Actor/Choreographer Darrin Henson, A Man of Many Miracles & Talents Hits The Bullseye Every Time!

 Interview by: Gina Sedman

When I spoke to the choreographer, producer, director & actor Darrin DeWitt Henson, I felt as if I was on a beach, watching the gentle waves lapping against the shore. The qualities that characterize Darrin are patience, kindness, intrigue, and ambition. His celebrity journey is among the things that are fascinating about him. I believe miracles are real, but if you do not, I am confident you will after reading this interview. This BET star of The Family Business and Soul Food tells his story in such a creative and simplistic way that it makes it easier for the viewer to understand the challenges he faced to get where he is now.

It is even more fascinating to note that even in his youth, when he was unable to benefit from many of the advantages others with more extraordinary economic advancement had, he was motivated to utilize whatever resources he had available to him, such as the drive, determination, wit and the desire to learn that ultimately led him to become one of the most talented and sought-after choreographers and actors of our generation. I had the pleasure of interviewing a perfect gentleman, Darrin Henson. We had a great discussion about his miraculous life. The following is what he shared with me.

Good morning! Good morning.

Is this Darrin Dewitt Henson from the Bronx. It is.

How are you doing today? Fantastic! Beautiful!

I love that! I love your optimism! What else is there? We woke up this morning, right?

Yes, and praise God for that, right? Yeah, give thanks to The Most High.

Yes, there you go! So, Darrin, I’m super excited about interviewing you today. Being respectful of your time, I'm going to try to keep this as short as possible. Because you have such a rich and extensive career, so I'm going to do my best to touch on as many of your amazing achievements as I possibly can. No problem, take your time. I'm full of information and I'm free right now to have a conversation. We can make it happen.

My sincere gratitude goes out to you. Having you speak with me today about your creative journey serves as a valuable source of information and inspiration to our independent community. Please accept my thanks and my appreciation for taking an interest in me and recognizing my value to the magazine. As part of the work I hope to do, it is my intention to act as a catalyst by facilitating the dissemination of this information to the general public by encouraging action.

There is no doubt in my mind that it will. Once again, thank you very much. Would you mind telling me a bit about Darrin's daily routine? Each morning upon waking up, the first thing that I do is express my gratitude for rising. Following that, I stretch and then drink a glass of water to flush my system. After I have completed these things, I usually check the outcome list that I wrote out the night before. I then work through the list one by one.

My goal is to have all the boxes checked by the end of the day.

Adopting this practice is a reliable way to ensure that you remain focused on the goal of the task at hand. This will increase the likelihood of completing these tasks successfully. Yes. My outcome list is drafted the night before I begin my daily planning, and I then execute my plan for the following day. 

Awesome! Speaking of preparation, let’s discuss your health and nutrition choices. Customarily, is your first fruit a healthier approach to breakfast, or are you more of a traditional American breakfast enthusiast? In my day-to-day life, I am a vegetarian. However, for the next 30 days, I will be consuming only fruits.

That's an amazing level of discipline! Please elaborate. In general, when I am on an all-fruit diet for 30 days, if it is not a fruit, it does not enter my system.

Awesome, what are some of your delicious fruit choices? Mangoes, pineapples, strawberries, apples, bananas, papayas, and melons. Anything you can imagine being labeled as a fruit, I'm likely to consume within the next 30 days.

Tell me, Darrin. What positive effects does the human body experience from that type of fast? How can it lead to improved health?  Food discipline of this type is helpful for the cleansing of the body. By allowing the stomach to relax the digestive system can enjoy the benefits of more easily digestible foods like leafy greens such as kale.

That's very impressive and extremely insightful. Thanks for sharing. My health concerns led me to adopt a vegan lifestyle about six years ago. An improved diet has completely changed my life. I am no longer tired after a full night's sleep. This is a wonderful thing for me. I do want to caution you, be careful with soy.

Since regular soy consumption is not suitable for my system, I aim to eliminate it entirely from my diet. Thanks for pointing that out.  You’re welcome.

You know Darrin, the thing I find encouraging is that more and more African Americans are adopting a healthier way of eating. In cultural terms, many tasty foods are part of our traditional upbringing, but they are not healthy. The lack of knowledge about our food resources and the inability to make appropriate dietary choices has resulted in our people dying from diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and other diseases that arise from a poor diet and unhealthy eating habits.

Trending on YouTube videos now are videos with African American vegan and vegetarian cooking shows. These videos teach you not only how to prepare delicious, wholesome meals but also how to live a healthy vegan and vegetarian lifestyle. To me, it is important that when you decide to completely alter your diet, you replace what you have removed with healthy dietary supplements. This will ensure that you are getting the nutrients you need to stay healthy. Correct.

Darrin, let's reflect on your formative years. How was life in The Bronx, New York? It was creative, amazing, and colorful. Growing up in The Bronx afforded me the opportunity to be just aware. Additionally, by being a part of such a creatively rich environment, I was able to take full advantage of the five elements of true hip hop which included rapping, DJing, graffiti, dancing, and clothing. I think true hip hop is defined by those basic elements, and if it does not include them, it isn't true hip hop. Hip hop as we knew it back then was different from what it's turned out to be in the present day.

This is true. I'm sure you have many great memories of growing up in that environment. Yes, it has become an outstanding space in my mind. Growing up, I remember finding cardboard boxes to spin on so that I could practice my moves and going to Zulu anniversary jams with Afrika Bambaataa Zulu nation.

From a creative and personal perspective, what was your experience of middle school as a young man? When I was in middle school, it was all about hooking electric grids to light posts, shooting water out of water pumps, "JVC Biphonic Radios" on the block, learning how to have a girlfriend, and doing all things that today we might consider wasteful, but back then in the Bronx, that was our form of entertainment.

In the backyard, we played stickball and basketball. At that time, you were able to enjoy your neighborhood without having to run inside the house dodging bullets because someone had been shot. During that period, music contributed to the creation of an environment conducive to the development of mental creativity.

Historically, New York has been noted for its wealth of arts and creativity. For example, there is Broadway, prestigious and innovative film and performing arts schools, as well as dance companies, including Alvin Ailey among others. In your youth, did you ever wish to be a part of these communities, or have you ever attended any of these creative houses? Yes, my classroom was PBS. When I was a child, I was not privy to formal dance lessons, nor did I have the opportunity to participate in Broadway shows. Although I was not exposed to the culture of artistic creativity through my parents' influence, I became acquainted with it through public television, PBS.

The Public Broadcasting System (PBS) provided me with the opportunity to watch plays, ballets, and productions starring Danny Kaye. When it came to my education in the arts, it was the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) that excited my interest in the arts.

Watching films such as Fame, Westside Story, and specials produced by James Brown, or the Jacksons were also strong influences. Even though I did not have face-to-face or hands-on interaction, I was able to develop an interest in the arts through the impact of PBS and television.

My childhood was also filled with those kinds of shows, such as Soul Train and other programs of a similar nature. Their influence on my interest in dance and music was similar to yours. Yes, Soul Train and American Bandstand. Comedy shows like The Flip Wilson Show. In fact, I used to watch The Commodores and The Four Tops on television. Because my mother listened to countless albums at home, I grew up immersed in music from an early age. Music was in my blood.

Which singers did you frequently listen to? The Ojay's, The Commodores, The Four Tops, Dinah Washington, Lena Horne, Teddy Pendergrass. So, I grew up with records as my only source of music.

I want to discuss dance in terms of improving your abilities, perfecting your craft, and discovering God's purpose for you in your life. Do you recall a time when you felt the need to learn various dance styles, such as tap, jazz, lyrical, modern, and so forth? Did you only pursue hip hop at that time? In response to your question, I would like to give honor and respect to a man by the name of Frank Hatchet. He was one of the owners and teachers at a huge dance school in New York called, “Broadway Dance Centre” where they taught ballet, jazz, tap, modern, and interpretive dance. Frank taught a jazz class by the name of VOP. Even though I did not have the funds to attend his classes, I used to watch the teachings while peering in through the window.

So, one day he asked me if I wanted to take a dance class. During our conversation, he further asked me if I had the money to afford it, and I replied, "no". Then he says, “if you want to take dance, show up at my class on time.”

Wow! What a blessing! He must have seen something amazing within you! I’m loving this artistic journey that you're taking me on. It's great to see how a person can come from literally nothing, and God can bless him to become great. What's equally fascinating is that God can use people to see that vision and compel them to become the bridge that you can walk across straight into your God-ordained destiny.  God is so good! You didn’t have to pay a dime!  He let me take the class for free. So, I learned the basics of jazz from Frank Hatchett. The Jazz dance teachings I learned were able to be incorporated into what I do in such a way that I believe I have become a better choreographer as a result of them.

Choreographers who are well-versed in multiple dance forms are among the greatest of them. If you want to improve your dance abilities, then you must focus on acquiring advanced knowledge far beyond street dance styles. If you remain within your comfort zone, your growth will be inhibited.

I personally feel like Gregory Hines was one of the greatest tap dancers and talents of our generation. What type of influence did Gregory Hines have on you? Oh, let me tell you something, I was a lover and am a lover of Gregory Hines! I have a story.

OK, do tell. One of my fondest memories was when I was 21 years old. I was acting and dancing in a Broadway show called “Stand Up Tragedy”, and Gregory Hines was in attendance seated in the front row. After my performance, he was the first person to stand up and clap for me. He stood up! Gregory Hines! That's my fondest memory of being in “Stand Up Tragedy.” So yes, I am a huge lover of Gregory Hines. Although I would not consider myself an expert tapper, I can fake the funk very well. (laughs)

Do you think that tapping will come back? I don't think it ever went anywhere; I just think that the world changed. Based on my perception of the arts, I find that it is changing, but not in a positive way.

Yes. So, it hasn't gone anywhere. Even today, there are still individuals who are tapping and expressing themselves with dance in an extraordinary way. To say that tapping no longer exists would be to say that Savion Glover isn't somewhere tapping. It's just not being televised. Right?

Absolutely. See, we can't think that something doesn't exist just because we don't see it. It's like the old adage about when the tree falls in the forest. Did it fall if we didn’t hear it or see it?” Well, the answer to that is, if we want to look at it from our consciousness, then no, it didn't because we didn't see or hear it, but did it? Yes.

Does it have a place in the world? Of course, it does. Many people are engaged in a wide range of creative endeavors around the globe. Although it might not be televised or shown, it does not mean it isn't happening.

The reality is that we tend to only focus on what we're interested in because the people in control of the camera eye do not focus on what interests us. We used to say that art imitates life and life imitates art, but if it's not being televised or shown, then due diligence is not being done. I think this is a disservice that's happening right now.

You made many valid points in that statement. Darrin, at what point did dance evolve into a professional career that included choreography as well as dance? It wasn't until the age of 15 that I became a professional. My reason for saying that is because that was the first time I was paid for my work. That's what it means to be professional, to get paid for what you do. 

Now, here's another bridge story. While at DeWitt Clinton High School, a woman named Sandra Skodnick who was the head of the theatre workshop took an interest in me. So, one day during our conversation, she mentioned to me that she had a relationship with "Castleton State College" in Vermont and she went on to say that they were looking for dancers for a Jam they were holding for school on the weekends. One of her former students named Eric who attended Castleton State College and graduated from DeWitt Clinton High School asked if she knew of any street dancers. 

She said yes. So, she asked me to get 2 dancers, I did, and I brought them to Castleton State College. While in Castleton, Vermont, we met the DJ. who at that time oversaw the event.

At that time, not only was he in his graduating year of Castleton State College but he was also the DJ of the school. The world became familiar with him a few years later when he became my first manager at the age of 15.

Where was your first tour? The first time I toured anywhere was in Vermont.  We toured Castleton, Bennington, Binghamton, and all over Vermont. During that weekend, we performed with a gentleman named Scott Sterling, who later became known as DJ Scott La Rock from Boogie Down Productions.

Wow! That’s awesome! Yes, now DJ Scott La Rock put a group together and we called it “B-Boys in Action.” Before Scott La Rock met KRS-one, who was also a part of B-Boys in Action and before the song “The South Bronx,” we all toured in Vermont together.

How cool is that! Now that’s true Hip Hop history! Yes, that’s a story for the masses.

Absolutely! Tell me more! On the back of the Criminal Minds album, you'll see it says special thanks to BIA and BIA stands for "B-Boys in Action.” Sadly, Scott died as a result of street violence many years ago.

As a young teenager, losing my first mentor, my first manager, as well as a friend was an extremely difficult experience. During my time with him, I learned a great deal about the industry and about show business, and he taught me that business is a compound word.

That’s devastating to lose someone that has been so influential in your life. I'm so sorry for your loss. There is no doubt that the music industry is full of talented artists and their greatness. The interesting thing is that we seldom notice the many people who contribute to the success of these artists behind the scenes. These days, building a sustainable career as an artist requires more than natural talent. Their talent is complemented by their image, dance, poise, and stage presence. From publicists to media to stylists and choreographers, many of them would not be where they are today without those who have rallied behind them. This has helped them become what they are today. The list is endless. The making of a superstar requires the support of a professional team. You're one of the creative geniuses behind many of those successful artists. Can you tell me some of the people you have worked with in terms of choreography? Yes, Michael Jackson, Prince Donna Summer, Vanessa Williams SWV, Lisa Lisa,  C+C Music Factory, Color Me Badd. A few years ago, I choreographed Stokley Williams of Mint Condition’s “Level” video. I’ve also choreographed Britney Spears, J.Lo, Enrique Iglesias, Jagged Edge, Christina Aguilera, George Michael, Deborah Cox, Blackstreet, and NSYNC.

You've even won awards for choreography. Tell me about that? Yes, I won the MTV award for NSYNC’s “Bye Bye Bye.”

That is an amazing achievement, Darrin! Thank you. I like to think I contributed to the emergence of pop culture during the 2000s. Jordan Knight of New Kids on the Block, New Kids on the Block, The Spice Girls, and others. I literally worked with everyone I wanted to work with. So, I have been very privileged to enjoy a plentiful, rich, and substantially rewarding choreographic career. 

Wow, what a blessing! I'm super proud of you! You’ve worked so hard! Darrin, how do you choose dance routines that you believe will suit the artist for whom you are choreographing? I don’t. I listen to the music and the music tells me what to do. The one thing that I've learned through this experience is that choreography is like a suite. As not everyone wears the same size or style, I custom-fit the choreography taking into account the needs of each individual artist. Because everyone's music is uniquely different, it stands to reason that the choreography would be also.  I just do what the music tells me to do.

While there are many talented singers, it is sometimes difficult for them to sing and dance simultaneously. In the past, have you ever been in situations where you thought it would be near impossible for someone to learn a particular choreographic piece? Yes. Christina Aguilera and SWV. Believe it or not, at the beginning of our work on "Genie in a Bottle," Christina Aguilera was quite difficult.” Dance wasn't a favorite of SWV. Even they admitted to that. Because they did not want to dance, it was difficult to put together dance steps for them. They have incredible voices, but they were not eager to dance at first.

Now you have a dance video out called “Darrin Dance Grooves.” Yes

Let's talk about it. 10,000 hours creates a master, right? Well, I probably put 30,000 in. I just did what I love doing and I did it with haste, passion, and focus. I loved it! I practiced, practiced, and practiced! According to my perspective, whatever you're seeking is also seeking you, and I was seeking mastery. I wanted to work with Michael Jackson and that's the full truth! I was practicing and dancing with passion because my goal was to reach Michael. And guess what? It happened in 1995. You never have to know exactly how something is going to happen, just know that it will happen. I could not have imagined it would transpire in the way it did.

When you put the time in, mastery happens. Kanye West is a master, Beyoncé is a master, Michael Jackson is a master and Prince is a master and Gregory Hines is a master. Notice I said, is? I say that because their work is still vibrating and people are still learning from them, so it is.

Good stuff Darrin. Let’s pivot over to another one of your talents. You were briefly with a group called “Trilogy,” and you released a song called “Good Time.”  Yes (laughs)

Did you sing or rap? Tell me about that. Both. In fact, the video is still available on YouTube and can be viewed by anyone. The name of the group was Trilogy. I became acquainted with the group through a guy I went to high school with named Duran Ramos.

OK. He was already a member of Trilogy, and in those days, people would switch members in groups when circumstances necessitated it.

So, they invited me to be in the group. At that time, Trilogy was produced by C+C Music Factory, which had produced the hit song “Sweat, Everybody Dance Now.” We had amazing producers, so I said yeah. C+C Music Factory also produced for New Kids on the Block, which is how I got the chance to work with them.

Tell me about your experience working with New Kids on the Block. I choreographed them for the "American Music Awards," when they performed "No More Games." During that same time, I started choreographing for Freedom Williams of C+C Music Factory. I choreographed for the hit song, “Things That Make You Go Humm” That was a big song. My participation in the group Trilogy opened more opportunities for me to work with other artists. I'm a firm believer that your net worth is equal to your network.

You know Darrin, I view life as one big box of puzzle pieces. There is a connection between the puzzle pieces in the box, despite their chaos and disorientation. Your job is to connect them. But once they are all connected a breathtaking picture of a purpose-filled life materializes. Unfortunately, many people walk around with a box full of disconnected puzzle pieces and never find their connections. Everyone's reasons vary. I suppose some reasons for scattered puzzle pieces are due to the lack of trying and others may be due to the lack of knowledge on how to even sort them. There are those who see all the crazy disoriented pieces and just give up right from the start. These are those that don't see the possibility. They see impossibility. On the other hand, others are willing to take the time to put the puzzle pieces together. Their curiosity compels them to sort those pieces out until they create a beautiful picture of their God-given destiny. You were one of the people who did just that. Your puzzle piece eventually connected to acting. How did that happen? Did you go to film school? No, I had no formal training. I'll give you two different scenarios.

OK. I was Privy to being on a show called Club MTV with “downtown Julie Brown,” and I was one of the main dancers on that show. They took us to perform on the Donahue show. In that episode, they had special dance guests. So, on this episode, the guest included, The Club MTV Dancers, the Broadway musical “Oba Oba, the Brazilian dancers,” and the choreographer choreographing Madonna's tour at that time, named Adolfo Quinonez. The world knew him as Shabba Doo. May he rest in peace.

Oh yes! Of course, I knew who he was because I was a fan of the movie “Breakin and Electric Boogaloo.” So, when I met him, I was in awe. I followed him around like a puppy after a bone. (laughs)

In Shabba Doo style, he took me under his wing, mentored me, and taught me the history of dance. He was a brilliant dancer, choreographer, and director. He also choreographed Lionel Richie’s, “All Night Long” video. He was just amazing! He was a phenomenal legend in the street dance world, and one of the original lockers. He introduced me to a director named Ron Link, may he rest in peace also. Ron was bringing to Broadway an award-winning show called “Stand Up Tragedy'' written by Bill Cain. So, he was my voice. He’s the person that introduced me to the director.  Basically, he was my cheerleader. So, I auditioned for the show and Ron Link hired me.

Wow, what an amazing story of great connections. When one can look back and see all the people who have been there with them along the way, it's so beautiful. It's so common for people to forget that somebody helped them along the way when they achieve their goals. You did a great thing by honoring those who helped you along the way. In taking all of this in, it makes me so emotional because, if we each teach one, we can reach one by just helping someone. We can create a lasting change in someone's life by mentoring and extending ourselves to others.

Yes, yes. By being that piece to the puzzle.

That's awesome. I'm really enjoying this conversation and I love your heart for people. Thank you, I appreciate that. I'm just in awe right now.

Yeah. So, I found myself on Broadway without any prior acting classes or experience. Studying with some of the most talented and accomplished actors on Broadway, provided me with invaluable experience. In a literal sense, being thrown into the fire, purified and taught me. So, that was my first acting gig.

I received my second big break when I was cast on the television series "Soul Food," but that too occurred as a direct result of another remarkable incident. The world learned about me for the first time as an actor through this series. My life has truly been a remarkable journey. 

Ok, tell me about that experience. I choreographed a song for Jordan Knight, a former member of the New Kids on the Block, called "Give it to You." The song became a major hit! It turns out that it's nominated for an MTV Music Award. Sadly, we lost to Ricky Martin's "Livin' La Vida Loca."

Oh no! What does it feel like when you don't get the outcome you expected? Everyone talks about winning, but what about the feeling of not achieving the result you anticipated? Gina, I'm telling you. Jordan and I literally broke down in tears while sitting in our seats. In fact, I remember being so upset that I literally said, “I am done with dance! I couldn't believe that even though I had worked with everyone I wanted to work with, we lost this MTV music award. I was so frustrated that I said, "I'm just done! I’m just done!" 

So, what happened? I retired. Following my retirement, I asked myself, what do I do now? So, I decided that acting was the next thing that I was going to focus on. So, I put the plan into motion and began auditioning for commercials and acting gigs. While I was on that journey another bridge came. A friend, Candice Coke, called me and told me there was an audition for a film called "Save The Last Dance." She said, "why don't you go?" So, I went. The audition took place downtown, near Canal Street, in New York City. While at the open call, I met a casting director named Evie Kaufman who's now a huge Hollywood producer. When I ended my audition, she said to me, "hey, you're very good, have you acted before?". I told her yes, on Broadway. I also told her that I was a choreographer. She was extremely impressed. She then said, “Oh wow, this is great! Then she asked me if I had representation.

Did you? Ok, let me take you back a couple of weeks prior to the audition. A few weeks back I went to an agent for an open call just to have representation and of course, they gave me 5 minutes in a room and said the typical statement, we'll be in touch. At that time, I didn't have representation, but I lied and told her that I did. So, it turns out that she knew that agent. Right away, she picked up the phone and called the agent. Once she got hold of the agent, the agent said, "put him on the phone."

Oh no! (laughs) Yes, so I get on the phone, and she says” I remember you, you came in here two weeks ago, right?” I told her yes. Then she said, well, I don’t know if you know this, but this is one of the biggest casting directors in the agency and if she likes you and wants to screen test you, you're going to have to sign with us.

Oh boy, awesome! And so, I was faking the funk when I was on the phone acting as if she was saying something else. Gina, I was like, yeah, yeah of course! I'll give you a call later and Blah blah blah, then I put Evie Kaufman back on the phone.

(Laughs) Hilarious! So, what happened? They sent me to LA for a screen test for "Save The Last Dance" and based upon what was agreed, I signed with the agency that I spoke with on the phone.

Wow! Awesome! I see the puzzle pieces all coming together. Yes, so after the first screen test, they called me in for a second one.  So, the agent says, “look, while you're in California, do you want to go to another audition?” I said, “sure!” I got an agent now, right?

Absolutely! So, the casting call was for a television series called "Soul Food." So, I went to audition for Soul Food and about two weeks later I was contacted by the casting agent for “Save The Last Dance”. My agent told me that they loved me! She said to me," The director and producer love you and are fighting for you. They want you!" As you can imagine, at that moment, I felt like I was in heaven because I just finagled my way into this whole thing.

Well, long story short, Sherry Lansing who was the head of Paramount Century Fox passed on me and went with a guy named “Sean Patrick Thomas” for the role. This is the man that we see in the film now. So naturally, I was upset and disappointed. Then, I get a call from “The Spice Girls.” They wanted me to come to England to do choreography for them.

About a month after working with the Spice Girls I came back home. Around February I get a call from my agent informing me that the people contacted her regarding the audition I did a few months prior for the television series, “Soul Food.” She told me that they wanted to screen test me. I said to her, “you mean the audition that I went to almost two months ago? they're still looking for someone for that role?  She said, “yes, they want a screen test you for their TV series.” I was like, what!

Wow! I couldn’t believe that they were still looking to cast for that role.  I thought it was gone already! Nevertheless, I agreed, and because of that choice, although I didn't get "Save The Last Dance,” I did land a role in one of the biggest TV series in history, “Soul Food.”

What an amazing story! Darrin, I truly believe that God will open the right doors for us. Sometimes we think our blessings will come one way, we see that things should play out in our lives, but God knows what's best for us. He opens one door and closes another. Congrats! This story is super exciting! Your life is truly an exciting journey! There were so many domino effects to this story. It began with my friend Candice Coke calling me and encouraging me to go to the open call, followed by talking my way into a casting, followed by me taking a chance on myself and saying yes. These are the events that brought all of this to fruition.

There is a saying that says, “the biggest part of your success is just showing up and being present,” and that you did. That’s it!

Not only did you show up, but you did so in a massive way. I'm so proud of your determination, and I'm proud of you for being courageous and fearless. Many people who read this magazine will be encouraged by your story I'm sure of that. Thank you, you know, as I'm sitting here reliving all these events and thinking about them, my jaw is dropped. As I'm sharing this reflective moment, I'm like wow!

Yes, I'm sure! You’ve accomplished a lot in a relatively short period of time. Hard work pays off eventually. Time and covetousness can be grave enemies of strive. Many people are paralyzed by the time it will take to reach their goals or they become paralyzed in their frustration of not being able to have what someone has in a short period of time, so they just do nothing. Those are dangerous mindsets. Thankfully, you didn’t have that mindset, but you had one of a champion! You kept your eye on the prize and when one door closed, you stepped into another. God has truly blessed you in allowing you to walk through so many doors! To God be the glory! Kudos Darrin!  So, you're also a producer and director, in that capacity what projects are you working on? Yes, right now I'm producing a television series called “Double Cross” on the “All Black Network.”  I play “Detective Ryan” on the show and we’re in our third season now. So, I produce that show. I've also directed a movie called “Violation” for Showtime starring “Malik Yoba and Cinda Williams.”

Wow, congratulations! Thank you. I’ve also directed “Darren Dance Grooves, Part 2”  and a movie called ‘The Hotel” starring Adolfo Quinonez and Michael Chambers, who we know as "Turbo” from the movie "Breakin.” I'm directing a movie with “Irma P Hall”, who played “Big Mama” on Soul Food?

Wow, that is awesome! I'm just in awe of what God has done in your life! Many people who come from economically challenged communities can easily make excuses as to why they cannot be fully productive in life. But in my opinion, no matter where you come from you don't have an excuse. Anyone from any circumstance with a proper drive and determination can exceed far above what they ever thought they could, but you have to want to.

For example, people such as Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles who clearly had obstacles in their way from childhood, even being blind made musical history. So, you have to ask yourself if you can see, you have all your functions, why are you not doing something with those basic blessings and tools that you have? Two feet and a brain.

No one is greater than the other, everyone has a purpose in this life. the key is to find out what it is and get busy doing it without excuses. For example, coming from the Bronx, you didn't have a lot. In fact, you couldn't even afford to attend dance school, but what did you do? Sit around and complain saying woe is me? No, you stood by that window of that dance class and took that class as if you were enrolled in it! Eventually, someone took notice.

That can happen to anyone, but you must be courageous! From my perspective, you must believe that all things are possible through Christ Jesus!  You have to have the faith to know that somehow God will make a way. He has always been in my personal life. Darrin, you against all odds, plunged forth and dreamed the biggest dream you could dream, and that dream became a reality. Anybody can go along with the masses, but it takes somebody more courage to go against the grain of what everyone else is doing.

Now let's talk about boundaries. Coming into this industry was there ever anything that you said I would not do? Did you set boundaries for yourself and are you still living by them today? Everything from drugs to sexual favors to promiscuity has been introduced to me! Almost anything you can think of has been presented to me. And, when it comes my way, I look at it and I laugh. I look at it and I turn the other cheek. I look at it and say, “yeah, not for me.” To this day, I have never had to compromise my manhood or my integrity in order to achieve success in this industry or to get to where I am now.

I believe in hard work and focus and dedication. These are principles I adopted early on in my career. I never had the mindset of thinking that I had to compromise myself for fame. At the end of the day, I've got to go to sleep with myself at night and it's and it's and if I can't sleep in peace, that means I didn't make the right decision. sleeping and resting are two things that I really enjoy doing therefore that type of person would not fit the core of who I am. I've never been that person.

On the contrary, I've always been my own man. I've always stood on my own square. I know that if you want something like you need to breathe, you're going to get it. Let me tell you Gina, I have walked away from things because it was a negative compromise. Absolutely I have! Additionally, I have experienced situations where I have been tested and walked past those tests and gone to their higher-ups and talked to their superiors, and still got the job.

Wow, that's truly the favor of God in your life! I'm so proud of you that you didn’t compromise your values but stood for what you knew was right for you. We all have a choice to make, and our choices can either catapult us to our triumphant destiny or destroy us and put us on a destructive path. I've witnessed the effects of people who have compromised, and I have seen what has happened to them. Many people have attempted to win fast and quickly, but it has not worked because there are no shortcuts to success. I mean, yeah, I've seen it destroy lives. Literally, I've seen it.

Yeah, I do believe that you don't have to be a part of something just because you're in it. And, as I always say it takes a stronger person to say no and mean it. I believe a huge demonstration of one strength is to walk from things that are not beneficial to you morally or spiritually even when it's unpopular to do so. When you're strong enough to say no when everyone else is saying yes that proves your strength. Many people don't see it that way, but I really feel that the stronger people are able to go against the grain when they feel that is unsuitable for the integrity of their character. With that being said, what would you say is your responsibility as a man to this younger generation? The answer is in the question. Respond to your ability. And what is your ability? It's endless. If we want to look at it in layman's terms, my responsibility first is to myself, then to my family, to my neighborhood, and then to my environment, right?

So, I believe, my responsibility is to give back to those young men and women who are just like me. By saying just like me, I do not mean to suggest a particular racial or ethnic group. I am referring to individuals who have dreams, goals, and desires but do not possess the financial resources to realize them. Those are the people I wish to assist in realizing their dreams. 

My goal is to teach them what it takes to be successful in a cookie-cutter society. However, I always emphasize the importance of hard work. While I can make the introduction, the work must be done by them. 

So many people want you to do their work, but no, it doesn't work that way. That's not how you become a master. You become a master by your blood, sweat, and tears! When I say blood, I’m referencing your energy and oxygen. You ask to ask yourself, why are you breathing? What is your intention? What are you doing and what are you here for? So, when you can discover that, live in that and when you can live in a space where you don't apologize for loving what you love and doing what you want to do creatively, then you're on your way to mastery.

If you move with passion and live with intention, it's going to happen. There were people who told me that I couldn't be an actor because I didn't take acting classes. I auditioned for “Music and Art” and I auditioned at a prestigious performing arts school, but they didn't let me in. even some of the high schools that I wanted to attend would not accept me into their school. I laugh at that now because had I gone to those schools, I might not have become who I have become now. So. my journey was my journey. Although I was inspired by those schools, they didn't make me, nor did they break me.

Why did God put you here on this earth? What is your purpose? To fulfill exactly the purpose for which I am working right now. By doing this interview and speaking to people through the medium of dance and acting. During my career, I have had the opportunity to speak in churches, say a good word to them and meet and greet people who know my face all over the world. At the same time, I’ve been privileged to befriend some of the most powerful people in the world and become a part of their puzzle pieces and assist other people in order to become a part of their puzzle pieces, and so, as I said, if each one teaches one then we can all reach one. It’s all about growing, going, and glowing right? Yes. You know, I believe we go through it to grow through it in order to glow through it. It doesn't start or end with us, we’re just pieces to the never-ending puzzle.

Darrin, if you can create an invention that would make your whole life easier what would it be? An invention that has not yet been created that would make your personal life a whole lot easier. Wow. What I do know is that inventions need to be simple in order to solve problems.  I'm not sure I can answer that question at the moment. This is a question that takes a lot of thought. That question forces me to think about what I need and right now, all my needs are fulfilled.

Would you like to share with me any personal miracles you have experienced in your life where you know that the hand of God was without a doubt moving on your behalf?  Yes, more than 10 times!

OK, tell me about it. So, I got hired and I was working with Montell Jordan. At that time, he had a hit song called, “This Is How We Do it.” We got hired to do the “Nutty Professor” with him. So, if you look at the Nutty Professor, you'll see me performing with Montell Jordan.

We were filming at paramount studios. There was a lot of shooting done during the day, then in the afternoon, there was a lunch break. Everybody went to lunch together except for me. I snuck off from the set where we were located, and I went for a walk. Mind you, we weren't supposed to do that, but I did it anyway in the Darrin Henson fashion.

(Laughs) Then I stumbled upon this beautiful white futuristic set, and this guy comes out and said, “can I help you?” I told him that I was just walking around. He then said, “what are you doing here?” I told him I was working on the Eddie Murphy movie. He says, “oh, nice.” Then I asked him what he was doing? He told me that he's not supposed to tell anyone but since I asked, he disclosed to me that it was Michael Jacksons screen set.

Wow! Yes, That day I met “Travis Payne”, the choreographer for Michael Jackson and that is how I started working with Michael Jackson.

Your story is dynamite! Certainly. We had a productive conversation and remained in touch. Then he told me that there would be an audition taking place that September and he called me in to do it. In short, I landed in Hungary in Budapest doing the history video with Michael Jackson, which began a yearlong tour with Michael Jackson. This is because I listened to my inner self when it said, "Just go walk and do not sit here with everyone else trying to get an autograph from Eddie Murphy." I listened to my inner being.

Sounds to me like The Lord was leading you to the next puzzle piece of your life. I heard a saying once that Eagles fly along the pigeons gather in packs. Exactly. I have another miraculous story.

Please share. I love hearing stories about how God works miraculous blessings in the lives of people. A choreographer hired me to work with “Prince” as an ensemble dancer. Mind you, I was always dancing no matter where I was, and I've always been somewhat of a loner. Well, while we were doing the NAACP Image Awards, during break time, I walked off to practice my dance steps. Prince made a B line towards me and asked whether I choreographed. After answering yes, he looked at me and walked away. A couple of weeks later, I received a telephone call from him while at home. He asked me to assemble a team of dancers as we were headed to England to participate in the Brit Awards. 

Wow! That’s major! Yes, and these are true factual stories. Here’s the third one. So, we’re in the UK doing the Brit Awards and I noticed “The Spice Girls,” who at the time were the biggest thing, and something said, just go over to them, introduce yourself, tell them what you do and who you're working with. So, I did in the Darrin Henson manner of braggadociousness. I told them that I was from New York City and that I choreograph for Prince, and that I'd love to work with you. And as you know, the Spice Girls called me. That’s how I began choreographing for “The Spice Girls.”

Wow! One blessing after the next! It’s almost too much to contain! I feel like I’m about to explode! And all of this happened because I listened to my inner voice telling me to just go for it. So, to me, these are miracles.

I truly see how God has positioned your life for where you need it to be for the next connection. Awesome! Darrin, I have a dream. Please, complete the rest of that sentence. I have a dream of building a film studio that would provide young people who are interested in the arts with a place to study and work after graduation. Through this studio, they can take classes in the arts to pursue their goals. So, whether you want to become a DP, director, or writer, we would offer classes that would train you in that area. You would then come and work with the studio once you graduate.

That's awesome. My last question for you is one of the most serious questions, so I want you to put a lot of thought into it. I know you're deep, so I know you'll get it. This is the last one, and it’s the best. Are you ready? Yes

Ok, here it is. Back in the day, in your opinion, which hairstyle had the most swag? The Afro or the Jheri curl? (laughs) That's interesting because I had both. But, to me, the hairstyle with the most swag is probably the Afro. I say this because it was cool and pretty much, everybody wanted one. Not everybody wanted a Jerry Curl. Clowns sometimes wear Jerry curls. (laughs)

Awesome Darrin! Listen, it's been a true pleasure speaking with you. You are truly intelligent and a breath of fresh air. I pray that God will continue to connect your puzzle pieces together as the beautiful picture of your life continues to formulate. I pray that God will keep you and your family safe. It was truly an honor to speak with you. Thank you again.

All photos photographed by: Gina Sedman

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END OF INTERVIEW