Conversations with Dassy Lee

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dassy Lee.

Hi Dassy, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Hello, my name is Inyoung “Dassy” Lee.

I was born and raised in South Korea. With a dream of becoming an international dancer, I moved to the U.S. by myself at the age of 21.

I started dancing at 9 years old, inspired by music videos. Around the age of 12 or 13, I saw a TV show called So You Think You Can Dance, and it changed my life. From that moment, I dreamed of moving to the U.S. to one day be on that very show.

I continued dancing through the years, and eventually, I discovered street dance — and I fell in love. I began training in various styles like Locking, Popping, Hip Hop, and House. Among them, Popping stood out to me. It was extremely challenging, and that’s exactly why I became so drawn to it.

Diving into street dance also fueled my motivation to move to America — I wanted to learn the culture from the roots it came from.

After graduating high school, I packed my bags and moved to the States using the money I had saved from years of part-time work. I had no financial support, no friends, and barely spoke English — but that was the beginning of my journey to becoming a professional dancer.

In 2016, I received my artist visa, which allowed me to audition for So You Think You Can Dance Season 14. I made it to the Top 8 on the show, and from there, my career took off. I became sponsored by Red Bull and began traveling the world to teach, battle, judge, perform — and truly live my dream.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Of course, my journey came with many obstacles. I was raised by a single mother, and growing up, our family was always poor. I had to give up on a lot of things simply because we couldn’t afford them. My mom was always working, so I had a lot of free time alone — but in that time, I discovered dancing, and eventually fell in love with it.

When I moved to the U.S. with very little money and no English skills, surviving was tough. I first moved to New York, and I remember eating $1 pizza for all three meals just to get by. I entered as many dance battles as I could, winning prize money to help pay my rent. Those hungry days were real — but they taught me so much.

I was a hungry dancer — full of passion and ambition. Even during moments when I felt tired and unsupported, I never stopped. I kept going.

Looking back, I’m incredibly thankful for the dance community. Street dance naturally brings people together. I made so many friends who helped me, danced with me, and even taught me English. That sense of community is what made my time in New York so meaningful.

Sometimes, when you grow up lacking something, it pushes you to go even further than you ever thought possible. I’m truly grateful for everyone I met along my journey and for the life I came from. It gave me the space and drive to prove myself — and I did.

I’m proud of who I am today. The biggest lesson I’ve learned is this: even if you come from a difficult or limited background, it doesn’t define you. You still have the power to rise, to fight for your future, and to thrive.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a professional dancer based in Los Angeles with 25 years of dance experience and nearly two decades dedicated to the style of Popping. Over the years, I’ve built an international career teaching, performing, judging, and traveling as both a solo artist and as a member of the all-women street dance collective, Femme Fatale(www.femmefataledance.com).

In addition to my work as a performer, I am the founder of Everyday Popping(www.everydaypopping.com), an online tutorial platform dedicated to teaching the art of Popping to dancers around the world. My mission is to make learning this style accessible and empowering for dancers at all levels.

Beyond dance, I’m also a visual artist. My artwork has been exhibited in gallery and collected by supporters internationally. You can view my portfolio at Dassy Art(www.dassyart.com).

What are your plans for the future?
I’m currently expanding my online platform beyond Popping to include Everyday Hip Hop, Everyday Locking, Everyday Waacking, and more — building what I envision to become the largest street dance tutorial platform in the world.

This project goes far beyond just videos. I plan to create live battle events, in-person bootcamps, and global experiences that bring dancers together from all walks of life. Through this journey, I’ll continue to do my best — in my own way — to inspire people through my art and share the beauty, discipline, and power of street dance with the world.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.everydaypopping.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dancerdassy
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dassypopping/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dassy-lee-611770134/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/dancerdassy
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/everydaypopping

Image Credits
mauro puccini, Breakin’ Convention, Nike, Red Bull