I still remember the first time I accidentally ran into the first version of freestyledance.com years ago. I was totally blown away by the dance footage posted on there by these West Coast Freestyle Dancers. Their style was very smooth and had so much style. They were also featured on a documentary called Show & Prove: A Freestyle Dance Experience. I had no idea who they were at the time but I can honestly say that they’ve influenced the way I dance today. One day the site was taken down, but thanks to youtube, I ran into one of the old clips again! It turned out that it was from one of the dancers from freestyledance.com who went by the name Avant Garde, and also got down with SWAT. I’ve always wanted to talk to one of them and ask how the scene was like through their eyes. I feel very lucky that we were able to get an interview with him. You can check out his site at www.freestyledance.com, and check out his youtube channel under the user account avantgarde001.

“I learned to “Free” myself from having to look similar to someone else just to “fit in” or even to be classified within a style..”

OC: Give us a brief introduction about yourself
JAY: I was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. I have been dancing since I was 3yrs old and have been practicing the art of freestyledance for 18yrs now. I live my life within the universal laws of GOD.

OC: What experience was it, that got you into dancing growing up?
JAY: It was my love for music that prompted me to dance as a young one. The experience of sound moved my spirit and in turn gave me the instructions on how to dance this feeling out.

OC: Which dancers inspired you when you first started? Which dancers inspire you now?
JAY: First I would have to say Corey (aka Classic from SWAT & Founder) he instilled and inspired me to become ME. The words know thy self comes to mind when I think about him. Classic had no style barriers and taught me and my crew to have none as well…this is how I learned to “Free” myself from having to look similar to someone else just to “fit in” or even to be classified within a style..like hip-hop, house, breaking, poppin etc. Secondly Masai….the best freestyle dancer I have seen in my life to date!!! Myself and another crew mate had a battle with this guy(we lost honorably ask Will I am) and from that encounter in 1999 till now has changed how I see and feel dance & music. He gave that extra push I needed to realize just how far the dance & body can go in the arts of improv or Freestyle dancing. My style of dance took on a drastic change after this and also my choice of music became very broad as well. Major love and thanks to these
brothers.

OC: Describe your dance style?
JAY: Its me…a mixture of movements that make up how I feel to the music at that moment in time.

“You cannot teach a dancer to find their own way of expressing themselves but you can lead them in the right direction to bring them into their own expression of dance.”

OC: Give us a brief background on how the dance scene was like back then? Who were some of the key dancers/crews of that time?
JAY: The clubs were intense ..you had to be very practiced in the art of self-dancing(freestyle) to hold your own in the circles of those times. You really could suffer majorly if you came with half-ass energy and technique because crews like Bad habits, Lost tribe, The System, Dynamite Soul or Scheme team who kick your ass quickly out the circle or worse. You had to earn your way into the circles in the Golden era of hip-hop.

OC: Tell us about the freestyledance website? What inspired you to start it?
JAY: Freestyledance.com has took on many different forms over the years…but mainly it is to be a hub of info,entertainment & sharing about the art of the dance.
This site currently is under new management…..but let’s just say its still in the hands of the right group of people 🙂

OC: Tell us about Urban Contemporary Dance Company? What inspired you to start it?
JAY: UCDC was started by myself and Reverse(Jeloni) of Majestic Movements but this vision ran onto some problems and my dance studio adopted the name in time. My company of today(ROSEMAN) stands in its place as far as the original mission statement that was placed on UCDC.

OC: Do you guys currently teach anywhere?
JAY: No.. I only Guide once in a while to people who truly want to find themselves within the art of dance. You cannot teach a dancer to find their own way of expressing themselves but you can lead them in the right direction to bring them into their own expression of dance.

OC: What dance styles did you study? Was Hip-Hop your first love, or did you start out doing other styles (b-boying, house, etc)
JAY: Well I started out with Breaking and tap at the age of 5 thru 10. Then it was new jack(R & B dances…the roger rabbit, the guess etc.) and then on to at last Freestyledancing in 1991. I never really took classes for the arts but I was just inspired by the music and wanted to express myself through it by dancing.

“Know thyself in dance and you will be yourself in the dance. Let go of your current dance style and be your own style. ”

OC: Define Hip-Hop dance coming from you.
JAY: Ok in my opinion hip-hop was a culture and a lifestyle than an actual dance style. You already have popping, locking, & breaking underneath the hip-hop umbrella so to me Hip-hop is a essence of the movement not a dance of the movement. There is true hip-hop music but the dance is what you make it within the culture of Hip-Hop.

OC: How do you feel about some of the newer Hip-Hop styles like Krumpin, Turfin, etc.?
JAY: I call these the “IN” styles… one because they all end in “IN” and secondly because I believe they have short lifespans as a style of dance. In other words it’s a “in” style to be in now…can these genres withstand the test of time…I doubt it. I challenge Jerkin, Krumpin, Jookin & Turfin dancers to make up their own style of dance to whatever styles of music and own it on their own accord. Freestyle get’s rid of style barriers and opens the mind body and spirit to “New” ways of movement to music & sounds.

OC: What was the last song you got down to? What album are you currently feeling at the moment?
JAY: I can’t call it …for real..I’m all over the damn place when it comes to my first love music. I just listen to whatever moves me at the time. It could be jazz, house, Hip-hop, experimental grooves, R & B new & old etc. I used to feel albums ….but the times now in the digital age dictate I just feel songs from albums..feel me.

OC: Where are some current spots people go to get down in your area nowadays?
JAY: Few if any…or maybe I’m just detached from it all now giving the fact I train at my studio and record now. I go to DEEP ..it’s a house music club in Hollywood….everybody moves there and loves the sound..Hip-Hop venues have lost their spirit to me and have just turn into social arena’s and meat markets. I don’t know how the 18 and over crowd is because I am not in the loop of dancers in that demographic, but I hope as the music changes, the mood and feel of clubs change as well with this new Generation coming up.

OC: What is most important if someone wants to get better at their freestyle?
JAY: Their sense of self. Know thyself in dance and you will be yourself in the dance. Let go of your current dance style and be your own style. You ask how to achieve this? Empty your mind and dance from an inspirational point of view…listen to music that makes you feel good and moves your soul … just let go…the more you practice in this manner you will be free to do you, until your style starts to take on a shape of its own.

OC: How do you feel about shows like America’s Best Dance
Crew, and So You Think You Can Dance, You Got Served movie, etc? Do
you think it does dance culture any justice?
JAY: I think its good for a certain type of dancer..but certainly not a freestyledancer. Hey for others that take classes all the time and learn routines ..Ok it gets them exposure and money in some cases, but the structure of these shows caters to this “type” of dancer. I don’t “Think I can dance” I KNOW….let just say, its not my place to be on those shows. Justice …hmm to a degree but these type of shows does not cover the “whole” spectrum of dance and its many genre’s, and also does not give the dancer(s) a proper platform of self-expression.

OC: What is your DVD documentary “Show & Prove” about?
JAY: Its just a Doc. about a few members of West Coast Finest and just good old entertainment in regards to freestyledancing.

OC: Where can people learn more about or purchase your DVD?
JAY: Its not for sale anymore…its free..that VHS does not reflect who I am now..in other words its dated….with time comes change. My Youtube name is Avantgarde001…hit me up for a free copy if you like. I am also giving away our first crew doc. called, “Freestyle: The Begining of the End” for free as well.

OC: What was the biggest obstacle in your life as a dancer?
JAY: Myself…I am. Once I do what is needed by GOD, my so called obstacle will disappear. It’s a Universal Law!!!

OC: What is a normal day for you like (outside of dance)? Any other hobbies?
JAY: Tending to my Family, Dance Company(ROSEMAN), mind, body & spirit. Hobbies include swimming, Motion Graphics, exercise of mostly all kinds(bikes, weight lifting, gymnastics etc.) and silencing the mind.

OC: What was your most memorable performance, session, or battle?
JAY: The time I battled Masai at Carlos and Charlie’s in Hollywood. This was the best Freestyledancer I’ve seen in my life to date. Myself and another teammate lost but gained so much more from this experience.

OC: What is your philosophy on dance that you would like to share with upcoming dancers?
JAY: Just dance your own dance!!!

OC: Thanks for doing this interview with us. Any last shout outs?
JAY: To everybody pushing the limits on this dance ish!!!

Thanks for the opportunity ..big ups!!!