Leadership in the Dance Community

While leadership may vary in different parts of the world, there's a universal truth that applies to all: not everyone is cut out for it. Many people claim to be leaders but fail to practice what they preach. So, what does it mean to be a true leader? First of all, leaders aren't appointed – it's a position that you choose to hold and take full responsibility for. Teaching dance, mentoring, directing people, or being an OG or big homie are all distinct roles that should not be mistaken for leadership. Each role is unique and deserves recognition in its own right.

Leading takes guts and it takes grit, inside and outside of the dance community. If you’re a leader what you should be doing is taking ownership of every action that you take. Leaders do the hard things so their clients, students and mentees can flourish without any resentment towards anyone else.

“Leaders create leaders”

I will always remember that, courtesy of a mentor I’ve had, KAOS, an OG of the Melbourne Krump Community.

Leaders do the work! If you aren’t in integrity with yourself as a leader… Stop! And I say that with so much love because you are stressing yourself out and potentially damaging the community you are a part of in some way shape or form.

One of the most important attributes a leader needs is great communication! You must learn how to explain things effectively. You need to be a good listener and have humility, know how to hold people and yourself accountable for everything, your wins and your lack.

You need to know your place in the community and no position is higher than the other, they are all equal because they all need each other to make the community whole. Without one, there is an imbalance in the community. Understanding this and your role in the community will allow the community to thrive even more! And let’s be honest, there can be awful leaders, big homies, teachers and mentors and sometimes the people learning off these people aren’t even aware of it. We all have our ways about us and if you are too stuck in one way, best believe that your views and approach will be challenged, and it is up to you whether you take that challenge and face the music and see how and where you can improve yourself. As much as it is them, it is also you. So start taking responsibility. Whoever you are, whatever your role in the community is. Remember you are part of something bigger than yourself!

It isn’t about you anymore.

Being a leader is not easy and being led also has its challenges, because the leader challenges. One thing that I love about the Krump Culture is that being challenged (in a battle) is what takes us to new heights, labbing, creating, sessioning, all of it can be uncomfortable and ask us for more of ourselves and others. 

Leaders should learn how to break down their selected speciality so well that it can break down and then rebuild another’s ego to get the best results for that person and their personal team if they have one. This to me is the height of being a leader and I myself work to improve my leadership skills as much as I can by learning from the skilled leaders and also students because they will show you what they need from you. And as a leader, you should provide.

So if you are a leader keep working at it and if you strive to be one, do what you need to do to own it and show up for your community.