"When you`re performing, you`re creating a moment."
- Erykah Badu
Meet Dante
Dante was practically born on a stage on the south suburbs of Chicago. From the time he could walk he was waddling across his mother’s dance recital stages, and shortly after singing in churches all over the Chicagoland area. His parents quickly placed him in a gospel choir group, where he performed all over the US and eventually the world until he was 17 years of age. While he loves the stage, during his years growing up, Dante had many other hobbies such as snowboarding, golfing, archery, photography, and film. He also developed a love for furniture fabrication and cooking, dreaming of retiring one day in a restaurant full of the fabrications over the years.
While at pursuing a BFA in Musical Theatre at Ball State University he was fell in love with theme park entertainment. He spent the next 4 summers and Halloween seasons performing at Kings Island Amusement Park. He also found a new family of amazing and lovely people tearing his heart between Chicago and Cincinnati. His love for the stage just blossomed. Day after day seeing audiences from all over and meeting them, he realized just how magical the work was that was being done in those theatres. Just before his time was over at BSU, Dante was hired to perform on Celebrity Cruises.
Performing and seeing the world again, it all felt so surreal to him. He was put into a position of leadership almost immediately. A responsibility that would teach him many lessons of conflict resolution, diplomacy, and separating work issues and friendships. His time on ships placed him in the right place at the right time to be seen and picked up by one of his dream companies, Walt Disney World. Over the course of 1 year, Dante was placed in 4 roles across 4 parks. Dante was given many opportunities for several very special and unique events with the Disney Company as well. He found himself in shows at SeaWorld Orlando, Universal Orlando along with various gigs in the area. After years Dante finally landed the role of his dreams as Simba in Hong Kong Disneyland’s Festival of the Lion King at the very start of the pandemic where he has been ever since.
Dante has grown and learned so much in these 2 years since. Being in a country on the opposite side of anyplace he had ever called home, forced him to adapt to a culture very much different than his own. He has learned how to perform stronger and communicate clearer. Dante also has developed a deep love of self that was not previously there. Ultimately Dante looks back at the many steps in his life knowing each one was a gift and blessing that he will cherish as he looks forward and continues to spread love and magic no matter what stage, country, or platform there is. If the opportunity to be a light presents itself, then he will be up for it!