Meet Vince Nguyen

We recently connected with Vince Nguyen and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Vince, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?

As an Queer Asian-American man in the Atlanta dance scene, I easily stick out in most spaces that I enter. Whether I am taking a dance class or attending a battle, there’s usually an unspoken pressure on me – an expectation and curiosity of how I will perform. Furthermore, being one of the few waackers in the scene has also given me additional pressure. When I showcase my waacking, I have to expect that my movement won’t be fully understood because many people don’t have the knowledge of what it is.

However, I’ve learned that my uniqueness and flamboyance are what make me successful. I realized that I will stick out in most spaces, so why not stick out even more? At one of my recent battles where everyone was wearing dark, baggy clothes, I was in a hot pink suit and dress shoes. So, when I stepped out to dance, I already commanded everyone’s attention and was able to win over the audience with my performance skills. Thus, being unapologetically me and taking up space for the communities I represent has become my strategy. I’ve been described as a “peacock,” and I find it very fitting because I always try to dance vibrantly and get people to see my true colors.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

At the moment, I am the face of waacking in Atlanta. Whacking/waacking is dance style born in the 70s, known for its rapid arm twirls, sharp poses, and dramatic performance. It originated in Los Angeles clubs among Queer black and brown communities, and has been growing in its popularity in recent years.

In the past year, I have been growing and nurturing a waacking community called “Waacklanta,” and we are having amazing strides in our communal. Individually, I teach weekly drop-in classes, a monthly free community class, and I occasionally host pop-up sessions here and there. As a community, we’ve hosted a waacking battle (“Waacklanta Heat”) this past August, bringing in waackers from all across the country to compete and foster new relationships with fellow waackers. We’ve even toured the south and taught pop=up waacking workshops to promote our battle!

There are many exciting events on the horizon for Waacklanta. We have more battles, get-togethers, and initiatives in the works, and we are always working to spread knowledge of waacking and invite more people to our community. To stay tuned for any updates, follow us on Instagram @waacklanta.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Persistence, passion, and courage have been qualities that have shaped my journey as a creator. Early on, there were many times that I wanted to give up because the community had a slow start, but the few supporters I had always encouraged me to keep going because the work that I am doing is important and necessary. My general advice to people early on their journey is that even if things don’t seem feasible on paper, leading with your heart and staying consistent can get you to where you need to be. If you are genuine with your intentions and are willing to put yourself out there, there will always be people that will be drawn to what you do.

Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?

In Atlanta, Lyrik London has been my most helpful mentor in setting me up for success. I’ve had a lot of teachers and mentors over the years, but Lyrik has been the most inspirational one due to his honesty, dedication, and talent. He pours himself into his work and into all of his mentees, and he is extremely transparent and direct with his ideas and feedback. Under his company, Thee Haus of London, I’ve grown the most as a performer, dancer, and director. I finally feel like I am living when I perform and dance, and I believe that it is because Lyrik has given me a space to grow as myself and not someone else. I will always be grateful for his guidance and wisdom.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/venusvinnycakes
• Instagram: @venus.vinnycakes

Image Credits

The Cork Bros