Milwaukee Dancer Reflects on Community and Super Bowl Performance

Davien Holton was only 6-years-old when he realized that he loved performing. He credits his start in performing gospel inspired hip hop at the Greater New Birth Church – where he found his passion and drive in his community, faith and mission. 

Holton grew up on the North Side of Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the Sherman Park neighborhood where he was born and raised alongside his four siblings and mother, Tracy Webb. A true local, he attended Rufus King International Middle School and Milwaukee High School of the Arts as a theater and dance major. 

Although well-known for his recent national headlines in performing at the Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show this past February in Las Vegas, Nevada alongside famous headliner Usher and other guest artists including Alicia Keys, H.E.R., Will.i.am, Ludacris, and Lil Jon. His spotlight is rooted much deeper as a budding artist and performer. 

“It just shows Milwaukee people that you still can do it,” said Holton in an interview with Media Milwaukee. “You don’t have to move right away; you just have to know how to use the resources that you do have. Connect yourself to other places and not be so one-sided.”

Along with his ability to make connections nationally, Holton has also impacted several at his local University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee college which he attends as a junior majoring in dance with a minor in journalism. Sitting face-to-face in an office at the Black Student Cultural Center at UWM sits Derrick Langston and A’lishah Horton as they reflect on the impact Holton has made between themselves as well as the black student body. 

Horton is a close friend of Davien’s who has seen his growth and desire to improve in his work and choreography. Langston works as a Multicultural Student Success Coordinator at the center in UWM’s Bolton Hall and has become professionally familiar with Holton. They both attend many of the same events involving outreach for Black and brown prospective students.

“Davien is a student who’s been through our office a couple of times,” said Langston. “He’s fantastic as far as how he interacts with prospective students and his contributions to campus. But seeing that he was able to use his talents in such a huge event was amazing to see.” 

Holton also owns his own business called A.I.M. Training Co. which stands for Artistic Individuals Moving. The program helps young professionals in the performing arts areas such as singing, dancing and acting cultivate their craft with workshops and lessons throughout the city. 

“I think for one a lot of Black and brown people especially in the neighborhood where I grew up, don’t think it’s feasible to do anything,” said Holton to Media Milwaukee.

The up-and-coming business offers affordable training starting at $10 with unlimited training sessions after the one-time paid fee. It is arranged periodically with the help of other artists around the United States who are underrated and want to gain more exposure. A.I.M. ‘s training program teaches individuals about the industry and how to brand yourself as a potential lead, they currently host in Chicago and Milwaukee. 

Staying local for the sake of inspiring the Black and brown community is very important according to Holton’s plans for success and inspiration. He’s driven in sharing his craft with others and intends to do so from the city of Milwaukee. 

“There was and is no limit to what he can accomplish,” said Milwaukee High School of the Arts principal Larry Farris via email. “Davien has been willing ever since graduating from MHSA to give back to his school. Davien is looking to host master classes with dance majors to show them not only what it takes to succeed as a dance major but how to navigate the professional world of dancing.” 

Holton was a theater major at MHSA up until his senior year of high school when he switched to dance. Holton believes being multifaceted is crucial to dancing, and he used his public performing arts school as a driver in his training. He learned new techniques and movement-based coaching which he felt could be implemented in future endeavors. Coming from a background where he was taught social dances, Holton was interested in broadening his capabilities. 

“If I were to get booked on a dance job for a major film and they lo and behold need a new character and they’re looking at the dancers being like which one of you guys know how to act,” said Holton in an interview with Media Milwaukee. “I wanted to be one of those people that say I do; I have this training under my belt.”

Tricia LaCroix is an educator from the theater and film department at MHSA knew Davien personally as his teacher for four years. She recounted seeing him grow as a young man but as an artist.  

“Davien was kind,” said LaCroix via email. “Hard-working and dedicated, whether it was theater or dance. He was always ready to put the show before himself which is indicative of a professional, and I was always impressed with that level of maturity in him.” 

Holton got his professional start at 12-years-old as a commercial dancer for the youth dance team Young Bucks, of the Milwaukee Bucks basketball team. He then began working professionally with his mentor and dance instructor Cedric Gardner of the Don & Sallie Davis Boys & Girls Club for the Davis Club’s dance team known as the Davis Dancers. He later rejoined the Milwaukee Bucks at 17-years-old as a part of the 414 Crew – an adult co-ed dance team, according to Holton. The entertainment team that performs during game breaks typically recruits and hires dancers 18+ but this did not limit Holton. Not only was he invited back, but he also helped pilot the team at such a young age. 

Holton currently lives in Milwaukee and enjoys the close-knit artistic community. He is also based in various cities ranging from Chicago to Los Angeles. He periodically trains, teaches and takes classes from each of these major cities to gain a larger network and more exposure. Holton works with The Movement Talent Agency based in LA as well as the S.E.G. Talent group based in Atlanta. He is also a UWM campus ambassador. 

Holton’s extensive resume has led up to the most recent highlight of his career performing at this past year’s Superbowl halftime show. His audition process originally started when he tried out for Usher’s residency and main cast in Las Vegas, Nevada which he had to turn down due to scheduling conflicts. Holton still had a calling to perform alongside Usher. He decided to apply and audition for the halftime show instead and was granted the role of a field cast member.

For the two weeks leading up to the Superbowl show at Allegiant Stadium, Holton got on a bus to and from rehearsals in Paradise, Nevada where he trained and practiced for up to nine hours at a time. Holton and other cast members were placed in field camera shots during the show which was broadcast nationally to give more of a live concert feeling for at-home viewers. 

Holton said he performed a variety of social dances like Rockaway (lean back), the A-Town stomp, the muscle and the thunderclap. He performed these dances during the first two songs – ‘Caught Up’ and ‘U Don’t Have to Call’. Later rejoining for the last song for a dance segment with the entire cast for ‘Yeah!’ (Feat. Lil Jon & Ludacris). 

Holton said he spent some time exploring the stadium after his performance with fellow cast members before he had to rush to the airport for school the next day. He arrived in Milwaukee at 8 a.m. from a three hour and 56 minute flight. He missed his first class of the day due to his traveling and went to his last class instead; he was immediately recognized around UWM’s large campus.

“It was crazy,” said Holton. “I literally got off the airplane, came straight back – took an hour nap.”

Davien said he is looking forward to graduating, he will be the first among his siblings to do so all while maintaining a professional and academic balance. He credits this to strong scheduling and planning and is always striving for new opportunities. He plans on getting an acting agent sometime in the following year and welcomes the opportunity to travel and explore the connections in other places.