Shamicka
was born and raised in Knoxville, Tennessee where she
enjoyed climbing trees, perfecting the art of making
mud pies, and playing intense games of kick-ball. At
age 6 she tagged along with her best friend to try her
first dance class and never left. For a while she would
literally run out of basketball practice, eat dinner
in the car (thanks Moma), and jump into her tap shoes
as she ran into the dance studio. It was at age 14,
after repeatedly jete'-ing over the free throw line
that her Daddy realized she wasn't destined for the
WNBA after-all.
Throughout
adolescence she pursued print and commercial modeling
while continuing her training in dance. But it was after
she turned down the invitation to sign with a modeling
agency in Tokyo during her sophomore year in high school for
fear of getting behind in her technique that her parents
knew that the world of dance, singing, and acting had
stolen her heart. She went on to graduate with
a BFA from the University of Tennessee in Theater and
Dance before heading off to New York City to attend
the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. There she experienced
more rigorous training in various disciplines with a
primary focus on the Lester Horton technique. After
a year and a half she took what she had learned in the
classroom and hit the streets of NYC. "Streets"
being the over crowded rooms of the cattle call auditions
for Broadway. After hearing many "No's" along
the way she landed the "Yes" that would change
her life for years to come.
Shamicka
has performed in many stage productions including Hair,
For Colored Girls Who Considered Suicide When the Rainbow
is Enuf, Little Shop of Horrors, Dreamgirls, and Pippin.
It was in 2007 when her perseverance and glowing presence
landed her the role of Go-to-Hell Kitty in her dream
show, the Broadway International tour of Chicago. The
tour has enabled her to inspire audiences and instruct
young artists all over the U.S., Thailand, Japan, South
Korea, and
Dubai.
She
knows that New York City developed her as a dancer,
a well rounded artist and entertainer, and a fashionista,
as well as a woman trustworthy of the precious gift
of influence. The City will always hold a special
place in her heart, but now she calls the 72 degree,
sunny valley of Los Angeles home. She's enjoyed establishing
roots in LA on various entertainment platforms such
as theater (in The Skylight's production of "Dontrell
Who Kissed the Sea" as Shea, the Pasadena Playhouse's
production of "Kiss Me, Kate" starring Wayne
Brady and Merle Dandridge, and under the direction of
Brook Shields, as Go-to-Hell Kitty in the infamous Hollywood
Bowl's production of "Chicago"); t.v. (Nickelodeon's
"Bella and the Bulldogs", and ABC's "General
Hospital"); and national commercials such as Pantene's
"Sorry, not Sorry" campaign, and Honda's "Beware
of the Stare".
As
her platform enlarges she is determined to maintain
her enthusiasm for being Big Sister to all---confident
yet teachable and fabulous while empowering!!!
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