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In this episode, we sit down with Erik Molina, a humble yet highly accomplished and talented dancer who has dedicated his academic and professional career to mastering his craft. Erik sits down with us to talk about his pursuit for a Bachelor’s in dance, the challenges of being casted at Disney World, and his pivot into the corporate world. Devin & Erik reminisce on times with Kinections and the three of us recollect memories at The BOX. Erik shares his opinion on how the dance community has evolved, shares his insights on self awareness and intuition and we find ourselves in an endless circle of “Thank yous”. Erik shares his passions outside of dance, gives us his binge-worthy show recommendations, and makes us incredibly hungry. It’s an episode full of memories, self exploration and endless gratitude. In this episode, we explore:
00:25 Introduction 03:31 Name dropping “Erik Molina” 04:08 Let’s start at the very beginning 04:30 Confusing Hula Hoop with dance 06:09 The origin of Kinections 07:48 The first hip hop studio in South Bay SD 13:42 Trendsetter! 14:15 Fueling the creativity and passion 17:22 Fake it ‘til you make it 18:30 The foundation of Erik’s character 20:12 Pursuing a Bachelor’s in Dance 26:52 Erik’s dance style 30:37 The evolution of Erik’s dance style 33:17 How the dance community has evolved 37:59 Erik’s passions outside of dance 42:32 Transition from dance to corporate life & finding balance 47:25 Self awareness & intuition 50:42 A moment of gratitude 56:15 Rapid Fire Questions 59:46 Finding inspiration for movement 1:01:37 Rapid Fire, part 2 1:04:12 Erik’s binge-worth recommendations 1:10:51 Finding creativity in cooking 1:15:57 Closing remarks This episode’s guest:
Music by Sam Stan - Das Boo - https://thmatc.co/?l=997FC418 Music by SkeetOnTheBeat - Late Night - https://thmatc.co/?l=E76B5749 The conversation continues over on Instagram and TikTok
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We sit down with a “triple threat” Chavia Blankenship in this episode. A truly inspirational, and hard-working dancer, choreographer and actor, Chavia has transitioned from community icon to industry professional. Chavia sits down with us for a virtual conversation about auditioning for Badgirl Rhi Rhi, dancing on a team versus actually directing the team, and the burden of always having confidence. We also reminisce on our time together at The BOX, the origins of Impulse junior dance team and coping with self doubt. Chavia shares his tips on preparing for an industry audition and hopes for change in the industry. We talk about donuts, Power Rangers, and Rick & Morty. We wrap up and talk about the best Haunted House in South Bay San Diego and share our love and eternal gratitude to Chavia for being a guiding light in our dance journey. In this episode, we explore: 00:25 Introduction 03:32 Let’s start at the very beginning 04:39 The origins of Impulse 09:07 Chavia’s experience dancing on competitive teams 09:47 Dancing on a team vs. Directing a team 11:33 Which came first, the chicken or the egg? 13:14 Having confidence is exhausting 14:59 The path to industry 15:41 Finding inspiration in Miss Jackson 17:38 Chavia and The BOX 20:34 Training as an industry dancer 21:42 Transitioning from Community to Industry 24:29 First industry audition (for Badgirl Rhi-Rhi) 29:06 Tips to prepare for an industry audition 32:13 Coping with self-doubt in an industry of confidence 35:15 Transition from dancing to acting 36:46 Chavia’s favorite gig and current projects 39:00 Changes in the industry, post pandemic 42:45 A day in the of Chavia Blankenship 43:53 Let’s talk donuts 48:56 Chavia’s obsession with Power Rangers 55:16 Rapid fire questions 57:24 Rick and Morty 1:00:00 The freedom of dance 1:01:24 What’s next for Chavia? 1:02:26 The Haunted House in South Bay SD 1:08:41 What’s good in the dance community? 1:10:43 Closing remarks This episode’s guest:
Music by Sam Stan - Das Boo - https://thmatc.co/?l=997FC418 Music by SkeetOnTheBeat - Late Night - https://thmatc.co/?l=E76B5749 The conversation continues over on Instagram and TikTok *Heads up for our listeners, this episode was recorded pre-pandemic* In this episode, we sit down with a highly accomplished dancer who has found the perfect balance between becoming a successful industry dancer and pouring back into the dance community. Juju, a true master in his craft, sits down with us for a virtual conversation about living in New York, being part of the Beyond Babel cast, and eating all of the colors of the rainbow. Juju shares his philosophy on dancers as athletes and we also discuss the loss of NBA legend: Kobe Bryant. Juju reminisces on his once in a lifetime experience performing in front of 60,000 screaming fans. We also talk about super powers, professional gaming and what’s good in the dance community. It’s an episode full of insight, reflection and inspiration. In this episode, we explore:
00:25 Introduction 02:39 How to stay focused 03:46 A Master in his craft 04:38 The loss of a legend, Kobe Bryant 08:27 Being part of the Beyond Babel cast 12:07 Living in New York 13:31 Preparing for Beyond Babel: A Physically demanding endeavor 18:34 A well-balanced diet: The rule of 5 colors 20:28 Platform Showcase: How to run a successful show from afar 23:16 Juju’s philosophy on dancers as athletes 26:47 E-Sports and Marketing 27:32 The K-Pop experience: Performing with BTS 31:43 Walking the line between Industry and Community dance 37:43 If Juju had a “quirk” (that’s anime for “superpower”) 40:54 Strategy gaming 43:15 Pursuing dance in a traditional Filipino household 46:04 Doubting dance as a profession and finding guidance in God 50:47 Rapid Fire Questions 52:22 What’s the best part of dance? 53:35 Juju’s generosity 55:15 Remember us when you’re famous 56:35 Not phased by the followers 59:01 Going back in time and giving advice to yourself 1:03:00 What’s good in the dance community? 1:05:00 Closing remarks This episode’s guest:
Special thanks to Jane Banares for creating our Co-Lab Podcast artwork! Music by Sam Stan - Das Boo - https://thmatc.co/?l=997FC418 Music by SkeetOnTheBeat - Late Night - https://thmatc.co/?l=E76B5749 The conversation continues over on Instagram and TikTok *Heads up for our listeners, this episode was recorded pre-pandemic* In this episode, we sit down with an icon in the making, Isidro Rafael. Isidro dedicated most of his life to sports, but later transitioned into dance. In his short 8 years of dance, Isidro has some significantly notable accomplishments on his dance resume and has spent more than 7,000 hours (and counting) perfecting his craft. We talk with Isidro about what it means to become a community icon, directing 220, his love for Selene, and meeting Keone Madrid. We also reflect back on Isidro’s first class at the BOX Dance studio, hear from a 220 dancer on the evolution of the team, and discuss Isidro’s concept on the “colors of dance”. Isidro reminds us to kiss our mom and dads and talks about his almost becoming “Chef Isidro”. It’s an episode full of deep insights, reflections and full-circle moments. In this episode, we explore:
00:25 Introduction 02:30 Sitting down with a Community Icon 03:09 Special Co-Host: Dylan Banares 03:25 A lesson in pronunciation 05:10 An Instagram Flashback 08:17 “How come I wasn’t in that piece”? 08:40 Directing 220 (Second to None) and using a different approach 14:07 220’s Director Trinity 15:18 Isidro’s self-evolution 19:43 #bestdayofmylife 22:13 Isidro & Selene: 5 years in the making 25:56 An evolving relationship with Keone Madrid: a true mentor 27:32 IsidroRafael1: An homage to Keone 28:57 Isidro means Intimidation 29:35 Isidro’s Master Class at The BOX 31:11 Some of Isidro’s mentors 32:37 The Colors of Dance 33:36 Finding inspiration abroad 35:09 220: From the perspective of a team member 40:16 Connecting the dots 40:41 Surrounding yourself with positive people 42:11 The origins of Meraki 44:03 A day in the life of Isidro Rafael 45:05 A professional dance career & traditional Filipino parents 49:21 Self doubt: Human Nature 52:19 Chef Isidro 55:45 Isidro’s obsession with Nike (“Yo Nike- Hit me up!”) 58:23 Rapid Fire Questions 1:00:25 What’s next for Isidro? 1:02:16 What’s good in the dance community? 1:04:42 Closing remarks This episode's guest:
Special thanks to Jane Banares for creating our Co-Lab Podcast artwork! Music by Sam Stan - Das Boo - https://thmatc.co/?l=997FC418 Music by SkeetOnTheBeat - Late Night - https://thmatc.co/?l=E76B5749 The conversation continues over on Instagram and TikTok *Heads up for our listeners, this episode was recorded pre-pandemic* In this episode, we sit down with creative arts powerhouse, Cye Bongalos. Cye began his dance career journey back in 2007 and trained with teams such as Future Shock, Culture Shock San Diego, and Super Galactic Beat Manipulators. Cye has over 13 years dance experience and has spent more than 7,000 hours perfecting his craft. We talk with Cye about his first audition, pursuing dance with non-traditional Filipino parents, and going “all in”. We also take a deep dive into creating and implementing habits, being laser focused, Cye’s American Idol audition, and what’s next for Legacy Arts Creative Studio. In this episode, we explore: 00:30 Introduction 03:09 Let’s start at the very beginning 04:23 Choosing a path for dance 06:00 Hello Adam Lambert, you probably don’t remember me 06:51 Cye’s first audition, a pivotal moments in his dance career 07:34 Pursuing dance with “non-traditional” Filipino parents 09:15 Build your opportunities 11:17 Battling self-doubt 12:30 Cye’s journey as a choreographer and balancing dance with everyday life 14:00 A Balancing Act: An employee, an entrepreneur, and director 15:15 Creating and implementing habit: a path to success 17:28 Laser Focus: a path forward 18:44 Legacy Creative Arts Studio and creating a legacy: leaving your mark 19:37 Offerings at Legacy Creative Arts Studio: an expansive perspective 21:14 Dance vs. Singing: What’s easier to learn? 23:17 Cye: the next Justin Timberlake? 23:34 Auditioning for American Idol 24:32 Cye’s mentors and finding inspiration 26:47 Indulging in the dance community 27:20 The evolving dance community: a shift in focus 29:42 Fashion and its evolution in dance 31:36 Finding influence everywhere 32:02 Designing Legacy Creative Arts Studio: A simplistic approach 36:02 Life skills to become a successful entrepreneur 39:16 Rapid fire questions 41:18 Cye’s favorite SGBM medley 43:20 What’s next for SGBM 46:26 Dance: an ageless, all inclusive art 48:04 Legacy’s first showcase and what’s next for the studio? 51:50 What’s good in the dance community? 53:14 Closing remarks This episode’s guest:
Special thanks to Jane Banares for creating our Co-Lab Podcast artwork! Music by Sam Stan - Das Boo - https://thmatc.co/?l=997FC418 Music by SkeetOnTheBeat - Late Night - https://thmatc.co/?l=E76B5749 The conversation continues over on Instagram and TikTok In this episode, we sit down with our sibling, Jordan Banares who returned on leave for the holidays. Jordan has been dancing for nearly 14 years and took a break to serve our country and enlist in the United States Navy. Jordan began his dance career with Pasacat, a prominent Filipino Folk dance group based out of San Diego and blossomed into a dancer celebrated by his peers in the community. Jordan’s dance career quickly propelled him from dancer to Artistic Director to RYPE, an adult competition team and RAW, a junior competition team from The BOX Dance Studio. Later, Jordan joined adult competition team 220 (Second to None). We talk about Filipino Pride, dancing with a high school team, bossy sisters, and embracing humility. In this episode, we explore:
00:29 Introduction 03:01 Filipino Folk Dancing with Pasacat 05:32 Perseverance and embracing humility 07:32 Filipino Pride and acknowledging our heritage 09:24 Pasacat and the stories behind Filipino Folk dance 10:55 Jordan finds love at Pasacat 14:43 Kinections & Kruciaal Element 18:09 “Experionce” the new French word for Experience 18:36 From dancing proper to dancing with no boundaries 20:21 Shout out to Erik Molina and learning how to be well rounded performers 19:38 Recognizing your passion for dance and finding your confidence 25:30 Mamba Mentality 29:04 Another opportunity to learn humility 27:29 Dancing with 220 30:19 The complexity of dance auditions & an opportunity for growth 32:02 Emotions and Mindset of a dancer: an inner conflict 31:19 Continuing the 220 legacy; the Banares brothers 34:46 Why are you so annoying? 37:01 BOX Barber Bros for the win! 37:00 Will there be a return of the Banares Brothers? 40:16 A younger brother’s journey inspired by Jordan 42:16 What’s good in the dance community? 44:20 Closing remarks This episode’s guest(s):
Music by Sam Stan - Das Boo - https://thmatc.co/?l=997FC418 Music by SkeetOnTheBeat - Late Night - https://thmatc.co/?l=E76B5749 The conversation continues over on Instagram and TikTok In this episode, we sit down with four dancers from 220 (Second to None), an award-winning adult competition team based out of San Diego. Guests Dylan Banares, Ranny Fernandez, Ryan Quilapio and David Dioso talk openly about being on 220, the culture of being on an adult competition team, forming long-lasting friendships, and dance career goals. We talk about maintaining motivation, plagiarism vs. inspiration and laugh A LOT. We dive deep into David Dioso’s massive vision for dance, discuss what junior teams are missing these days and confuse ourselves with Clout vs. Cloud. The guys share first impressions of each other, try to describe each other’s dance styles in one word and share their opinions on what’s good in the dance community. In this episode, we explore:
00:04 Introduction 00:38 “220’s Finest”: Dylan, Ranny, Ryan, and David 02:20 The culture of friendship on 220: “Love first, Family first” 03:35 Not knowing what you’re getting into 04:24 Being on 220 and balancing life 06:09 Dance is a sacred place built for self-care 06:32 Pursuing dance with traditional Filipino parents 13:30 Maintaining the motivation 14:45 The unreachable goal 15:45 The Mindset of a Dancer 16:34 Dance as a career and recognizing your potential 18:08 David Dioso’s vision for dance 18:39 Mastering the craft of dance (and going international) 23:31 Dancers as athletes 25:35 The definition of sport 27:16 Cloud or Clout? (Chasing fame) 28:47 How to stay relevant in a heavily saturated community 30:32 Inspiration vs. Plagiarism 32:42 ”Bouncing off each other”: The key to a natural friendship 33:38 First impressions of each other 38:39 Interests outside of dance 41:41 Dylan’s famous Jabbawockeez video (on YouTube! Link below) 42:41 How would you describe each other (in one word) as a dancer? 46:32 Rapid fire questions 48:08 What’s good in the dance community right now? 52:27 Top secret ideas for “220’s Sexy Day” 53:56 Closing remarks This episode's guests:
Special thanks to Jane Banares for creating our Co-Lab Podcast artwork! Music by Sam Stan - Das Boo - https://thmatc.co/?l=997FC418 Music by SkeetOnTheBeat - Late Night - https://thmatc.co/?l=E76B5749 The conversation continues over on Instagram and TikTok Please note that parental discretion is advised, while listening to this episode. We delayed the release of a scheduled episode to prioritize this discussion with special guest, Janelle Adviento. In this episode, we speak with Janelle about her recent experience with sexual misconduct in the dance community. Janelle’s courage to make her story public, propelled a movement of hundreds of others in the dance community to also come forward and share their own stories of being survivors. We also catch up with Janelle and discuss her business, “Strength in Numbers”. In this episode, we explore:
00:04 Parental Discretion is advised 00:20 Introduction 03:07 Catching up with Janelle 04:58 “Strength in Numbers” 11:02 Using proper vocabulary when discussing Sexual Misconduct 13:13 The incident 28: 22 Understanding the layers of Sexual Misconduct 30:38 Expressing oneself does not equate to asking for rape 31:46 How do we combat a problem of this magnitude? 36:17 Grooming and coercion 42:44 The immediate solution: communicate 45:02 Accountability and driving change 55:19 Lasting trauma: The emotional, physical, and mental effects 1:02 Taking action 1:09 Hope for a better future. We can do better 1:42 Closing remarks This episode's guest: Resources as recommended by Janelle: RAINN (Rape, Abuse, Incest National Network)- Nation’s largest anti-sexual and violence networksex-violence Get help 24/7 through RAINN’s National Sexual Assault free and confidential hotline (800) 656-HOPE Ujima Community- National Center on Violence Against Women in the Black Community The Loveland Foundation- A resource for black women and girls to navigate through healing, access, opportunities, and validation API-GBV - Asian Pacific Institute on Gender-Based Violence Male Survivors- supports men who were sexually victimized as children, adolescents, or adults Mindful Urgent Care- same day mental health care with online services LGBT National Help Center- encompasses LGBTQ+ concerns all around Dancing With ED - supports love and care for bodies through eating disorder awareness, outreach, and education in the dance industry Special thanks to Jane Banares for creating our Co-Lab Podcast artwork! Music by Sam Stan - Das Boo - https://thmatc.co/?l=997FC418 Music by SkeetOnTheBeat - Late Night - https://thmatc.co/?l=E76B5749 The conversation continues over on Instagram and TikTok We delayed the release of this episode as we felt it necessary to have discussions related to current events. Please enjoy our first 'official' episode of the Co-Lab Podcast. After serving the dance community for nearly 6 years, we suffered as an afterthought to retail developers. We understood that it was “just business”, but we never treated it as such. To us it was much more- we had a dance family that relied on us as their dance home and we felt as though we failed them and failed ourselves. Through this entire journey from studio conception to closure, we’ve learned a lot as entrepreneurs but also as members of the community. As part of moving forward, we’re excited to launch this podcast and re-engage with the dance community! We sit down and have a candid and transparent discussion about closing our studio doors, resenting yet eventually accepting failure, saying our final “good-bye” to The BOX legacy and life after the studio. We also hear from some of the BOX Dance Studio’s alumni! In this episode, we explore: 00:28 Introduction: It’s Our First Podcast Episode! 00:40 A little BOX Dance Studio history 02:20 The BOX Dance Studio’s first space 03:02 Moving to the BOX’s second space 05:02 Hello! From Emmanuel Barongan, BOX Dance Studio Alumni 06:22 Our ‘why’ 06:42 The BOX’s third and final move 07:17 A true testament of our dance family 08:38 Closing the BOX Dance Studio doors and how we coped with our loss 10:49 Hello! From Chavia Blankenship, BOX Dance Studio Alumni 12:42 Recovery and Life after the Studio 13:34 Recognizing, resenting, and eventually accepting failure 15:56 Hello! From Kiara Pornan, BOX Dance Studio Alumni 16:58 Saying “good-bye” to our BOX Dance Studio legacy 20:13 The dark place of shame 22:04 Hello! From Erik Molina, BOX Dance Studio Alumni 24:36 Healing and moving forward 29:30 A full-circle moment 30:35 Learning from our experience and our biggest takeaways 33:44 What’s good in the dance community? 37:03 Closing remarks Special thanks to Jane Banares for creating our Co-Lab Podcast artwork! Music by Sam Stan - Das Boo - https://thmatc.co/?l=997FC418 Music by SkeetOnTheBeat - Late Night - https://thmatc.co/?l=E76B5749 Quotes/ Important Takeaways: “...it was such a painful experience that we were hit with not only anger and frustration but I think a lot of shame…” -Devin Luu “We now view failure as a measurement of our growth” - Devin Luu We sit down for another important discussion with fellow dancers Chavia Blankenship and Deion Williams on the topic of Black Lives Matter. It’s another casual discussion on how current events have affected our community. We discuss protesting safely, taking action no matter how big or small and communicating in the most constructive way. Our guests share insight on balancing mental health with staying engaged and informed as well as sharing their recommendations for some great Black Artists and entertainment. Finally, we talk about hopes for a better future and dancing while in quarantine. In this episode, we explore:
00:05 Introduction 01:03 Happy Juneteenth (links included below) 01:51 How current events have affected Chavia & Deion 04:32 Racism in San Diego 06:20 Organizations, petitions, and other actionable recommendations from Chavia & Deion (links included below) 10:34 Participating in Protests 13:46 Take action, big or small… just do it. 15:19 Community Through Hope 17:15 What’s the right way to support the BLM movement? 21:26 Chavia’s work in the community: Supported Living Services 23:55 Supporting Black Artists and entertainment 27:54 Mistakes in supporting the BLM movement 34:13 Hope for a better future 36:29 Dancing in quarantine 39:34 Closing Remarks This episode's guests: Special thanks to Jane Banares for creating our “Co-Lab” Podcast artwork! Learn more about:
Black Artists and Dancers to follow: Documentary & Movie recommendations:
The conversation continues over on Instagram and TikTok We sit down with fellow dancers Darian Patterson and Divine Maharaj for a difficult yet necessary discussion on the Black Lives Matter movement. We have a casual yet candid discussion on the recent tragedy of George Floyd, growing up Black, and experiencing racism in 2020. Our guests share insight on setting intentions, resources for educating yourself, and taking action to help propel the Black Lives Matter movement. Despite the dire situation propelled by current events, we discuss the positivity in the community and share hopes for a better future. In this episode, we explore: 00:37 Introduction 02:34 Life interrupted: How this has affected Darian & Divine 06:30 Momentum in the Black Lives Movement: It’s Time for Change 07:51 Experiencing racism in 2020 13:22 Organizations, petitions, and other actionable recommendations from Darian & Divine (links included below) 23:07 Unlearning and Relearning: Resources to educate ourselves. Recommendations from Darian & Divine (links below) 25:20 Taking action and starting the discussion 34:33 Call to Action for our listeners! Check your intentions 36:14 What’s the right way to support the BLM movement? 44:07 Don’t just talk about it… be about it 45:16 Highlighting positivity in our communities and hope for a better future. 49:34 Dancing in quarantine 51:38 Closing Remarks This episode's guests: Learn more about:
Support local Black owned Businesses in San Diego, CA and Washington, DC Darian’s Google Doc of resources Book recommendations:
Special thanks to Jane Banares for creating our Co-Lab Podcast artwork! The conversation continues over on Instagram and TikTok |
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