“God, this time, direct my steps. Protect me and guide me on this journey,” Da’Ante Bowman, known as Da’Antes inferno, prayed as he stepped off the plane in Los Angeles.
This was his second attempt — his return to the city to chase his dreams as a dancer, filmmaker, and musician. It was a defining moment, one that would shape the trajectory of his career. If he would make it in the entertainment industry, the time was now.
Born and raised in Madisonville, Kentucky, a town dominated by coal mining and factory work, where many around him played sports or pursued traditional careers, Bowman found solace in music, dance, and storytelling.
His early years were marked by shyness and a struggle with a speech impediment. He played basketball until a devastating ACL injury sidelined his sports career.
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A joke from a friend about joining the dance team sparked something unexpected. In his senior year, he became the first boy to join the high school dance team, setting the stage for a future in the arts.
With his sights set on Los Angeles, Bowman wasted no time. The moment he graduated high school in 2015, he was on a plane to LA. Financial struggles, career setbacks, and the harsh realities of the entertainment industry sent him packing for home.
He found himself back in Kentucky, grappling with a sense of failure. “Now I’m one of those people that literally go back home and have nothing to show for this whole journey that I’ve been on,” he admitted. However, instead of succumbing to despair, he wrote his first book and began cultivating his brand—Da’Antes inferno. “Step into the Inferno,” he says, reflecting on his journey of self-discovery. “I had to step inside myself to figure out everything.”
By 2019, he returned, but only to battle another crisis, COVID-19. This global health uncertainty forced him into deep self-reflection.
“Is this really what I’m meant to do,” he asked himself. Stripped of distractions, Bowman confronted his fears, doubts, and the very core of his identity. What emerged was a stronger, more determined artist, someone who understood his purpose as a performer and storyteller.
At one point, Bowman nearly signed up for the military but was redirected. With just $177 in his bank account, he took a leap of faith and purchased a $150 plane ticket back to Los Angeles.
“That decision changed everything,” he says. “If I didn’t make that move, nothing I’ve accomplished in the last two years would have happened.”
Since his return, Bowman has been unstoppable. His work has taken him to red carpets, high-profile collaborations, and a growing reputation in both the dance and film industries. Recently, he was booked to perform alongside Kendrick Lamar at the 2025 Super Bowl.
As a filmmaker, he wrote and directed “Like Father, Like Daughter,” an action film currently making waves in festivals. This month, he will release his latest film, “Romeo and Julian,” a dark romance about forbidden love.
One of Bowman’s most unexpected collaborations came with Massiel Taveras, the actress known for her viral Cannes Film Festival moment in the controversial ‘Jesus dress.’ Their chance meeting at a BET audition turned into a powerful creative partnership, with Bowman choreographing performances for her.
Despite his growing success, Bowman remains deeply aware of the struggles that come with the industry. There was a time when he was booking major gigs—dancing for Lizzo, choreographing performances—while sleeping in his car. “Even at my lowest points, I never gave up,” he says.
From homelessness to Hollywood to dancing in the Super Bowl, from doubt to destiny, Da’Ante Bowman’s story is about success through purpose. “Believe in yourself 100%,” he says. “Because when you do, everything else will follow.”
Follow Da’Ante Bowman’s journey @daantes_inferno.
