We recently connected with Nick Young and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Nick, thanks for joining us today. The first dollar you earn is always exciting – it’s like the start of a new chapter and so we’d love to hear about the first time you sold or generated revenue from your creative work?

I never planned on attending college. I had a passion to perform and the motivation to pursue that, but realistically had no plan to get there. As a senior in High School watching everyone strive for acceptance into their top three, I had no reason not to pretend to do the same. Chasing dance was my only goal in sight. I dedicated myself to High School Show Choir spending each additional moment stylistically shaping my dance quality. As graduation approached, I had a conversation with one of my choir’s band members, working for a professional ensemble at the time, who asked about my future plans. Truly having no answer, he revealed The Young Americans was looking for an additional male dancer for an upcoming Summer project. A Dinner Theatre held in Harbor Springs, Michigan, halfway across the country. Hesitation for leaving my friends and family overflowed me with concerns, but to capitalize on this opportunity to turn my passion into a reality was stronger than any doubts. Two days after school finished, I was on plane wide-eyed and eager, to step into the future opening before me. I am confident when I say this job brought me to where I stand today.

Nick, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

If you shared these next few sentences with my younger self, I would have never believed you. I am beyond grateful to have turned my passion for performing, dance, and creating into my career. Joining Show Choir in middle school opened my eyes to world of entertainment that felt like a dream I needed to make my reality. Timidly exploring those early years of high school, finally finding a clue once Covid hit our campus. I was given a two year break and decided to made quarantine my best friend. Self motivation ran my time at home, turning our garage into my own private dance studio. After six years of musical theatre and a semester of dance training, I was offered my first professional job working as a Dancer. I was recruited by The Young Americans to perform at their Dinner Theatre in Harbor Springs and continued on dancing for “The Magic of Christmas” at La Mirada Theatre. Returning back to LA, more opportunities arose with performances at renowned amusement parks, including Disneyland for the Lunar New Year Procession and Knott’s Berry Farm, where I launched two brand new shows “Calle Celebracion” and “Music, Monsters, and Mayhem”. With theater under my belt, I transitioned into film joining LUME Dance to learn the ropes of performing behind a camera. Since then, I have been privileged to work for prominent artists such as Justin Timberlake, Lenny Kravitz, Twenty-One Pilots, Todrick Hall, and Cody Fry. These opportunities introduced me in collaborating with talented choreographers including Monika Felice Smith, MaryAnn Chavez, Hannah Gallagher, Noel Bajandas, and Erica Klein. With a strong background working in the industry, I met with one of the top dance agencies in LA to look for further representation. I am beyond grateful to have signed with BLOC Talent Agency all thanks to Anaïs Raines and Laney Filuk for trusting my journey as I explore new opportunities and push limits to what is achievable. I cannot wait to see where I go in the future.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

There is no hiding that the dance industry is extremely competitive, and more often than not, I find myself falling into this trap of comparison. I constantly work to unlearn this habit that has deeply ingrained itself into my mindset. As an aspiring performer, auditioning is purely unavoidable. Each opportunity puts you against the best dancers in your area, striving to outperform one another. Since you are the product being sold, casting is evaluating the build of your body, your natural talent possession, and your level of training from the moment you walk in through that door. It becomes too easy to compare what you bring to the table with those around you. It is crucial to remember that each Dancer is on their own unique journey, with some days performing better than others. Sometimes, that one job was not made to be the right fit for you. I often make it a point to step back from this competitive environment and reconnect with my passion for dance, reminding myself why I chose to pursue my dream in the first place.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

As a Dance Instructor, I spend much of my week choreographing new combinations in preparation for my scheduled classes. I curate lesson plans and choreograph to match the style and level specified for my students, the majority happening on my own time. I greatly enjoy teaching young dancers by building their knowledge and technical skills. However, the impact I leave on them truly drives my passion as an instructor. With each class, I aim not only to teach the steps but to encourage my dancers to make stylistic choices that connect their movements with a related feeling and purpose. The most rewarding accomplishment is returning to find them working on perfecting the piece or combo I had set on them previously in between or before classes. Watching my students excited to explore new movements and excel in their proficiency in dance validates my work. Seeing each student grow, not just as dancers, but as individuals, learning confidence and creativity reaffirms why I do what I do.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/the.nickyoung

Image Credits

Jess Young Photography
Joshua A. Photography