Koffee ChitChat
Koffee ChitChat
From Baltimore Club Dancing to Acting: Shamar Rice's Journey of Passion and Resilience
Shamar Rice joins us on Koffee Chit Chat to share his incredible journey from Baltimore club dancing to acting, illustrating the transformative power of passion and resilience. Shamar opens up about his beginnings in a family dance group at just five years old, and how the unique sound and culture of Baltimore club dancing set the stage for his impressive career. His transition to acting was inspired by studying formidable talents like Viola Davis, Zendaya Coleman, and Angela Bassett, which propelled him to build a solid foundation through local projects and student films. Shamar's story is a testament to the value of hard work and the relentless pursuit of one's dreams.
In a candid discussion, Shamar reveals the deep connection between dance and acting, highlighting the magic of storytelling in both art forms. Facing adversity head-on, he shares his poignant experience of landing a role in "Perry Mason" while navigating homelessness, a journey underscored by perseverance and surprising support from unexpected sources. His message is one of gratitude and encouragement, reminding performers to acknowledge and celebrate their achievements, regardless of size. Prepare to be inspired by Shamar's indomitable spirit and commitment to his craft, as he encourages all creatives to keep pushing forward.
Hey y’all hey, don’t miss the next episode of Koffee Chitchat!!
Hey y'all. Hey, it's your girl, paula, with another exciting episode of Coffee Chit Chat. But you know how we do it before we get started, we're going to shout out the coffee of the week, which is a chocolate pumpkin. Make sure you try one. So, guys, today we have a young king in the house, shamar Rice. He was born in Baltimore, maryland, and he's a multi-talented performer rising in the entertainment industry and has quite a few accolades. He started as a seasoned performer all over Baltimore performing at the Baltimore Club Dancing. He's also did the Battle of the Zodiacs and Red Bull Dance your Style, and the list just goes on and on. We're going to learn more as we talk with him. And armor, we're going to learn more as we talk with him. He has booked multiple feature films, web series and a co-star on the hit series Harry Mason, which airs on HBO Max. Welcome, shamar to Coffee Chit Chat. Wow, what an impressive resume, thank you.
Speaker 2:Thank you for having me.
Speaker 1:So you have a long list of accolades. Let's talk about your performing career. How old were you when you first started to?
Speaker 2:perform All of my brothers besides one, and excluding my dad and my cousins as well and they actually started in 2002. And I was two years old at that time and I didn't, but I joined the dance group in 2005. So I was five years old and my mom didn't want me to join that young because, you know, obviously doing a lot, you know, and she didn't want me to get hurt because my family were always doing stunts and things like that. I'm going to practice in the living room. My mom was there, right, and my brother, my oldest brother, which is my inspiration, his name is Travis and he actually went back upstairs and got me and brought me downstairs.
Speaker 2:You know dance, you know. He asked my mom, you know like, hey, he's always around, can he, you know, be a part of the group? And from there it was just history, you know what I'm saying. And I joined, started performing with them, and it was like for two years and after that my brother got incarcerated. You know, whole entire family just stopped dancing because they lost a piece of them. You know. That inspired them to keep, you know, pushing right and because he was my inspiration.
Speaker 1:so I stopped dancing too too, oh my goodness, but it was a family affair.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:Okay, awesome, awesome. So what is the Baltimore club dancing?
Speaker 2:Baltimore club. Dancing is a fun, intimidating dance cultural genre that was originated here in Baltimore, maryland, in the 80s to 90s. Sure Areas, djs, some DJs, including DJ K-Swift and Frank Ski and Sean Caesar, scotty B, just to name a few. Those are legends and they originated the sound. And the sound came from um chicago and um, it was new york and house as well, but we found our own sound, you know, or should I say they found? You know the sound of baltimore club. And then you know um songs that come out you know now and songs that came out back then. You know, they just sound the, the melodies, and they just incorporated our sound. You know, which made us unique from other genres of music.
Speaker 1:You know, yeah that is so awesome. I just love it. And I love how y'all say I think it's like Baltimore, or I said I'm saying Baltimore, but yeah, we say Baltimore. We used to live in Woodbridge, virginia, but attended church over in Maryland, so I'm kind of familiar with that DMV area. Okay, so I was reading in your Bible that you studied the industry like A-list actors and just like trying to understand what acting and all about that craft. How did this help you with your to hunt in on your craft?
Speaker 2:That's a great question. Honestly, it's a lot. So I would say the first thing for me I did background on a movie, a local movie here called Zeke's Awakening, in Baltimore, maryland, and pretty much it was background for me. So I wanted to get my feet wet. I wanted to know the ins and outs. I wanted to know how to become an actor. I wanted to know who do I talk to to get an opportunity.
Speaker 2:How can I step foot being a nobody, basically, with no credits or no people who could vouch for me, right, things that I started learning first, right, and after I did that, I started to apply for short films. You know, just local student films. You know people who are in college that you know it was an assignment for them. They had to, you know, cast for their short films or student films. So I would like make um, build rapport with you know those students and you know I would then um audition for their films, right, and then I built my resume. So my whole purpose was just to build my resume and get an and get enough experience for me to um and get enough experience for me to have. So I'll know in the future you know what I would need to do you know after that. So that was pretty much that, and then, once I got my feet wet, I started searching up actors and actresses who inspired me, and three actresses who inspired me is Viola Davis, zendaya Coleman and Angela Bassett.
Speaker 2:But yeah, that was pretty much that I just studied their mannerisms, their body language and just like their process too. You know you can never like take somebody's process, you can only learn your own. But you can take little things from them and add to your arsenal. So, like that's why I pretty much look at other people who are, you know, more of a higher caliber than me. You know, take what they have and then add it to, you know, my arsenal.
Speaker 1:Oh, yes, you did your homework. Yeah, awesome, that means a lot Chit Chatters. Homework, that's awesome. That means a lot Chit-chatters. Listen to that. It doesn't matter your field, do your homework. I love it, love it. And when you mentioned the acting in the student films, my daughter had to do that as well. She has a bachelor's at Clark and she got her master's from University of South Carolina and she had to borrow my home and I was like what? But it was her homework and these young people came out to act because they wanted to build a resume, like you see.
Speaker 2:Yes, that's very important. It's very important.
Speaker 1:So I just love it, love it, love it, so. So let's see how do you connect with your audience when you're performing? How do you think you connect with the audience?
Speaker 2:OK, I would say for dancing, right, I'm going to start with dancing first. Ok, it's a difference when I perform and when I compete in a battle. So for battling, I focus more on listening to the music and on my opponent. But really I just like to focus on the music. So when it's time for me to start, I hear nobody, just a little bit. I tune out people, but I can still hear them, but I hear the music fully. So I immerse myself in my dance moves, in the music.
Speaker 2:When I'm dancing I don't care about nothing else but just what I'm presenting in my battle. That's how I connect with people, just by my moves, right, and like storytelling. So when it comes for me to perform, it's a little bit more different Now. I focus on everybody and worry about them, but I worry about the music too. So it's a balance. I do 50-50 because I want to make sure that I'm impressing, you know, the audience, because at the end of the day I am performing and I'm trying to get action out of the audience, right. So that's how, that's my take on how I connect with the audience, battling-wise and performing-wise.
Speaker 2:Now with acting it's a little bit more different, you know, because we have processes, everybody has a process and the process typically changes. But my process usually, when I get a script or monologue, I'll read it more than one time just to get an understanding of the writer's perspective, and then I'll bring my own perspective in and I would look at the description and I would see what my character, what my character is. You know what he's been through. Oh, for example, if my character is somebody who comes from a family of addicts Right, and he has a chip on his shoulder I'm not an addict, but I have a chip on my shoulder Things are looking bad for this character. People are only going to judge what they see. But when you really immerse yourself in the dialogue that the writer has wrote, right, you can see that, oh, just because I do have a chip on my shoulder, it doesn'll bring more than what the writer has, you know, written for the character. You know I'll bring my own side out, so that's how I connect with the audience.
Speaker 1:Awesome, awesome. Now let's talk about this Perry Mason. How did you land that role? Because that's pretty prominent. You know show for years, perry Mason, you know.
Speaker 2:I'm going to try not to get emotional Homeless. I was homeless when I received that audition and I was staying with my mom's friend Shout out to Nene, I love her dearly. So I was. I was at her house and I received that audition from my agent, rebecca Eck, at Exclusive Artist Agency, and I don't never turn down auditions. So when I got it, you know I'm just like, ok, cool, I'm gonna do it. You know, at the end of the day, like I'm like I'm not going to get this, I'm just going to get it right because I've always, you know, never heard nothing back from right. That's just the reality of the TV and film industry.
Speaker 2:And then, I think a week later, or probably like three days later, my agent had emailed me and CC, my manager, and she said, shamar, like you're the top choice, you know they're looking at you. And I mean I got excited. But then it just went down right, because I'm broke, I'm homeless, I don't have no money and for a co-star they don't fly you out nowhere, you have to get, you know, flight there in your own housing. So, um, I was happy. But then again, you know, I'm like I can't do it, but I didn't want to tell my rep that Right. So I ended up, um, I ended up um messaging um somebody that was on my Facebook that supported me Her name is Lauren Darlene. And my situation, you know like they're looking at me for the top choice for this role, um, and I don't have nowhere to go and I don't have no money for a flight. Right, and he was. She was hearing me and she was just like hold on, let me call you back. And she called me back a few minutes later and she said my mom said call her Right. Um, and so now I never call her mom.
Speaker 2:So a few days went by and guess what? I booked the role. And guess what? I booked the role. So my agent emailed me and said, shamar, they want to book you. Can you let me know if you're available through these dates for that date? And yes, I'm available. And they told me I would need an LA address. Get you that address. And then I called her mom. Her mom said my daughter told me everything. And she said I want to do this for you. I'm going to send you X amount of money, I'm going to get you your flight ticket, I'm going to allow you to stay at my house for two weeks in LA so that you can film your TV show down here.
Speaker 1:Wow.
Speaker 2:Yes. So she, she truly changed my life and she allowed my life to change. You know, because that role meant so much to me and I am where I'm at now because of that role. You know what I'm saying. And look that two years ago it don't matter I worked three years to get 16 seconds on television. That's what a lot of people fail to realize out there.
Speaker 2:And for any actors that have been on TV that booked a co-star and you only had one line, you know it doesn't matter that you had one line and you were on it for five seconds or 10 seconds. Just know however long you worked. You're on TV now. You know you're hard to get that moment. So be proud of yourself and pat yourself on the back and give yourself grace, because nobody that's not in the industry they don't know how hard that you worked. They don't know how hard that I worked just to get that one line or three lines. So congratulations to anybody else who had a role like that and don't call that role small. That role was big because that role made it significant in your life and in your career.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, that's hard. Never turn, always start with yeah, never turn down anything.
Speaker 2:Here he is, wow.
Speaker 1:So awesome. So now that made you have the LA address. Yeah, oh, wow. God always will send his angels in, right?
Speaker 2:My goodness.
Speaker 1:I just love it. So now, what do you like? What's your favorite Dancing or?
Speaker 2:acting. Oh, I started dancing first. That was my first love and I'm going to have to go with dancing.
Speaker 1:OK, ok.
Speaker 2:That's. That's what made me who I am, you know. So, you love dancing.
Speaker 1:OK, that's what you were doing at five, when your mom was like, wait, maybe too young for this. I love it. So I think we kind of answered it a little bit. But I'd like to talk more about work. I want my listeners to know how important work ethics are. You know, to make it in whatever industry you're in.
Speaker 2:Yes, absolutely Anybody. Everybody has to be professional. It doesn't matter what hood you grew up in, what city you grew up in. Professionalism is needed in order for you to even get a job. You know anything that friend connections, business connections, vouching recommendations, letter of recommendations. Professionalism is key. Communication is key. Positivity is key. Making sure you show up on time is key it's.
Speaker 2:I don't want to say this is specifically for acting or dancing, but anywhere you go, learn people's names, because your name is very important for you to know theirs, because, at the end of the day, you're working for that person or that person is working for you. It shows that you are very professional. And what's the? The word um?
Speaker 1:paying attention to detail.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and to details. You you're, you're, uh, goal-oriented, um goal-oriented and um, detailed and oriented. So, yeah, um, that's pretty much all I have to say and also do your research, it don't matter what it is, because there's a lot of scams out there. You, you guys, no matter what industry. I do not want anybody to get hurt or, you know, money get took from them because, like, everybody works so hard and it's like I would hate for somebody to not, you know, read a detail, you know, and they end up getting scammed.
Speaker 1:So scam artists are all over the place, all over. Oh my goodness Now. Would you ever consider dancing like for Broadway? Would you like to do something like that eventually? Of course.
Speaker 2:I just got asked that the other day by my stepmom Because she always watches Hamilton on YouTube and the college that I'm going to the actor actually was an alumni from there and you know she knows I'm a dancer, right, and she was like, you know, do you ever want to take up Broadway? And I'm like it never really struck my mind that much you know. But I wouldn't be opposed to it, you know, like you know I would. That would be something that I'd be interested in.
Speaker 1:So yeah, All right, that is so awesome. I'm just loving, loving it all, and it seems like you have a very bright future and bright career. Yes of you so tell our listeners how they come. I have one more question, okay?
Speaker 3:well, usually every time we ask actors, we always ask about um their favorite movie. So okay, so um, as an actor, what would be your favorite genre you like to watch and your favorite movie?
Speaker 2:Drama. I live for drama, I would say Fences.
Speaker 3:Ooh, that's a good one.
Speaker 2:I put it off as a play, but the movie that's my type, that I would want to be in, that's my type, um, that I would want to be in, I would. I don't want to, um, I don't want to put myself in a box, but that is really a type of movie that I would like to be in. So, yes, viola Davis, and um, denzel Washington that was yes, that's a master class there.
Speaker 2:Like I would watch that every single time to get nuggets. You know from their mannerisms, body language, the tone, just everything, so period period, august Wilson and his plays in general.
Speaker 3:I remember I used to intern at a theater and that's like, yeah, all the emotion they do like an August Wilson monologue. So that was a good one. On period any more questions you have, miss britain do you have a, um dream role, like what you want to be?
Speaker 2:maybe the pick would you want to be like in a tv series, like a series regular, or would you want to like be in a big blockbuster movie like oh no limits it's yes, my dream role in a tv show is to be a series regular on a dance tv show or something where, as though, dancing is incorporated and they need a series regular. Somebody call me, because that's my and also it has to be a drama. I want it to be a drama and also a drama feature film where, as though I'm the lead, I'm carrying the movie and it's a dancing movie, so something like step up, honey, honey to save the last dance, like that's.
Speaker 3:That's my dream role maybe the reboot fame, and then you can get it.
Speaker 2:Oh my gosh, yes, that's my dream and it's going to happen. You guys Watch later down the line. I promise you it's going to happen. I'm going to be a series regular on a dancing TV show or a lead in a future film movie. A dance future film movie.
Speaker 3:Speaking of Into Existence. I'm like, I know him. He was on Call Me Chateau. We're friends.
Speaker 1:Yeah, because we're going to continue to follow you in your career and let our followers know how they can follow you.
Speaker 2:Yes, hey, followers, my name is Shamar Rice and I'm 23 years old. I'm from Baltimore, maryland, and I'm an actor and a dancer. I'm soon to be la resident and you guys can follow me on instagram at shamar rice, that's s-h-a-m-a-r-r-i-c-e, and on tiktok, the same s-h-a-m-a-r-r-i-c-e, and facebook shamar rice, that's s-h-a-m-a-E, and Facebook Shamar Rice, that's S-H-A-M-A-R, space R-I-C-E. Thank you.
Speaker 1:So our quote of the week is the only way to do great work is to actually love what you do, and that is by Steve Jobs. Tune in next week for another exciting episode of Coffee Chit Chat.
