this is me 15 years ago waking up in the morning before work and whenever I got
morning before work and whenever I got
morning before work and whenever I got home right after work every day the same
home right after work every day the same
home right after work every day the same thing nine to five or six seven eight
thing nine to five or six seven eight
thing nine to five or six seven eight sometimes nine to nine same thing like a
sometimes nine to nine same thing like a
sometimes nine to nine same thing like a robot great job though I was head of
robot great job though I was head of
robot great job though I was head of sales and marketing for a telecom
sales and marketing for a telecom
sales and marketing for a telecom company making mad money could do what I
company making mad money could do what I
company making mad money could do what I want go where I want but after a couple
want go where I want but after a couple
want go where I want but after a couple years of this it gets a little stale
years of this it gets a little stale
years of this it gets a little stale gets a little boring
gets a little boring
gets a little boring there’s no fire there was no passion I
there’s no fire there was no passion I
there’s no fire there was no passion I had a passion I enjoyed dancing I
had a passion I enjoyed dancing I
had a passion I enjoyed dancing I enjoyed creating but it was such a
enjoyed creating but it was such a
enjoyed creating but it was such a struggle anything to feed that passion
struggle anything to feed that passion
struggle anything to feed that passion that fire it felt so great but what’s
that fire it felt so great but what’s
that fire it felt so great but what’s gonna pay the bills so Plan B go to
gonna pay the bills so Plan B go to
gonna pay the bills so Plan B go to school get a good job done I’m sad I’m
school get a good job done I’m sad I’m
school get a good job done I’m sad I’m happy I’m living the high life but then
happy I’m living the high life but then
happy I’m living the high life but then after two years of this this is what you
after two years of this this is what you
after two years of this this is what you get waking up screaming but wait I just
get waking up screaming but wait I just
get waking up screaming but wait I just realized I haven’t fallen asleep yet how
realized I haven’t fallen asleep yet how
realized I haven’t fallen asleep yet how many of you know this feeling anybody
many of you know this feeling anybody
many of you know this feeling anybody yeah yeah it’s a dark place whenever you
yeah yeah it’s a dark place whenever you
yeah yeah it’s a dark place whenever you go through life no fire no passion you
go through life no fire no passion you
go through life no fire no passion you feel like you just hit rock bottom but
feel like you just hit rock bottom but
feel like you just hit rock bottom but it’s okay because people say when you
it’s okay because people say when you
it’s okay because people say when you hit rock bottom the only place left to
hit rock bottom the only place left to
hit rock bottom the only place left to go
go
go was up that’s wrong sometimes you hit
was up that’s wrong sometimes you hit
was up that’s wrong sometimes you hit rock bottom so hard you just keep
rock bottom so hard you just keep
rock bottom so hard you just keep sinking and sinking and sinking and all
sinking and sinking and sinking and all
sinking and sinking and sinking and all that’s around you is darkness and that
that’s around you is darkness and that
that’s around you is darkness and that light that you had inside has been
light that you had inside has been
light that you had inside has been forgotten about so what do you do you
forgotten about so what do you do you
forgotten about so what do you do you gotta crawl you had to crawl and you’re
gotta crawl you had to crawl and you’re
gotta crawl you had to crawl and you’re gonna look around why was I like this
gonna look around why was I like this
gonna look around why was I like this wasn’t just the work it was everything
wasn’t just the work it was everything
wasn’t just the work it was everything you have material possessions right in
you have material possessions right in
you have material possessions right in front of you but look around who was who
front of you but look around who was who
front of you but look around who was who are my friends what were my other
are my friends what were my other
are my friends what were my other hobbies what was I doing to nourish this
hobbies what was I doing to nourish this
hobbies what was I doing to nourish this passion and this fire that I once had so
passion and this fire that I once had so
passion and this fire that I once had so needed to change needed to make a big
needed to change needed to make a big
needed to change needed to make a big change all right
change all right
change all right hello work I quit okay quick my job oh
hello work I quit okay quick my job oh
hello work I quit okay quick my job oh my relationship just ended why cuz I
my relationship just ended why cuz I
my relationship just ended why cuz I just quit my job so shows me right then
just quit my job so shows me right then
just quit my job so shows me right then and there that work was wrong
and there that work was wrong
and there that work was wrong relationship was wrong now my money is
relationship was wrong now my money is
relationship was wrong now my money is running out hey friends let’s do
running out hey friends let’s do
running out hey friends let’s do something indoors yeah we can’t hang out
something indoors yeah we can’t hang out
something indoors yeah we can’t hang out with you we are gonna do with this you
with you we are gonna do with this you
with you we are gonna do with this you can’t afford that lost my friends so all
can’t afford that lost my friends so all
can’t afford that lost my friends so all of that in front of me during that time
of that in front of me during that time
of that in front of me during that time was in illusion just temporary all right
was in illusion just temporary all right
was in illusion just temporary all right start again back to basics basic job
start again back to basics basic job
start again back to basics basic job working reception you know go from a
working reception you know go from a
working reception you know go from a certain tie office labels and then
certain tie office labels and then
certain tie office labels and then certain tie reception good morning good
certain tie reception good morning good
certain tie reception good morning good morning good morning I’d be lucky if
morning good morning I’d be lucky if
morning good morning I’d be lucky if someone even gave me eye contact it was
someone even gave me eye contact it was
someone even gave me eye contact it was usually just a card
but I still found hope and joy and that
but I still found hope and joy and that little light inside was starting to
little light inside was starting to
little light inside was starting to ignite again why because I had the time
ignite again why because I had the time
ignite again why because I had the time to see the truth around me and start
to see the truth around me and start
to see the truth around me and start going to dance class again to start
going to dance class again to start
going to dance class again to start listening to music to start enjoying
listening to music to start enjoying
listening to music to start enjoying what I do
what I do
what I do but it took a sacrifice I had to
but it took a sacrifice I had to
but it took a sacrifice I had to sacrifice a life of fortune I was rich
sacrifice a life of fortune I was rich
sacrifice a life of fortune I was rich with material possessions but I was not
with material possessions but I was not
with material possessions but I was not rich with emotion or passion or dreams
rich with emotion or passion or dreams
rich with emotion or passion or dreams and it wasn’t until I had to sacrifice
and it wasn’t until I had to sacrifice
and it wasn’t until I had to sacrifice and give everything up and commit to
and give everything up and commit to
and give everything up and commit to that things started to become clear
that things started to become clear
that things started to become clear again and a lot of the times people say
again and a lot of the times people say
again and a lot of the times people say I have a dream I have a dream I have a
I have a dream I have a dream I have a
I have a dream I have a dream I have a dream why isn’t it happening to me when
dream why isn’t it happening to me when
dream why isn’t it happening to me when is it my time when is it my moment well
is it my time when is it my moment well
is it my time when is it my moment well what are you doing for it to happen to
what are you doing for it to happen to
what are you doing for it to happen to you you got to take that step and mine
you you got to take that step and mine
you you got to take that step and mine wasn’t just a step it was a plunge yeah
wasn’t just a step it was a plunge yeah
wasn’t just a step it was a plunge yeah dreams don’t just happen you got to do
dreams don’t just happen you got to do
dreams don’t just happen you got to do the work and that’s what I did so after
the work and that’s what I did so after
the work and that’s what I did so after a couple years of working for my dream
a couple years of working for my dream
a couple years of working for my dream sacrificing for my passion yeah going
sacrificing for my passion yeah going
sacrificing for my passion yeah going from restaurants and steak dinners to
from restaurants and steak dinners to
from restaurants and steak dinners to tuna in a can but it’s okay I get to
tuna in a can but it’s okay I get to
tuna in a can but it’s okay I get to dance sacrifice anyone ever been to
dance sacrifice anyone ever been to
dance sacrifice anyone ever been to Canada yeah Canada is cold okay and the
Canada yeah Canada is cold okay and the
Canada yeah Canada is cold okay and the winters are long so I decided to run
winters are long so I decided to run
winters are long so I decided to run away from winter and just like my
away from winter and just like my
away from winter and just like my passion just like my dream going back to
passion just like my dream going back to
passion just like my dream going back to the roots with work I went back to you
the roots with work I went back to you
the roots with work I went back to you my roots back to Vietnam and Here I am
my roots back to Vietnam and Here I am
my roots back to Vietnam and Here I am in this foreign land no plan no idea no
in this foreign land no plan no idea no
in this foreign land no plan no idea no clue I have three months here this was
clue I have three months here this was
clue I have three months here this was ten years ago
ten years ago
ten years ago and I’m looking at what am I gonna do
and I’m looking at what am I gonna do
and I’m looking at what am I gonna do for three months I don’t speak the
for three months I don’t speak the
for three months I don’t speak the language
language
language I thought I did until I got here I don’t
I thought I did until I got here I don’t
I thought I did until I got here I don’t I do now and yeah it was really back to
I do now and yeah it was really back to
I do now and yeah it was really back to basics and I had a lot of time a lot of
basics and I had a lot of time a lot of
basics and I had a lot of time a lot of time to think to focus I had no
time to think to focus I had no
time to think to focus I had no distractions
distractions
distractions ya know terrible circle of friends no
ya know terrible circle of friends no
ya know terrible circle of friends no toxic work no no distractions around me
toxic work no no distractions around me
toxic work no no distractions around me to really think about what I was going
to really think about what I was going
to really think about what I was going to do so put yourself out there all
to do so put yourself out there all
to do so put yourself out there all right I’m gonna step out into this
right I’m gonna step out into this
right I’m gonna step out into this foreign land I have no idea what’s going
foreign land I have no idea what’s going
foreign land I have no idea what’s going on I have no idea what people are saying
on I have no idea what people are saying
on I have no idea what people are saying I don’t even know if they’re laughing at
I don’t even know if they’re laughing at
I don’t even know if they’re laughing at me or with me
me or with me
me or with me usually it’s at me slowly you network
usually it’s at me slowly you network
usually it’s at me slowly you network you meet people you put yourself out
you meet people you put yourself out
you meet people you put yourself out there you have to make a fool out of
there you have to make a fool out of
there you have to make a fool out of yourself you have to take that risk meet
yourself you have to take that risk meet
yourself you have to take that risk meet that person try to speak to them their
that person try to speak to them their
that person try to speak to them their way in their language interact with them
way in their language interact with them
way in their language interact with them half of the time I failed but it’s these
half of the time I failed but it’s these
half of the time I failed but it’s these failures from these risks that I took
failures from these risks that I took
failures from these risks that I took that helped me and then getting to get
that helped me and then getting to get
that helped me and then getting to get involved with more of the cultural
involved with more of the cultural
involved with more of the cultural aspects of the country and the artistic
aspects of the country and the artistic
aspects of the country and the artistic aspects of the country meeting dancers
aspects of the country meeting dancers
aspects of the country meeting dancers meeting other artists other
meeting other artists other
meeting other artists other choreographers producers and directors
choreographers producers and directors
choreographers producers and directors I’m like ah I’ve made it these are the
I’m like ah I’ve made it these are the
I’m like ah I’ve made it these are the people that I need to be around they
people that I need to be around they
people that I need to be around they call me let’s do a show all right I’m
call me let’s do a show all right I’m
call me let’s do a show all right I’m ready
ready
ready I’m here what’s our show this is my idea
I’m here what’s our show this is my idea
I’m here what’s our show this is my idea we have 10 dancers here and we have
we have 10 dancers here and we have
we have 10 dancers here and we have ribbons coming down from here and I want
ribbons coming down from here and I want
ribbons coming down from here and I want lights from back there and then No why
lights from back there and then No why
lights from back there and then No why not hmm it’s too risky like yeah but we
not hmm it’s too risky like yeah but we
not hmm it’s too risky like yeah but we can be the first ones to do it let’s be
can be the first ones to do it let’s be
can be the first ones to do it let’s be the first ones to do it
the first ones to do it
the first ones to do it like it’s too risky and then they open
like it’s too risky and then they open
like it’s too risky and then they open the laptop and like hey look at this
the laptop and like hey look at this
the laptop and like hey look at this this was on a TV show two years ago
this was on a TV show two years ago
this was on a TV show two years ago we’re gonna do this and I’m like okay
we’re gonna do this and I’m like okay
we’re gonna do this and I’m like okay okay okay okay well we’ll go with it
okay okay okay well we’ll go with it
okay okay okay well we’ll go with it maybe it’s the first
maybe it’s the first
maybe it’s the first time my first big job here so I’m not
time my first big job here so I’m not
time my first big job here so I’m not gonna I’m not gonna push too hard but
gonna I’m not gonna push too hard but
gonna I’m not gonna push too hard but then after a while it becomes a pattern
then after a while it becomes a pattern
then after a while it becomes a pattern but not with just big events but with
but not with just big events but with
but not with just big events but with almost anything there was that fear of
almost anything there was that fear of
almost anything there was that fear of taking risks and I’m like where does
taking risks and I’m like where does
taking risks and I’m like where does this fear come from where did it come
this fear come from where did it come
this fear come from where did it come from why why is there this fear of
from why why is there this fear of
from why why is there this fear of taking a chance
taking a chance
taking a chance being creative taking that risk and they
being creative taking that risk and they
being creative taking that risk and they explained to me their education and
explained to me their education and
explained to me their education and after hearing about it I was like oh
after hearing about it I was like oh
after hearing about it I was like oh that was your education in Vietnam okay
that was your education in Vietnam okay
that was your education in Vietnam okay it’s not very different from my
it’s not very different from my
it’s not very different from my education in Canada
education in Canada
education in Canada anytime it was oh this boy me he’s
anytime it was oh this boy me he’s
anytime it was oh this boy me he’s different he’s weird he has too much
different he’s weird he has too much
different he’s weird he has too much energy he’s trying different things yeah
energy he’s trying different things yeah
energy he’s trying different things yeah growing up you hear you’re different
growing up you hear you’re different
growing up you hear you’re different and that’s bad and it sticks with you
and that’s bad and it sticks with you
and that’s bad and it sticks with you until you grow up you’re like I don’t
until you grow up you’re like I don’t
until you grow up you’re like I don’t want to be different I want to be liked
want to be different I want to be liked
want to be different I want to be liked by everyone I want to do what everyone
by everyone I want to do what everyone
by everyone I want to do what everyone else is doing I want that acceptance yet
else is doing I want that acceptance yet
else is doing I want that acceptance yet deep down inside we want to have a
deep down inside we want to have a
deep down inside we want to have a one-up on everyone yeah we’re willing to
one-up on everyone yeah we’re willing to
one-up on everyone yeah we’re willing to take that risk right so I’ve been
take that risk right so I’ve been
take that risk right so I’ve been fortunate enough to meet other
fortunate enough to meet other
fortunate enough to meet other incredible people who shared that same
incredible people who shared that same
incredible people who shared that same idea people from Vietnam people outside
idea people from Vietnam people outside
idea people from Vietnam people outside of Vietnam who have come here and we all
of Vietnam who have come here and we all
of Vietnam who have come here and we all work together yeah we all work together
work together yeah we all work together
work together yeah we all work together with different companies with different
with different companies with different
with different companies with different agencies and we say let’s do it let’s
agencies and we say let’s do it let’s
agencies and we say let’s do it let’s make a change let’s do something big
make a change let’s do something big
make a change let’s do something big let’s do something amazing get those
let’s do something amazing get those
let’s do something amazing get those wheels going let’s be creative the
wheels going let’s be creative the
wheels going let’s be creative the energy is so great everyone’s with us
energy is so great everyone’s with us
energy is so great everyone’s with us and then they say okay how do we do it I
and then they say okay how do we do it I
and then they say okay how do we do it I don’t know I can’t teach you to be
don’t know I can’t teach you to be
don’t know I can’t teach you to be creative right we can’t teach creativity
creative right we can’t teach creativity
creative right we can’t teach creativity we can inspire we can help through
we can inspire we can help through
we can inspire we can help through laboratories and workshops by giving
laboratories and workshops by giving
laboratories and workshops by giving people the tools and the skill sets and
people the tools and the skill sets and
people the tools and the skill sets and the nerve to dare and that’s what I have
the nerve to dare and that’s what I have
the nerve to dare and that’s what I have after 11 years in this country
after 11 years in this country
after 11 years in this country meeting amazing people amazing artists
meeting amazing people amazing artists
meeting amazing people amazing artists amazing dancers I have hand selected
amazing dancers I have hand selected
amazing dancers I have hand selected these incredible talented young kids and
these incredible talented young kids and
these incredible talented young kids and at first it was just me I’m gonna teach
at first it was just me I’m gonna teach
at first it was just me I’m gonna teach you jazz I’m gonna teach you ballet
you jazz I’m gonna teach you ballet
you jazz I’m gonna teach you ballet hip-hop whatever I’m gonna teach it all
hip-hop whatever I’m gonna teach it all
hip-hop whatever I’m gonna teach it all to you I’m gonna teach you how
to you I’m gonna teach you how
to you I’m gonna teach you how creativity works I can’t teach you what
creativity works I can’t teach you what
creativity works I can’t teach you what creativity is and then they asked me
creativity is and then they asked me
creativity is and then they asked me they’ll teacher can we try this sure why
they’ll teacher can we try this sure why
they’ll teacher can we try this sure why not oh but it might look stupid yeah of
not oh but it might look stupid yeah of
not oh but it might look stupid yeah of course it might but let’s try it maybe
course it might but let’s try it maybe
course it might but let’s try it maybe it’ll look stupid maybe to look good
it’ll look stupid maybe to look good
it’ll look stupid maybe to look good maybe it’ll look stupid good who knows
maybe it’ll look stupid good who knows
maybe it’ll look stupid good who knows so 11 years now these amazing kids who
so 11 years now these amazing kids who
so 11 years now these amazing kids who had their creativity stepped on for so
had their creativity stepped on for so
had their creativity stepped on for so many years but still like me they had
many years but still like me they had
many years but still like me they had that light inside but they just needed
that light inside but they just needed
that light inside but they just needed to ignite that fire and now these kids
to ignite that fire and now these kids
to ignite that fire and now these kids dare to be great they dare to be amazing
dare to be great they dare to be amazing
dare to be great they dare to be amazing they have the skillsets they have
they have the skillsets they have
they have the skillsets they have everything that it takes to try
everything that it takes to try
everything that it takes to try something new and be different
something new and be different
something new and be different I would love to present to you you DG
I would love to present to you you DG
I would love to present to you you DG [Applause]
ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding
ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding take one
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
for me
for me [Applause]
so I just wanted everyone to see with
so I just wanted everyone to see with dreams and passion commitment and
dreams and passion commitment and
dreams and passion commitment and sacrifice anything can happen
sacrifice anything can happen
sacrifice anything can happen I’ve inspired them they’ve inspired me
I’ve inspired them they’ve inspired me
I’ve inspired them they’ve inspired me and I hope we have inspired you thank
and I hope we have inspired you thank
and I hope we have inspired you thank you
maintain our love Giavotella me man
maintain our love Giavotella me man Sabra Wendell I’m gonna leave I’m gonna
Sabra Wendell I’m gonna leave I’m gonna
Sabra Wendell I’m gonna leave I’m gonna make de la Cite hello I’m a nothing wing
make de la Cite hello I’m a nothing wing
make de la Cite hello I’m a nothing wing like a red cat hello Mila thank you
like a red cat hello Mila thank you
like a red cat hello Mila thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
”
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