MOVES gets to know South Manchester Dance Artist Lamaar Manning
Direction, Photography & Videography SHOKIRIE CLARKE // Styling KELSEY THOMSON // MUA LEXI FINCH // BTS TALULLAH MILLINGTON // 2nd Photographer BRANDINA CHISAMBO // Track SAM WISE
Artist Edit
Artist Edit
Artist Edit
Artist Edit
Tell us a little about Lamaar Manning?
Hi, my name's Lamaar Manning, and I'm an artist. I grew up in Manchester all my life, my mum had me a young age, so I grew up in a household full of her siblings. There was seven of us in the house and it was just full of culture and music. All of my mum's siblings were heavily influenced by music; old school, soul, R&B, hip hop and basement. I remember being young. Music was always playing. I think that's where my love for music begun.
How has your environment moulded you as a dancer?
Growing up where I grew up in, you know, Moss Side, Fallowfield, South Manchester, my family are Caribbean and a lot of people were coming from similar backgrounds so it was like one big culture, music was always playing and naturally dancing was also very much a part of that culture.
My family also worked in a pub called The Beehive in Moss Side and we actually live behind it at one point. Whenever they used to take me I was always dancing on the tables, performing, there was actually one time the whole pub was standing and cheering for me. I think that's when my family realized, yeah, he has something special. So imagine that same young boy on the pub tables was going to one day dancing in Arenas and Stadiums around the whole world and perform is just crazy to me.
How has movement allowed you to express your sexuality?
When starting out, I don't think I really expressed my sexuality in movement. Coming from ends in South Manchester, being part of the LGBT Q Plus A wasn't something I could be proud of growing up. I never even remember seeing anyone like me around, so I had to teach myself to be tough and always have my own and probably how to blend in the atmosphere I was born in and grew up in.
As I grew older, I started to feel more comfortable which was helped by the different environments and backgrounds that dance opened me up to. That really, really helped me to start expressing who I am. I think that there's so many different layers of what sexuality is and I feel like I'm still learning more about myself to this day.
What’s next for Lamaar?
Bigger and greater things for sure, that’s what next! I recently signed with MSA Agency in the states, so I’m really excited to be taking another major step in my career and looking forward to the opportunities that brings, the possibilities are endless! Keep a look out for my next MOVES on my Instagram @lamaarmanning
