![]() ![]() To keep herself busy from worrying, she started making Instagram videos dancing (such as her viral Black Panther video which kickstarted the #BlackPantherChallenge) so she could stay busy and creative. Already, she had been battling with following her dreams living out in LA and wanting so badly to be with him back home. When she booked Beychella, her dad passed away. Around the time she booked her first acting gig as Poppy Martinez on Step Up: High Water, her dad was diagnosed with kidney failure and heart failure. ![]() “So that’s a lesson I learned: knowing what it really takes to do something like that.”Īt the time of preparing for Beychella, Kendra was going through her own life changes as well. She did that.Īs noted in the Netflix documentary Homecoming, throughout the preparation and rehearsal process for the performance, Beyoncé was not only keeping a close eye on just about every single detail, she was also adjusting to life with her new twins, returning back to herself, and dieting, “It made me think like, if I am complaining about all the stuff I have going on, Beyoncé was doing all of this Coachella rehearsals while doing all this and having all these problems, I can make it through,” Kendra recalls. To see that put in this much work for one show inspired me so much and made me see what it really takes to be on that level to really make things happen. She inspired all of us and made us really work harder and push ourselves to rehearse,” Kendra remembers. To see that she put in this much work for one show inspired me so much and made me see what it really takes to be on that level to really make things happen. I didn’t even rehearse that much on tour going from city to city. So it was 4-6 months rehearsing for this one show and I’ve been on tour before. “I was in rehearsal with her for 2 months, but other people were workshopping before me. Talking a little more about Beychella, Kendra says that one of the biggest things she’s learned from Beyoncé is her work ethic. ![]() So, it’s cool to see she’s gotten that big from me winning the contest and also that I’m a part of it as well.” I’m a part of the biggest show that Beyoncé has ever had. “To be a part of Coachella where people are saying this is the best show she’s ever had, it’s just crazy that I’m a part of that history. “She has evolved so much and grown into an artist and just a household name and got even bigger,” Kendra reflects. Flash forward a few years from Chris Grant being the one to convince her she should move to LA and pursue dance professionally, Kendra ended up being a part of Beychella, something she agrees is a full circle moment when I ask about it. The opportunity gave her the chance to work with Beyoncé’s choreographer Chris Grant, meet Beyoncé, and see her show front row. In 2013, Kendra won Pepsi’s “Dance for a Chance” contest. So it’s been a plus for me not having the training because it’s something that I guess people see in me that you can’t teach,” she thanks God for her dancing ability. “With not being trained, it looks more real, you can feel it more, it’s more natural, it’s raw: it’s something you can’t teach someone, you just have it. That said, not being formally trained also has it’s positives she notes from experience. Especially if you’re training in ballet or jazz, it’s the foundation for other styles like hip hop and jazz funk because it really keeps your core strong and helps you to be balanced.” With training, Kendra says the benefit is that it can transfer to multiple forms of dance. “Obviously, it’s better to be trained because you have that foundation. When her pastor preached sermons, there was always a dance story to go with it which allowed the incorporation of different dance styles including hip hop. Her background having danced in church as a foundation also helped her, as she explains to stay strong and keep her faith while trying to break through. Being from home just helped me stay really grounded and wish more and not judge people.” “Coming in an industry like this will eat you up alive. “I guess since I’m from a small place, I was able to connect with friends and family to push me to go after my dreams and have those manners and treat people well,” Kendra looks back on her upbringing. Born and raised in Oklahoma City, the dancer/actress has always had the drive, passion, and determination needed to devote herself to these art forms despite not coming from an inherently artistic place. Outside of those rehearsals, she’s keeping busy through auditioning and taking on dance jobs here and there. When I hop on the phone with Kendra Oyesanya, she’s rehearsing for the BET Awards where she’ll be performing with Cardi B. ![]()
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