S2E2: Living Out a Dream with Nikki Lewis

In this episode, we sit down dancer of 32 years and former San Diego Charger girl, Nikki Lewis.  Nikki brings her positive light to the podcast.  We talk about her experience as a dancer, auditioning to be a San Diego Charger girl and living out a lifelong dream.  Nikki shares her experience performing at the Super Bowl halftime show in 1999 and talks to us about being a teacher of 12 years.  As an advocate for the Black Lives Matter movement, Nikki educates and inspires us to make progress and shares her book recommendations.  We wrap with our Rapid Fire and Nikki shares her take on what’s good in the dance community.   

In this episode, we explore: 

00:28        Introduction
02:29        A dance journey of 32 years and counting        
04:24        An awakening experience        
​05:47        Parents that share in your passion
07:12        Questioning a dream to become a Charger girl
08:01        A dream come true        
09:00        The Charger girl experience
10:13         Mastering mental preparation 
12:23        Battling self-doubt
13:01        The audition process
16:30        The journey has really just begun
16:44        Biggest takeaway as a Charger girl
17:22        Performing at the Super Bowl halftime show
19:58         Dancers as athletes
25:54        Being a middle school teacher and a Charger girl
30:19        Advocating for Black Lives Matter
34:08        Making progress as a community
38:20        Nikki’s book recommendations
40:56        Rapid fire questions
42:04        N’Sync vs. Backstreet Boys
44:02        What’s good in the dance community?
44:42        Closing remarks

This episode’s guest(s):
-Follow Nikki Lewis on Instagram

Nikki’s Book Recommendations:
How to be Black by Baratunde Thurston
I'm Still Here by Austin Channing Brown
Stamped from the Beginning from Ibram X. Kendi
How to be Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
So You Want to talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo


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
Have a guest suggestion or just want to say hello? Drop us a line at hello@co-labpodcast.com 
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