Framework: Adrianne

I’ve always had the passion to craft and tell stories. It’s always been a part of who I am. “Framework” is a series where I connect with the creative and passionate people in my life to find out what drives and motivates them in the work they do. It’s not just an ordinary photography session. It’s a connection between the visuals we see and the story behind the person in front of the camera.

It’s not a secret that we, in our own way, have a talent to give to the world. If we become devoted to see something become of this talent, then, in a way, it’s as if our work has found its longevity far beyond our lifetime. Without a sense of drive and intention to cultivate oneself, then talent becomes, in the recesses of our thoughts, something we wished could have grown into something more.

For Adrianne, this isn’t the case. If you could plot the trajectory of her life on a map you would see that she has found herself in a place where she knows herself better than she did before, both as a dancer and as a person. To her, dance became something that was second nature, and if you were to see her, it was as if she has become another person; speaking her convictions and her heart through the precision and confidence in her movements.

Adrianne had found success in her career as a former member of the Jabawockeez, a dance crew that had found fame and success after winning MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew, and she had performed at several big events all over LA. She’s choreographed and been featured in several music videos, and is a prominent performer in the work she creates. Currently she dances with, Groove Against the Machine, a team based in Oakland, and continues to thrive in her craft.

What got you into dance? How did this all start for you?

Adrianne: So, beginning-wise, I felt, my entire life, that I always loved it. I’ve always been at family parties, and seen music videos such as Janet Jackson’s “Rhythm Nation”. Michael Jackson and Paula Abdul have honestly been some of my biggest inspirations and first exposure to dancing. Even when I was younger, I think my number one role models were the Jabawockeez after the first season of America’s Best Dance Crew. Ever since then, I felt like I’ve always had a love for it but because of, you know, our culture, and I think growing up from a first-generation immigrant family, from El Salvador, pursuing a career in the arts was never an option. It just didn’t exist. That was kind of just a fantasy and that it had to be something that has a stable income like a doctor, a nurse, or a lawyer, so I just never felt like that was something that was tangible for me to pursue, so I never thought about it as something serious. It’s always just been like something like a hobby, and I think when I first started to get a taste of it was definitely in high school. I had a garage crew I was in with a couple of friends, and we called ourselves TRMC, and we’d compete in our high school’s version of America’s Best Dance Crew. We won, two years in a row (laughs). I think those experiences really catapulted my, I guess like my passion, for it. Once I got into college, I actually ended up dropping out of San Jose State. I was originally going for the Animation program, but my so-called passion for art and animation, that was kind of it for me. I realized when I was there that, damn, I actually really like dancing and I didn’t really know how to react or handle that situation because it my “plan A”, for years, had been shattered. I got really lost in that point of my life. Moved back home to the Bay Area, and two very good friends invited me to come to their dance rehearsal in Sacramento State to join this group called Sac Modern. Ever since then, my life was literally never the same.

So, how would you describe yourself as a dancer? As an artist that’s constantly trying to grow? How do you push yourself to find that next opportunity?

A: I definitely take classes. You always have to be in the mentality that you’re never done learning, you’re forever a student. There’s always something to learn, not just spiritually, but mentally, emotionally, about yourself, about your craft and whatever you want to do. If you’re a doctor, you’re an artist, you’re a singer, there is always something you can learn because if you have a roadblock and think “oh, I think I know all that I need to know” then obviously you’re not going to grow past your limit. You’re not pushing yourself, so I think the most important thing is to know that you can push yourself further, further, and further.

“There’s always something to learn”

There’s always something you can be better at, there’s always someone that’s going to be better than you, and you just have to accept that and be confident in yourself, your ability, and have faith in yourself. I think one of the biggest lessons that I felt that I learned from my experiences was that you have to never take “no” for an answer. There’s a lot of people that shut a lot of doors in my face and wanted to put me in a box. I felt like they wanted to label me and say “you’re not dancing feminine enough. Why do you look like this? Why do you dance more masculine” but I didn’t let those critiques or opinions affect me. I danced the way I felt that was good and natural to me, you know? Perhaps, maybe that was not the status quo, but sticking true and authentic to myself, that’s what got me the jobs I got, dance-wise. That’s how I got noticed, because I decided to be myself. That’s how I got Jabba and that was pretty cool.

What’s next? What’s your overall goal that you wish to achieve from here?

A: Definitely, within the next few years, I would like to- well it was to be in a music video, which I just recently achieved, so that was cool. I would say it would be to choreograph more for artists, and I think, overall I would like to be a creative director with an artist. I’d like to help put up visuals and help stage and block. I feel like I’m multifaceted in that way and that I can offer these services and not just dance anymore. I can expand.

Where do you see yourself the most in your element?

A: There’s two places. As cliche as it sounds it’s on the dance floor. When I’m at club or when I’m just dancing, it just feels the most freeing but it could also be the most vulnerable, so that’s also scary for people, as well. The second is, I think, the dance studio in general. When I’m learning choreography, when I’m just dancing with friends, joking around with them, I spent a lot of late night hours watching the sun rise in the studio. I think that’s just a really special place to be. I think that’s the place I feel the most safe.

What advice would you give for someone starting out in the dance community that is hoping to launch their dance career?

A: If I looked back 6 or 7 years ago, I would have never thought I would have done what I did and what I achieved, you know? So, I guess the advice I have to other people, especially women, is that you do not have to fit a status quo. If you don't feel like you have to dance in heels and maybe you want to slouch a little bit, hit it a little bit harder than other dancer, it’s okay. Be the most authentic you, but, also, have the integrity of your craft and pride in the work you’ve done. Put in the studio time, take classes, learn as much as you can because the most valuable thing that you can be is to be versatile. Learn all styles. Expand your knowledge as much as possible. People in general are not one-dimensional or two-dimensional. We’re three-dimensional, and more beings. Don’t be discouraged and have faith in yourself.

“Learn all styles. Expand your knowledge as much as possible”

Have a passion, a small business, or a creative endeavor you’re pursuing? Contact me to be featured on the next Framework. Feel free email me at chrisangvisual@gmail.com and let’s connect!