Rising Stars: Meet David Nguyen of Greensboro

Today we’d like to introduce you to David Nguyen

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Choreographer, Instructor, Community Marketer
Born & Raised in Greensboro NC, I was raised in a mostly traditional Vietnamese household. From that, it was kind of a struggle from the very beginning. Being second generation and the first to be born in America Had a lot to do with shaping who I am. Straight from the jump, I was the minority within the minority. I started being the only Asian-American kid in all my grades in college. Being surrounded by different cultures forced me to be outside my bubble. Everything was new to me from the clothes that people wore to the food they ate, to also to the music that people listened to, all just being themselves. This constant exposure made me open-minded to what you could become if you set your mind to it.
Being again, a second generation Asian-american. I had quite a small family with only it being 4 in total—my mom, brother, sister, and myself. I never really had a lot of relative figures in the States but what I did have is all my teachers as early as 3rd – 4th grade, till college. Those were my role models, those were my heroes. I saw myself becoming like them when coming to adulthood. I have known since I was a kid that I wanted to teach but finding my niche was the hardest part. Till I founded cable TV & in early 2010 YouTube. Watching my very own people, Asian Americans from all over the U.S. such as America’s Best Dance Crew, So You Think You Can Dance?, World of Dance, and The Jabbawockeez, all has led me to the direction of where I am today. The only Asian representation on American soil was being a dancer. So I went for it. Over the years since the 6th grade, I’ve practiced in my room with no mirrors. No music, and just did the robot in my room for several hours of the day. It didn’t matter cause I thought it looked cool haha. Till I got my first laptop, I discovered all the early-age access to dance and watched reruns back to back of all the Asian representations.

I found it early on cable tv and YouTube at a young age and the only exposure I’ve gotten from this thing is dance. Dance has always been a thing that just kinda stuck when I was in my basement practicing day in and day out without mirrors or speakers. Along the way, I was able to learn from classes from all around the world to formula my style to what I think what dance is. I began taking classes when I was 15 and felt that’s where I wanted to be. In a classroom setting learning with others and hopefully soon becoming what I was pretty destined to be. A teacher/instructor but in dance! Since I was 18 I traveled to Virginia to DC, and all through North Carolina to begin my teaching career. From my very own school at the University of North Carolina Greensboro to UNC, NC State, Duke University, and the University of Chapel Hill. All has prepared me to be where I am today. My main goal through this journey would have to be putting North Carolina on the Map of dance. With a small community, I am grateful to be the middle man to many friends and colleagues to know what NC is made of. Traveling to other states/communities and offering my marketing/videography work has been the bridge to connecting more people to the North Carolina scene in art. With all the work put into teaching and guiding the next generation of dance.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Really its a lonely road going within this path. You tend to miss out the important days /events of your life. Birthdays, Weddings, annually get together are often tough take make especially when this dance career requires you to travel at least every week. Sometime you miss out on these normal things that happens in everyone lives but you have to sacrifice your own in order to help others. Would I do it all over again? Absolutely.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a choreographer, teacher, dancer, videographer, photographer
I am most proud of representing my community in NC and sharing my love for dance and teaching. Life experiences correlates so much to life and being the bridge to share is the best part of the job. As I’m learning, so is my dancing and vice versa.

Can you share something surprising about yourself?
Bowling / Djing is a fun past time I like to do on my down time. I’ve joined a bowling league in Greensboro and help my team place not last haha. Djing at my local University (UNCG) has been a journey it self by giving back to communities and they enjoy their day talking with friends, skating. and doing work the same way I was at my time during UNCG.

Pricing:

• 250 for 5 classes (1 hour each)
• $500+ Videography Services
• $375+ Photography Services

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.imaxdavid.com
• Instagram: doovidshere
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@doovidshere