Dance Mogul: What inspired you to start dancing
Selasi Dogbatse: I started dancing when I was four years old. My mom put me in a music school where the first year was one mandatory ballet and theory class. I immediately clicked with dance. Later on, hip-hop culture and music spoke to me so I decided to audition to be a part of a hip hop dance group. We started to train, won competitions, battles and traveled around the world. The hip-hop culture has always been a part of my life. Listening to music, sharing my passion and traveling helps me to get inspired, so I realized that I wanted to be a professional dancer.
Dance Mogul: How did you develop a work ethic to train?
Selasi Dogbatse: When I decided to take dance as a career I took a lot of different classes for years like jazz, contemporary, house dance, popping, locking, hip-hop, dancehall, etc. I also traveled a lot to see different cultures, going out to listen to music, see events and meet new people. I performed for theatre, tv shows, and artists and then I moved to L.A to continue my career.
Dance Mogul: When was your big break?
Selasi Dogbatse: My first big job was in Belgium when I was seventeen years old, someone called me to be a part of this fashion show for the new brand of cars “MINI” and “BMW”. I was actually subbing for one of the dancers that couldn’t be a part of the show anymore so I had to learn a 40min show in 2 days instead of 1 week. That was really challenging for me because I never had to do that before and especially modeling and dancing with heels too. After the show, the production and the choreographer were very surprised and happy about the performance, and they hired me for other jobs. Since then being a professional dancer became a full-time job for me.
Dance Mogul: What is it like for you on stage?
Selasi Dogbatse: I think the best moment is when you see the crowd screaming for what you’re doing, you feel respected and proud to share something you love doing with people that love seeing it.
Dance Mogul: Based on your experiences now, what would you tell your younger self?
Selasi Dogbatse: I will say to myself that there is always a better situation but remember that it could be so much worst than what I have, then I will say come on Selasi keep going and never stop.
Dance Mogul: What is it like dancing for major artists on a regular basis?
Selasi Dogbatse: It’s really exciting, especially when you work with an artist that you always support and love their music.
Dance Mogul: What was it like to perform at the 2016 VMAs?
Selasi Dogbatse: It was a big experience and a great feeling on stage, for me one of the best I ever had.
Dance Mogul: Where do you see your dance brand in the next 10yrs and how would you like to help
empower the dance community?
Selasi Dogbatse: Choreographing and directing artist, but I would also love to create my own show. Open a dance school or a dance agency to share my experience and give my knowledge to the young generation.
Dance Mogul: What advice do you have for the younger generation of dancers?
Selasi Dogbatse: Whatever you dream of, just keep believing that you are gonna make it because there is no secret if you are working hard, training the right way and staying focused anything is possible. No one said it will be easy, but it is worth it to try and never give up. There is nothing more powerful than accomplishing your dreams and no one can take that from you.
Dance Mogul: Is there anyone you would like to thank?
Selasi Dogbatse: I would like to thank every person that crossed my path, the people that trained me since I was little, all my teachers and mentors, the one that gave me my first job and other jobs. The people that always supported me and believed in me and then I would like to thank my friends, my mom, and my sister.
