Episode Summary:
B Girl Bonita, a professional dancer, choreographer, teacher, and studio owner from Phoenix, Arizona. Bonita shares her unique journey from a traditional dance studio kid to a prominent figure in the hip-hop dance world. Her career highlights include dancing with major artists like Jason Derulo, P. Diddy, and the Black Eyed Peas, as well as performing on popular shows such as Dancing with the Stars and American Idol.
Throughout the episode, Bonita offers advice for aspiring dancers on staying true to themselves and developing a unique brand in the competitive dance world. She discusses the importance of versatility, mental preparation for competitions, and the value of community support.
Menina and Bonita also explore the evolving landscape of hip-hop, from its roots in street culture to her role as head coach for Breaking in the Olympics, and the significance of using proper terminology like “breaking” instead of “breakdancing.” This episode is packed with valuable insights for anyone looking to build a long-term, fulfilling career in dance.
Show Notes:
(2:00) Introduction to B Girl Bonita and her dance career
(6:30) Transition from studio training to hip-hop
(10:00) Moving from Phoenix to LA and joining the hip-hop scene
(14:30) Joining Rocksteady Crew and Beat Freaks
(19:00) Head coach for Team USA’s Breaking for Gold at the 2024 Olympics
(23:00) Overcoming challenges and defining her style
(27:00) The evolution of breaking and its Olympic journey
(32:00) Building a dance brand: Balancing individuality and commercial work
(36:00) Advice for aspiring dancers
(40:30) Studio ownership: Challenges and rewards
(45:00) Launching the Breaking curriculum app
(50:00) Final thoughts on building a lasting dance career
Biography:
Also known as, “Bgirl Bonita”, she has performed with artists such as: Jason Derulo, P. Diddy, Black Eyed Peas, Sean Kingston, Fergie, and Jamiroquai. She is also a member of three of the most legendary, world- famous and credible names in Hip-Hop dance: The Rock Steady Crew, The Groovaloos and The Beat Freaks. Bonita has also been featured on Disney’s Shake It Up, Nickolodeon’s Fresh Beat Band, American Idol, Dancing with the Stars and MTV’s Made.
Additionally, she has performed in corporate events for NIKE, ADIDAS, Sketchers, Dillard’s, Toshiba, Red Bull, AT&T and many more.
Bonita has been an instrumental teacher for the Universal Dance Association for 15 years, helping establish their summer hip-hop choreography and adjudicating their national events. She adjudicates for Worlds, NDA National Events, Amp Dance Competition, and Hip-Hop International. She has worked with ICU and USASF helping establish their Hip-Hop curriculum for coaches and program development worldwide.
Her distinctive dance choreography can be seen on collegiate, high school, and studio teams across the USA. Her knowledge and credibility in Hip-Hop have taken her to places such as Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, London, Montreal, Colombia, El Salvador, Mexico, Australia, Reunion Island, and Barcelona.
Bonita is currently living in Phoenix, Arizona with her business partner and husband, Gabriel, raising their two dancing daughters, Amoriah and Valentina all while rigorously leading her business and living out her calling. Bonita is a successful female entrepreneur as the owner of a local dance studio in Phoenix, Arizona, The Studance Lab. With her expertise in curriculum development, teacher training, and overall culture implementation, The Studance Lab is one of the newest and fastest growing dance schools in the Valley.
She is also the 2024 Paris Olympic Games head coach for Team USA, recognized as Breaking for Gold USA – the official breaking division of USA Dance, Inc.
Connect on Social Media:
https://www.instagram.com/bgirlbonita
https://www.facebook.com/BgirlBonita
App:
https://www.dancelevels.app/links/
