Today we’d like to introduce you to Emil Diaz
Hi Emil, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My journey in dance began thanks to my older siblings, who are dancers. My first exposure to dance was through breaking and dance battles, which later sparked my interest in performing on stage and entering the entertainment industry.
Now, with 15 years of experience in dance, I have established myself as a leading figure in the urban dance scene in Latin America. Throughout my career, I have taught classes in various countries across the region and even reached Europe with my style and teaching approach, helping to train a diverse range of dancers in different countries and leaving my mark on numerous academies and stages.
In 2022, my journey led me to join the team of dancers for Myke Towers’ Young Kingz tour, featuring the renowned Puerto Rican artist. I also worked for several years with Boza, a celebrated Panamanian artist, standing out as the lead in the music video for Orion by Boza feat. Elena Rose. Additionally, I have shared the stage with Lenny Tavárez from Puerto Rico, Bomba Estéreo, and many Panamanian artists, solidifying my status as a key figure in the urban dance industry.
Currently, I am an official dancer for the show Jowell y Randy 3D, showcasing my versatility and mastery in styles such as hip-hop, reggaeton, dancehall, and afro dance.
I also refined my technique by training in Los Angeles, United States, with the renowned group Academy of Villains, one of the most influential urban dance companies worldwide at the time.
At just 28 years old, I continue to elevate my career, fusing technique, passion, and energy into every performance. My dedication to the art has made me a high-level dancer within the music and entertainment industry.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
My biggest challenge has always been that, in the country where I was born—Panama—dance is not seen as a career. There is no support, and, on top of that, I come from a neighborhood in Panama City, which made things even harder. I started dancing at home and on the streets, practicing outdoors. Many times, I had to choose between using the little money I had to pay for transportation to my training sessions or using it to buy food at that moment because my family didn’t have many resources.
The dance community in Panama is small, so in order to learn more, I felt the need to leave the country and travel. To afford those first trips, I had to work hard, taking on different jobs to save enough money to keep improving my skills. I first traveled to nearby places like Costa Rica and Colombia to train and learn. Later, I made it to the U.S., where I competed in Hip Hop International in 2017 in Phoenix, Arizona.
At that time, there were no Panamanian dancers making a name for themselves internationally, so I have been working to become one. I want the young people in my country to know that you can make a living from dance, that you can travel and see the world through this beautiful art.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My dance style has always been characterized by the fusion of dancehall and hip-hop, as well as afro dance, since dancehall and afro are the most representative rhythms of where I come from.
With this style, I have choreographed pieces for the show of Anuel AA, a renowned artist from Puerto Rico. I also created choreographic pieces for the show of Myke Towers, also from Puerto Rico, and for the group Bomba Estéreo, for whom I had the opportunity to work as a choreographer.
I have traveled as a dance instructor and have been part of various dance camps, teaching in countries such as Colombia, Mexico, Costa Rica, Chile, Finland, Puerto Rico, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Venezuela, and Peru.
Teaching is one of the most fulfilling aspects of my dance journey because I love creating and sharing everything new that I learn.
I believe that everyone is unique in their own way, and I think what sets me apart from others is how I’ve learned to embrace both my flaws and my strengths as integral parts of who I am. This has allowed me to develop my artistic side in a genuine way—expressing from emotion rather than just the superficial.
Your greatest superpower is that there is no one else like you. I have also achieved this mindset thanks to the discipline I have cultivated over the years, and I see discipline as a key factor in anyone’s success.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
My siblings played a very important role, supporting me from the beginning to follow in their footsteps in dance and teaching me that many things are possible if you start thinking bigger and work towards it. My environment and surrounding myself with the right people in my dance group also influenced me greatly in becoming who I am today. My mom, too, worked hard from the start and was always there for me. She is also an artist in the visual arts, though she doesn’t pursue it as her career.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emildyaz
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@EmilxDiaz
