Today we’d like to introduce you to Kai Cameron.
Hi Kai, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started my dancer journey as someone not interested in it at all. I was initially a guitarist for almost my whole life. In middle school, a friend had invited me to a dance workshop that was at a local studio, so I went on a whim. It was here, a studio called Quest Dance Studio, that I was introduced to the dance community. I moved around different competitive teams and organizations for years until I made it a goal to start auditioning for industry gigs. I wanted to dance in music videos, on tours, and on TV/movies. During this training period, the pandemic hit and put a pause on me. While waiting to see what will happenin regarding the pandemic, there were multiple stories that had come out about many prominent dance teachers and organizations, accusing them of multiple forms of abuse. Stories like this sickened me, and I had wanted to do something about it. I closed the door on my dance industry dreams to create a safe learning environment for new dancers who will never have to worry about their coaches abusing them in any way.
It’s been 4 years since I’ve opened this organization, and it’s grown from a 13-person crew to a 100-person collective among 3 different teams.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It hasn’t been a smooth road at all. I’ve always set really high goals for myself in the long term, so getting to those goals had always taken time and given turbulence. My longest standing goal had only recently been completed after 10 years of work.
When I was 16, I was introduced to the world hip hop competition called “Hip Hop International,” the largest dance competition in the world with over 50. competing countries and 3,000 participants. Working like the olympics, each country host their own qualifier and the top teams from each country compete on the world stage. The world championship is 3 rounds of dance, where in the World Finals round, the top 7-9 teams compete with all eyes on them. I set a goal for myself at 16 to make it to the World Finals round.
Every year was a miss. I’d been amongst the top 15 teams in the world on 5 separate occasions, but not high ranking enough to get to the final round like I’d been wanting. It wasn’t until year 10, when I’d finally lead my own team as the head director, that we finally made it and performed on the world stage.
My mental and emotional struggles had sprouted from competitive environments, and much of my internal journey has been learning how to deal with them. Insecurities about my leadership, choreography, and creative choices have always been something I’ve had to deal with.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am the founder and CEO of the Hyphen Collective, an organization that trains dancers in safe and supportive spaces. We’re most known for our creative and theatrical performance pieces onstage, combining multiple styles of dance to make dynamic shows. I’m most proud of the speed of which our team has grown. Many organizations take several years to grow and establish themselves as an association. It has really felt like we’ve been able to grow ourselves and create an efficient workflow in a short amount of time of only 4 years.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Networking with others has grown easier as time has gone by. The more involved that I am in community events and services, the eaiser it is to bridge any relationships. Participating in as many events as possible has proven to be the best method for me.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/kaiyacking
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@kaicameron
Image Credits
@AaronWooCreative
@HyphenDance
