Meet Ren Hall | Professional Dancer, Musician /Composer & Choreographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ren Hall and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ren, why did you pursue a creative career?
For me I have always had some sort of art in my life, From the start I have been surrounded by it. From growing up in the black church, to family gatherings, the influence of art has always been there. So as a kid, when I found out there was a way to do this for a living I was all for it. Now I didn’t know how hard it would be.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a Professional Dancer, Musician/Composer and Choreographer, I was born and raised in San Antonio, TX. My first memory of dance was at my parents wedding i’ll never forget it. There I was breaking it down in front of a large speaker to the Blackstreet classic ‘No Diggity”. Its such a funny memory for me because I remember being a little confused as everyone was making such a big deal out of it, but I felt like I couldn’t control it and the bass of the music was causing my body to react with the rhythms. Like the music was literally taking over me.
I started taking piano lessons at the age of 9, in a small home on the east side of San Antonio. Ive loved the piano for as long as I can remember. The lessons lasted a few months (due to expenses) so I went on to teach my self and have been playing ever since. Shortly after that began dancing in church, In the beginning I was forced by my Mom but I went on to completely fall in love with the art of dance.
I remember when I was about 12, our dance leader took us to see The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre at The Carver Centers’ Jo Long Theatre. They were performing their infamous ‘Revelations’. I don’t think I can put into words what seeing those incredible dancers on that stage did to me but it lit a fire in me. The next year a dance company from Atlanta, Georgia named ‘Amazing Grace Dance Company’ came to my church and started teaching dance classes and workshops, lead by the late Kenya Melane Griffin. Thats when I first began my classical training.
Once I graduated High school, I attended The University of Texas at San Antonio, They only offered a Dance Minor at the time so I Majored in Multidisciplinary studies and my concentrations were Music (Composition & Digital Production), Dance and Sociology. I spent my summers as a Dance instructor and Choreographer for the Carver Centers Summer Theater camp and Choose 2 Dream with the Tobin Center For the performing arts. I went on to choreograph over 13 Main stage and Jr. Productions.
Within my music studies I began composing and arranging music on the piano, It started off as school works but then turned into a passion of mine. I would upload the music to Soundcloud just to share with others
My second year in college I auditioned for The San Antonio Metropolitan Ballet and received a position with the company, That fall I went on to perform In my first full 3 act Ballet with a live orchestra. I only danced one season with that company because the next season I was offered an apprenticeship with Montgomery Ballet in Alabama. I accepted the position and began training and learning our fall show. That year I performed in The classic ballet ‘The Nutcracker’. The Directors of the company had a studio in San Antonio (Ballet San Antonio Academy) and they would train students in town and travel to Montgomery, Alabama for the companies productions. I believe that began to be a lot for the studio owners who also ran a professional company in another state, they ended up closing their San Antonio studio at the end of that season. My time with them really molded my professionalism and pushed me artistically.
By this time Im almost finished with college, and I am feeling like I don’t know where to turn artistically. The rollercoaster of embarking on this artistic journey is really getting to me now. With balancing college, training, the part-time jobs I noticed my health was taking a turn, I went to a doctor, then that turned into several doctors and I was later diagnosed with the autoimmune disorder lupus. This hit me like a train because at the time I was told there is no cure, and the symptoms were debilitating, but I kept dancing. I danced through the pain, I was on several autoimmune suppressant prescription drugs I lost count. While battling this disorder, I continued my training with the San Antonio Ballet School, the only black owned studio in the city. I also was a guest artist for principal roles for the San Antonio Youth Ballet, dancing in Blanca Flor, Snow White, Cinderella, Scheherazade and more.
After college, I got a offer to dance at sea on a cruise ship, I immediately accepted and was off to Florida for rehearsals and then out to sea for 7 months. The moment I was diagnosed I vowed to myself to never give up on my. goals and dreams, so even on bad days I showed up. During this contract my health stared to worsen, not sure if it was that we were doing 2 shows a day with out an off day or what. I would sneak off on port days to the doctor for checks ups and prescription refills. I eventually made it to the end of my contract and went back to San Antonio.
While at home I acquired an agent to help with future bookings, most importantly I began to go down a rabbit whole on how to naturally overcome an autoimmune disorder. I stared reading books and online medical journals, even documentaries about holistic healing. There was a film titled ‘Heal’ and when I watched it gave me the blueprint on how to navigate this journey.
I accepted an offer for another cruise contract this one was with Carnival Cruise lines out of California , this time was different. On this contract I began to wean myself off of the prescription drugs, I began a complete holistic shift, I went vegan, I began to meditate and listen to my body and cleansed myself by fasting and trying alternative medicine. By the end of that contract I was completely symptom free. Once I got back to San Antonio I had my check up and my Doctor was in complete awe and confirmed I had completely reversed my symptoms and have been symptom free ever since.
After that I had a completely new outlook on life, I mean dance literally saved my life. I did all of that because I felt my future as a Dancer was threatened.The next year I was offered another cruise contract but I declined because I had artistically outgrown the environment, to say the least.
In January of 2020, I went to a workshop presented by a new dance company that was in town on tour. Houston Contemporary Dance Company founded by Marlana Doyle is a repertory based dance company from Houston. I really enjoyed the workshop and the show completely blew me away. I loved the way the dancers moved and interpreted the art, I was so inspired, It took me back to my 12 year old self when I say ‘Ailey’ on that very same stage. My dream always has been to join a dance company, teach and live happily ever after. LOL if only it was that simple.
We all know what happened after that ‘The Pandemic’ I wont go into that but I will say It allowed me to find myself more.
Fast forward to when the world became more normal. I started auditioning again, keeping in mind that since the pandemic I have been trying to get to HCDC to audition. I auditioned and received a full scholarship to the summer workshop at The Institute of Contemporary Dance. Thats where the artistic team can get another look to be considered for the company.
I received a trainee position, packed up and moved to Houston, Texas and have just completed my first season with the company. The season consisted of free classes at The Institute of Contemporary Dance, training directly with the company and artistic staff. I even performed with the company and went on small tour. I’ve always longed for a dance home that feels like family,I truly feel like i’ve found that.
This journey has been such a rollercoaster, the most wild ride. Moving to Houston has been the greatest thing for me and my art. About a month ago, I released my debut album titled ‘Resurgence’. In February I presented a solo work to the lead single, “The Carousel Never Stops Turning’ at Dance Source Houston’s Mind The Gap.
I composed the music and choreographed the dance, as well as performing. I feel like things are starting to fall in place. Resurgence is defines as “an increase or revival after a period of little activity” and it epitomizes the period of my life im currently in. Most of all Im glad I stuck with it and never gave up on my ART, there were many times I could have quit but the art simply wouldn’t let me.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
So i’m still new to Houston but I will say I love the heights area, and I definitely am finding out some favorite spots. The Taco Stand on Shepard is amazing lol

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Houston Contemporary Dance Company and The Institute of Contemporary Dance
(Marlana Doyle)

Website: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/renh/resurgence/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ren.ballerino/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RenBallerino

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy4LDp0p5VJ3PaWTpbH_lMA

Image Credits
The Photos in the Red Blazer are from Lynn Lane Photography
The photo of me outside leaning wearing a jumpsuit is courtesy of Houston Contemporary Dance Company