Today we’d like to introduce you to Jason Vaughn.
Hi Jason, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Well, my story goes a little something like this… I’ve always been a creative since I was in high school, and my first passion was BMX bikes and journalism circa’ 1995. BMX gave me a freedom and expression that organized sports could never birth. I tried track and basketball but it never solidified in my soul or gave me a spark of joy.. Whenever I would ride my bike and spend countless hours learning tricks with my homies, I felt like I was floating and all the problems of the world faded away. In that same year, I started a zine and got heavily into punk rock music. I was a rebel since I was born, and I’ve always liked to do things my own way.
The title of the zine was called “Boy-Cott Magazine, makes perfect since right??! Ha! My articles were raw, unfiltered, rebellious, wild and funny! Now to bring this story full circle, I quit BMX in 2005 and ended the magazine in 2013 for dance. I just got to the point where I needed a different creative outlet, and BMX was taking a toll on my body…Dance literally gave me the same dopamine hit that BMX did, minus the crazy injuries. Ha!!! I felt like I was that young rebellious kid again reborn into a world I knew nothing about. The first dance form that I encountered was breaking! I’ll never forget the first night in Houston, TX when I say a b-boy throw down the most complex footwork to freeze combo. The name of the venue I was at was called “The Proletariat”, and there was a circle formed called a “cypher”, that’s where the breakers would express themselves. After that inception, and seeing live MCs DJ’s and Graffiti writers I was hooked!
The very next day I spent hours Google searching about Hip-Hop culture, and that evening I changed my wardrobe completely. I wanted to fit in and feel fresh to def! As the years went on I started to explore other dance forms such as House, Hip Hop and MULTIPLE AFRICAN DANCES!
Currently, I still practice all these forms of dance, but African and House dance is at the forefront and it’s taken me very far regarding teaching / performing opportunities. I really tapped deeply into my cultural heritage and self-identity with these dance forms. Once again, another creative rebirth…
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?
Regarding the magazine, it was a pretty smooth journey until my advertisement money dried up due to a lack of advertisers and the printed magazine sales dropping and digital taking over. I tried to pivot, but it wasn’t enough to stay above water… Dance was rough in the beginning, because I entered a culture I knew nothing about, and in the beginning, everyone wasn’t welcoming until they really knew your intentions. I honestly thought everyone was just being an a**hole until I started attending workshops and panels. In those moments when the OG’s would speak and tell their story it all made perfect sense. One quote in particular from Buddha Stretch of the Mop Top crew sticks with me to this day – “This is not a dance, it’s a CULTURAL EXPERIENCE, and the dance is a representation of the culture”. I learned over time that it applied to all the dance forms I was learning…
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I work for Wolfgang Puck as a Transportation Food Specialist. My sole job to make sure that all the employees get their food delivered on time. I’m proud that I can bring a smile to all the employees daily and for special events! Joy is infectious, and why not spread that energy from my artistic world to my day job. What sets me apart from others is my resilient nature and optimism.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
I currently don’t see any big changes or trends in my day job in the next 5-10 years, but I do for the dance world. Since the pandemic hit, online dance classes exploded! The world saw that you don’t have to always travel to learn from prolific dance teachers. I can see a whole market for online dance classes and also in the metaverse which is wild to think about!
Side note: Please continue to travel to learn face to face, the results are more compounding!
Pricing:
- Private Lessons – $75 hrly.
- Group Lessons (5 or more) – $20 hrly.
- Group Lessons (less than 5) – $30 hrly.
- Online Private – $40 hrly.
- Online Group – $20 hrly.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.dnd80.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mamba_1980/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blackmamba80
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-vaughn-21a48410a/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3GfhD3OIKrRFj8Fpz_eAww
