with them,” she said.
Classically trained, Satchel is wellversed
in many dancing styles, with her
favorites being tap and hip hop. As she
explained, “I think (learning) the classical
techniques can definitely help and they
are definitely necessary but I especially
like getting into the more contemporary,
more fusion type of dance.”
Satchel described how “Tap is math. It’s
figuring it out and, when you get it, it’s like
. . . YES! I love how intricate it can be.
And hip hop is super expressive.”
When asked what her favorite project
was to work on, she had two answers:
her intricate and personal senior piece
for Tulane titled “Reticent,” and working
with Beyoncé.
Satchel’s “Reticent” was brought to life
by 15 dancers and is dedicated to, in her
words, “giving voices to the voiceless.”
It also speaks to the complexities that
come with being a woman, especially a
black woman. Her versatility as an artist
challenges her audience to search for a
deeper understanding of the magic in her
movements.
As for working with Beyoncé, it almost
seemed destined to happen. She had been
a fan of the famous singer for a long time.
Satchel not only has all of Beyoncé’s DVD
tours for which she memorized the choreography,
she also has a photo of herself
dancing on top of ice chest at a family
barbecue while listening to “Crazy in
Love” at four years old.
Fast-forward 13 years and Satchel
landed her first commercial gig at 17
in Beyoncé’s “Sorry” music video. She
described the gig as “iconic” and “a learning
experience,” specifically with patience
and professionalism.
Adding to the excitement of dancing
with her favorite singer, Satchel also got
to work with one of her favorite choreographers,
Dana Foglia, from New York’s
Broadway Dance Center, world-renowned
for her cutting edge teaching techniques,
especially dancing in stiletto heels. “I
really love Dana’s work so much,” she said.
Another of Satchel’s favorite choreographers
is New Zealander, Parris Goebel,
known professionally as “Parri$,” and
three-time winner –
along with her company
– of the World Hip Hop
Dance Championship.
Adding onto her
resumé, Satchel is also
a personal trainer. She
is passionate about
community and enhancing
the lives of others,
especially the African
American community.
“Access to resources on
how to live healthier, as
well as the benefits of
healthy living, are vital
for our community to
thrive,” she noted. With
that sentiment in mind,
Satchel plans to continually
pour her heart into
the community that she
loves and represents.
On the home front,
Satchel is blessed with
the solid support of both
of her parents for her
career preference and
her dreams of greater glory
in her field. With the warmest of smiles
she reveals that her parents are “extremely,
extremely supportive. My mom and dad,
say you can do whatever you want to do.”
Her famous father, “LBJ,” encourages
her to “stay focused” and her mother,
Angelique Smith, tells her, “Always be
ready for what’s next.”
And so what is next for Satchel Joseph?
Where does she go from here? Will she
pursue dance as a career or go into the
field of kinesiology? Or both? Here is her
answer:
“I definitely want to stick with dance
and see where my professional career can
take me. I’m really into choreography and
I’m also working on my kinesiology side
with personal training, hopefully working
with nutritionists and things like that. So
right now it’s looking like both.”
To keep up with Satchel Joseph and
her journey, follow her on Instagram @
satchelnaomi!
��
LeBron "LBJ" Joseph and daughter Satchel
On stage with Big Freeda. PHOTO COURTESY SATCHEL
Satchel with brother, Legend, & sister, Connor
Satchel and her mother Angelique Smith
JANUARY / F E B R UARY 2 0 2 0 breakthrumediamagazine.com | BREAKTHRU MEDIA | 7
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