We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful BGIRL MAMA. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with BGIRL below.
BGIRL, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
Most people have dreams and aspirations of who they want to be when they grow up. Whether to be a firefighter, a teacher, or a scientist, sometimes a dream can be deemed unconventional, impossible, or far-fetched.
So when I said I wanted to do something within the dance realm, people around me thought that was not ideal. But “look at me now!” I am a Performing Arts Studio Manager who started out teaching just one hip hop dance class there. I have been at Next Step Broadway for 12 years and I thought that August of 2023 was going to be my last month. I even gave my one-year notice last May of 2022….thinking I wanted to pursue my dream of becoming a full-time performing artist. I absolutely love the stage: singing and especially dancing.
During my 41 years on this planet, I have changed my dream a few times: singer, world-famous choreographer, journalist, detective, art therapist, dance studio owner, and fine artist. But I kept going back to wanting to be a performing artist. I love making people feel good and smile. So I started BGIRL MAMA LLC for my performing arts and music business and put my first single out called “Breathe.” I even have a music video for it. I had drafted a few plans of how to monetize and pull forward to become a successful independent musical artist. I often envisioned myself on stage singing the songs I wrote and produced.
Even after doing these, I had never imagined leaving the studio. I have immensely contributed to the studio’s steady growth over the years and watched our dancers blossom. The owner and staff are amazing. The synergy and energy within the studio environment is exhilarating. Yes, there are tiring and hard days, but I truly enjoy working and being there. Then my father passed away in January of 2022.
My world spiraled upside-down and I think I went kinda crazy…My father was no longer with us. To this day, I think about the last time we spoke on the phone with him before he got sick. He called me on the phone the day before Thanksgiving (2021) because he heard I was sick. He told me to make sure I eat and that he enjoyed watching my videos on YouTube. He hoped I put more videos up since he’s been watching the same ones over and over again.
After his sudden death, my body went numb, my mind went into overdrive with memories, and my soul was dimmed. I honestly thought it was time for me to move on from the studio, start fresh, and pursue my dream of becoming a full-time performing artist. Yes, that was a big-lofty dream and goal. But fast forward to July of 2023 and I am beginning to rethink my decision.
What do I really want in life? What is my purpose? All I know is that I think I do a really good job at the studio. I make people happy and smile. My dance students love me as their dance teacher. The families are so appreciative of what we do, and what I do. It absolutely melted my heart every time a student or parent thanked us. I think I started crying almost every night starting in April or May thinking I had only a few months left at the studio. I was in the process of launching my other business, but it just didn’t quite feel right. Although I have learned a lot in the process of launching my new business, I had no more desire to do so.
After thoughtful reconsideration, I decided I wanted to stay at the studio and continue to help nurture the studio environment. I am grateful that the owner agreed to let me have the opportunity to stay.
I have not stopped my dream of performing my songs on stage. I have been performing with my crew Hardcore Detroit® as BGIRL MAMA since 2002 and I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon. My music makes people feel good and I intend to continue to produce my songs and complete my debut album…even if it takes a little longer.
My purpose in life is to be a good person and to make people smile and feel good. That’s what I do at the studio and that’s what I do with my dance and music. After leaving this life, I believe we don’t take anything with us but our soul and character. Therefore, I want to be remembered as a good person above all.
Cheers to a fresh start at the studio as well as my journey as a performing artist.
Thank you Dad – for being in my life. You were an amazing person and a mesmerizing performer. I hope you are granted paradise – Ameen!
Alhamdulillah (All praises are due to the Most High)
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I am the youngest of seven kids in a Cambodian family. Before I was born, my parents and five of my siblings escaped the Khmer Rouge and fled to Thailand. They were able to make it to Michigan in 1979. Everyone in my family either sings, dances, or both. My siblings and parents were an inspiration for me to be the performing artist I am today.
Growing up, I loved watching Janet Jackson and Paula Abdul. I wanted to be just like them: amazing pop stars. My love for the stage grew and grew every day. I was in the show choir for 9 years and was involved with the musical theatre production in high school.
After graduating high school I began my journey in Hip Hop culture when I started breakin’ (breakdancing) at the legendary St. Andrews Hall in 2001. Since then I have performed, judged, and competed throughout the United States and Canada with my dance crews Hardcore Detroit ® and Venus Fly.
In 2016, I became part of a dance collective duo Mama2 with dancer, choreographer, educator, and activist Amirah Sackett. Mama2 has toured with Caravanserai (Midwest Arts), Malaysia’s The Get Down Session Tour (supported by the U.S. Embassy), and other cool projects and performances.
In 2020, I launched my music and performing business, BGIRL MAMA LLC. My logo contains a lotus flower. The lotus flower is very important to Cambodian culture and symbolizes purity and overcoming adversity. Not many people know that the lotus flower grows in muddy, dirty waters but they naturally repel dirt and never get dirty. It retains its beauty. That is how I feel: no matter what I go through, I will be resilient or I will repel negativity. I feel anyone can relate to being a lotus flower in some way.
As for my music career, I want to have that huge impact that shakes the music industry. In today’s music industry, we need more motivational artists who stand for inspiration and positivity. I can relate to feeling unworthy and undeserving. I want to help those through tough times and maintain good times through uplifting music and positive messaging. I want people to come as they are….no matter who they are. Whether they are weird or not, I want people to know that they can embrace their true selves and transform into their best versions of themselves. I want people to feel loved, motivated, inspired, and understood when they listen to my music.
I would like to launch my fan memberships on my website and have three different tiers of membership subscriptions. If anyone resonates with who I am as an artist and wants to join my Inner Crop Circle, they can sign up to get updates on my website. Right now, I have music on all streaming platforms including YouTube, and I am on all major social media platforms as BGIRL MAMA. So if anyone is interested in following my journey they can subscribe and follow me.
As for other services that I provide right now, I am available to conduct quality and high-energy dance workshops, dance and/or singing performances, and artist residencies.
Be on the lookout for my next singles. I am finishing up producing and recording ‘Unicorn Alien’ which will be a high-energy dance track. It was supposed to be released this past July, but life. Later, I will release ‘Livin’ On Up’ which will be an R&B motivational track.
My debut album is set to be released next Summer. I am mainly a one-woman show right now. I do all my marketing, sales, producing, choreographing, website, etc. I have only outsourced graphic work and my music and lyric videos. It’s a slow process, but at least there is some progress.
During all this, I will still be Managing the Performing Arts Studio full-time. I plan on staying there for a long time, while still doing what I love.
Let’s see where this goes.
To my MamaMartians…Peace, Love & Blessings.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Being Kind, Being Optimistic, and Continous Improving/Learning.
Being Kind: Nothing is better than making people feel good and doing our best to be kind. There are many mean, inconsiderate, narcissistic, self-entitled people in the world. And don’t need more. Ask yourself, what do you want to be remembered for, a nasty person or a kind person? I choose the latter.
Being Optimistic: The glass is half-full. I always try to find the good in things and all situations. I learned that there are definitely “blessings in disguise.” And I have experienced it. I have total faith in God, so I believe that things are meant to happen for a reason. No matter how tired I am or down I am. I always put my best mind and foot forward because it would just suck if I think doom and gloom all the time. Being Optimistic can lead to some type of happiness. So I choose to be happy in the moment.
Continuous Learning/Improvement: I am nowhere near ‘perfect’ but I strive to be the best that I can through learning through my mistakes and continually learning life lessons that are thrown at me. I always strive to be better than I was yesterday. No matter what anyone wants to do in life, make sure to learn all that you can and then some.
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 am grateful that my parents were intelligent and strong enough to survive the Khmer Rouge and Pol Pot.
My Dad led over 300 people to safety when they walked to Thailand from Cambodia. He instructed his fellow Khmer people to walk in a single set of footprints and to be quiet. Unfortunately, some babies did not survive since they “made too much noise.”
From booby-traps to snakes. My parents survived with my five siblings. I would not exist if they had not made it here to the States!
Mommy and Daddy thank you for surviving the war.
Rest in Paradise Daddy!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://bgirlmama.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bgirlmama/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bgirlmama
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/bgirlmama
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/bgirlmama
- Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1QzdpoJfTTHZFctEdoxnzm?si=xwXJt0ZMSRG13MT_C_vUkw&nd=1
Image Credits
Dori Sumter, Live Arts Miami, I Am Shooter (Antar H.), Piper Carter, Yana Yatsuk
