Meet Christian Hernandez: The Miami God

We had the good fortune of connecting with Christian Hernandez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Christian, why did you pursue a creative career?
Ever since I was a little kid, I always knew I wanted to be a singer. Of course, that also came with wanting to be a firefighter, astronaut, teacher, and more! Music was (and is) always the most constant thing in my life. It grew from the first time I did a duet with my classmate in elementary, to joining the choir at my school. One time, I was inspired by one Christmas Tree Lighting in New York back in 2007 by Josh Groban’s performance with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and asking my music teacher if I could perform the same song. I remember that Christmas show being completely packed in church and all the pews were FILLED and there were even audience members standing. The church easily sits 500+. It was my first solo and I received a standing ovation. I did it again the next year with a Hispanic Heritage show singing “En Mi Viejo San Juan”– a timeless classic. When I attended high school, the closest to music I had was Musical Theater. I remember my first year when I joined, I told them “I’m not going to act or dance… I’m only going to sing” Boy, was I a divo?! The following year was the year my friends were turning 15, which in the latinx community is a pivotal moment in a girl’s life, where they have a court of 15 couples that perform choreographies on their special night. My musical theater director found out and said “good, you can choreograph the show this year” Mind you, I had no extensive dance training before, but took on the challenge. When the showcase came at the end of the year, everyone asked if the show was choreographed professionally. Perhaps I had a calling? The following year, one of Lady Gaga’s former backup dancers, Michael Silas, was visiting a local dance studio in Miami and I had wanted to meet him so bad. I looked up to him as literally the kind of dancer I would one day envision to dance like. I went to the studio just because I wanted to say hi and tell him how much of a fan I was and he invited me to observe and sit in his class. He invited me to actually take his next class and I had done exactly that. The third class I took with him I felt completely defeated as I didn’t pickup on the choreography as well as the previous class. I beat myself up when I got home mentally and wanted to give up. Nevertheless, a few months later, a friend of mine invited me to her dance studio to try out a class. The owner was there that day, observed me, and pulled me to the side at the end. She praised me and asked me if I was serious about being a dancer. I replied “of course” and she offered me a full-ride scholarship to her studio. I trained in hip-hop and aerial. Also during that year, a drama teacher in my school invited me to experience the local production of Godspell: The Musical at the Miracle Mile Actor’s Playhouse Theater and then In The Heights a few months after at the same theater. In The Heights blew my mind because I didn’t know there could be a musical about Latinos and have it relate 100% to my life. After that show, I knew I had to pursue my artistic career full throttle. The high school I attended was a college-prep school so all classes were honors/AP and focused mainly on languages. It had no art programs therefore no one really was pursuing a college career in the arts. I defied the odds and pursued the associates musical theater program at my local college. In my senior year in high school, I wanted to return to a dance studio and pursue my dance career professionally. My mom only told me I was only allowed to go to this studio if I learned how to dance salsa (Cuban/Casino Style). I hesitated thinking no one my age even dances that and I would literally hate it. I wasn’t wrong, but I had to put up with the classes if I wanted to be able to take the rest of the classes I wanted to take. I would straight up hold back tears sometimes because of how much I disliked it. A few months in, I was getting really good and kept moving up into advanced classes and even teams in the studio. Literally, at every party I’ve always been asked to dance with someone or truly enjoy it when the music plays and not having to sit the song out because I didn’t know how to dance to it. It truly was a prime example of the cliche of not shutting down experiences because you never know what could happen. In my college career, I helped manage the dance studio I began my senior year in high school and directed shows and musical theater workshops independently with children for a local nonprofit organization. I had the opportunity to even choreograph and perform alongside Latin Grammy Award winner Ed Calle and Latin Grammy Award Nominee Leslie Cartaya. I was in 3 Broadway Local Production shows at my college “Little Women: The Musical”, “The Mikado” and “In The Heights” (which was the show I was awarded Best Supporting Actor).  I was also awarded an Honors recognition in my vocal performances throughout one of my debut semesters. In my university career, I truly began my production company “Christian Hernandez Productions” where I’ve choreographed numerous productions such as Quinceñeras, school shows, competition performances, local dance workshop, classes, music videos (in which I’ve also starred in) and was able to judge America’s Gospel Dance Competition two years consecutively. In 2019, I became a 2x award-winning choreographer for Theater District competition performances for a local high-school. This year, I am founding my own arts program where I will continue to work with youth and be able to give the opportunity for everyone to be exposed to the arts and potentially have it change their lives the way it did for me.    

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am a singer, dancer/choreographer, and actor/director above all. I am most excited about the showcases I will be directing this year, the events I will be hosting and making appearances in, and for the EP I will be releasing later in the year as well. As The Miami God, there was no linear path that got me to where I am today. I’ve been involved in education, real-estate, communications, hospitality, etc. I still do all those things to this day. I want to inspire and let people know they can do anything they set their mind to by manifesting and truly working towards their goals and visions in true positive forms. No double intentions or expecting anything in return.

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?
Many people think of Miami as just South Beach. There is so much culture and history all over!! Miami is literally ginormous all the way up to Miami Gardens/Aventura to as far south as Homestead/Florida City and EVERYTHING in between. There is beauty in the towns/neighborhoods of Little Havana, Wynwood/Edgewater/Midtown, Coral Gables, Coconut Grove, Little Haiti/North Miami, Key Biscayne, etc. You have to get out and explore! There are so many hidden treasures that truly will make a visit much more impactful. Pre-pandemic, the arts were under appreciated by tourists. I highly recommend doing your research and see if there’s at least any live music or socially-distant theater productions as well.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I owe it all to everyone who has ever believed in me, pushed me, trusted me, and allowed me to shine. I am also grateful for those who are no longer in my life who did the same in some way, shape or form directly or indirectly.

Website: christianhernandezproductions.tumblr.com
Instagram: @themiamigod, @christianhernandezproductions
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themiamigod/