pinoyjeprocks:

I’m truly blessed. Never would I thought that talking about big shows like Prelude and World of Dance 3 years ago and dreaming about performing when we were 4 members strong would actually come true.

After years of hard work. After years of new faces, new family members. After countless ups and downs. After the fluctuations of active performing dances. After all this we still stand up together. Stand up strong. Heads high, chin up, nothing stopping us. We are a family. A family first that just so happens to dance together. That we’re able to step on what was once a step that was so far out of reach. But we got closer and closer building little steps on the way that ultimately shorted the gap.

I love this family. I truly do. They’re all I have. They keep me up. They keep me going. There are a few that aren’t active performing dancers. And we don’t forget to mention their names and do it for you guys when we huddle. Even though they’re not there performing with us. We carry them in the performance. We are truly inspirational. Our love, our passion is unexplainable.

To think that most of the people that are active dancers never, ever danced before to see them grow so much is an indescribable feeling. You guys killed it, revived it, and killed it again! (Source: Calvin Hui). You guys work hard and look what you have accomplished. Pat yourselves in the back, wait matter fact give yourself a hug. Lol. With all this done being roughly 50% serious and 50% playing around in practice. You guys make what iNSPIRED! is. Without you guys there’s no iNSPIRED!, there’s no family.

Good job guys! You guys made our dream reality. We just left our hearts on the World of Dance stage. I just want to thank you guys for everything and that you guys are a big part of my life. Of course, you are my family. I love you guys.

It’s taken 3 long years for me to finally step on that stage and perform at this event. But let me tell you, it was definitely worth the wait.

Nerdz / Rico’s Project

When Rico first asked me about a month ago to be part of it, I literally jumped up in my seat and grabbed the opportunity. To be able to dance with some of my old RDT teammates again as well as some of my friends from Nerdz that I’ve never had the pleasure of dancing with yet, it was something I couldn’t pass up. It was tough and it was stressful, putting all of it together in only a matter of weeks, but we pulled through and did it. I can’t explain how amazing these dancers are. SO MUCH talent. But when it came down to it, it wasn’t just about our talent. It was about how we felt about each other that helped us pull through. We pushed each other to make each other better and we came together to make sure we could make this project work. And I loved every second of it.

Finally being able to dance for/with Rico was just… awesome. Ever since I met him almost 2 years ago on RDT, I have had nothing but an enormous amount of respect for him. I don’t know exactly how it happened, but him and I just clicked. Maybe it’s because we understand each other so much, and although we have such different styles and approaches, him and I have the same goals in mind. And the beautiful thing is we push each other to make sure we reach them. I love that guy so much, not only for helping me with dancing as a fellow choreographer/director, but for being an amazing FRIEND who constantly reminds me to never sell myself short of what I’ve done and what I’m capable of doing. Through thick and thin, no matter what, I know he has my back, and I’ll always have his.

iNSPIRED!

I remember when I first went to WoD 3 years ago, and as I was watching all of the amazing teams perform on that stage, I said to myself and to Jeff “One day, we are gonna be on that stage. We’re gonna make it happen.” It’s been a long journey. Not only has this family/team grown and changed and developed, but so have I. I wanted so badly to be able to perform with my i! fam at WoD the previous years, but now I know that the time just wasn’t right. We weren’t ready. I wasn’t ready. But yesterday, as we huddled together for our prayer and our pre-performance chant, I knew… we were finally ready.

As we were on that stage, there wasn’t a sense of nervousness at all. I felt more… relaxed and confident. We’ve performed this set (Throwback set) so many times already that I knew that they knew what they were doing. It was just a matter of going out there and leaving our hearts on the stage. And let me tell you, after watching video of our performance… I was left almost speechless. I could not believe how f**king amazing they were!! This was by far the cleanest and best performance we’ve ever had. Our finale, the piece that I drilled with them constantly over and over and over, was so on point!! I know I say this so many times, but honestly, I was never more proud of them than I was at that moment. When we were introduced to go on stage, the crowd was dead. Hardly anyone was cheering. But you know what we said to each other? “Oh, ok. Be that way. We’ll show you.” And a few seconds into our performance, the noise finally came. We weren’t given anything from the crowd, we had to earn it. And we did. We took it. We left our all out on that stage and showed what we are. We showed them who we are.

It took me 3 years to finally step out on the WoD stage. I had to be patient and work my a** off in that time. But when the time finally came… I made it worth it. We made it worth it.

iNSPIRED! & Nerdz. The NJ Dance Community’s reps at WoD NY 2012. PROUD.

Not only with iNSPIRED!, but also with my friends on Nerdz & RDT for Rico’s project. I remember going to my first WoD event 3 years ago, and making it a goal of mine to have iNSPIRED! perform on that stage one day. Now that that day is here, I still kinda can’t believe it. I can’t believe it because of how far this family, as well as myself, has come. You can say what you want about WoD, but I’m still excited as anything to be on that stage. Especially with 2 groups of people that are so amazing.

iNSPIRED! & Nerdz gonna rep Jersey hard!!!

ayoitzandrei:

I don’t know why but even though its still 2 months away, Its the most nerve racking thing on my mind right now. I felt proud of myself and even honored when I found out I was chosen to teach, however, at the same time I felt like I’m not ready, especially at my dance level. I still see myself as someone learning, not teaching. I really hope I don’t feel this way when July actually comes. I need that extra confidence boost….

You’re ready. I wouldn’t have selected you if I didn’t think you weren’t. I know you’re nervous, and you will be until the class is over, but you’ll do fine. Just have fun with it, and enjoy.