One of the unspoken roles of creatives in our society; is to decimate stereotypes and disband clichés. The astronomical journey of Ulato Sam is undoubtedly inspirational but fundamentally disregards the age old notion that “Nice guys finish last.” The immensely thoughtful and gregarious dancer/ actor is certainly not finishing last in his international creative pursuits and his charismatic aura is being recognized by some of the most influential names in Hollywood. We caught up with the multi-potentialite for an intense and thought provoking conversation about his enigmatic rise to stardom – a term which his genuine sense of humility and self-efficacy would graciously reject.
As a multidisciplinary creative who ventures in the arena of dance & acting, how did your background in athletics prepare you for your journey as a creative?
Athletics stands as a foundation that I can rely on without thought or question. I was challenged through the sport; to commit to time management, a rigorous training regimen, having fun all while doing my best to achieve a goal. It is through my pursuits within the sport that I learned that failure only existed where learning didn’t take place. Additionally, I garnered immense respect for the hard work that my competitors put in because they would push me as best they could; in hopes of achieving the same goal. Jamaican culture engrains a respect for competition, work ethic, collaboration and time, through our perspective which views athletics as a national treasure. Cultivating your discipline in athletics is similar to finding your discipline in art. Your affinities, natural talent and attention to detail are challenged, observed, critiqued and inspired by past performances of other athletes and artists that you respect. Being aware of your instrument; how far it can go, it’s capacity to surpass limitation and your own willingness to commit to overcoming any challenges presented, is a necessary part of progression. However athletics taught me the difference between excellence and being outstanding. Records stand the test of time and mark history, where medals punctuate.
Beyond talent, what are some aspects of character development that athletics contributed to in your life?
Track & Field truly taught me how to stay in my lane, when working individually and collaboratively. Doing my part in any performance to amplify the energy, exfoliating the story and expressing my character’s individual experience were all metaphorically represented on the track. Dropping the baton is similar to dropping a line. Learning how to make quick adjustments while moving forward, picking up where it was dropped and making the scene work regardless of the challenge are qualities I learned in the midst of a 4×1 or in the tussle of a 4×4 relay. This is why preparation is key, and training the way you wish to perform only expands your threshold and readiness for success. Whether competing on your own or running with your team; you have to be present, engaged and in sync with your collaborators and competitors. The beauty of Track & Field is that whether it’s a 200m or a relay, you still have to do your part! No one can run your race for you. When you hear the roar of the audience, and realize that regardless of team affiliation, they are enamored by an outstanding performance, you become aware that it’s not about who knows what you’ve done, it’s about delivering in real time for them to see.
Before getting your Masters at UCLA, you received your Bachelors Degree at the iconic Morehouse College. How did attending a school with such strong afrocentric values; shape your views on the Black Lives Matter movement, that is currently consuming the socio-cultural climate in America?
Morehouse College stands as a blessing in my life unlike any other because it was a space dedicated to affirming my identity as a black man. It prepared me for the nuances of life in America; in regards to being blessed with melanin and it challenged me to dream for myself. Learning the differences between my island’s journey to freedom and the challenges faced in America through social juxtaposition paired with tangible, in-depth study across disciplines; gave me a unique lens similar to W.E.B. DuBois’ dual consciousness. This education and exposure to parts of history that would be shrouded at a Predominantly White Institution (P.W.I.) allowed me not only to understand some of the commonalities shared with the Black Lives Matter Movement such as it’s intersectionality, but also the ways in which I can do a better part in supporting the whole human race as a Balck Man. At Morehouse I was the recipient of multiple scholarships that funded my education. Scholarships such as a Track & Field Scholarship, the John Rockefeller Scholarship, and the Oprah Winfrey Scholarship were all necessary not only for financial assistance but to further cement my focus. While at Morehouse I was encouraged to assiduously study world changers like Rev. Dr. King, Marcus Garvey, James Baldwin, Georgia Douglas Johnson, Toni Morrison and many others. Inspired by my need to maintain these scholarships I would find myself reading poem, speeches, essays and journals all cataloguing an experience that I’m currently living through now. It would also be remiss of me not to mention the role Spelman College played in supporting me at Morehouse. I’ve learned that Women, particularly Black Women, have always been the backbone of movements for equality, supporting needed change and enlightenment for their male counterparts. Quite often they are the unsung heroines of the stories we know and love. Black women have supported, built and sustained so much of what it means to enjoy life in America. Until our bodies are valued, protected, celebrated, and offered equal opportunity, we will continue to hear people cry “Know Justice, Know Peace!!!” The problem isn’t simply ignorance, it’s the lack of education and access to knowledge. As Dr. Neil DeGrasse Tyson says “It’s not enough to be right, you have to be effective!”
How has the experience working with a global icon like Oprah Winfrey? Tell us about your involvement on that project and what was something about her that would surprise the masses.
Being part of Oprah’s 2020 Vision Tour was unlike any other professional experience I’ve had in my life. Learning from her week to week; hearing not just her wisdom but the conviction with which she was certain we could change ourselves and the world was awe-inspiring. I became involved thanks to Julianne Hough who invited me to collaborate as a Founding Guide within her company Kinrgy. After a rigorous yet life changing selection and training process we were told to buckle up. Julianne’s hard work in building a brand and company that aligned with the mission and vision that Oprah (who we affectionately call Lady O) had for 2020, led to us being invited on the national tour to share Kinrgy. We set out to inspire transformation and help people connect to their most authentic and highest self by acknowledging that it’s about expression not perfection. Participating in the tour as a Guide and as a student of Lady O; made for a truly unique experience of self-awareness which required me to wrest with ways in which I could be present in the world and stand as a candle in the dark as Mother Morehouse had taught me. If I had to think of something about Lady O that would surprise the masses, it would be that at one point success for her was measured by the number of trees in the front yard. She vividly described going to Arleen Weiner’s house when she first moved to Baltimore in her 20’s. She specifically made note of seeing 6 trees from Arleen’s kitchen window. From her current home’s kitchen she can see 3,600+ trees. Something as natural as trees in the front yard was something that Lady O wasn’t familiar with until that moment and it became a marker of success for her which was indicative of her blessings. Growing up on an island rich in flora and natural vegetation; I instantly saw the value of that blessing I had been privileged with and I now have it as a goal I can keep close to my heart.
From Oprah Winfrey to Julianne Hough, how do you navigate being around such iconic celebrities without being jaded?
As Grammy Award winning artist and fellow Ardennite Koffee has said: “Gratitude is a must.” This life is a gift from the Most High and coming from a small island in the middle of the sea, I understand that making it this far is a blessing which I give thanks for every day. I will always be a student of life! Being around people I have grew up watching on television has only allowed me to realize that the images inside that little magic box are tangible. It is in understanding how incomprehensibly unique my journey and self-expression are because it facilitates me being able to recognize the hopes, dreams, goals and inspirations of other individuals. Remaining grounded, connectivity to my heritage and remembering to stay balanced has allowed me to share the space while not being overwhelmed by the waves of feelings they inspire. Having a healthy respect for the wisdom and knowledge they bring to the world as businesswomen, always has me learning something new whether virtually or in person. To be jaded would mean I had become blind to the splendor of moments; no longer present to see another great mind. Being jaded would have meant I was missing out on a chance to learn why I was destined to stand in that room.
Tell us about your involvement with Kingry and the impact that Julianne has had on you as a mentor?
Kinrgy is an outstanding community of amazing people who courageously explore their connection to themselves and others from all around the world through self-expression. Having this community around me has been one of the most impactful influences I’ve had in the last year. Kinrgy Expanded Fitness by Julianne Hough, is an invitation for people from all walks of life to find their connection to their most authentic self through movement. I’m one of the 10 Founding Guides, selected and trained by Julianne and her amazing collaborators. The 10 of us embody Kinrgy in our own unique way and help guide participants towards understanding that it’s about expression and not perfection. We do this through a method of movement, designed by Julianne, in which we engage the breath, imagination, and the body’s own natural movement through resistance. These techniques transform the way we express ourselves. This means a breakthrough could happen on many levels as it potentially facilitates finding a new dimension of physical expression or even finding that your imagination can soar even higher than before. Having Julianne as a mentor has been an eye opening experience because of her multifaceted nature. She’s an actor, dancer, choreographer, business woman, entrepreneur and consummate creative. Her charitable presence denotes that spending 5 minutes with her is quite often a master class in what it is to be an artist of a particular caliber. In one word, she is “Outstanding”. Her compassion and benevolence; in regards to making change in the world are lessons that I appreciate and can still learn from. Despite all these lessons, what has impacted me most is the way in which she encourages all of us to be outstanding.
As a proud nationalist, how do you think the Ministry of Culture in Jamaica can encourage more young creatives to consider acting and dancing as viable professions?
Performance is engrained in the fiber of Jamaican culture, as is evidenced in Dr. L. Bennet-Coverly’s research on “Moonshine Ringding”. In our early days as a free nation we celebrated the tradition of our ancestors under the light of the full moon, with song, dance and storytelling. A Jamaican eva tell yuh a story yet? Nothing compares! This tradition and our ancestors commitment to cultural retention is the foundation on which our global icons stand today. In order to have a global impact and affect change through massive action, the investment must be made in providing the world class education for our youth. This is not just limited to the art forms we’ve already thrived in but removing the limitation on potential areas of specialization and providing opportunities to explore niche areas that will develop a wider array of artistic industries. Fortunately in Jamaica; talent is a resource we were blessed with in abundance comparable to that of sunshine. Adversely, access is the challenge. There are many Jamaicans who do not have the access I was fortunate enough to grow up with. Access is why I was able to attend Morehouse for my undergraduate studies and UCLA TFT for my M.F.A. I want my fellow Jamaican creatives to have that same access, whether abroad or locally at UWI, UTech or at the Edna Manley School of Performing Arts. Making a world class education accessible for young artists is a shift that I hope to be able to help create in our Caribbean Community. It’s a personal goal of mine to collaborate with the Ministry of Culture & Education to help bring the lessons, skills, techniques and technologies I’ve been exposed throughout my various escapades, to help inspire the next wave of Caribbean creatives. The ministry needs to cultivate more programs that would facilitate broad-based engagement with our world class creative professionals which fosters rotational and continuous training providing an excellent opportunity to give back. If we were to further invest in access to resources, training, and work on building avenues of exposure for our artists both locally and within the diaspora, I believe unequivocally that wi likkle island would be unstoppable.
