pour into your students. Together we will continue to uplift, support, inspire, and empower the next generation of young artists.

And perhaps the biggest shoutout goes to none other than the big G.O.D! All glory to God for blessing me with once in a lifetime opportunities and for giving me vision. For being my source of strength and perseverance when I want to give up. You remind me that my purpose and journey in life is bigger than me.

 x

Website: Personal: www.shonicagooden.com; The Black Artists Dance Collective: www.tbadcollective.org

Instagram: Personal: @shonica; TBADC: @tbadcollective

Other: To learn more about The Black Artists Dance Collective please head over to our website, www.tbadcollective.org. To support The Black Artists Dance Collective in providing Tuition Free Intensives, please use this link to donate: https://www.tbadcollective.org/donate-1 email: tbadcollective@gmail.com

Image Credits
Simply Greg Photos

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutAtlanta is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.