Meet Nii “Prince” Engmann | Teacher, Choreographer & Dancer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nii “Prince” Engmann and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nii “Prince”, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I’m a first-generation Ghanaian-Canadian raised in Toronto, Canada. Culture is reflected in everything I do. I grew up in a predominantly Ghanaian community. We have such a vibrant culture that is so unique and shows itself in our music, clothing, body language, speech etc. So the glasses with which I observe life definitely has that tint. Even as an artist, my dancing integrates a plethora of different modern african styles of dance alongside my training in other styles of the diaspora. You can never miss the influence that different diasporic cultures have on life in all aspects.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m a dancer, choreographer and actor based in Vancouver, BC. I’ve had the privilege of dancing on some of the worlds biggest stages and on some of the most popular tv networks and streaming services including Netflix, Apple TV etc. I grew up around a culture filled with the love of dance but I didnt decide to pursue dance seriously until after watching the World of Dance stage competition in 2012 in Vancouver. That ignited a love for dance that only grew stronger over time. In 2016 I booked my first dance role in “Descendants 2” under director Kenny Ortega and choreographer Tony Testa. That kind of snowballed into what has been a blessed career. And we’re only just getting started. People say it all the time but the entertainment industry is not the space for everyone. It’s a very harsh and inconsiderate space and if you’re not careful can have you adopting views about yourself and the world around you that aren’t healthy. Building myself and taking care of myself is always at the forefront of my mind. It’s allowed me to build a solid base for myself so that no matter what occurs around me, I’m stable in who I am and what I stand for. In that I want to be remembered as a safe space for those that come into contact with me. A space for them to make honest mistakes, learn and grow so that they can be the best version of themselves.

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.
I love food a lot and LA has some bomb food, I also don’t want to give all of my spots away haha. The week would look like brunch somewhere in LA, maybe Poppy + Rose or Gritz n Waffles. Then maybe hit up a hike to burn off the calories. Then a happy hour somewhere in the city (Wokcano has a bomb happy hour menu). Or it could look like heading to Malibu for the day and grabbing a sandwich from some of the amazing cafe’s on the way to the beach before spending the day relaxing there. Then coming back in the evening and hitting up a rooftop bar in Hollywood. There’s something for everybody in the city for sure

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Man the list for this is too long. I’ve been very fortunate to have many amazing people in my circle. I’ll try to make this short. My parents foremost have been there for me in more ways than I’m aware. If you come from a family of immigrants you know how hard it can be for them to recognize an art form as a career. Secondly my dance parents Rico & Maricar Gutierrez who almost single handedly sponsored my dance training and who mentor me to this day. To my big brother and mentor Jerome Esplana who helped me build my career to the point that it’s at now. And to my amazing group of friends I have the privilege of calling my chosen family. I wouldn’t be the human being I am today without them

Instagram: @princenii

Image Credits
Jaime Lopez
Emilie Bland
IMI Dance