If there's anything involving any kind of technological thing, half of the time, it's me being like, looking at the computer. Like if there was like a camera looking at me, it's always frustration on my face. All right. Good to go. All right, so everyone's kind of giving context, just saying like their name. And then oh, your Instagram handle if you want.
Samuel, wait, God knows I don't remember my Instagram. Neat. Wait. Actually, I think that I think it might be nine. How do you actually know? I do? Do you follow me on Instagram? I
do. I do. I tagged you, in a couple of captions horrible
at keeping track of it mean technologies. It's just it's like a job all by itself. Just keeping up with it a little bit. Yeah. But um, yeah, I, I let them do the Instagram and the Twitter stuff, I just stick with Facebook. Pretty basic. Exactly.
But you use it as a tool to help facilitate conversations, flush it out. And I liked how after the event, you know, even even now, like a few years ago, on Facebook, you couldn't actually tag individual people, it posts on individual roles. So even that is really great. In terms of just
after any events, you try to reach out to people who were instrumental in making it happen. You know, the DJ, the photographer, the emcee, the judges, you know, mentioned who the winners are. And I think it's pretty basic. That's the least you can do. Of course, you know, you don't just have the advantages, because we're done. Okay, well, because
then it's like, what was the point of it? Particularly, you know, the whole issue of, you know, people not getting footage. Absolutely.
Yeah, absolutely. And that's one thing that is
different, too, you know, if I, you know, I can find a Starbucks and then use their Wi Fi and, like, upload it, you know what I mean? So I can get started on that.
So one thing about Atlanta that I've seen, that's different from, say, New York, California, some other places, when our events are done, within two days, this footage is great.
There because of the fact again, it goes to that whole like close, this is mine, versus no, we're trying to exactly yeah,
and there were competitions. I remember, even here in Atlanta, where you had to pay like a 15 or $20 Camera fee to bring a camera into the competition. You weren't allowed to unless it and then there's still competitions now that people try to censor your footage, they will be one the official footage shown in the no cameras allowed and stuff like that we have no such rules, because
well, first of all, it's counterintuitive. And what you're trying to do is build something that will actually resonate beyond your immediate circle.
True. And also, I think, to its sense of control, there are some people that want to make sure they control every process. And I guess that's their prerogative, but personally, I don't do it for those reasons. I you know, I'm not trying to, you know, control or manipulate, you know, the process of creativity. I'm just trying to, you know, encourage it and then send it out so that people can see, well, this is what happened last weekend. And yeah, this event, you know, these what I loved it, you know?
Yeah, exactly. And like actually giving credit to those
people who've done great things. And, you know, we don't do a lot of editing on our photo other than maybe cut out, you know, the excess stuff. Yeah, what we want it to be strictly what it is, we're not trying to change. Just
like my dad says, with car chases. He's like car chases, and movies from the 70s were way better than now. Because you knew it was like one continuous shot,
continuous shot that's like, yeah, we're not trying to change angles to make one dance look better, or to try to help someone else look more creative than they are. It's what it is exactly about that. And the penlight people judge for themselves, they just consume it as it is, yeah, and determine whether they like it or not. And truthfully, I think, for me, getting into this part of it, because I did promote and stuff when I was younger, from like, 9090 96, I promoted a series of reggae dances and stuff. And actually, Hermes, Christian's mom was a very popular, well known dancer, in our own right when we grew up in New Jersey. And so I'm used to that. But getting into this dance thing was really because of Christian and his brother, you know,
I just, I loved what she said, you were like, everyone thinks that I'm like the stage dad. And in reality, I'm just here to make sure no one takes advantage.
I'm just here to make sure that he's okay. Yeah, you know, I'm saying I, you know, I have, you know, we, we talked about music, we talked about dance moves, we talked about strategy, but ultimately I defer to him on anything that has to do with dance because he's the dancer. He's the artist. Castle's bad, can't tell him. I don't think I like that district. Right. Yeah, I think it should make that yellow. The hand separated from the body of the pitcher. You know, he doesn't have that creative right to do that. So I
you know, I realized that it's really rare for parents. Try to control their child's artist, you know why?
Because when I was growing up, I had my own artistic talents, which was writing love for I still write, you know, what's finished my first novel? Modulation? Thanks. I'd love to read it. Oh, definitely, I'm a speed reader. And people try to, they try to tell me that you know, about starving writers and about getting the job, but I really you know what I realize if you're good at something, you can always make a living at it. But more importantly, the joy of being able to wake up every day and do something that you love. Just no amount of money that can be associated with that, you know, yeah, so I, you know, a lot of parents, you know, the children are dancing. They think it's a hobby. But I'll tell you something like, Oh, that's cute. But yeah, but I'll tell you something about that. There's nothing cute about your child waking up and dancing three, four hours a day. You know, that's something that you're taking seriously. And I've always told my children, both of them, Nathaniel, and Christian, that I will support them in whatever they decide to do when they lose interest is when I lose interest, but I will never lose interest while they're still interested. So and this is not the first thing that Krishna has done. Well, yeah, people know him as a dancer. Yeah, Krishna, was this close to being a black belt in Taekwondo? When he was eight years old? Yeah. So you know, and his brother, I mean, as small as he was physically was like a monster All Star linebacker in high school. Yeah. And so I never missed the game. There. Every game even practices, you know, go watch and practice. Yeah. And so what what I, what I've learned as a parent, is that supporting your child is not just about saying, Yeah, you can go to this event, because it's actually being there, giving them constructive criticism, telling them where they can improve, telling them where they may have lost the battle.
But all those things, showing them that you're paying attention,
of course, because at the end of the day, you know, I'll tell you a story of my eldest son. The one game that I didn't see the entire game was because it was my mom's birthday in reference, but 70 of birthdays, yes. So I'm, I'm torn up in my son's What do I do? So I'm at Mom's party waiting for them to cut the cake. So I can rush off yeah, to his game. And he said something to me that stuck with me. He said, you know, me, I'm there. I'm warming up. You know, and I look in the stand, and I'm looking at, I'm serving, and I'm looking for you, and I don't see you. And I don't feel right. Because I always knew that once I saw you, I know came in the stands is ya know that. So you know, he's like, Oh, what's going on? And even the people in the crowd, the people in the school knew, yeah, they saw me coming running in late. Yeah. And they were like, your son just scored a touchdown. My son is a linebacker you didn't score a touchdown. The ball, ran it back score to win the game, and I missed. This was a senior he had to score touches his score to his freshman. He almost felt like that nervousness before a game, and he would survey the stand. And he would look and once he saw me there, he knew. Yeah, you know, that nervousness. That nervousness left him like, Yeah, his hair. And so I always remember that, because I always realized that, you know, even when I didn't think that, you know, it was that important, and I was paying attention. It wasn't that important to him to know that I was there. And that's why if you look at any competition, that Christians then you'll see me in the background, you'll see me in the picture, as you'll see me standing there. Of course, I have other things that I want to do. Of course, there's other places I want to be, but what can be more important than being there for your children? I don't know. I mean, I have yet to find what that that might be. And so I'm,
well, it's, it's pretty rare, though, I think for an adult to, like you said, like, kind of take seriously, what someone younger than them is doing regardless if it's their child or not. That is true. And the fact that like, you show and you give versus withhold your support is something that is so profoundly, like, impactful. And I think that that's probably why your sons are so great.
And that's why they excel because they understand that and
the thing he's not like Christian is not trying to overcome or overcompensate for, for some a foundation that isn't there. So that's what enables him to be able to give so freely to other people and for it to not cost him and
that's why he's not afraid to to teach someone something or to share something with someone else some opportunity, because he doesn't feel like they're gonna take anything from him because in his mind what he has is already solid. You know, he's already fulfilled as you know, established himself.
It doesn't Have you know somebody? So how do you do that? bonebrake? Hey,
I will show always, I've always argued that, like, the transmission of knowledge is also prestige.
It really is. And I'll tell you something interesting that happened recently. So one of his crewmates, who is probably one of the tap dancers, period around, messaged me, and he said, Hey, any Christian to show me some bone breaks to incorporate into what I do. And I thought to myself, and he was like, you know, I mean, he was like, what the fact that he understood that the Christian had something to teach him, because he definitely has a lot to teach that
to make it like for people to be like that humble. Yes.
And I think that that is where it starts having the humility to understand that this is more than just about winning one competition, are you No, and I think what has happened to a lot of people is that they're more concerned about their popularity, their views their likes, rather than because what they don't realize
is that they like by pushing it in that way, where they're only talking about themselves, like people inherently just by nature, like when you listen to somebody, and someone's like, saying what sounds like a tall tale, whether it's a story or whether it's them talking about themselves. We're always like, our radar of like, truth is like, on, but if it comes from someone else, automatically, like it already seems like has a little bit more cachet or like substance to it,
there's more valid, there's no validity to it, you know what, and the reason why we cannot be like that, you know, selfish selfishness is because, I mean, Christian answer this as an early age. And I will tell you, there have been a lot of people who have been helpful in his development. You know, of course, he had the talent, people saw it, and they you know, but you know, there are people who had nothing to gain by helping him, you know, they weren't being paid, there was no money, there was no prestige. And if he was 12 years old, no one knew that he was gonna be the dancer he was he is now. And I'm not just talking to people in Dragon house, although a lot of them are interested. I mean, glitch, mainly, you know, Cyrus was there. And that was his teacher that was, you know, I mean, he would say, I would say, Okay, I'm gonna bring him over for a couple of hours. And then next thing, I'll get a call, you know, it's like, he's still with me. And I will let you know, when we were ready. For five hours later, yeah, he will take him wherever he was, and, ya know, and incorporate. And that's a
really beautiful thing. Because this is the thing, like, when we first moved to this country, it was like, even now, there's only like, six of my family members that are in the United States, everyone else is spread out. So I grew up, you know, around my parents, friends, who are also, you know, first generation immigrants, like this idea of really like a community raising children, like everybody was everybody's kids pretty much. And it was like what you got to learn from each and every single different person. Not everyone can have every single good quality. So the more you can learn from people, and the more that like people are invested in the lives of not only their own children, but in the lives of other people, like who want to work hard and want and you have something to share. It's like, it's such a beautiful thing, when you are no longer just concerned about there
it is. The truth is, when when this started, I mean, I wanted basically, I wanted to basically hire glitch to, you know, work with him and help him with different things. But it developed way past that, because no longer was this even a situation where he was being hired to teach Chris, he was just loving the fact that me you know what he said to me, he said, I don't teach us on moves. Your son will make up his own laws. What I teach him is tactics and the ability to listen to music and to appreciate different type of music. And, and so to this day tools, yes, to this day was not meant as much as since glitches left for California, you know, I mean, he's no longer officially his teacher. And I guess Chris doesn't have a teacher in that sense. But we always consider his teacher. And we've always had that connection, our first competition that we threw here in Atlanta, we flew back to be a part of it, because it was that important to us that he'd be a part of what we were trying to do. And that was the competition action that we flew Barry angles to to Atlanta, so they were all here for that that competition, because, you know, Daddy's Christian favorite dance, a female dancer, specify the female dancer. And that's always been the case even before he met her. That was the case. And so she's such a beautiful person. We've developed a relationship with her that's beyond dance beyond beyond any of that. So exactly.
She said to me, she said to me the other day, she's like, she's like, what I love about them is that they make me feel comfortable. They make me feel appreciated. They make me feel like I actually have something to offer and not just that me being there. is like a burden or a nuisance.
She can come to our house anytime. Anytime, you know, and so and unfortunately, some people don't understand that because their mind is so narrow, you know, they always want to take the negative, they know it's always like, but you
know what, though, this is, this is what I think about, like people who operate in that mentality, like nothing will ever make, they're not happy unless they have something to complain about. So it's like, it doesn't let me just grab that because it's missing a little
bit, but we can still no problem here. But you
know what I'm saying? It's like, it's such a, your circle, your your knowledge, like for a lot of people when they get older, it's like their circle gets smaller, not bigger.
And the one thing that I've realized, as I, you know, grew older, and became a parent is that, for me, I realized that encouragement is probably the best parenting tools you have.
This is the thing for people who, for people who are just wondering if I should get the laptop in the back, can you put the laptop in the bag? Because it's raining a little bit? Thank you. It's like, an first generation immigrant, very, like patriarchal households. You know, like, when I brought home a 94. It was like, Where are the other six points? And I'm not even kidding. Like, for the longest time, yes, that's where my perfectionism comes from. So in one sense, it's good, but for a very long time, like, I almost had to kind of like, get over my fear of failing. I like was such a perfectionist that I would procrastinate all the time, and I'd be so afraid of like messing up and looking stupid or not doing something well, that a lot of times, I wouldn't take a chance because I was like, so conditioned to think that unless I was perfect the first time, it like wasn't even worth trying. And it took me years to unlearn that. And I think anytime, you know, you can create that space, not just for people that are your children, but for other people as well. Like, I know how much it means to Betty to like, have your support and to know that she like, has a place that it's like, it's almost like Atlanta for her. It's like a reprieve. Like all of the worry and
stuff. She's funny, she had her, you know, she had her first session in New York, which is something that, you know, I encourage her to do. Christina and I flew to New York for his session, it's essential that he wasn't even competing. Because we understood that that was important. And I'm sorry, when
I went to dream ring, like, I wish I would have realized that like, if I would have known more, which I am now starting to learn, you know, but if I would have understood, you know, like that I would have brought people you know, the next time you guys are in New York, I will, there will be a holes.
Yeah. And then the deputy The interesting thing about being here, we've been in Atlanta for five years. And I swear I can tell you, all the parents that are involved in the dance world, I have known kids that I've taken them with me to New York, and never met their parents. I'm like a Disney mom concern. When she call in just to check on you'll see what's going on. It's just like, Okay, I'll take him and go. Because they don't want to be bothered. They see this as just too much for them. You know, I don't want it they I am I can tell you right now. There's a B boy his name is Zapper. He's the head of HBO crew and he has a bunch of kids and grandkids out there nephews whatever. And they will do they are a big part of the when we first moved here, that was the only dancers and so we drove like an hour and 25 minutes in the middle of the night to meet up with them. So there's Chris could be around the answers. And to be quite honest, had he not met dragon House members? He probably the A B boy. Yes. His name was B boy hollow. Yeah. And he was a V boy. And what he is done with a lot of people understand and why he is he transferred the aggressiveness of being a B boy because B boys into what we call a stand up dancing. Yeah, you know. And so he was B boy home and then his brother gave him the name kid the Ripper, because he was he was given the business that some grown people yeah made strong. Yeah. And you know how intimidating that must be. To know that you're about to battle a trophy or or that you think can beat you. You know, and just that feeling of like, oh my gosh, even today, when I see in battle kids younger than him. I'm like, Oh my God, you're about to you might get a taste of your own medicine. It hasn't happened yet. And
I have a feeling a Christian would handle it. He would be so
excited. You'd be so excited to actually give his name. The kid the reprimand and official ceremony to this young kids that's like 10 He was in Alabama now that's called kit the refer to because of his skills and he is a part of You know, but see that's that's,
that is how things should be right? And oh no, those battery packs that are charging. Can you unplug the battery packs that are in the electrical outlet? I don't want it to short. It's like the it was plugged in the strips, okay? And
so no official ceremony and you know it was it was me kidding isn't hasn't Jacquet, his mom.
Those are the things that like kids remember
what she does and Muriel Tarver who owns a dance studio. There, she had an event and he was a big thing. Chris was a judge. And it so happened that in the first row, when Chris was above above guests who are in the same room, nice, you know, of course, we beat him, but,
but But do you know how much you probably meant to that kid? In the same battle with him?
Give him the name. Because the name was known. He wants probably as Hermes Yeah, because he was older, but the kid were ever was, you know, he was something at that age. And you don't forget that No, and I love that about him and his brother, that going 100% all out, you know, you know, because that fearlessness, everything was on the line, when then at the end of the day, you know, when it's finished to be able to clap hands and, and give a hug and let it go and move on. I tell you one of the for me, one of the most emotional battles I've seen was in the final no excuses as chromates blueprint.
Yeah, he was talking about
blue. And, you know, they battled, it went to a tiebreaker. An extra round, tiebreaker blueprint, one was really close battle, different style, but it was really close battle. You know, in my mind, I was like, he had him after two, but then went through the third round. And I really did think a little bit when and you know, it's funny, because I am very objective and very honest. And the fact is, blueprint had a harder road to get to the finals than he did. So I felt like Buber really deserved that. Because he be a lot stronger dancers get into them. But when they, you know, when they, you know, after the battle is over, when they embrace it wasn't just got quick hands. And I'm gonna probably send you the picture. And this embrace knowing like, yeah, you know, because in a way, you know, if you're
showing respect, yeah, people will give your
visions he is so younger, much younger, you know, to enter dragon house at 12. And still now be still be the youngest by like four or five years, though. Yeah, you know, but the thing is, every dancer in your crew is a Big Brother or Big Sister, because they're all old. Even if you're a better dancer than they are. Yeah, you know, you might you might actually be the big brother on the dance level. Yeah, as far as the age, you know, you are your brother. Yeah. And in that sense, was the big brother. Yeah. And that's who shot his first solo video, Rupert came to the house, we went out on the train tracks. So that was a big moment for you to actually feel like you could go neck to neck head to head with somebody that you saw as being, you know, that spirit of talent and you know, that you everybody's seen on So You Think You Can Dance and you know, you have this
and that and that acknowledgement, like that validation of like, even being included into the same space in the conversation.
And so for us, and like I was mentioning, like the parents, you know, that that mural. Tyra and then then like Jamie Christian, who was my partner, when we were started to bring dancers to New York and stuff like that. And this man Machado does the dances day out stuff here with with Decepticon and, bam, and, well, I mean, that's how limited it is. You know, you see some other people you know, occasional parent here and there, but I mean, it was so seldom that you saw parents that were that I mentioned that involved that will come and actually sit through four or five, six hours. I'll tell you 20 things there was times when Kristen made a pass through prelims that we had to leave because it was too late. And I that time I was married that all stepdaughter she would be asleep I would have her in my arm she's like six seven years old. Yeah, the whole time standard day watching the confidence you know we had to leave to go pick his brother up from work it out and you know I would be looking in the you know at the judges trying to see did he make plant past prelims? Can we stay a little later? Just so you can do we know which now of course Beckett passwords and names is like routine for him. Yeah. Being in the semifinals finals now. Team for him and Atlanta. Yeah. And but the truth of the matter is, I've loved the progression but more importantly, I love the fact that he's not selfish with it.
It's, you know, I
don't want to I don't want to freak him out. But like, it's such a beautiful thing. It really, like if you
asked him to do something, the first thing is contact, etc. He didn't know we got again.
The fact that in the same exact sentence of him saying yes to filming with me, and he asked if he could bring his friend that I am not even, I'm not even kidding you. It was that moment that it's like I knew, you know, like that this was this was where I needed to go. Because I, it's very rare for people to act that way. And particularly at his age,
I'm telling you I'm doing and he's given out what he received, because a lot of people were instrumental in helping him and they didn't necessarily have anything to gain from, from it. And he is, in some ways, dance licensed, surpass a lot of them. Dance wise, but you know, he,
there's such a beauty, though. And this is what I loved when we were talking before he was he was saying that, you know, so many people, particularly dancers and stuff, they feel alone, you know, and he's like, and he's like, he's like, there is something beautiful, though he's like, oftentimes, that's usually when all of your good stuff comes out, when you're feeling that point where you're almost like, like, yeah, when you're hanging on by a thread, because I can definitely relate to that right now,
at that moment where you feel like, well, it's that chasm,
it's either you break down or you break open. Exactly. And then the moment that you break open, it's like, you then realize that you can then like, share that experience. And maybe someone else who's going through the same thing won't feel like they're the only ones doing it. And
you know, what, in any artist, whether they're painters, whether they're musicians, there is a such an emotional element to it.
You're manifesting an idea into a physical expression, whether it's dance, or whether it's riding
your bear and part of your soul to the world, really, you're exposing your soft underbelly, you're
like, Hey, don't kick me here.
That's why I feel like, you know, you have to, you know, you have to appreciate even if it's not your style, you don't like taking like that stuff, but you gotta appreciate what they're bringing out what they bring to the table. You know, you might not like Trump, you know, you might not like popular rock, but you gotta, you gotta understand, and you gotta, you know, realize that, look, they're putting their all out. And there's a cost. And let me tell you something, there's nothing sadder to me, than when I hear dancers that are not on the dance anymore. They've done the dancing, because I feel like, it's like saying that you're done with a part of your own self. You know, I'm saying, and how could you be? How can you separate you from yourself? First of all,
it's if it's a beautiful day, and there's like good music on, I don't care if I'm not dancing the best out of anybody.
When it comes to like, you know, if you don't do well, in competition, just that should never be a gauge whether or not you want to continue something that is so important to you. Yeah, because it's all subjective. It is all subjective. Today, you know, somebody may look at you and say, Well, you know, I don't like your style two years from now, that might be the end thing, that might be the thing that everybody's looking at.
And first of all, like for people who want to judge other people, like, particularly their styles and artistic expression, I'm like, you share a lot of time on your hands, why aren't you making shit and said, you know, excuse my language, but like, seriously, instead of complaining about other people, why not funnel that energy? If you hate it too much, once you do one better, and then we can talk,
I'm gonna tell you how necessary guidance and acceptability is in advance, when Jamie and I started will be called elite house management, which we were trying to manage dancers. And she was in New York at a time and we're trying to, you know, originally just started with our children. I bought an Anna Jay who's in Dragon house. Now, it wasn't at the time, but it's a dragon house now. And people that she was managing in Alabama and Christian and et will always when people talk to my son, you know, everywhere we go. The one thing once it got out there that we were managing dances. I think the last comment was I had 96 Dancers hit me up asked me to manage, which I couldn't do. I mean, I didn't have the capability. I didn't have the time to do
it. But that there's that level of interest. It went
from dancers who were now starting off the dancers who have been doing this 10 years and dancers who were leaders in their own crew this plant well we have management Yeah, that's the
thing because what I'm what I'm finding and you know, dance is just like the realm that right now, particularly since I'm making the documentary and it's like visually engaging. It's like that's, you know, when I'm focused on but the idea of bringing together like resources and like sometimes you don't need capital sometimes you need someone as a camera. Sometimes you need someone who can actually be there sometimes you need just like how Max helped us film tea. Well, you know what I mean? Like you sometimes He's just need that kind of almost like network to be able to, if you can't physically be there that someone else can go in your place, and help him out in that way. And it's like, the one to one thing, you're right, you as one individual can't help 96 people, but what if they're, and this is what I'm trying to do with that, like, you know, Dance Academy virtual Dance Academy almost create, like an open table type platform. So if somebody has an idea for a video, a photographer can jump on, or musician can jump on, like people can do it, and not even necessarily have to physically be in the same place. Because now the way that you can transfer files and edit and all of that stuff, like, we could have music from New York for footage that was shot in Atlanta, and then the editor in another place can put it together, and then you could have it in a couple of days, instead of months from now. And what
I you know, I mean, I try, I would review their videos to them, they would ask me to give feedback, and when I thought they can improve on, you know, um, different things that I can do to help them individually, but to take on the whole field was too much, when it was never my intention to be, you know, a dance, you know, manager agents or anything like that. Yeah, I was trying to help my son, and his friends and those of you not even friends, those we consider family, which is crew and, and people, other people besides the crew that, that were close to us that we were trying to what, you know, even people who were in his crew, or that are no longer in his crew, or people who are never in this group, they will still instrumental in the development because, you know, whether it was competitively meaning that, you know, he saw them as a, as a rival, and you know, and he wanted to get up to that point where he can, you know, battle with them, or whether it was just them saying, you know, hey, you might want to consider doing this. And, you know, it's funny, because a lot of times it's almost as if, somehow, as crazy as it may seem, as many dancers they are, somehow you kind of seek out though that person that, you know, some of mirrors what you were doing, and then a lot of sideways, that's what happened with him and etc. Yeah. Because, you know, by far, I mean, I want you to started doing breaking before. And I know a lot of the bone break is this is how Chris knows that he has a quote from you by et bro, check this out. And he do like, yeah, oh, that's Yeah, yeah. And that's, that's how you know that. Okay. Yeah, I got this down. You know, because the truth is, you know, etc. Without a doubt as a bad boy. Chris is a more versatile dancer by far because it's body movement and his ability to do a lot of different dances, including all every party dance probably known to mankind. Yeah. Because his Beretta Yeah, knows everybody dance. Yeah. And the thing about it is that Chris knows a lot of songs that kids his age should know. Yeah. Because he heard them played by his mom. But yeah, guys, older brother. Yeah. So the dad is that frame of reference for a 15 year old? And I realize that he's treating me as Oh, no, no, no, he'll be six years. So the
thing? You know, I would definitely, I mean, and that's a great thing. He doesn't even need to play up anything because of the fact that his his, his method speaks for itself. But beyond just the world that he's in right now, like, I want, you know, I would love for people to like,
I really would want him to go do more stuff out of state. Yeah, we have a trip planned out to California. Just just because I remember
we were talking about with the you like a dancer help sponsor in order to be able to, because I'm telling you, I'm telling you, people would eat that up. People love that. Like, where are they now? How can I get involved? Oh, let me vote on like, you know, reality shows
a lot of answers that they're local, not because they're not good enough, not because they don't have financially, you know, didn't want to go to Cali. I didn't want to go to Texas and they wanted to New
York. Like I said, they can't do you know what's crazy, right now, the reason as I said to you before, the reason I'm here today, it's because my baby brother, helps me get here. And and it's because, you know, he sees like how hard I've been like working at this and he realizes just like the set of circumstances. And he's like, I know that you would do the same for me. And I would, you know,
I'm trust me. And I've reached out and help more people. There is no rush it none of it is ever known because I never make it public unless they hit me on Facebook and say thank you, for whatever is okay, because there's no need for it to be known. No, because
that's not what you're doing. Exactly. That's how you're
doing. There are some people who do that kind of like who do philanthropic work or whatever, and they do it because they're narcissists.
That's not at all how you
you know, I don't think it's right either.
I'll say, could advance and stick to help. But yeah, it's not. It's not the right. You know, five is not the right karma. That's not the right energy. It isn't. Yeah. But I again, I tell people all the time, you know, they think this isn't this is not my job, I have actually a real job that sometimes is in conflict with this. There's been many times when I have to rush back to Atlanta because Chris has a competition and I gotta be there. When I probably shouldn't be where I need to be doing the actual work. Yeah. But I'm like, I gotta be here. Because this is important to him that I'm here. Yeah. It's important to him to know that help. His support system is unwavering. And that is why I think he's been able to progress. not feel threatened by any, any dance or any events, because he has consistency. He feels every day he'll be okay. Regardless. Yeah, because I'm not really gonna be mad at him. I think I'll sit down. I'll tell him what I think he can improve on. I've talked to him about why I think this that, but always I understand that. This is his path. Yeah. In a way. I'm just a watcher and
you're like removing obstacles. Yeah.
And I'm making sure that he is okay. Because at the end of the day, he's still he's not old. He's still a child is my child. Doesn't even matter if he's older because his brother is older. And I still do the same thing. He had a show at some club in the middle of the week. One of my friends there. Yeah, we went there to support him. Yeah, we're like the only people probably over 25 and the whole place. The place smell like we was hot as hell. You know what? We were there. Yeah, man. Yeah, turn about? Yeah, show him that. You know, we there. We were out here. We support what you do. Once he was finished. And we laugh? Yeah. Yeah. To go to work. Yeah. You know, but um, because we, it's so important that people show up people, not just lending lip service to no thing and hit you.
That's why it's both. That's why when I I insisted on?
No, because that's another thing. I was gonna say. I've been here five years, and I've tried events, and I've done stuff. And there's people who are my guestlist coming in for free, whatever. And I pay for every event though. I'll tell you, I can tell you right now. The only event that I wasn't I haven't never paid for it. Because they will not allow me to pay with blueprints. And his his girlfriend GGR teacher who's also in Dragon house, they had an event, they're like, No, we will not. Yeah, but every other event for five years, I'd be happy for me. I prefer Christian. Yeah, a lot of people who couldn't pay it again. You know, that's
what I do when I can, which is why it's such a bummer to me like to realize that my roommate was like ripping me off all this time. I'm like, I could have taken so many collaborators to other other collaborators events, because I was using, you know, my expendable income to do this, because it's important to me. And it's also important to me to like, put my money where my mouth is. That's
it. You know, it's that, let me tell you, there's a lot of people that do not walk Babylon crafts, you know, it's a lot of there's a lot of talk about, you know, you know, they call each item and even though everybody's a credit system, we're crew, and we're friends, we're boys. But then no one shows, of what people need is actual presence and participation. Yeah, it's not lip service. It really, you know, you can like my status all you want on Facebook and whatever, but it's the actual, and, you know, and actually doing something. And not
only that, but like, I also think that the way that you engage, like the number of people that showed up to his event, the number of people that showed up today, more than other instances where I've gone to support people who do things differently. And in, you know, ways that we discussed that, like, are more selfish, like, like, there's no one over there. Yeah, there's only there's only their group.
There's nobody and I'm like, but you know, and the funny thing about it, doesn't
that indicate that maybe that you're not, but
even on a Saturday where it is, you know, where there's like carnival? Yeah. Jazz Festival. I think people still show up and I'll tell you something, there are some people that I will always support because they've always supported us, ya know, his crewmates dragon house, every event that I've had. They come out in numbers. Yeah, even the ones that don't that normally battle because balance is really beneath this point. You know, the nonstop Yeah, they will battle they will battle they'll come out.
It is a real because they realize that part of their transmission of culture is also to help bring up and like even highlighting even by their presence by association, like gives validity to the next generation. Exactly,
but also I mean, there's, there's people even outside of their crew that come will do the photography and that yeah, you know, he's did some amazing photography work with Christian in the beginning. Never there's never any financial consideration, never asked for money. You know, just did it even when he had like, we had clothing companies that will send in samples and get crystalline t shirt. Yeah, or whatever, from these companies. You know them because it comes full circle, because then when we have stuff, we bring him in, yeah, I, you know, I've clogged his staff and stuff, you know, tell people about him? Yeah, you know, and always give him credit for what he's done. Because he came out and he did it without looking for anything. Yeah, I think sometimes, that is a major problem, people come with their hands open, always looking for a payday in that moment, sometimes you got to understand that the pay, they may not come from that person, it may come from someone else, or from someone that you knew from a network of it, you know, and sometimes you just got to do it, because you love this and you love doing this, you know, and that 50,000 $100 They might give you is nothing compared to the fact that they appreciate what you do. And they put your name out there to someone who might be able to give you $1,000 or 10,000. You know, which is greater than a couple of 1000, you may have gotten your hands out.
Yes. That is like,
let me tell you something that I I've always had, I've been hateful, we've been in for five years. And I can't even tell you the amount of people I've had to drop home drop the cops. I've never asked anyone for $1 for gas money wise, because I felt like as an adult, and most of them are children, you know, young people. And as an adult, I'm okay, I can meet, I can pay for the gas, I don't need to get to five hours from just dropping a couple of
mine, first of all, because then what that already indicates by asking me is like, this is a burden for me, and I don't really want to hear.
So I feel like, you know, because then some of those same people have turned around and done to these in turn, you know, I might need because
sometimes, you know, in order to like, repeat a good example, you have to see it first. You know,
you do. And so a lot of times, you know, we have to learn to look and understand what the good and bad is. Because, you know, I told Christian this a long time ago, and I give him example for a couple of answers. Were one, both of them are talented, but one of them is going to always be talented in that small realm of where he is because he can never embrace or understand what it means to do something for someone else out of himself. It's always me, me, me, me, me. And,
and you know what? When that happens, like when people feel that way, I want to be like, Why are you making life so much harder than it has to be? Because then when you're putting all of that weight on yourself, then yeah, you you do become fearful, because of the fact that you have made yourself you've put yourself into solitary confinement,
and you've you by your actions, you have created your world,
that you do have to kind of watch your back and be suspicious of everyone because of the way that you approach it. And
I'm telling you, that's why if you go back to the beginning how to get started. And the whole thing with the bat is like a lot of people can't understand that because they don't do anything for selfish reasons. But, you know, anything that we've done in regards to gun freedom have to do, but similarly, anything that she's done in regards to that she didn't have to do, there was no requirement. There was no contract, there was no need, you know, for her to do anything. You know, she didn't have to tell Kristen about you. She didn't have to do nothing. She just kept it to herself as our coming out. But now, you know, she
introduced me to Damien, you know what I mean? Like she always goes out of her way to like, a lot of times and highlight other people. I
feel like a lot of times when people see sometimes she gets riled up, and I think people misunderstand what the reason a lot of times it's because people take advantage of credit for what she's done. Of course, to try to minimize her to try to Lazzeri makes me angry, make her seem smaller. And so you know, listen,
I you know, I hate bullies of any variety. It like to see someone who is engaging with the world around her on such an authentic level and with such heart and like, genuine good and like really caring about other people. Unlike wanting to add to the world around her, the fact that like, anyone ever makes her cry makes me want to, like punch them in the face. Like
I people
that she has come into touch with, especially from New Jersey, like raw CJ and those people, they have become part of our family, they've come this, they're in my house, you know, because now, you know, she's introduced. And it's funny because she goes to New Jersey, where she meets him, she goes to New Jersey, it doesn't happen that that's my hometown. And I didn't even know them as dancers. Yeah, to just meet the people who live in my own. That's the thing that I never even knew existed. Yeah. And so, you know, didn't become a part in that when people see that. And they were like, so, you know, it's always how come you reppin them and that me or the US, but it's not even that, but it's the way that you're introduced? Is the fact that, you know, because it
Oh, you already have a relationship with her. So therefore, when she was like, Look, that that is my girl,
this is this is the thing. That is how networking is supposed to work. It's not this, like the way people think it is, which is like, glad handing like shaking people's hands at a happy hour having like nonsense conversations that never really go anywhere. That's what people think, is networking. But in reality, what it is, is it's someone being able to trust someone else's. Then a Windows Store,
we have there's a terminology that says on the strength of somebody. Yes. And basically, I will act I'm accepting raw, I'm accepting CJ, on the strength that he tells me.
What do you see, this is what I think is so beautiful. Already the number of people just from this weekend. And just in the terms of our conversation, it's easily over 30 people. It's over 30 people and it's all because of her
we brought her down here she performed right under stage. Right. But you know what I'm saying?
That is a beautiful thing. Because and and I only first worked with her December 27.
And that's what a lot of Oh,
yeah, here. I gotta why I was putting this here so it wouldn't get rained on. Now watch me like stand up and it falls over.
Thank you so much for coming out and glad we got put in before I filled the memory card. I know. Yeah, I'll be around. Thanks so much. For me
again. Yeah,
I certainly will let you know the next time I'm in town. By what
aren't, you know, I'm gonna probably let you get max. But the only thing I did, the main thing I wanted to say is that, you know, for one of the reasons why I'm so supportive of Christian and his brother, Nathaniel, and they, my dad died when I was five. I wish I had someone that came out to games, read my stuff and say, Hey, good job, or, you know, you know, that kind of stuff. And in knowing what it's like to have the absence of that presence. It will be hard for me to go through my life without making sure I give them that present. Because I know what it's like not to have it
this is the thing that really confuses me, though, is like for people who are in that similar circumstance, or sometimes I think it's worse that the person's like living in like, they're not there. And they're perpetuating the same cycle that they themselves were subjected to. And yet not like, trying to correct it going forward. It's like I don't,
I don't know how you do that. I don't understand how you know, your son lives across town. And you don't go to his games. You don't just mean I used to probably the school to have lunch with him. Yeah, just to sit down and have lunch. So you can introduce me this? My children have no friends that I don't know. Yeah. Because, and see.
And my parents, you know, they both were working so much in order to be able because the school systems in Florida were so bad. So like, unfortunately, like they couldn't be there sometimes for the things, but I always knew that they were doing that. So I could afford, like we could afford for me to play competitive soccer where I was going out of state and all of this other stuff. And now when I look back, and I realized, like the level of sacrifice and humility and just, they never once made me feel like it was, you know, a burden or like a hassle or I had to give it up. And they sacrificed so much in order to be able to give me a chance that they didn't have like they didn't flee Poland before martial law as opposed to like, have my life be small.
Exactly. And so you know, so that's the knowing what it was like to not have that presence, but it's almost like, you know, it is almost like
it's not really even a choice. It's like it's isn't there's no choice
for me. I have to be there. I have to I remember my son was playing what they called Pop Warner Football
in Florida. Like
he was in the acres in Fort Myers, and I was worried. I was working all the way he puts it, Lucy, oh, that was a four hour drive. And every weekend I made sure I made it home. Yeah, watch him play Pop Warner Football on a Saturday and drove back Sunday night to go back to work. You know, importantly, no, it's not insane. Because the truth of the matter is, this is what they remember, this is what I do, they don't remember the pair of Jordans you bought, or the shirt or the fact you took them. You know, this is the this is the stuff they remember, you know, and this is the stuff that's important. And I'll tell you, just going through the whole cycle of things, to going back to what I was saying the why people don't understand. So going back to the bed, and in closing this whole cycle thing. When we had elite house management, then we decided to basically kind of break that up. Just differences, opinion of expansion, one person wanted to keep small, but anyway, and you know, it was always this question, well, who's gonna go with to whatever, whether obviously, people knew that et Chris would, you know, they're close to me, whatever. And very obviously, you know, but she said, some she posted something on Facebook that I tell you, I've never forgotten. And I know people probably read it and thought to themselves, well, what the heck is that about? She said, I will follow you to the end of the world. And, you know, for someone to say that that's not even your child. You know, a Christian can say that because his dad, but to know that she actually felt that way. Like, there's no question about who I'm with. I will follow you today, I'm gonna learn. And I read that I thought to myself, like, wow, because it meant that much to him. And, you know, people don't understand. I mean, you know, sometimes speakers share this persona of being standoffish. You know, so like, and they don't understand and the fact that she's still like, we'll try, she was still trying to help somebody. But see, when people see that, and I tell people all the time, you know, because people have this mindset that everything is socials, like, oh, you know, this, because this person is your friend or this person, like, you know, it's because she understood that, when I did what I did for I didn't have to, you know, I'm saying when we have these conversations, three o'clock in the morning, when she needed someone to talk to, that was in my place, I was dead. That was about dance and management, I could have said, say, look, the
hat on ours.
We all need to talk. Yeah. But the truth of the matter is, it's either you're there or you're not there for someone. Sometimes you don't get to choose what you're there for them. You're just there. You don't get to select Well, I'm like, Yeah, I'm gonna do that out of stuff that you're dealing with you on your own with that, because this doesn't work that way. You cannot separate variables. So there, are you mad? Yeah. So when people read that on me, like, Oh, my God, what does that mean? It means that she understand that this relationship is beyond that. Yes. It's beyond all this petty social stuff. No, it's us human beings. And it's about being honest with each other like to say, you know, that you can tell, like, you know, when, when you fail, someone, you know, is like, Hey, you shouldn't take that route. But it's without judgment. Yes, because you got to understand that, at the end of the day, we, that path we gotta live. For till we see fit. We see fit. And we don't get to impose, you know, our beliefs on other people. All we get to do is be a
lot of disagree with that.
You can try it. But in the end of the day, at the end of the day, we're made individuals for reason. Yeah, I'm saying we've given our own mind on purpose, you know, our own life to live. For the most part, we come into this where even when you come in as a twin, you still come into this world by yourself. And to be quite honest, no matter how many relationships you have, and how many boyfriends, how many kids you have whatever, at the end of the day, see you it's just you because in the middle of the night, 12 o'clock, one o'clock, two o'clock and three o'clock in the morning, when there, you are there by yourself. This
is why like, it's so important. Many and I've talked about this, it's so important, like, your 10% might impress other people, but you yourself know whether it's whether it's what you're capable of. And that is the only, like, scorecard that I keep is like knowing whether or not at the end of each day that like I gave
what I could. Exactly. And you know what?
Because I might only sleep for three hours because I'm waking up to drive back but guess what? I sleep soundly, I sleep well. I like people are like, Oh, you look great. What are you doing? I'm like, I'm happy.
And I'll tell you this in this dance community. There's a lot of people that will say to you, as an individual. And I'm just gonna say you can edit it out there, but like, don't fuck with this person, I don't find that person. And I don't want to deal with it. But nobody tells me who to deal with. I deal with them based on my own feelings, my own horse, you know, my own intuition, my own five that I get from them, you might have had a different relationship with them. And you might, some things may have gone wrong, but that's your relationship. Exactly. You don't get to dictate to me how I live my life. You know, because I don't have anything perfect
example I introduce. And it's funny because I don't know if they're like, not like, I introduced a friend of mine to the same group that I'm having issues with before there were issues. And he's still working with and I was like, listen, just make sure you get releases signed, and all of that stuff. I'm like, I'm like, make sure that you protect yourself. And like, I'm personally not going to dedicate any more time or resources or whatever I'm like, but you're a grown man, you can make your own decisions. And I'm like, I'm never going to tell anyone to not do whatever I could because I don't care. One
of the most false concepts out there is this concept or belief that somehow, you know, my enemy's enemy is my friend, or my friends enemies, my enemy, because I'll tell you this, your friends enemy could be your friend. Yeah. You can't judge that for yourself. You cannot go bringing in all of people's baggage into your life.
This is I don't even have the memory. I've had a lot of concussions like my short term memory. I can't remember all of those details of Who's mad at whom or whatever.
Like, you got to deal with people the way they deal with Yeah, be smart. You know, you know, be cautious, but I ended the day. It's about your own human relationship with that person. Yeah, you know, I'm saying and so you don't have to understand the relationship I have with the to the relationship I might have. With later I might have with BAM or Betty or RA, whoever it is that that soldier you see. And you wonder, Well, why is that? I mean, first of all,
I wouldn't I wouldn't think like that. You don't I mean,
these people until you know why are you why are you liking this person from finance bad video? Why are you sharing? You know, this person's video? Why are you sharing that person video? What's the deal with you on the bsv people? Or why it is that you you share the NLS people video a while you chummy chummy with this person, because that's my business, that's my own personal relationship with them, you got to worry about your own relationship with them that has nothing to do with me nothing. That has nothing to do with me. And I appreciate, you know, just to say I appreciate all of the people come out and video videos, because sometimes they pay to come to these events, video, these events. Yeah, people know, I know, they get, you know, stuff from YouTube for posting. But a lot of times they're doing this as their own expense. They're editing this stuff. And a lot of times they're not even getting a thank you from a lot of people. And the dance is a travel channel at their own expense to compete when there's no money involved or not substantial money involved for them. No, and I appreciate it. I understand that. That's why when I try to bring someone from out of town, I try to fly them in if I can I try to do something for them. Yeah, make sure they have some place to stay. Because at the end of the day, you know, a lot of these people are doing this because they love it. There's not a lot of people that are just running around talking about I'm just doing this for the money because for the most part, most of them don't see that kind of money until they get to a whole nother level which you never get to. If you're thinking about as money. Correct. So that's it, but it was nice. And it actually was great meeting you. I mean, it's almost accidentally on purpose. I saw you out loud. didn't really speak to you. You know, I was Yeah, as a dad, I'm always just into what he's doing. And just you know, and then you know, and then when Betty digging in and she told me he was like yes, I remember. And then it just came
like girl laying on the floor. Yes. She was in the middle.
Here she is some Valley position. You know, start spread over, legs, the camera out and I'm like intense and Canon the correct footage. Yeah. So at the end of the day, you know, I look at this and I say, you know, Christian, I said, I feel like he's on a good path. I want to keep him on that path. You know, I marvel sometimes when I see how far he's come at such a young age.
It's really it's really awesome to watch him you
know, he chose his first session and he and I reason I want him to do it is to understand that this this, this more ways that there's more to it than just the masses. There's the judges that people throw the events. There's a whole support thing that goes into this whole dance thing. And, you know, I mean, I look I've with my boys, you know and when they when it comes to effort, never been disappointed. I mean they go hunt 2% And I'm like the biggest fan. You see me in the background? I swear, I tell people all the time, I look like a lunatic, when the videos are shot in the background and carried on with the most. And I'm just like, Oh my God, no, but at the end of the day, when I think about it, I just kind of laugh and say, Well, hey, that's what parents do. But
the thing you know, your sons will never question once about how much you care about them. So, which, you know, is probably the absolute best gift that you can ever give a child. I agree. Yeah. To
know that. Hey, you know, whatever it is that I was interested in. He was there to support me. Yeah. And he didn't minimize it. He didn't dance. Who could make a living out of dance? Never would I say that? Yeah. Because at the end of the day, I think it's more than just what you do. It's a part of you. So how can I reject a part of you? Wow. That's it. And
on that note, that's like, that's like a pull the pin on the grenade and then throw it behind you and don't even look at it, right. You're like I already know blew up the bridge. I don't need to
