Today we’d like to introduce you to Gage Wayne.
Hi Gage, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Hi Everyone! My name is Gage Wayne and I am from Cincinnati, Ohio! I am a Capricorn, moon in Aquarius, and rising Scorpio (if any of you know what these mean, haha). I enjoy hanging out with my friends, traveling for work and leisure, watching movies, and bringing a smile to everyone’s faces. I started my dance training at the age of 10. Before that, I was participating in tons of local musicals, had vocal and instrument lessons of all kinds, and more. The arts were always something that I was drawn to! Dance was just supposed to be fun for me at first, but each year, I added more to my plate. Another class in another style, another dance that I competed in, then I got to assist classes at my studio, Z Company Arts, that helped pay for my own lessons and competitions, and eventually was there everyday of the week by the time I was a senior in high school.
While I loved it, I was also a lot bigger than anybody I was dancing with or competing against, and that personally held me back from trying for a career in dance right away. No way in my mind did I think that I would ever be given a chance to dance professionally. After four different colleges, four different majors, and two degrees later… I still was not happy because all I wanted to do was perform, and work creatively in the entertainment industry. I moved to LA in the fall of 2015 from Ohio, to complete my bachelors degree and then really dig into a career within dance. I was hungry, I was determined, and most of all I was happy to go to a place where no one knew who I was and start over.
I lost over 80 pounds to get to a point where I was the most confident I had ever been, and signed to my first Agency within a year. That is where the real work began. Connections, connections, connections! I was always fighting my way to get in front of the industry’s top directors, choreographers, creative teams, to be given a chance and it was cut throat. Many times I wanted to just throw the towel and give up, but there was always something that was telling me to keep going. Skip forward 6 years later, I have worked with some of the industry’s top choreographers, performed with major artists and actors, been featured in multiple commercials and films, and began creating the life I always dreamed of having at 16.
The pandemic took me back to my roots for a while, and after going back to LA for a few months at the beginning of 2021, I realized that my time there was ready to end and I wanted to take all that knowledge elsewhere. I am now residing back in Ohio teaching at my home studio for the time being, while also still living the dream as a professional dancer, educator, and choreographer.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My career has been the furthest from smooth, haha. As is anyone who wants to make this life a reality. When I first moved to LA, I had a parent tell me a quote that I stick with still to this day: “Pressure Makes Diamonds”. This helped me tackle all the moments where I was beaten down with a little light and just to remember it would not always be like this. For myself, a lot of the struggles I had were trying to find my own personal niche.
When you are living and breathing the air of some of the most iconic people in your industry, and frankly a place where opportunities are created daily, it is not hard to lose yourself in what will make you be noticed. Remembering your personal why and who you are can be so difficult when you want to follow the fads, and wear what everyone else is wearing, and have the feeling of being accepted. It was easy to feel like the odd one out when I didn’t want to follow the latest trend. But it didn’t feel right for me to do, and I stuck to that decision.
This easily could have cost me jobs without a doubt. I can’t say for certain because I didn’t give myself the chance to experience a life I would have ended up hating, but I am proud to say I have always been a unique individual. Another large sacrifice made was just overall finances and life in general. I would not trade my 6 years in California for anything. I met some of my closest friends and made unchangeable memories. I also spent times with no money, no food, being without family around the holidays, in hopes an audition would show up in my email. I can’t count the number of times I would call off work to attend an audition that I MAY book. As physical as dance can be, its mental game is just as strenuous!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a professional dancer, choreographer, educator, and creative director. I have worked as a dancer on many projects such as promos for American Horror Story and The Greatest Showman. I was a featured dancer in two feature films, one of which is available now on Netflix titles, ‘A Week Away’. I have also been fortunate enough to dance with Toni Braxton, Patrick Starr, to name a few, and been part of developmental projects with artist Paula Abdul.
I also enjoy being on the creative side and have worked with up and coming artists. Chasing Jonah, and Matt Mackey III are two of my favorite artists to work with, I also enjoyed my time with YouTube influencer Kelsi Davies on her music video that can be found on YouTube now called ‘Heartbeats!’ I am so grateful for all of my opportunities, and my first and foremost job when I am in this position is to make sure the artist, the team, and the crew are all on the same page. Time is money, I want us all to have fun, but also get the job done. It is possible to work with a positive light and love for what you do no matter the budget. This is forgotten sometimes on projects!
I would definitely say that my personality and approach sets me apart right away from anyone else in the business. Of my past projects, that is always the first thing I am told, is how easy I am to work with, what light and love I bring to the set, and how much joy you can feel from me. Like I said, these opportunities can be taken just as quickly as you receive them, I do not take any of them for granted.
I come and do what I am supposed to do. Make memories and friends, give the client the product that they want, and hope that they would want to work with me again. A smile and a simple ‘thank you’ can really go a long way with the right person.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
As hard as risk taking is, it really can push you to the next level that you want to be at. I have one specific moment where I had to make a decision like this and it opened so many doors for me. I used to be a work-study for Millennium Dance Complex in Los Angeles, California. I managed the classes, studio rentals, etc. and one day I had a choreographer come in that I had always dreamed of working with.
I helped him with simple things around the studio, questions they had, whatever it was and went about my shift. Soon after, I received a follow on Instagram and a simple message saying thank you for my help at the studio, I had two choices: leave the conversation at that, or see what could happen if I asked to meet up for coffee and just talk about how they got where they are. I took option two – and it changed a lot of things for me.
I was able to be a PA for him on a short film they were directing, I helped him with auditions for other projects, and went on to dance in two feature films as a dancer. That simple risk that probably felt like a deal or no deal kind of situation, changed everything for me to this day. I am all for taking a chance. Missed chances are missed opportunities. 🙂
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.
gagewayne.com - Instagram: https://www.
instagram.com/gagewayne_/ - Facebook: https://www.
facebook.com/gage.roark/ - Youtube: https://www.youtube.
com/channel/UC0m2- 4UHpxVvKjl5RFxkQiw
Image Credits:
Robert Riese Photography
Paul DiTullio
Lauren Frances
London Lane
