We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Dahrio Wonder a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Dahrio with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
My work ethic definitely comes from my parents and my closest elders. As a kid, I watched my mother work everyday with her hands. She was hair dresser/stylist by day and danced in a professional dance company by night. The amount of work that it took for her to take care of her clients during the day, rehearse for hours at night, and make sure that me and my cousins were taking care of was monumental for me. My father is an extremely hard worker. A real renaissance man. My step-father a small business owner, worked 7 days a week!! He never took a day off. My aunties and my uncles, who also helped raise me, worked hard for a living…. and I was never that kid that didn’t pay attention. I always recognized why they worked so hard and what that looked like. They instilled in me and my siblings and cousins work ethic and never allowed us to be or feel entitled to anything.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
My name is Dahrio Wonder. I’m originally from the San Francisco-Bay Area. I’m an artists that fits no mold, initiates a change of mind, and continuously steps outside the box with any project I work on. Through dance, fitness and music, my mission is to spread love and inspire people of all ages around the world to be the best of themselves. This drives my passion for making people feel the good vibes all around the world.
As a dancer and choreographer, I’ve worked and performed with some of entertainments biggest acts, including Britney Spears, Jamie Foxx, An’gela Winbush, and the late salsa legend Celia Cruz. As a recording artist and dance fitness international presenter I’ve worked with Zumba Fitness for more than 10 years. I’ve taught/performed in over 20 countries around the world. I’ve also been a part of program development teams during my time with Zumba, as well as recording and writing countless songs that have appeared in Zumba instructor volumes and campaigns around the world.
In 2016, I co-founded, Wonderlove, an organization whose mission is to spread love through all forms of positive energy. Wonderlove promotes the unity of all people no matter race, gender, ethnicity, religious background or sexual orientation. Wonderlove donates 90% of their merchandise proceeds to youth charities, programs and organizations that support youth with terminal illnesses and youth in the music and arts.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
3 of the most important qualities to have as an artist or anyone pursuing your goals and dreams are:
– Perseverance
– Hard Work
– Be smart/make smart decisions
You have to be able to keep going no matter what obstacles stand in your way. You have to keep reinventing and rebuilding yourself to constantly be relevant with the times and the current state of where your desired industry is. You must work hard. Nothing will happen if you wait for it to happen or wait for someone to make it happen for you. You constantly have to have your foot on the gas pedal moving forward.
As much as you can, you have to make smart decisions about your brand and business. Decisions that will help impact your career in a positive way not just today and tomorrow, but 5-10 years from now. You have to be smart about what you do, how you do it, what you say, how you say it, the people you have around you, the people that work with you, and any and everything that will impact your brand and your business, whether good or bad. Being smart and thinking smart is key.
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
I think the most impactful thing my parents did for me was they allowed me to actively pursue my goals and dreams. They motivated me to take steps early in my career to help see out my dreams. They supported me joining a hip hop dance company while still in high school. They supported me moving to LA to pursue a career in dancing and acting. They supported me transitioning into music and pursuing a career in music as a recording artist and songwriter. They’ve supported everything I’ve pursued because they believe in me and my talent. They know whatever it is that I put my soul into, I’m going to pursue that with passion, dedication and an 100% all-in mindset. They taught me everything I know…. so why wouldn’t they trust and support me… 😉😂
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thewonderscollective.com
- Instagram: @dahriowonder @wonderlove @hiphopturnup
- Facebook: @dahriowonder
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/dahriowondermusic
Image Credits
First pic credit: Gina Wonder
2nd pic credit: Matt Armendariz
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
