Youngstown native featured dancer in 'Coming 2 America'
The comedy movie 'Coming 2 America', which premiered Friday on Amazon Prime features one of Mahoning Valley's own.
Youngstown native, Lindsay Renea, is a professional dancer, choreographer and expert in African Dance.
She auditioned for the role as a dancer back in October 2019 after speaking with the movie's assistant choreographer.
"She said 'Auditions are coming up in Atlanta for a major project for African dance,' " Renea said. "Are you interested?"
Renea was 1 of 11 women out of 500 chosen for the movie and were able to film the scenes before the pandemic hit. She says it was an opportunity of a lifetime.
"We're having to make sure we maintain our dance space, our choreography, we have lights shining in our eyes," said Renea. "All of these things while making sure you're portraying your character."
Renea worked with Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, James Earl Jones and John Amos. Other actors in the film include Morgan Freeman, Gladys Knight, Rick Ross, Kiki Layne, Leslie Jones, Wesley Snipes and Tracy Morgan.
Renea earned a bachelor's degree in dance and a minor in music from Howard University. During her senior year, she joined the Garth Fagan Dance Company in Rochester, NY, and became a principal dancer.
She also has a master's degree in choreography from Jacksonville University.
Renea's choreography has appeared on international stages, including the Muda Africa Dance Company in Tanzania.
She was an adjunct faculty member in the dance program at Youngstown State University and is currently an Alabama Council of the Arts fellow in dance and choreography.
Renea thanks her Youngstown roots for preparing her for her success.
"Some of the most creative, some of the most dynamic, some of the most versatile and talented people come right out of our city," Renea said.
Certain youth organizations around Youngstown helped shape her into who she is now and seeing local performances throughout the area.
"With Gregory Hines, it was on the Stambaugh Auditorium stage. It left a huge mark on me and what I wanted to do with my life," Renea said. "When i was 9 years old, my grandmother took me and my mother to see The Wiz. Thankfully, I had mentors and others that motivated me to get me to the next level."
Renea also is the Director of the Lindsay Renea Foundation that helps to provide education, cultural awareness and artistic development to youth.
To learn more about Renea, click here.
