Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Brandon Juezan. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Brandon , first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
I have actually felt imposter syndrome A LOT with every aspect of my career and lifestyle. As a dancer, I feel like I’m not independent and didn’t pave my own path because I have been a member of a company for my entire career. The company provided me with work instead of having to go through the struggle of finding work myself like most other professional dancers and build that personal network, brand, and resilience through experience. But then I think about it and realize I’ve worked very hard as a member of this collective, and I’ve been able to help build a community AND provide a stable income for myself while also creating employment opportunities for others BECAUSE of the foundation of this company. When I stop and think about what I’ve accomplished, and what my future goals are, I am always reminded that I was MEANT to be here, take this path, be part of a dance family, and live this experience instead of being a fully independent artist. I kept growing with this organization because it not only supported me during tough times, but it gave me a place to thrive and live in my genius and the flexibility to find myself. Now I’m on a journey of branching out and pursuing additional career opportunities within fitness and finance, which I have also grown passionate about, and I feel imposter syndrome building back up. Others in these industries have spent most of their lives cultivating their knowledge and expertise in these fields, and I’m entering the space with much less experience, yet I will need the same level of confidence in myself to succeed. So once again, I find myself meditating, praying, and analyzing my thoughts and feelings daily, and ultimately I overcome the self-sabotage through GRATITUDE. Remembering that I was blessed with the life I have, the knowledge I have, I was led down this path for a reason and that I am paving a new way to approach these career opportunities and lifestyle shifts. I remind myself that I will end up where I truly belong as long as I focus on myself and follow my gut. I will either find a seat at their table, surrounded by the right people and environment, or I will ultimately build my own table and invite the right people to sit around me. It’s a daily mental struggle, but developing the habits of trust and gratitude have been my biggest tools in overcoming imposter syndrome.
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?
My government name is Brandon Allen Juezan-Williams, but I go by “BeastBoi” in the dance world. I’m a Hip Hop Dance & Culture practitioner, dance educator, and organizational administrator. I began my training in dance around 2010 with world-renowned street dance organizations like Versa-Style Dance Company and The Beast Camp and became a touring professional dancer by 2014. I graduated from CSUF in 2017 with a B.A. in Entertainment Business, which led to my current role as Artistic Director of Touring & Events for Versa-Style Dance Company, managing bookings, planning events, and various administrative tasks. I have since been a guest instructor at various public and private schools, art academies, and universities nationwide including institutions like UCLA and LMU. I have also worked internationally in countries like Mexico, El Salvador, Chile, & the Philippines, with both Versa-Style and Rennie Harris Pure Movement. Additionally, I’ve been involved in the Street Dance competitive team, both participating and producing dance battles for 10 years. All of my work focuses on sharing the history, foundation, and cultural context of Hip-Hop and Street Dance. This dance culture in particular is unique because individual expression and innovation are at its core, so educating with these themes in mind encourages aspiring dancers to explore and create unique movements and pave their own paths in the dance world. Street dance is not about conforming to old structures but instead is about building new ideas on top of the previously established foundation.
Currently, I am still a principal dancer and administrator for Versa-Style Dance Company and a member of The Beast Camp, while also handling my independent bookings. In the past few years, I’ve developed a major interest in wellness, predominantly physical wellness through fitness and nutrition, but also in mental, spiritual, and financial wellness. I have been studying for a Personal Trainer certification which I hope to receive by the end of Spring 2024 so that I may also begin offering fitness and health classes as part of my practice. Eventually, I’d love to open up a wellness center with a collective of like-minded individuals that bridges the gaps between artistic practices and health, inspired by my love for dance as well as the need for creative wellness programs.
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?
Interpersonal communication – You won’t get very far in your career as a dancer if you are not able to communicate effectively with a wide range of people. This holds true in most business or creative careers. Having flexibility in the way you interact with others, being able to empathize and keep calm in tense discussions, and knowing how to articulate your thoughts are key to building rapport and a strong network.
Historical context – One thing that’s particularly unique about Hip-Hop and Street Dance is that the history is fairly new and many of the pioneers are still alive today. Their experiences and the recorded developments of this dance style have developed a culture and community that is still thriving today. When educating newcomers on this dance style, knowing historical context and the practices of the culture is pivotal as it gives meaning and purpose to the movement. I have had many students tell me they learned “hip hop dance” before learning from me and my peers, but it was just a bunch of moves to upbeat music that didn’t teach them anything of substance. They still felt detached and like they didn’t understand what was missing after years of training with dancers who didn’t know or teach historical context. Knowing why you do certain things, and where these things came from, can give you more clarity on what the future will look like.
Love/Selflessness – Although this sounds cliche and a bit abstract, the concept of spreading love through my work has been the driving force to keep me going. I see a need that I can fill, but I can fill it in a way that makes my students and collaborators feel understood and appreciated. Every time I interact with someone, I want them to walk away knowing that I respect them and acknowledge where they’re at and their current capabilities, and I will go out of my way and do a little extra if it means building a strong mutually beneficial relationship. For me, spreading love is helping others, so I do not practice this art form purely for the sake of “art” and expression, but to also use it as a practical tool to better someone’s life. This is why I care most about educating over performing, because it’s no longer just about me, it’s now about US.
Do you think it’s better to go all in on our strengths or to try to be more well-rounded by investing effort on improving areas you aren’t as strong in?
My grandpa always used to tell me that “A jack of all trades is a master of none”. Although that’s true in many instances, we live in an age where more and more people have multiple talents and interests that could create viable careers and fulfilling lifestyles. Over time, I have adopted the concept of “A jack of all trades but a master of ONE”. I am interested in many things, but I found that learning a little bit of everything without a focus will make you stagnant at some point. There is a lack of depth when you constantly jump from one thing to the next, and you will never establish a strong foundation that you can build upon. So I focused on building my expertise in dance for many years because it was the one thing I’ve consistently loved for many years, but I also looked into other subjects that had intersectionality with dance that could enhance my expertise. I have a pretty good understanding of travel and hospitality, public speaking, health/fitness, nutrition, personal finance, streetwear fashion, and some random other things I could have a conversation on. But in terms of my career, I now feel confident in not just dancing, but educating in higher learning institutions, producing dance events, managing logistics for a company, and helping others with their physical, mental, and financial wellness. These are all topics I could effectively implement and combine with my dance practice in creative ways to make my work stand out and broaden my services. So to answer the original question, I believe it’s best to focus most of your effort into one strength or area of expertise, and then learn a little bit about all the other things that may intersect with your focus.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @beastboithehypegod
Image Credits
George Simian Photography, Ricki Ramirez, The Music Center
