Meet Michael Munday: Dancer & Designer

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

Hi Michael, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Risk is something that I have to deal with on a daily basis. Being a black, gay, male, artist in America, is a risk. A risk that I was born into, and wouldn’t change for anything. I see the risk in everything I do. In what I wear, what I say, what I create, how I walk down the street, even as simple as how I look at someone out in the world. Its a feeling of always being at risk and knowing I am being seen as one no matter what. We say without risk there is no reward. So if Im considered a risk, I always think why not take one on myself. Why not try to do something unimaginable? Make something most think I cant? Or do something I’ve always been told was impossible? I think both in my life and my career I have tried, not always successfully, to use that as the push to do more. If I’m walking into a room and everyone already sees me as a risk, why not take that same risk and use it to make my dreams come true. Take that drive, the doubt, the judgment and go full throttle towards what I want. Risk is a scary balancing act. With my business, taking a risk could make it thrive. But in life, being seen as the wrong kind of risk could end it. So when I think about risk I think about my future. I think about making sure that one risk doesn’t ruin it, or take it away. But instead taking the kind of risk that will guarantee it and make it bright.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am firstly a professional dancer. I moved to Los Angeles 11 years ago to pursue dancing. My dance career has been the m most amazing. It has presented some of the most mentally challenging situations but as none the less been something beautiful. When it comes to dancing I think what sets me apart from others is my drive. My want and desire to be the best in the room, but also being the most genuine in the room. I have and was trained growing up to have a, push the limit kind of work ethic. I like to work hard, and sweat, and understand things until I know them inside and out. But also I love to feel them and make sure that what I am doing always feels good for me. Dancing professionally is a lot of no’s. A lot of pay your dues, and something better is coming. That alone can make you go crazy. But in all the let downs my drive and desire to do things that some find impossible led me to have the career I have had thus far. One of my proudest moments dancing has 1000% been when I got to do original West Side Story choreography at the Kennedy Center Honors for Michelle and Barack Obama in the audience.

I think being a dancer is what now has set MadebyMunday apart. I think about creating things as a whole. From where it would go, how its going to move, what is it saying, how does it make me feel. Everything I make I do with all of the thought in the world. And I handmade every piece that I sell. Even when I was making just masks at the beginning. I had I think 10 different versions altering things every time just trying to find the perfect shape the most comfy fit. My brand is super new. Barely just born. So I think the hardest time I’ve have had thus far is right now. This transition period from being a mask brand into being a brand providing more pieces. Which is a scary yet fun time. I am getting to expand and find a bigger voice and try new things. Ive made some suer fun things recently just because I have let myself enjoy the process.

I want the world to know that at the root of my business and my career is a black man who just wants to inspire more black boys to do every single thing they love and dream of doing.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Well first off we would have to start with coffee. A must try in Los Feliz is definitely La Colombe. An oat black and tan with a little sweetener always wins the day. I’d probably then drag her to the fabric store. I tend to just go and walk around for an hour to get inspired. And with my best friend, oh we are going to come up with some fun things. We are eating at Bludso’s BBQ at least three times in the week. Seriously one of the best BBQ places I have had here. I promise. Bloom and Plume is an absolute without a doubt happening. Black owned floral shop and coffee shop! We are taking a road trip down to Ocenside to have the most delicious sandwiches anyone has ever tasted at Board and Brew. I try and really support my neighborhood shops. So I would take her to Bearded Beagle to find some fun clothes. Also Goodwill because you can truly find some gems hidden in those racks. Because I am obsessed with flower arranging we would also at some point, maybe many points, have to go to Floral Art by Mia. Its a small flower shop. with .99. cent stems and you get to go in and create your own arrangement. Truly we will probably spend the most time in my apartment, walking the neighborhood, and cackling our life away.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My mother deserves the most credit for my story. She has always been the person making me realize I can do it, and I am good enough. As a single mom she didn’t have it easy. But she gave me the best life I could have ever imagined and then some. The most supportive, caring, thoughtful, loving, magical human in the world. Making her happy and proud is my greatest achievement.

Website: www.madebymunday.com

Instagram: @madebymunday @michaellmunday

Image Credits
Simon Dewhurst