We recently connected with Vanessa Brooke Agnes and have shared our conversation below.
Vanessa, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
I always try to show up as my best self regardless of fear or doubt but imposter syndrome is a tricky beast that I still struggle with today. As Artistic Director of an organization I founded at 26, it was easy to fall into this trap but I had to persevere because I believed in our vision. As each year passes and the opportunities that come along with it, I find that I have worked hard for and earned my spot in these rooms. I’ve found my natural ability to lead and I also deeply believe that I’m divinely guided & protected on my path so I know that I won’t be put in a room I’m not prepared to be in.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I create in many different lanes! I am an independent director, writer, performer and I founded Dark Muse Performing Arts in 2020 for which I produce events and shows. Our inaugural performance was a protest during the summer of unrest following the murder of George Floyd. Dark Muse is all about uplifting BIPOC & queer artists and healing through creative expression. Two exciting virtual projects you can check out on YouTube include the Phoenix Project, a 90 minute cyber cabaret featuring local performers and The Uprising Vol. II: Black HERstory featuring an all Black woman & non-binary cast weaving storytelling, music, dance and history. We’ve been applying for grants and dreaming with our community about how we can best serve them in the future. Coming up, we have a free Drag Tea event at the Phoenix Theater in uptown Minneapolis on Friday, October 20th AND we are also currently recruiting volunteers to join our board, check out our instagram @darkmusearts for more info! Additionally, you can catch me performing in Naïve. Super at Norway House this September, teaching an adult class called The Joy of Musical Theater at the Guthrie this Fall and Assistant Directing Dial M for Murder at the Guthrie this Winter.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Being adaptable, compassionate and versatile have all helped me get far in my journey. Having agility in a rehearsal room, in a job, or in any situation with many different personalities can help so much in navigating unexpected changes, shifting priorities quickly, and managing humans while also completing the tasks at hand. I always lead with kindness, openness and my goal in any setting is preserving strong relationships with my community – I can’t stress this enough, it’s so important to surround yourself with people who lift you up, fill your cup and cheer you on. Lastly, I believe you don’t have to be just one thing. I love being a multidisciplinary artist and I’m learning new things about each of my forms every day. I really enjoy having versatility in what I do and in what I can offer when I enter a new creative space and bring all those parts of myself to the table.
Looking back over the past 12 months or so, what do you think has been your biggest area of improvement or growth?
Balance. I used to be a workaholic that rarely took breaks or time to rest at all. I would skip meals, work for hours without standing up, stretching, listening to my body – I would take on projects back to back and never go on a vacation or take time for myself. A couple years ago I started to realize how truly important rest is to being well (shout out to The Nap Ministry and Render Free). I began to prioritize this and saw the mental, emotional, physical and spiritual benefits and I’ve never looked back. Now, I wrestle with the decrease in productivity that I had when I was grinding myself to the bone, but the care I need to pour into myself to sustain is necessary, so I find the balance and I ride it as best I can. Resting as I go and infusing my every day with small acts of self care between tasks.
Contact Info:
- Website: darkmusearts.org
- Instagram: @darkmusearts + @vanessabrookeagnes
- Facebook: facebook.com/vanessabrookeagnes/
- Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/vanessabrookeagnes/
- Youtube: youtube.com/@darkmusearts
Image Credits
Tommy Sar, Martha Juarez
