Today we’d like to introduce you to Steve Terada.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Steve. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I’ve always been fascinated by Martial Arts from a young age from watching Jackie Chan, Ninja Turtles, and the Karate Kid. This inspired me to go and take classes at the local studio and eventually making it onto the demo team. This was my first introduction to live performance. I later started competing on the North American Sport Karate Association circuit with Team Paul Mitchell performing musical forms and extreme forms where you had the freedom to choreograph your own routines.
After winning multiple world titles over a span of a decade, I started dancing with Quest Crew. I never really had been a part of a crew before in the sense that all of my closest friends were spread out across the country from karate. I found myself wanting to improve my dance but also wanting to grow with my friends. The first time we won the crown for MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew came at the perfect time for us to push ourselves to the limit as a relatively unknown crew. We traveled the world performing as the main act and then collaborating with artists like Usher and LMFAO. Quest Crew’s second run at the title of America’s Best Dance Crew resulted in becoming the first dance crew to win an Emmy for Dance Choreography.
Has it been a smooth road?
With any job that relies extensively on your body, I’ve gone through many injuries and surgeries. 3 ACL reconstructions with meniscus tears and a two-level cervical spine fusion throughout my career. Having to be so physical has taken a toll over the years but adapting to my body and mechanics has never left me bored. I’m constantly learning new things about my body and figuring out when to rest and when to push myself.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I specialize in Martial Arts and Tricking in choreographed performance and private instruction. I’m mostly known for being a pioneer in the Martial Arts Tricking community and a founding member of the world-renowned dance crew, Quest Crew. I’m most proud of the techniques I developed and passed down to the next generation of performers. I think my ever-evolving career from my unique skillsets sets me apart from others. From Martial Arts performance, pioneering techniques in a movement community to stunts, and dance I utilize a little bit of each in everything I do.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love the food in West LA. I love going to Sawtelle and eating at the Japanese restaurants and grabbing coffee at all of the coffee shops. I think the thing I least like about West LA is trying to drive towards the 405 at rush hour…Although I get to listen to a lot of podcasts for that 45-minute drive to the freeway.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/steveterada
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/steveteradaofficial
- Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/steveterada
Image Credit:
Mik Luxon
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