Danielo Mendes’s Stories, Lessons & Insights

Danielo Mendes shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Danielo, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What is a normal day like for you right now?
A normal day for me right now starts pretty early. I’m up in the morning getting my daughter ready for school—so that’s our little routine of waking her up, playing a bit, doing her hair, getting her breakfast, and then dropping her off. Once she’s at school, I dive into my workday. That usually means a mix of teaching dance classes, sometimes leading paramotor sessions if they’re on the schedule, and most importantly, focusing on creating my new venture—the Creativity Collective space. It’s a full but really rewarding day.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Danielo, and my life has been shaped by movement long before I even understood what that meant. I was born and raised in Brazil, spent my teen years in France, and eventually started over in the United States. Each place left its mark on me — different languages, different cultures, different rhythms, different ways people express themselves. Growing up in those three worlds taught me early that creativity isn’t just something you do. It’s something you live inside of.

Dance became the one thing that stayed with me through every country, every move, every chapter. It took me from small studios to international stages, to a world tour that felt unreal even while it was happening. I’ve traveled to 54 countries teaching, performing, and learning from people who share nothing with me on paper but everything in spirit. Movement and music became the bridge — a language I could speak anywhere without saying a word. All I needed was to listen and start moving.

But out of everything I’ve done, one thing always makes my day: working with beginners. There’s something raw and honest about someone who walks into a room unsure, maybe even scared, and slowly becomes someone who actually trusts their body, lets go, and starts enjoying themselves. It requires really learning to listen to the student’s needs without them having to say a thing, and learning to watch and see them without staring in a way that feels uncomfortable. I’ve watched people break through emotional walls without even realizing it was happening. Being part of that transformation — that spark — is honestly one of my biggest accomplishments each class. It reminds me why I kept dancing in the first place. Not because of dancing itself but because dancing is the missing piece that helps people feel happiness.

All of this — the cultures I grew up in, the experiences from the road, the years of teaching and mentoring — eventually pointed me toward the Creativity Collective by STAYBAD. For me, this space is the most personal project I’ve ever worked on. It carries everything I’ve learned in 20+ years of dancing: the healing side, the expressive side, the fun side, the disciplined side, and the side that helps people reconnect with parts of themselves they forgot were there, or knew about but never dared to explore.

The Creativity Collective is the place I wish existed when I was younger — a space where adults can feel safe to move, to feel, to grow, to try something new without judgment, and to experience a sense of community in a real way. It’s the home for everything I’ve collected from a lifetime of traveling, dancing, and evolving, and now I get to build it for other people.

That’s who I am in one story — a mix of cultures, a lifetime of movement, and someone who wants to use all of that to help people come alive again.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
You know, the reason I have this mantra—STAYBAD, which stands for Beyond Any Definitions—is because I’ve never really let the world tell me who I had to be. Even as a kid, I was always the one following what felt right to me—being the class clown, expressing myself through dance, and just doing things that made me feel alive. I never quite fit into the boxes that people tried to put me in, and that’s really guided me through all these different adventures—whether it was dancing, getting into cinematography, flying paramotors, running a business, or designing high-end furniture. It’s always been about following my heart.

And honestly, one of the biggest turning points that helped me grow even more as a person was having my daughter. She’s been a huge part of that journey, showing me new layers of who I am and giving me an even deeper reason to stay true to myself. All these experiences—the successes, the failures, the things I’ve fallen in love with—have shaped who I am now. And that’s why I keep pushing forward in my own way.

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
For me, suffering taught me something that success never could: it showed me that success is really just one part of the journey, and that journey includes failure, pain, and struggle along the way. It’s not black and white—it’s about understanding that when you go through hardship and come out the other side, you find a kind of relief and appreciation that you just can’t get from success alone.

Suffering taught me that the tough times are just phases—just experiences that shape you. When you have the courage to get through them, you end up more compassionate, more grounded, and you really learn to value the good moments because you’ve known the bad. And honestly, that perspective has made me who I am. It’s taught me that every negative can be a stepping stone towards something positive, and I’ve come to appreciate success so much more because of the struggles I’ve faced.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
My foundational philosophies are simple: creativity, inclusion, and empathy.

Creativity has so many facets—it can restore, lead to self discovery, forge bonds, open new perceptions—the list is endless. As adults, we carry a lot, and allowing ourselves to create can provide that much-needed reset and re-charge.

Inclusion promotes growth, new ideas, and harmony. Everyone deserves a place where they feel welcome. I’ve taught in 54 countries, and the thing that stayed with me the most is how similar people are when they feel safe and can be open to each other. When there’s no pressure or judgment, people blossom. They learn faster. They enjoy the creative process more. They surprise themselves and each other. For example, there are so many ways to dance. The most important thing is authenticity. And you can’t be authentic unless you feel at home.

Empathy is essential. Many “creatives” forget what it’s like to be a beginner, to stand on the cliff of a new adventure. That’s why I care so much about working with beginners. Guiding someone as they take the exhilarating, yet sometimes terrifying, creative journey is one of the best parts of what I do.
Empathy also applies to all stages of the creative process. We are often our own hardest critic. An empathetic mentor and community can provide the support and encouragement that everyone needs to remain open and free.

Creativity, inclusion and empathy are universal. They show up in dance, visual arts, language, philosophy….you name it. Many adults just haven’t had the time and space to explore creativity ideas in while. The more I thought about this, the more I realized that I wanted to build a place where adults feel free to create. No pressure. No ego. Just growth, connection, mutual understanding and joy! That’s why I am establishing the Creativity Collective—a place where adults can move, express themselves, try something new, re-discover something old, whatever—within a welcoming community.

When people see me out in public, they’re definitely seeing the real me. I’m always myself, but I try to put out a version of me that brings some positivity into the world. I’d rather make someone feel comfortable, smile, or feel at ease than have them walk away feeling awkward or offended. That’s not about being fake — it just feels good to contribute something positive when I can.

Of course, I’m human. I have tough days and personal things I go through, but I do my best not to let that spill onto others. It’s not about hiding who I am, but about being aware of the energy I’m giving off.

So yes, the public version of me is real. I’m genuine in how I show up, and I do kind things because it feels right, not because I’m trying to project an image.

At the same time, I’m not someone who stays quiet if I see disrespect or someone being mistreated. I’ll speak up, and I’m not afraid to step in if something isn’t right. Being myself includes both sides — the positive energy and the willingness to stand up when it matters.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
What I understand deeply—and I think a lot of people might not always realize—is that life is really what you make of it. Everything we experience is shaped by our own actions, reactions, thoughts, and feelings. It’s all about perception. Two people can go through the exact same situation and come away with totally different experiences just because of how they interpret it.

I like to think of it like this: if someone were to curse at you in a language you don’t understand, it wouldn’t offend you at all—not because the words aren’t harsh, but because your perception isn’t tied to their meaning. And that’s how life works: it’s all about how you frame your experiences and what you choose to make of them. That’s something I’ve come to understand deeply.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.Danielomendes.com
• Instagram: CreativityCollectiveLA
• Youtube: danielostaybad
• Other: @DiamondcoastMedia and @StaybadParamotor