Question: “I heard you used to break dance. Is that true?”
In a previous life, I trained nearly everyday to be the best dancer I could be.
My break dancing skills peaked when I studied abroad in Tokyo for an entire year. Much to my parents’ dismay, the university culture in Japan is very different from America – once you’re in one of the top colleges in the country, you don’t study very much! Rather, you LIVE IT UP (and work your arse off after you graduate). 100+ Japanese dance crew members and I danced 4-8 hours a day, just to perform and compete in front of hundreds (sometimes thousands) of spectators. It was an incredible experience. Sugoi, yo!
My initial power move (The Nike) to get the dance circle grooving! Special thanks to Lawrence for taking this shot.
Break dancing taught me that discipline pays off. Took me years to master certain techniques but I experienced much fulfillment in accomplishing feats most people won’t even dare. I also realized the better you get at breaking, the more people notice you and genuinely want to get to know you better. And especially throughout college, this focus improved my self-esteem and introduced me to lifelong relationships. Today, some of my best friends are dancers who still share that passion to express on the dance floor. And whenever we’re in the same city, we definitely have the best of times battling.
Randall, your photographer is amazing. Love how he caught my freeze!
Inevitably, however, with age came more responsibilities and ambitions. Law school, marriage, and ministry quickly showed me that I could no longer dance everyday. There’s simply not enough time for everything. So, I ultimately retired. It was a good 10 years being in the spotlight. And I enjoyed every moment.
These days, you won’t see me executing T-Flares or butterfly kicks so easily. In fact, I’m kinda scared to try those moves now! lol But hey, if you ever catch me on the dance floor, make a circle and bring it! I’ll show you something you haven’t seen yet. 😉 Hopefully not a broken back.