The Wallflower of the Year: Esrā Dunca-Sprawling

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In the shadowy, high-stakes world where art, business, and personal turmoil intersect, Esrā Dunca-Sprawling stands as a figure of singular distinction. Also known professionally as Sean Sprawling, this gender-fluid artist and cultural pioneer has navigated a life marked by extraordinary brilliance and profound hardship—from facing false imprisonment to being rendered homeless. They are "the Wallflower of the Year," not for a lack of brilliance, but for choosing to bloom in the shadows—where truth is tender and testimony takes root.

As a classically trained Meisner actor, Esrā's journey began with a personal invitation from Jim Jarrett, Sanford Meisner's last teaching protégé, to undergo intensive training in San Francisco. They emerged as the sole member of their original cohort to complete the program, earning high praise. Esrā even won Best Actor at the Meisner Technique Studios film festival. The school's former director, Melissa Thompson Essaia, is quoted as saying, "Sean is a force to be reckoned with." Beyond the stage, Esrā's creative talents expanded into producing and writing. Through their companies, Sean Sprawling Productions LLC and Teak Stage Productions LLC, they produce and star in works that have gained international distribution across all major streaming platforms.

Esrā also played a key role in the development of two feature films with a combined budget of $15 million. They wrote the stories for the scripts they produced for "A Good Boy" and "The Camp." The script for "A Good Boy" was written and is being directed by Emmy-nominated Peres Owino and was consulted on by Oscar-nominated screenwriter Joe Robert Cole, known for his work on Black Panther. Esrā collaborated with Oscar-nominated screenwriter Iris Yamashita on "The Camp." The film was produced by an Oscar-winning member of Clint Eastwood's team, and Clint Eastwood himself considered directing. Iris Yamashita is known for her work on the Eastwood-directed film Letters from Iwo Jima.

Esrā holds a singular and historic distinction in global cultural heritage: they are the first and only American Geisha, and only the second male in recorded history to be formally recognized with Geisha status. This recognition was conferred through their role as a cultural ambassador and founder of Gion Beverly Hills, in collaboration with co-founder and artistic director Eitaro Matsunoya, owner of Matsunoya Corporation in Tokyo, Japan. Esrā was personally mentored by Eitaro, the first documented male Geisha in history. Through this mentorship, they were formally adopted into Eitaro’s Geisha family and recognized as a member of the prestigious Matsunoya Corporation. Their inclusion was affirmed through rigorous performance, traditional training, and familial acceptance. Esrā's contributions include performing alongside Geisha in private cultural ceremonies, producing the first and only music video to feature an American and non-Geisha performing with Geisha, and serving as a cultural bridge between Japanese traditional arts and Western audiences.

Esrā is married to web pioneer Andrei Dunca, who is known for the notable sale of his company, LiveRail, which was acquired by Facebook for a reported $500 million. The couple's relationship began in San Francisco around 2011, and included shared residences in Houston, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, as well as joint business ventures. They even raise a puppy named The Captain Dunca-Sprawling. Esrā also co-designs a $5.5 million San Francisco home with architect John Lum, featuring elegant details like Hinoki Cypress and Teak Millwork, which served as the primary residence for the couple. The unwavering support and encouragement from their husband, Andrei, enabled Esrā to embrace their gender fluidity and pursue their artistic calling.

Following the disappearance of their husband, Esrā's close friendship with social media personality Richard “Richie” Vetter turned sexual, then romantic. Vetter is known for his controversial association with Jake Paul, including being mentioned in an explicit rap video that led to public backlash for Paul. During this period, Esrā's friend Kaeden Kalaqtic, who gained popularity on YouTube for videos about how to make money off their bodies safely and efficiently before shifting to fashion, offered his home and workspace for his fashion line, Kalaqtic, as a safe space for Esrā during their false imprisonment in Beverly Hills. Kaeden's fashion line has been worn by celebrities, including Nicki Minaj, Machine Gun Kelly, Ashnikko, Imagine Dragons, and Megan Thee Stallion.

Here's a video from a New York fashion show featuring Kalaqtic's work. KALAQTIC BY KAEDEN Flying Solo Spring 2024 New York - Full Show & Interview