We recently connected with Benjamin Phan and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Benjamin, thanks for joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

I didn’t come from a dance or entertainment background, so my parents were reluctant to support my decision to pursue a career in dance. They weren’t wrong to be skeptical—I had only taken up Hip Hop dance shortly after high school, and I had just completely bombed a recent audition. At that point, I planned to return to college. But then, something in me refused to quit. I had no one to prove anything to but myself, and I’m glad I took that bet—because shortly after, my life changed.

At 21, I was offered the opportunity to perform with Fighting Gravity, best known for finishing third on America’s Got Talent Season 5. I had never traveled, never been paid “over the counter” for dance, and now I was being offered both… in Beijing, China. It was surreal. But there was one problem—I didn’t have a passport, and time was running out before rehearsals and bookings had to be finalized.

Fighting Gravity suggested I try again next time, and I’ll never forget how crushed I felt. The only thing standing between me and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity was my lack of preparation. To this day, I don’t know where I found the courage, but I told them, “I can get my passport before the first rehearsal. No worries.” I had no real plan—just determination. Rehearsals were a week away, and one of those days happened to be July 4th. The odds were stacked against me, but I put my word on the line. To my surprise, they accepted.

On July 4th, I left my house at 3 AM for a four-hour drive to Miami, heading straight to the passport agency for an expedited passport. They opened at 8 AM, and I was determined to be the first in line. When I finally reached the attendant, my heart was racing—I was so close.

Then, they told me no.

“There are people who needed to leave yesterday,” the attendant said. “This isn’t an emergency.”

My heart sank. For a moment, I was speechless. But I had already fought to get here—this was just another obstacle.

“If they needed to leave yesterday, then they should be here now,” I responded. “Everyone who’s prioritizing this is here, so why is my situation any less important?”

I could not believe I had the courage to say this. The attendant stepped away to speak with a manager. When he returned, he nodded toward the entrance.

Did the entire line break out in cheers? No. But in my head, that’s exactly how it felt.

Unfortunately, the fight wasn’t over. After submitting my documents, taking my photo, and getting a pickup time, I was told they might not process my passport before closing. I immediately paid for express shipping, hoping it would arrive before the weekend. The estimated delivery? The day of rehearsal.

That Sunday, Fighting Gravity messaged me: Did you get your passport? They needed to submit travel visas that night. I didn’t have it yet—but the tracking number said it was out for delivery. So I told them, yes, praying it would show up in time while mentally preparing an excuse in case it didn’t.

Two hours before I had to leave for rehearsal, my passport was delivered.

I was the last member to get my flight booked, but I made it. And that moment—fighting against the odds, refusing to accept defeat—became my foundation. It gave me the confidence to keep betting on myself.

That first gig led to years of touring with Fighting Gravity. I performed again on AGT and on television shows around the world. And it all started with a single decision: to believe in my ability to make things happen.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

As an audiophile, music has always been essential to both my mind and body. Naturally, dance became my form of expression—first as an outlet, then as a platform to teach, coach, and inspire people of all ages. While I spend most of my time teaching and leading my adult Hip Hop dance team, theSQUAD, my greatest strength lies in coaching and motivating my students and teammates.

I’ve had the privilege of guiding my team to internationally recognized competitions like Hip Hop International (HHI) and World of Dance (WOD)—where we’ve not only medaled but also made an impact on the global stage. Most recently, we were proud USA Silver Medalists at HHI. But beyond titles and trophies, my greatest achievement is cultivating a space where dancers grow—not just in skill, but as individuals.

At theSQUAD, we believe in being people first—before dancers, before competitors. The culture we’ve built is rooted in authenticity, support, and shared ambition. It’s the unique personalities of our teammates that make this team truly special.

🔹 Follow our journey: @theSQUADFL

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

After the COVID pandemic in 2020, my team, theSQUAD, saw a dip in both teammates and participation. As soon as competitions started returning, I pushed to keep us in the game. Even with our small but mighty group, competing against much larger teams took a toll on us over the next few seasons.

By 2022, I made the decision to step away from competing and prioritized training instead. I focused on refining our skills while opening our space to the community—welcoming dancers who simply wanted to grow with us. That’s when I developed our unique “Open Practices”—a two-part training approach where someone would teach a lesson and combo on the first day, and a week later, we’d revisit and build upon what we had learned. This method proved incredibly effective, drawing more and more people to our space.

After months of open practices, we hosted auditions for a new season, and over 50 dancers showed up. Since then, every audition has remained just as strong, marking a turning point for our team.

From there, we went on to become:
🏆 2023 World of Dance: ATL Champions
🥈 2024 USA Hip Hop International Silver Medalists
🌍 2024 HHI Worlds Semi-Finalists (Top 20)

Taking a step back can feel like losing progress, but if this journey has taught me anything, it’s that pulling back isn’t a setback—it’s how you create momentum forward.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding part of being in a creative field is witnessing the growth of others’ creativity. Ideas have a way of harmonizing that’s unique to the relationship you share with each collaborator. Every new connection brings fresh perspectives and challenges, pushing you to find creative solutions in ways you never expected.

There’s nothing quite like seeing others thrive while you thrive alongside them. You can’t plan for these moments—but when they happen, you feel them.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @benfn10 & @thesquadfl
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesquadfl
• Youtube: https://YouTube.com/thesquadfl

Image Credits

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