While other kids around the council estate were playing football and tag, Adam Brown was brushing up on his tango and salsa skills.
The 29-year-old, from Tuebrook, described himself as “the campiest kid on the block” and along with the title came challenges as even at the age of nine, Adam realised he “wasn’t the same” as the others in his class. The choreographer recalls how he always “had something extra” and this showed in every aspect of his life growing up.
Adam told the ECHO : “I knew from the late stages of primary school that I was a little different, I wasn’t aware of what type of difference, but knew I just didn’t fit in. I always wanted to be different in so many ways like with fashion and the singers I would listen to. Every year for my Christmas clothes, I wanted to wear all the same clothes as the pop stars were wearing on MTV and would beg my mum for the most outrageous outfits like red Timberland boots and a matching red bomber jacket to be like the rappers.”
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Regardless of being different, one passion Adam wasn’t prepared to let go of was dance. Adam’s interest in the performing art was first sparked after he saw his sister partaking in it and knew he needed to “copy her”. The difference between the two siblings is that Adam faced homophobia throughout his 26-year-long dance journey.
The former Merseyside Dance and Drama Centre student said: “I was the only boy who danced the whole way through school and going into an all-boys senior school in Liverpool, it was always made out to be a thing and would spread around the school. I would be asked weekly why I danced and if I wanted to be a girl or if I was gay. Growing up in the 90s as the campiest kid on the block, the dancers weren’t the problem, it was everyone else who didn’t dance that was. I didn't have it easy. Some days I would beg my mum to stay off just so I could be in my happy little place and dance but I got sent to school every day and would watch the clock thinking as soon as I finish here I can go to dance.”
In spite of the “stumbles and cries along the way”, Adam always reminded himself of his career goals and questioned what his icon, Beyonce, would do in the situation. He added: “Thinking back now, I was so headstrong for such a young person and it shows what you go through is meant for you and is meant to make you stronger and the person you are. When I was younger I didn’t know any different, I just thought I was Beyonce. But when I got older and got used to my sexuality, I could dance completely different while being very comfortable in my own skin and that is so liberating.”
Not wanting the next generation of aspiring Anton Du Beke’s and Shirley Ballas’ to go through what he did, Adam established his own dance company. Named after himself, the “childhood dream” became a reality after Adam spent weeks “living out of a suitcase in between teaching and performing all over the world” and decided he needed a permanent place to call home.
The former creative director for Boogie Storm who appeared on Britain’s Got Talent added: “I knew what I wanted to achieve and build and there was a gap for it. It was a dance school and a safe space for everyone to be whoever they wanted to be - successfully. The reason I started the school was because I wanted kids to see us and think ‘who are they? I want to be there'. It is also important for the young LGBTQ+ community to be cared for in the correct way and for them to be able to fully be themselves. It is extremely close to my heart as I know not every child learns in the same way. I am a walking example of that and I do believe I have built a brand that it that little bit extra, just as I believed I was that little bit extra as a kid.”
It is not just Adam who believes he is making a positive impact in the local community as his company recently made the shortlist for the Community Impact Award at this year’s North West LGBTQ+ Business Awards. Asked what it would mean for him to win, he said:” Winning would just underline it for us that the foundations of what we are building are working and hopefully spread our brand to an even wider audience. Personally, it would be a huge achievement, council estate kid to LGBTQ+ business award winner has a nice ring to it.”
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