Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Speaker A: Foreign.
[00:00:04] Speaker B: It's happening. I'm Dana. This is Words that Move Me. You're here. My guest today is Dr. Arnel Calvario Ripkens, occupational therapist, dancer, dance educator, practitioner, and earth angel. I'm going to add that Arnel to your.
To your calling card.
[00:00:24] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:00:25] Speaker B: Such a huge fan of this person, their message, their work, and their way.
[00:00:28] Speaker A: And.
[00:00:29] Speaker B: And I'm thrilled to share this conversation with you. But first, some wins.
Win. The Seaweed Sisters have been accepted to the San Francisco Dance Film Festival for our latest work titled Still Got It.
Everybody knows that, right? But not everybody knows that the reel that San Francisco Dance Film Festival shared of ours in collaboration with us is now at a whopping 866,000 views on this reel. And. And.
And one of those pairs of eyeballs belongs to Pierce Brosnan.
[00:01:12] Speaker A: What?
[00:01:13] Speaker B: That's crazy cool.
All right. That's what's going well in my world. 007 has seen me operate an old lady puppet. How about you?
I'm so glad that you're winning. Congratulations. Please keep it up. And please buckle up for this extremely heartful and thoughtful conversation with Arnel.
Specifically, if you are a leader in this space dance choreography and education, this conversation is for you. Arnel has tools, practical tools that will help you build the type of communities that you want to see more of in the world. I am absolutely rocked by this conversation, and I hope that you will be, too. Enjoy.
Those are pretty tight.
[00:02:20] Speaker A: 8.
[00:02:20] Speaker B: Arnel, welcome back to the podcast.
[00:02:22] Speaker A: Yeah, I'm here in this space.
[00:02:25] Speaker B: You're in the space this time. I'm not gonna lie. Out of.
In the zoom generation of this podcast.
Your lighting and background setup from our first go round. I remember being like, oh, my God, I need to elevate my game.
But it's much better to have you here in flesh. It was so nice to hug you when you came in the door. Thank you for being here, my friend, for making the trek. Wait, what part is. You would have. What part of town do you live in?
[00:02:49] Speaker A: I live in downtown Long Beach.
[00:02:51] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:02:51] Speaker A: So it's quite a trek, but I love living in that city and then traveling to fun places, like, for. For, like, things like this. Yeah.
[00:02:58] Speaker B: Well, I'm honored to have you.
You know the rules of the game. You're going to have to introduce yourself, tell the listener, viewer, anything you want us to know about you.
[00:03:08] Speaker A: Okay. Well, I'm Dr. Arnell Calvaryo Ripken. That's my full name now.
Yes.
[00:03:14] Speaker B: Hyphenate.
[00:03:16] Speaker A: I'm a proud, dark brown, gay, Filipino American person who aspires to be a good human.
[00:03:24] Speaker B: If you're still aspiring my friend, than the rest of us. Holy shit. Okay, keep going, keep going, keep going.
[00:03:32] Speaker A: I'm the founder of Cabo Modern, KM Legacy, the former board president of Culture International, former executive director of Culture LA Cultely. My heart, Cabo Modern is my root. And then my brethren or my kin is kinj.
And been blessed to work with other amazing groups of good human vibe team.
The Beat Freaks Fanny Pack.
[00:03:59] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:04:00] Speaker A: Yeah, all of those.
[00:04:02] Speaker B: You are so deeply woven into the fabric of dance in the California area, specifically Southern California. I'm tremendously grateful for all the work that you've done, grateful for your friendship, grateful for your time and many, many talents.
I do recommend, if you have not listened to our first conversation, to go back and do that because I definitely. That will catch you up to Arnel and who. Who like the work that you've done in the many different spaces that you show up. I think in that conversation we talked a lot about the people and dance families that really bridge.
[00:04:40] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:04:42] Speaker B: The kind of islands that are the global dance community.
[00:04:45] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:04:45] Speaker B: And Shawna Varisto and Movement lifestyle is one. Yes, absolutely. I really believe that you are a through line to several of them, and I know you through Sean in the community here in la. But I think one of the things I listened to that episode recently and as I was listening, I was like, man, this person knows how to build.
And in a time where it is so easy to break down and so hard to build something, I think as I was listening, I was like, man, Arnel needs to teach people how to lead. And then I come to find out that that's exactly what you're doing right now, or one of the many ventures that you're doing right now. So catch us up to speed on some of the tools and services, some of the work that you're doing right now as they pertain to dance and building stronger, safer dance communities.
[00:05:40] Speaker A: Well, first of all, I just want to speak to that. That first podcast with you. That's actually one of the best interviews I've ever had in my entire dance journey thus far. I felt it's just so deep.
[00:05:52] Speaker B: And we went there. I cried several times.
It was a lot. Please go listen this episode, my friends. It's. Yeah, it's a favorite of mine as well.
[00:06:00] Speaker A: I'd love that one.
Yeah. So during the pandemic, when we couldn't gather in person, I felt energet with just different dancers and leaders across the world that people felt were like really lonely, discouraged, disconnected.
And so I had already had a program called Leadership Tools for the Dance Leader on my shelf. Okay. It was just like that program that I was like, one day when I have time, I'm going to crank this out.
[00:06:28] Speaker B: I'll really break it up and I'll flesh it out.
[00:06:29] Speaker A: Yeah. And you know, just from jumping from one project to the next and even just lifeing. Right. Yeah, yeah. I just never touched it. But during the pandemic, I said, I think it's time to give it a shot. And so I said okay. Because I already had the curriculum, like prepared and written. I said, okay, it's going to be a four week module working on things that I wish someone like taught me when I was growing as a young leader. And I had no idea, like the first round I got 25 students. The next one I had 50 people apply. And for me, unless there's like a real deep red flag, I'm like, it's going to be a yes for anyone that's seeking to connect and learn.
So then it ended up that I reached over 385 leaders across 48 different countries because people really needed that sense of belonging.
They needed hope and they wanted tools. Right. So in their community, how can I use things that apply to what I'm doing in my community?
[00:07:28] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Because how different is it really? I mean, there are, there are small, nuanced differences, but when you zoom out, leading is based on some key, some fundamental things. Communication.
[00:07:44] Speaker A: Absolutely.
[00:07:45] Speaker B: Having a clear North Star, having reverence and respect for the past and having vision for the future.
[00:07:52] Speaker A: Absolutely.
[00:07:52] Speaker B: And if that is.
But I mean, I say that as if it's easy. Right, Right.
[00:07:58] Speaker A: And self care.
[00:08:00] Speaker B: Because you can't lead if you, if you are not.
So if you're not able to stand on your own, you know.
[00:08:06] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:08:07] Speaker B: So I'm geeking out and I find myself like hard to find words right now. It sounds easy, right? Like I'm dramatically oversimplifying. Like all you have to do is 1, 2, 3, 4. And you can be a leader too.
But I think what you've tapped into is that if it really was that easy, everybody would be doing it.
[00:08:28] Speaker A: Right.
[00:08:29] Speaker B: And this time needs leaders. Yes, this time needs tools.
Whether you plan on opening a studio, starting a training platform of some sort or a company or a business.
I mean, it helps to have somebody at your side who has done it before, who, who has learned the hard lesson so that you don't have to.
And so it sounds like you have found A way to bring the thirsty people of the world their water.
Yes. And you make it so sweet. I visited your website. So clear, so well executed.
I would love for you to tell us a little bit about what the module, what you offer within there.
And I myself personally am finding right now a lot. I mentioned already, living in a time of critics, it's very easy to tear something down and much harder to build something up. And I think there's a lot of heat and attention on people who are teaching street styles as there should be.
But I know that you offer a section of your program is called Roots Before Branches. Roots Before Branches, which makes so much sense, all about history and heritage of hip hop and street styles. So I'd love if you could dive into that one in particular. But tell me a little bit more about the landscape of what your program offers.
[00:09:55] Speaker A: Okay. Yeah. So number one is first tools for identity and mission.
And so I think it's important, I think everyone as a human being deserves and also needs affirmation. Right.
[00:10:10] Speaker B: Oh my God. I. I also, I knew after listening to our first episode, I was like, we're calling this one Affirmation Station. I already love it because you gotta love it. You are so good, ye at giving a sincere compliment. People like Don Kimball modeled that for you.
[00:10:25] Speaker A: Yes. And yes, my inspiration.
[00:10:27] Speaker B: Yes, my friend. So, okay, sorry, I don't mean to cut you off, but affirmation, huge. Yes, number one.
[00:10:32] Speaker A: So creating that like initial intention that this is a safe space, but this is also a place for you to affirm yourself, to affirm each other. Because also leaders in community with other leaders, that's very, very powerful. Right. And great point.
[00:10:47] Speaker B: Less competition, more collaboration.
[00:10:49] Speaker A: Yes. Because everyone has a different mission and vision trul when you like dig deep into it. And so it's really like beginning the journey of this leadership communion, identifying how people affirm themselves and how they state what their vision and their mission is. Right. So writing that personal mission statement partly for your self declaration and also to let other people know, this is what I believe in, this is who I serve. These are my unique, extraordinary services to the world.
So we start there.
[00:11:20] Speaker B: Would it trip you up if I asked you for your mission right now?
[00:11:23] Speaker A: Well, you know, I don't know it by heart because it's actually long. I'm sure I just posted it on.
[00:11:29] Speaker B: The elevator pitch version.
[00:11:30] Speaker A: Yeah, I mean the three main things that are my services are definitely education, dance education, empowerment experiences, and occupational therapy. So that's how I end my mission statement and then how I begin it is, you know, as a creative, as an educator, and as a health professional. So I start with who I am and I end with what I do. And all the stuff in the middle is what I believe.
[00:11:56] Speaker B: So I just rewrote Delicious Mission Sandwich, my friend.
[00:12:01] Speaker A: So I just rewrote it, actually. Because as we grow in life, that's how it serves you. It's your compass. It helps you look back and say, hey, I've outgrown this, or this is me in a deeper way Now. I need to add an adjective in front of my identity now.
[00:12:15] Speaker B: Ooh, yes.
[00:12:15] Speaker A: So it's a nice little.
[00:12:16] Speaker B: Right around the time you added the doctor to the front of your name, I bet.
[00:12:20] Speaker A: Yes. It's so funny because I've actually been a doctor for 20, 23 years now. But I shamed myself into not proclaiming it, thinking it sounds pompous or.
And then realizing later that maybe if I start to proclaim that part of my identity, it'll also encourage other people to proclaim their. Their titles and how they affirm themselves. So I started. It actually was in the pandemic during that leadership program, as I was encouraging others to affirm themselves, I was like.
[00:12:49] Speaker B: I need a bugganooper myself too, on that title.
[00:12:52] Speaker A: And maybe as, you know, being, you know, a gay brown person, that also shows people that, you know, the diversity of what a doctor can look like in many spaces.
[00:13:03] Speaker B: Thank you for doing that. So, yeah, it's so important to see people who look like you in spaces that you're interested in being. You talked about that in episode one also. Or our first time talking is as a young person watching Soul Train for the first time, being like, what, that's my neighborhood. That's my neighborhood.
[00:13:20] Speaker A: Those are my people.
[00:13:22] Speaker B: And how important, how significant that moment was for you?
[00:13:25] Speaker A: Absolutely. I think opportunities for people to see themselves in different spaces expands our vision as to what is possible. Right.
[00:13:35] Speaker B: It's essential.
[00:13:36] Speaker A: So, yeah, I always love that and I love encouraging other people to do that as well. So that's how it starts. The. The program starts with that and then the second one are tools for effective communication, as you mentioned, because I do think there is.
I feel like social media is great, but it sometimes has taken us away from actually having dialogue that is two way. Right, right. Because discussion, discussion, conversation. So we can have opportunities to learn about our differences and our similarities and find pathways to agree, build, find solutions, or agree to disagree. Right.
So communication is obviously not just expressing ourselves. It's also the art of listening. It's the art of using our energy, of sharing and exchanging energy. And so we, we do spend a whole module talking about tools for effectively doing that. You know, spaces.
[00:14:33] Speaker B: Arnel, why aren't we teaching this in school?
Like I know the more and more social media sticks around, the more I think we need tools for two way discourse and for owning your position.
For understanding that it doesn't actually hurt to listen.
The hurt part is thinking that something the person said is hurtful. But actually the act of listening doesn't hurt at all.
[00:15:07] Speaker A: It's powerful.
[00:15:08] Speaker B: It doesn't cost anything. You can learn a lot.
Yeah, it's huge. Okay, okay. Communication. Step two, love.
[00:15:15] Speaker A: And then three is tools for navigating group dynamics. So again, whether that's like a small dance crew or that's it's a large dance organization, it's like.
[00:15:28] Speaker B: Or yourself in the world.
[00:15:29] Speaker A: Yeah. Your positionality in the world, your. Your relation to other people in a space.
I think understanding different power dynamics, how you, how each of us hold power dynamics and also how we give power.
[00:15:42] Speaker B: Right.
[00:15:43] Speaker A: All of that is so important to take time to look at and to see how we're contributing positively and negatively to a dynamic situation.
[00:15:53] Speaker B: Man, oh man, Arnel, I just think about how long we train to be able to dance and how little of that time is spent training being in dance spaces which are packed full of power dynamics and a lot of murky terrain. Right. I think in a lot of, you know, we'll call it jobs just to like keep it very neat and tidy. There are really clear separations between roles and responsibilities, expectations, things like that. And in dance or on set, in an entertain, entertain in the entertainment industry and in a creative field in general, it's a lot more flex and so it can be hard to keep a clear, a clear grasp on those.
When you teach this portion of your program, do you give any examples of like real life practical applications? Would you care to share one?
[00:16:52] Speaker A: I mean, I think it's always like intention and impact. Right. Like how you show up into my favorites. Right. We show up into a class with all these intentions and then the impact being different. So it's fun for me to share, but it's actually more fun to let them share with each other and then me be able to like respond okay in there. This is an idea of how it might have been, you know, handled differently and you might have got achieved your intention as your impact. Yeah. So it's really, really fun to kind of hear people's scenarios. You know, how people come in and be like, oh, I Had this game plan, and then it didn't turn out that way.
Often it really connects back to the previous model. It's because they didn't listen. They didn't, like, observe. They didn't take time to process. You know, they just came with an agenda. Right. And. And a goal. And I think agendas and goals and preparation is great, but it's also having the openness and the creativity to move because human beings, we are fluid, like you said.
[00:17:55] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:17:55] Speaker A: You know, dynamics are fluid. So. So it's fun to kind of. Yeah. The scenarios are my best. It's like my most favorite is when people and yeah. And it's not just me saying, this is what you should do. It's like, let's talk about it and exchange with each other.
[00:18:08] Speaker B: I also love in a great. This is such a lesson in being a phenomenal teacher. Instead of coming to a group of people with what you think is the right example of what they need to know, you say, hey, everybody, what are you experiencing in your lives? And let me show you how you can apply this tool to that.
[00:18:24] Speaker A: Yes. Well played, my friend.
[00:18:27] Speaker B: Well played. The intention and impact thing is a lesson that I am learning and relearning a lot lately. You mentioned that sometimes it's because there's not listening, listening. I agree. And I would like to add, sometimes it's simply not knowing. You don't know what you don't know. And sometimes your intention will have a different impact because of a learning gap or a skill gap or simply a blind spot or a thing that you didn't know until you know.
[00:18:53] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:18:54] Speaker B: And I think part of being a lifelong student and teacher. Right. Is the ability to learn from that moment instead of stop in that moment.
[00:19:08] Speaker A: That is one of the things I love about you, Dana. Like, to be honest, is like, obviously doing this podcast, it is a commitment to true growth mindset. A lot of people say I have growth mindset, but then their actions don't actually match that, but you do. And that you've always been that way. You know what I mean? When you're interested, you want to figure out about it, but you are okay with, like, okay, you know what? Actually, that I can learn from that. And then you move forward and you expand and you're. You're committed to growing through life that way.
[00:19:35] Speaker B: I need you to hold my hand right now because I'm having a moment, because I thank you for the way, by the way, for that compliment. It is how I see myself, and so it's nice. I remember once, as A very young person. Like in middle school when there's like so much drama, people are just like starting to really enjoy talking shit and like making up lies and gossip was such a big deal. Is like, yeah, seventh grade is the beginning or it's is definitely the end of people really playing nice in the beginning of like new identities and like new friend groups and things.
[00:20:11] Speaker A: Anyways, I had a time and that's the exact developmental.
[00:20:15] Speaker B: Oh my God. That. Yeah, that moment. I remember being with myself before school one day thinking like, if only every. This sounds so basic, but I was in seventh grade, so here it comes. If only people could think of me the way I thought of myself, then this would all go away. Like this problem that I'm having right now. Like, if people only knew what I meant.
[00:20:43] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:20:44] Speaker B: Instead of what I said or what they think. Like I remember learning. Like in that moment, people will have their own thoughts about me. I don't get to control the way that people think about me.
[00:20:56] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:20:57] Speaker B: And it wasn't until like now that I'm okay with that.
[00:21:02] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:21:02] Speaker B: There's an acceptance for you to be wrong about me. It's okay for me to be wrong about you. It would be a full time job and I would still fail at it. To try to convince all the people of all my virtues and things.
[00:21:14] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:21:14] Speaker B: Yeah, but okay, so that was a preface.
What I want to say is I recently had a conversation with a mentor person that I love and really care what they think about me.
And they were in a heated moment and I was like, yo, it's all learning. It's just I'm learning. And they said, fuck, you're learning.
And I was like.
[00:21:39] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:21:39] Speaker B: I was like, wait, what if learning isn't the most important thing? Because that's kind of the my. It's been my North Star, like learning above all else. But if my learning hurts someone or if my learning comes before somebody else's basic needs and stuff, I was like, oh my God, my learning is not good enough.
So talk me through. Like, where do you stand on that? Where is learning in the hierarchy of life?
[00:22:14] Speaker A: I think you're absolutely. I think learning is beautiful and having growth mindset is beautiful. But it's like what you said though, also in relation to how it affects other people is something that we always have to calibrate.
[00:22:27] Speaker B: Right.
[00:22:28] Speaker A: Because with learning, hopefully is understanding.
[00:22:32] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:22:32] Speaker A: And then change and then making active change. Right. Either active change or holding on to something that is great, that is so impactful and is good for the greater good. You Know, so.
So I don't think there's anything wrong with learning, but how we learn, like where we learn, who we learn from, those things always change. And they're going to change as we evolve as human beings and also as our personal mission and vision changes, who we learn from, how we learn, all of that's going to change too. And that's okay. You know what I mean?
[00:23:05] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:23:05] Speaker A: So. And I think, I love what you said about.
I think as you get older in life and time becomes much more precious, then you start.
That is the gift of aging, is that you start to let go and accept that. Yeah. Some people are not going to get to know your intent. They don't want to get to know your character.
[00:23:24] Speaker B: Yeah, they don't care.
[00:23:25] Speaker A: They don't care.
[00:23:26] Speaker B: They interpreted the impact as meaning and they made that mean that you are.
[00:23:31] Speaker A: You are this or that. Right. And then you just have to, like, care less at some point about people who again, don't know you or won't be in dialogue with you. And because they don't care and you have to accept. It's okay if they mischaracterize me because as long as. As long as the people who do know me, who do know the totality of who I am, as long as they are keeping me accountable for my growth and also affirming me in ways that are, like, great, you know, I think that is where we have to kind of keep our compass at, you know, because we are gonna be judged even in glorified. Right. Even that's. That's harmful too. Like when we're glorified over. Glorified for things we totally aren't. Also, whether it's over glorification or over being criticized fairly, all of those. At some point we have to let go because we. We still need to move forward, trying to. To be better and do better and also do better for ourselves as well and be better for ourselves also.
[00:24:33] Speaker B: Yeah. Yeah. Progress doesn't happen if. If you're thinking, I'm great, I'm great, I'm great, I'm great, or I'm shit, I'm shit, I'm shit, I'm shit. There has to be something else, because those.
Both of those extremes of thinking lead to staying.
And if your objective is movement, especially forward movement, then something else has to step in.
[00:24:55] Speaker A: Yeah, for sure.
[00:24:56] Speaker B: That's awesome.
[00:24:57] Speaker A: And the things that last forever is less about what you do or don't do. It's usually more about, like, how you made someone feel. Yes. I love this.
That's usually the longer lasting things. And people who are tried and true will let you know when that is amazing and also when it's not amazing.
[00:25:15] Speaker B: Yeah, so.
[00:25:16] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:25:17] Speaker B: Okay. Beautiful. Okay, so that's communication.
[00:25:20] Speaker A: Yeah, Communication. Managing group dynamics.
[00:25:22] Speaker B: Managing group dynamics.
[00:25:24] Speaker A: Then the last one, the fourth one is. It's now five modules. So the fourth one is the one that you mentioned earlier. Roots Before Branches.
[00:25:31] Speaker B: Great.
[00:25:31] Speaker A: So Roots Before Branches is actually a workshop I have been teaching for about 15 years or so.
[00:25:36] Speaker B: Oh, amazing. Even before this bigger, fuller picture got fleshed out.
[00:25:41] Speaker A: Yes, yes. Because in, I would say about 2005, when social media hit, I just started to feel like people weren't as in conversation with each other because prior to that we would. Yeah, we would talk about Don Campbell or we would talk about people that we look up to and we learn from Demita Joe or all of these people that we learn from or like history and heritage that we were privileged to receive from the person's actual mouth.
A lot of stories from Victor Emanuel are like super Gold Zulu, Grem, Anna Lollipop Sanchez, all of these incredible people.
But I noticed that people were not talking about that anymore. They were really focused on the. Just the. The choreographic movement, like the quick. You know, it was first with, you know, Facebook, then Instagram and then Snapchat. It just started getting faster and faster. TikTok, you know, shorter bites.
[00:26:36] Speaker B: Shorter bites. Shorter. Shorter and more virality.
[00:26:38] Speaker A: Right. And so I just started realizing that in addition to those amazing great offerings, like I also wanted to offer of the history and heritage. So we never forget the pioneers and the trailblazers and also the community cultivators and educators who have paved the way.
There's an entertainment legends and then there's also those people who really put brick and mortar down to really establish community and spaces where people felt safe and affirmed. And so I started just writing it for myself. And every time I would talk to Don Campbell or like Victor Emmanuel, I would write down things and I would ask them too, like, what is. What are some things that you just wish everyone would remember? You know, And I would write those things down and make sure that those are priority. And I started just making a timeline for myself.
[00:27:30] Speaker B: Beautiful.
[00:27:30] Speaker A: You know, not all art forms, that's impossible. But a lot of the art forms that I was privileged to learn about in a deeper way. And then also being a person who is here. You know, like I mentioned before in the previous episode. Episode that, you know, Vibe was the first like dance competition in SoCal. And so I was really Lucky to see every dance competition be created. You know what I mean?
[00:27:54] Speaker B: Oh, that's great.
[00:27:55] Speaker A: Like, one by one.
So even some of that SoCal community history, I wanted to make sure that none of that was forgotten either.
[00:28:04] Speaker B: She said, nope.
[00:28:05] Speaker A: And like, even events that I love that I grew up with, like Radiotron, B Boy Summit, Freestyle sessions, you know, Versa Styles, you know, Hip Hop Festival, these are also events that I want people to remember, like, that they were created with a purpose. They were created by specific people.
They impacted our dance world as we know it today in so many ways. And so I just started doing that. And I also, being an educator that knows that we all learn in different ways. You know, some of us are audio, visual, you know, read, write, or kinesthetic. So I kind of designed Roots before branches to be that something that offers all four. So I created a written timeline that just keeps growing and growing as I'm learning more, of course. But I also show video clips.
I make sure that two dance art forms that are a part of my journey, that we actually move together and then we have dialogue. Right. So we're talking about that. So we're activating all kinds of learners in all kinds of ways so that I could teach it to elementary school kids, or I could teach it at a studio, or I could teach it online, I could teach it as a lecture, all these different ways. And yeah, it's really about appreciation of these people. And also, really the intention is to not be the end all. Be all, you know, but to know all the know all at all. Because these are just like fraction of all the great array. It's so big dance history and heritage that's out there. It's really to be an inspiration and a spark for people to dive deeper. Right. And to have a few names that.
[00:29:46] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:29:46] Speaker A: Of people that are like really impactful pioneers.
And hopefully, you know, side benefit to it is that maybe then you will bring it into your university spaces, you will bring these pioneers into your events. You know, you will do your research and share with your dancers about something that inspires you and do a deeper dive into.
Into those people and those art forms. So that's huge. Yeah, that's. And also seeing the connection, like when you. When people learn, like how pumpkin whacking whacking was created, like, and by who, maybe they're gonna have a deeper understanding of. That's why I'm curious about it. That's why I connect to it. It was because it was created at this time to this music by these.
[00:30:31] Speaker B: People and this is what was going on in the world at that time.
[00:30:34] Speaker A: Exactly.
[00:30:35] Speaker B: This is why that matters. The context is what makes it sticky.
[00:30:39] Speaker A: You could.
[00:30:39] Speaker B: I remember being a convention kid standing in a ballroom and somebody throwing history at me in a. In a names and dates kind of way and. And caring.
[00:30:50] Speaker A: Right.
[00:30:50] Speaker B: Like, caring. But then it. By the end of the day Sunday, I'm like, wait, who was it? And was it, like, was it 69 or 96? I can't remember. Like, I.
For me, it has to be anchored with context.
That's juicy enough and emotional enough for me to remember.
And that was me as a young student. But I think when you're teaching teachers, the same is true.
So they're learning so much, not just about the material that they will be teaching, but about running a business and how to do your taxes and how to manage parents and how to, like, oh, my God, they're learning so much. So, yeah. To make contact.
That's sticky enough for them to want to learn more.
[00:31:31] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:31:32] Speaker B: That's your creative challenge.
[00:31:34] Speaker A: That's like the creative opportunities. Right. And so, like, maybe if they won't. Don't remember the words that we talked about, they're going to remember that video clip.
[00:31:42] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:31:42] Speaker A: And that's why my video clips, I'm always, like, changing them up because I. I like to show pioneers because especially ones that are. Haven't been seen very often. And I also like to show, like, current people who.
[00:31:53] Speaker B: I think I would take this course just to see the clips that you've chosen.
[00:31:56] Speaker A: I am.
[00:31:56] Speaker B: So you might see yourself in it. Oh, shut it.
[00:31:59] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:32:00] Speaker B: Actually, I did want to ask you, and this is from a mutual friend of ours, TJ Lee and I have been back in touch because I've been working with. Yeah, I love TJ Working with Offset Med a little bit. And I was like, okay, what do you want to know from Arnel? What secret question do you want to. It's not a secret anymore.
[00:32:17] Speaker A: Sorry, tj.
[00:32:19] Speaker B: What do you want to know? And he asked, like, what were some of your biggest influences as a dancer? What did you watch nonstop? What did you love? Yeah, like, if you close your mind. Close your mind. Don't close your mind. Keep your mind open, but close your eyes. What are your top three influences in terms of clips? Things that you keep returning to.
[00:32:39] Speaker A: Ooh. Okay, so my number one is Don Campbell. And I know we talked about that before because I grew up watching Soul Train, and he was the one that just popped out at me. And I was like, well, I want to keep dancing. Like, I didn't know that decade and a half later, he would become one of my greatest life mentors.
[00:32:58] Speaker B: Of course, it's like Muscle Campbell, our first episod.
He goes in, I cry. It's normal. It's totally fine.
[00:33:04] Speaker A: Yeah. I think Don's energy, his. His mixture of athleticism and funkiness and also just risk taking all of that together plus his love. I think when you see him, he just exudes love. So he was my first.
Even before I even ever knew, you know what it.
[00:33:21] Speaker B: What it was and where you were.
[00:33:23] Speaker A: My choreography was or freestyle. I just energetically he was my first and he's still is one of my top second. I'm a gigantic Janet Jackson fan. So I love my favorite video and my favorite person of all time. I mean favorite song of all time is all right by Janet Jackson. That's like. It's just so funky and I love the video.
Janet Jackson through all her eras of movement from Rhythm Nation to Velvet Rope Tour, all of that. And you know, she's just an icon.
[00:33:51] Speaker B: Everything, everything, everything.
[00:33:53] Speaker A: Yeah. I love Janet Jackson and all her dancers, even the dancers she picks, I love all through the many J generations.
[00:33:59] Speaker B: Yeah. I could go on a day long. A day long YouTube rabbit hole of just Janet.
Prolific, so prolific, so prolific. Decades and decades with like.
And when you talk about her dancers there isn't always has been a bar. Right. Like a Janet dancer is something else.
[00:34:19] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:34:20] Speaker B: Squeaky clean. Matched by being equally flavorful.
[00:34:24] Speaker A: Yeah. Yeah.
[00:34:25] Speaker B: And sexy in a way that doesn't gender like. I mean really unusual brand of dancer that that is always has been at this highest bar and bridges generations because she has as well. But her dancers like I would actually love to see that documentary. It's like all of the Janet dancers.
[00:34:50] Speaker A: Yes. There should be one just on the dancers. Yeah.
[00:34:52] Speaker B: 100%.
[00:34:53] Speaker A: That would be so incredible to watch. Yeah. I love anything.
[00:34:58] Speaker B: Any others Janet?
[00:34:59] Speaker A: I think the third one is someone that's a group that's not as well known.
Even though I love them. They're called Troop. So back in the day there's a group called Troop and they. They were really big. I first saw them on BET because I used to watch music video on bet. But they I love they have a combination of doing like all the hip hop social dances, locking and popping and boogaloo in their choreography. And watching them as a young high schooler was kind of the blueprint that I was like I that in college and that's how it was kind of that inspiration in combination with the groups. I Grew up in. In like, Cerritos, Long beach and Carson.
That kind of formed my idea for Cobble Modern.
[00:35:39] Speaker B: Cool. Ooh, that's awesome. Nice wrap up there.
Okay, so there. Is there one more module of your program?
[00:35:47] Speaker A: Yeah, the last one is self care and sustainability.
Right.
[00:35:52] Speaker B: Lay it on me, Arnel.
[00:35:53] Speaker A: Yeah, it's about scheduling, like, really finding out. Practice, practice that fill your soul as a human being. So that like. Like the common thing, you know, I got to fill out your cups, fill up your cup so you can pour into others.
But it's really also about just the basic practice of scheduling yourself in your own calendar.
So for me, like, one. One little tip I put in there is if you look at your calendar visual card, whether that's your Google calendar or your written calendar, find some. Some find a color that's like your favorite color possibly. And make everything. Make sure you always schedule something that's just for your own joy on every day, on every month. Oh, so, right. So it could be multiple times a month. It could be multiple times a month. And for people, I say just start realistically. So if you're feeling like you're so stressed out, just do it once a month.
[00:36:44] Speaker B: Right.
[00:36:45] Speaker A: But yes, if you could do every day or you could do every week. Okay, Even better, because you can then look at the balance because we are so good at all our appointments, all the things that we have to do for work. If you're a school, all the assignments that you have to complete, and you don't ever usually see yourself in there, even if you are in there, like, you have time with your best friend or you have whatever. We don't usually write it down alone time.
[00:37:11] Speaker B: Or do you mean like, oh, time with a friend?
[00:37:12] Speaker A: Yeah, alone. Anything that feels like you're caring for yourself. So sometimes that's social and sometimes it's alone. Right.
[00:37:19] Speaker B: Here's where my sneaky brain are. Gets the sneaky best of me because I'm like, I really love what I do.
[00:37:26] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:37:26] Speaker B: So it's great. I could put the podcast. Like, I am podcasting all day today.
And that kind of is me time, you guys. Like, I really like to do this.
So I wind up having.
But I know exactly what you're saying and I know there's a difference. Like, yes, this is me on. Like, this is me with makeup on. This is me with my mind on. You mean like, like self. Self care where you are not on for anybody but you.
[00:37:53] Speaker A: Yes, Me and my. One of my best friends, Tiffany Bong.
[00:37:56] Speaker B: Oh, I love.
[00:37:57] Speaker A: Yeah. So, yeah, we put. We love ice cream, so we have ice cream.
It's like in. And then mine are all blue. Blue is my favorite color.
[00:38:05] Speaker B: Right.
[00:38:06] Speaker A: So like Riley. Right. So I will put that ice cream with Tiff or ice cream with myself, you know, or like I'll put yogurt land or you know, wherever.
You know, this is literally.
[00:38:17] Speaker B: It's probably what we'll do. When rap happens today is like walk to your.
[00:38:20] Speaker A: And there's. There's something that happens when you see things for yourself that balances it for me. It allows me to. To feel like, yeah, I can pour into. Because everything I do is pouring into other people, whether as an occupational therapist and as an educator.
So when I see a bunch of like purples, which is like my workshops and such, but then I see blues in there, I'm like, okay, I'm. I have balance. You know, I'm. I'm balancing commun. Community care with self care.
[00:38:48] Speaker B: Nice.
[00:38:48] Speaker A: So yeah, it's really just any kind of commitment to yourself. Whether it is like alone time or it is social.
As long as you're putting something in there that balances what you do in giving others with what you do and filling your own cup. It's a good place to start in terms of self care because more likely than not, people who are burnt out have nothing in their calendar for themselves because they just keep going without any.
[00:39:14] Speaker B: Anything without filling the cup.
[00:39:16] Speaker A: Right. And especially for people in like high level executive positions, I'm like, you need to put that vacation on there. Yeah. You know, you need to put something in there that gives you. Breaks up what you do, what you. How you perform. Because sometimes you just need time to be.
[00:39:32] Speaker B: Yeah. You know, makes total sense. Balance. Right.
[00:39:35] Speaker A: All of it. So that's it. The five Gorgeous.
It's like a module program.
[00:39:40] Speaker B: Oh, I love it. It makes me so curious. Like I want. I want to be in there. I will be signing up. Watch it. How often do you do training?
[00:39:48] Speaker A: Oh, that is actually. I actually was supposed to teach it as a intensive for at ML. So we're still trying to find dates.
[00:39:55] Speaker B: Okay. Yes. Perfect.
[00:39:55] Speaker A: So I. I've been doing it online for so long that I want. I've been feeling a need or a want to do it in person.
[00:40:03] Speaker B: Same. This is why we're here.
[00:40:04] Speaker A: Right. So I did it in the Philippines just this past June. I did half of it.
[00:40:09] Speaker B: Cool.
[00:40:10] Speaker A: And I love of the energy exchange that we had there in person. So I'm gonna try to do it whether it's ML or another studio one Time in person between now and next June.
And then I think I'll do one more virtual so I can connect. Okay.
[00:40:26] Speaker B: Please keep me posted.
[00:40:26] Speaker A: I'm serious. Yeah.
[00:40:27] Speaker B: And I will let my network know. I'll be sure to leave in the show notes like where we can find more you.
[00:40:32] Speaker A: Thank you.
[00:40:33] Speaker B: All right, Arnel, tell me what you are working on right now. What are you most excited about right now?
[00:40:38] Speaker A: So through Culture la, I did an after school program for neurodivergent youth.
[00:40:43] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:40:43] Speaker A: That was grant funded and free. Because a lot of kids in my work as an occupational therapist, their parents were sharing with me that dance studios were turning their kids away just because they learned differently and they're beautiful dancers.
But maybe those educators or those spaces were intimidated by how they learn or how they present.
So this year, 2025 was the year that I finally asked Culture Check LA Alison Tanaka, the executive director, she's amazing.
If they would. They had funding to actually fund a dance troupe. To actually have a dance troupe, a full crew. Yeah. Where kids, neurodivergent kids could learn and be affirmed and express themselves and also grow as actual. As dancers.
[00:41:30] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:41:31] Speaker A: So my mentee, Andy ho, who's also Dr. Andy Ho in occupational therapy, we decided to co direct the first season and it just wrapped and we had 27amazing dancers. The ages were so wide. It was between a 6 years, you know, 6 years old and 28.
So we had an older troupe and a younger troupe and together they were called awesome Shock.
So they had our Nell.
[00:42:01] Speaker B: Okay, okay. Where can I find more?
[00:42:04] Speaker A: So through Culture Shock la, we're gonna now. It is now a part of our youth empowerment programs.
[00:42:10] Speaker B: Amazing. So annually you will be doing this.
[00:42:13] Speaker A: Yes. So in the all the youth troops and such are gonna have their auditions this October. But for awesome Chocolate, what we're gonna do is November and December we're gonna hold parent and me classes so parents and their kids could come and participate together. That's so they can learn how our program will teach kids, you know, dance education and the dance art forms that we taught last year were locking, breaking and hip hop social dances. So those are the three art forms we start with for this first season.
So for these workshops we'll give a little taste of those in the open free workshop. And then in January we have an open workshop and then as long as you can participate safely, you're in.
So it's not. We don't have auditions, we just have an open workshop and then we see which program, you know, whether it's the Older program or the younger program, the kids do have to be able to participate at a ratio of five adults to one kid.
[00:43:14] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:43:15] Speaker A: Because we do have volunteers that are supporting the program, but the ratio is, you know, about three to five kids to one adult. So that's the only requirement. But really all are welcome. And it's a space.
We want to just be a spark for other people to feel the courage that they can embrace dancers of all backgrounds and really embrace the fact that diversity includes neurodiversity and makes for better dance.
[00:43:40] Speaker B: It makes for better art.
[00:43:42] Speaker A: It does.
[00:43:44] Speaker B: If we were all the same abledness and the same point of viewness and the same way of learning this, our art would be very uninteresting.
[00:43:54] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:43:55] Speaker B: Having a. Having a diverse group of people making makes for better art.
[00:44:01] Speaker A: It does.
[00:44:01] Speaker B: Arnel, this is so important. Thank you so much for sharing this and for doing this. I didn't know that this existed in the world, but I did know that it needs to. And I'm not shocked to find that you're the person doing it.
[00:44:13] Speaker A: Yeah. I just want to encourage you because so for me, like occupational therapy and, you know, dance or dance education or like such huge parts of my life.
So it was just my creativity was leading me to bring it together to offer something, like you said, isn't out there enough in the world.
So that's what everyone should do, is there's a lot that isn't out there. So you don't have to recreate something that's already out there. Maybe there's something with all your different talents put together that fulfills a need that hasn't been met yet.
That part creativity is more than just choreography. It's being creative in how you show up for the world and in the world. Yeah.
[00:44:53] Speaker B: Thank you for that. I do have one more question before we get into the rapid fire burnout.
[00:44:56] Speaker A: Okay. Okay.
[00:44:57] Speaker B: You mentioned asking your mentors for what they wish all dancers knew. I'm wondering what you wish all leaders knew.
[00:45:06] Speaker A: Oh, okay. So the first thing I would say is you're not alone. You know what I mean? As a human being, you are connected to other people in the world. And so if you're feeling alone, then it might mean that you need some time to stop and see who are your people. Who are.
[00:45:26] Speaker B: Zoom out and reach out.
[00:45:27] Speaker A: Yeah. And see if there is maybe a need to let people know what you need as a human being.
Another thing I would say is power in numbers.
So it is better to whether that's power in numbers, like leadership, like Leading with other people or having mentors in your life that you. You hopefully have a reciprocal relationship with. You're not just like, you know, sucking them dry, but actually have a relationship with your mentors. Yes, please.
There is power in numbers because we know a lot individually, but we know more in community with others. Right.
So I would say that the third thing I would say is start with your mission first. So whether you're leading a group, write a mission statement. Because it's important to know, like, what your identity as an organization, the group that you're leading, is, who you're serving, and what it is that you are providing services for. So it's important to have that so that no matter how you grow and evolve, no matter if you bring new people in, that you're serving and leading, that that becomes your compass as to whether people fit in your mission or what you stand for or don't, you know, love that. And then you also have clarity, too, because sometimes you have to part ways with people, and you sometimes are like, why is it not if you have a good mission statement? You know why?
[00:46:58] Speaker B: Yeah, right.
[00:46:59] Speaker A: We.
[00:46:59] Speaker B: We lean into that in the first time that we talked and that having a good mission statement can be both scissors and glue. Like, it can help you cut what needs to be cut, and it helps you stick together. What. What needs to be stuck together?
[00:47:11] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:47:12] Speaker B: Thank you for.
[00:47:13] Speaker A: I think the last thing I would say is also be a conscious leader in the sense of depending on what your mission is or what you do, what are the opportunities to give back as well?
So, for example, if I, as a former director of Culture Shock la, you know, I knew that we participate in, like, hip hop, you know, street dance art forms, club dance art forms. Right. And most of the art forms that we participate in and provide in choreography or workshops to others is black created. Right. And so we were always conscious of, like, we need to show up to black led events, we need to give back to black nonprofits. We need to be sure that the roots, the history and heritage of the dance art forms that are in our choreography, that we are saying our choreography is shaped by these art forms. And the pioneers and people of these art forms are this and that. And then we actually bring them and we honor them at like, H4 Dance Summit. Like, so then as people who are guests and participants in the culture, we're also showing that we're about the culture. Right. We are, you know, invested and grateful and reverent. Yeah. And then also it just keeps the vibe of appreciation going in all directions that that the joy and also the power of what we do to make this world a better place is strengthened by our knowledge of where it comes from.
[00:48:46] Speaker B: Arnel, I actually cannot imagine ending on a more beautiful note, so I might say that you and I can do our own rapid fire some other time because that was so gorgeously said. I'm absolutely going to link to you and all of your work places where we can find you.
I am just thanking you from the bottom of my heart for shining your light on this podcast and out there in the world and all of your many different places where you invest your time and energy. Thank you for also investing your time and energy in yourself because you are glowing as you sit here and talk about this work that still lights you up after all this time. That's hugely inspiring. Thank you. Thank you for all that you do and for being here today.
[00:49:25] Speaker A: Thank you Dana for having me. And thank you for investing in work that really uplifts and tells stories that often are not told or not centered or not celebrated. So thank you.
[00:49:37] Speaker B: My absolute pleasure. Thank you Arnel. Thank you listener, viewer for being here. Click the bell for notifications. Subscribe, leave a review or rating. And of course, get out there and keep it very funky.
[00:49:47] Speaker A: Bye.
[00:49:51] Speaker B: This podcast was produced by me with the help of many Big, big love to our Executive Assistant and editor, Riley Higgins. Our Communications Manager is Fiona Small with additional support from Ori Vajadares. Our music is by Max Winnie, logo and brand design by Bree Reitz. And if you're digging the podcast, leave a review and rating and please share. Also, if you want to connect with me and the many marvelous members of the Words that Move me community, visit wordsthatmoveme.com if you're simply curious to know more about me and the work that I do outside of this podcast, visit thedanawilson.com.
