Darcel Frederick
Dancing Princess Shines in The Lion King
Many little girls once had the dream of becoming a ballerina or a princess. For those who did not pursue this path but secretly still dance in front of the mirror, Darcel Frederick is living the dream for our inner little girl dancers. So who is Darcel Frederick and why is Dazzle Magazine writing about her? Well, we are elated to introduce you to this 30-year-old, who has charmed her way into the hearts of many with her poise, elegance and talent as a professional dancer.
Darcel was born on October 27th to Robert and June Frederick. June is a well-known cultural activist and daughter of the prominent Historian Winville King. In her early years, Darcel attended the Ave Maria Infant and Primary Schools and the St. Joseph’s Convent. She later attended the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College and then York University (Toronto, Canada). She has had the opportunity to perform at several national events, which she says “was always fun, and made her feel very proud.” Darcel’s extraordinary talent, hard work and perseverance have surely harboured success as she currently performs in the celebrated Broadway production, The Lion King in London.
Can you believe that her greatest achievement as part of The Lion King cast still gets her nervous? So, not only did Dazzle get tips on how to calm nerves, she suggests “deep breathing and envisioning the performance going the way I want it to,” Dazzle Magazine sought to find out about Darcel’s graceful transformation from aspiring dance to professional performer.
Dazzle: How does it feel to be part of The Lion King London and how was your first day experience?
Darcel: “Surreal is the best word to describe how it feels and also (my inner child response) freaking incredible! At risk of sounding cheesy, it really is a dream come true for me. My first day in rehearsal was scary and very challenging but also very exciting. The vocal rehearsal was a very new experience for me, and as worried as I was it turned out to be a lot of fun. The dance rehearsal was very physically and mentally demanding but despite the exhaustion and pain (haha) I loved it. My first performance on stage is a bit of a blur. The moments leading up to my first entrance were quite an adrenaline rush. I was so nervous that I honestly don’t remember it at all.”
Dazzle: How did you become a professional dancer?
Darcel: “Copious amounts of training and preparation. I trained at university and then continued with regular training after that (i.e. going to the gym, taking dance classes etc.)”
Dazzle: How long have you been dancing?
Darcel: “Since I was 5 years old.”
Dazzle: What pushed you into dancing?
Darcel: “My Mom used to be a dancer and she got me started. I fell in love with it and it’s been a passion ever since.”
Dazzle: What dancer(s) inspired you?
Darcel: “My mom of course, Alvin Ailey, Judith Jamison, Martha Graham (to name a few).”
Dazzle: What forms of dance have you studied?
Darcel: “I have studied, Ballet, African, Modern and Contemporary.”
Dazzle: Did you dance Quadrille at school?
Darcel: “Not at school but for a little bit with Helen Folk Dancers. I enjoyed it very much at the time.”
Dazzle: Which one are you performing now?
Darcel: “Right now I would say I’m performing Modern dance.”
Dazzle: Why do you love to dance and how do you feel when you perform?
Darcel: “Always a difficult question for me to answer. It is hard to describe the feeling when I’m dancing. It’s like I’m transported into another world – an escape. It is a carefree, happy, sometimes very emotional place. It is also an outlet to express some of my inner most emotions – alive, carefree, emotional!”
Dazzle: Who makes up your support team?
Darcel: “My family, my close friends and my fiancé.”
Dazzle: Do you hope to inspire others to dance too?
Darcel: “Definitely! It is such a profound art form and what I experience when I dance is such a beautiful feeling. It is so fulfilling that even though it is a difficult career path, I would encourage anyone who is passionate about it to pursue it.”
Dazzle: If dance was not your career choice/path, what would you be doing instead?
Darcel: “I think I would be a physiotherapist. It is another interest I picked up when I was at university and my second major, Kinesiology and Health Science was a start toward that career path.”
Naturally, home is where the heart is and that is Darcel’s favourite place, “wherever her close friends, family or fiancé are. With a strong support team, keen enthusiasm, humility and profound determination Darcel keeps on dancing. In the next five years, Darcel hopes to be married with a family but has not acceded to retiring those graceful and skilled legs. Her body craves dancing which inspires her to continue. Dazzle extends well wishes to Darcel and look forward to seeing her perform in The Lion King.
