Interview and Notes
T-Swift is a very open-minded dancer with versatile style on the floor.
Always giving credit before anyone else can, and always taking advice
from other dancers. When you see T-Swift dance, he is always trying
his best in giving all he can do. Check out his different styles
while he combines them into one artistic style. This is a true dancer.
T-Swift considers himself as a b-boyer. He dances House, Capoeria and
some salsa. He dances to Deep House and Hip-Hop.
Q: Who was your biggest influence?
A: "My parents, the dancers at my high school and various
dancers at the clubs, Fizz, Kaboom, Pulsations, 1415, Saturn, Egypt,
and Shampoo."
Q: Who/Where do you get the most respect from?
A: "I'd say I get the most respect in clubs when someone
forms a circle and I get to showcase my skills."
Q: How did you get to your level and area of dancing?
A: "I've been involved with dancing pretty much my entire
life. The earliest instances I can recall which greatly influenced
me into dancing were when I was in elementary school every New Years
Eve. My parents would always invite their friends for dance parties
and when I woke up and came downstairs, I was always welcomed by
the crowd and encouraged to show my stuff. Of course at that age
I just made up things off the top of my head, what I thought was
cool and whatever. I did get cheers. I'd say those New Years Eve
parties helped me get my confidence at an early age in dancing in
front of a crowd. During high school, I would always tear it up
at the dances and earn my respect. I picked up a lot of different
moves from other dancers at the dances and also at clubs in the
Philly area such as Fizz, Pulsations, and Kaboom, It was from those
clubs that I got into the dance known as House. When I went to Pitt
University for college I continued to dance House and freestyle
and also performed cultural dances for ISA (Indian Student Association),
which was particularly interesting since it opened me up to a different
flavor. It was several years later at a club called Milkbar in South
Jersey that I came across these young b-boys who where quite good
for their age. At that point I entered the b-boy scene and added
some power to my dance style. I also joined a club in my new school,
Drexel, called DMADU (Dance and Music Association of Drexel University)
and entered b-boy battles, which really helped to improve my skills.
Not too long ago I moved to the North Jersey area and losing touch
with the b-boy scene, I was unable to maintain b-boying at the same
level. However, I took up salsa dancing and have been building skills
in that arena. I've hit several salsa clubs in the NYC area including
Copacabana, which has the most incredible dancers I have ever seen.
Although I very much enjoy salsa, I miss the days of b-boying and
house and would love to return to the scene, maybe even incorporating
salsa into my style. Regardless of what kind of dancing I do, I
will always continue to dance since it has and will always be a
major part of my life."
Q: What are some techniques that you use dancing and in
taking it to another level?
A: "Every dancer has a certain skill set. However, what
I do to take my dancing to the next level is to dance to the point
where I have lost touch with all my problems and worries. Once I
reach this point, I am able to use the skills I have to come up
with crazy combinations of power and style and perform them with
consistency, high energy, and smooth transitions. So in taking my
dancing to another level, I must become hypnotized by the music
to the point where I don't care how tired or sore I become in order
to dance my ass off. It is usually during those moments that I perform
the best and make the best progress."
Q: What advice would you give to others on dancing?
A: "I would say have a passion for the music. In order
to dance, I mean really dance, you must love the music almost to
the point that it brings tears to your eyes. It is when you reach
these levels of passion that you are able to break any boundaries
that stand in your way and make the greatest progress in your dancing.
Also, in performing well in circles, it is always good to plan some
of your moves and combinations, particularly power moves, and practice
them consistently. It is apparent in dancing as it is in any sport
that how you practice is how you play. When you're in a circle,
you will almost always do what you are most familiar with. So if
you want to have a certain style, you must train your body and mind
to perform the moves and combos in that style until you can perform
them every time you dance, especially in front of a crowd."
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