Meet Daphne Marcelle Lee | Professional Dancer on Broadway

We had the good fortune of connecting with Daphne Marcelle Lee and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Daphne Marcelle, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
My name is Daphne Marcelle Lee and im currently a dancer in Disney’s The Lion King on Broadway in New York City. My mother was a dancer and I ended up following up in her footsteps. I had no desire to be a professional dancer and thought of being a doctor. My parents were super encouraging, and when i auditioned for Juilliard, the light bulb went off for me to try dancing full time. My mother is from London and my father is from Panama so I grew up first generation American with various culture norms. I feel their concept of teaching me to do what makes me happy and travel the world allowed me to manifest my very experience as a dancer.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Im most proud of my efforts of being a caregiver to my father who is a war veteran and suffers from Parkinsons disease. I was looking after both my parents when they go sick around the same time. My mother passed away from Multiple Myeloma cancer and being able to continue working helped give me a distraction from the issues. I’m proud I didn’t get too depressed and knew that my mothers ancestral energy would carry me. Its still hard to look after my father but with the help of my aunt Lidia, she has been providing relief at times. Im most proud for handling adversities but savoring every moment I’ve been on stage to perform. All the work, choreographers, and dance colleagues who have been supportive.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I love taking friends and family to a Thai restaurant named “Der Krung” in Hells Kitchen in NYC. The food is so fresh, affordable and comforting that you cant go wrong. I also love Silvana and Red Rooster in Harlem. I recently took my cousin to Mercer Labs, an all immersive exhibit that plays with sound, vibrations and visuals near the World Trade Center. Its highly interesting. New York City takes a lifetime to discover its gems. One of my favorite bars is 67 Orange in harlem. Leo has to be the best bartender and its such a lovely vibe with afrobeat music.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Would love to dedicate the shout out to artists in the grind, honing in on their craft and going to audition after audition to book work. Its inspiring to see how many artists, freelancers, dancers, actors, Make Up artists and beyond who continue push thru. I respect anyone that continues to follow their passion with purpose and not always get sucked into capitalism where everything is about money and no purpose. I find this encouraging for myself as well as inspirational to keep going as long as I want to continue to be pushed and my own goals. I even shoutout all the friends and family that allow me to do what I do depsite family setbacks and sacrifices.

Website: www.daphnemlee.com

Instagram: Daphne732

Facebook: Daphne Marcelle Lee

Image Credits
Headshot and Bench Picture by Manley Photography Glass box picture by Whitney Photography Mom/Daughter by Lindsey Adler Black White theatre pic by Theik Smith Black and White pointe pic by Malmarti