My dancing journey started with ballet class when I was three.

I hated it. I couldn’t stand the repetitive routines and music, the frilly outfits, the competitiveness. So after two years, I quit.

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At nine, my dream was to dance on America’s Got Talent.

My dad told me it was extremely competitive and I needed A LOT of training. I insisted, so he signed me up for hip-hop lessons. But copying someone else’s moves felt restrictive, not fun. So I quit after just a few months.

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I tried teaching myself choreography with YouTube videos,

but I constantly disappointed myself by breaking out into my own moves mid-routine. That’s when I realized I’m just not that good at dancing. Then I discovered freestyle.

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Finally, I could let loose.

I no longer had to be scared of making mistakes. Learning how to dance became about finding my style through community, music, and moving.

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  • DYS Los Angeles

  • Me and Dancer Fik-Shun

  • Me and Dancer OMGIA

  • Me and Dancer Toyin

  • Me and D Soraki, 2022 DYS Champion

Dance isn’t about looking silly or feeling self-conscious.

It’s about finding yourself by connecting with others.