BELLO #192

When did you discover your passion for dancing?
What prompted you to pursue it as a career?
I started dance when I was three years old and got
into hip hop the age of six. I fell in love with hip-hop
and performing on stage. When I was 10 years old,
my mentor, Alexander Chung, suggested I go to Los
Angeles to train and start trying to make a career for
myself within the dance industry.
What is your favorite type of dance to perform?
I feel like Dance is really just movement and more expression
now than certain styles. However, if I had
to choose my favorite style to perform, it would be
hip-hop.
In a recent video, Netflix’s “Tall Girl” DanceOn
Class | “Stand Tall” | Dana Alexa Choreography,
you talk about your growth spurt. Was it difficult
to reach the point where you could embrace it
fully?
It was definitely difficult to embrace my height because
it did happen so fast for me. I was much shorter
than a lot of my friends and then all the sudden I was
the tall one. I’ve learned now that my height is beautiful
and that I should embrace it. It’s a part of me, and
I should be grateful that God made me this way.
How do you usually take on obstacles that come
your way?
Obstacles can end up being a blessing in the end and
can make you comfortable with something you weren’t
comfortable with before. I face obstacles every day
within my career because I like to take risks and I like
to challenge myself. I take obstacles on with a positive
mindset and with a lot of belief in myself that I will be
able to achieve what I want to and get through what
I’m going through.
You have been on Ellen 4 times! What was it like
to see yourself on TV (and hang out with Ellen)?
Being on the Ellen Show was the first big step within my
career, and it was a DREAM come true. I was only 11
years old at the time and it was so surreal to see myself
performing on National television, especially because
I had never done anything like that before! Ellen and
her employees were extremely nice and welcoming,
and I’m so grateful that I had the opportunity to perform
on her show 4 times. I was absolutely star-struck!
After appearing on Ellen, how did your life
change?
After I made my appearance on the Ellen Show, my
following began to grow over social media and I
started to get more opportunities! Just 5 months after
appearing on the “Ellen show” I booked the Janet
Jackson “Unbreakable World Tour”! My performances
on the “Ellen Show” provided a platform to get my
name out internationally and helped me achieve my
goal of becoming a professional dancer. I dance to
inspire, spread love, and spread positivity and Ellen
helped me do that.
You’ve toured with Janet Jackson twice. Tell us
about going on tour at such a young age.
Going on tour at such a young age was definitely a
mind blowing experience. Janet Jackson is one of the
most legendary female artist within the industry, and
it was so encouraging and empowering to work for
her. It really helped me mature in a sense that I was
working with all these extremely talented professionals
who were much older than I was. Tour definitely
has played a part in a role in who I am today, how I
work and how I handle myself.
How did touring with Janet Jackson improve your
dancing?
Well touring with Janet, I was introduced to definitely
a new style of dance that I wasn’t really used to. Janet
has her iconic dances that I had the amazing opportunity
to learn and perform, and they were different
then the dancing I was doing back home or even in LA
at the time. Learning those routine, helped me appreciate
what she does and her dancers that she’s had on
tour before I was on. They were tiring, but they were so
much fun to perform and learn. Performing on stage
every night, also helped with my performance and
learning how to exude different emotions throughout
different pieces.
Bello
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