Exclusive Q&A With NBC World of Dance's Derion and Madison
Derion and Madison pulled off lifts and tricks this season that seemed to defy gravity. Find out more about this incredibly talented duo in WOD Magazine's exclusive Q&A and watch their bold Division Finals routine below.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ve1MHiF1NVw
WOD: How did it feel when you found out you’d be on Season 3?
DM: After our audition for World of Dance, we could feel the excitement in the room from the positive feedback. After endless weeks of waiting for that official YES, we got the news that we would be in the qualifiers. As you’d expect, we were stunned, thrilled, and already forming a game plan.
WOD: What style are you performing, and why?
DM: Because we both come from a very highimpact company that requires a lot of physical strength, we started to discoverunique lifts and partnering. What we feel makes our partnering different is ourability to lift each other in ways that defy gravity, slow and controlled, as well asmaking these lifts look seamless and unexpected.
WOD: How long have you been dancing, or dancing with your group?
DM: We have been dancing together for only a year and a half.
WOD: Where do you draw inspiration from? Who/what inspires you?
DM: We are always trying to invent lifts and sequences that have never been seenbefore. Inspiration, for us, really is everywhere. Whether it be a randomhypothetical scenario, or a game of “stuck unstuck,” we are constantly findingways to make the creation process fun for us.
WOD: What do you think your fans would want to know about you?
DM: Neither of usstarted off as dancers, Derion did color guard and Madison was a gymnast.There is no specific amount of time that is required to be a professional dancer,and there is no such thing as it being too late to pursue your dreams. However,that’s not to say it will be easy. We believe in never settling. Discover the thingthat makes you “you,” and run with it.
WOD: Why do you think dance is important to the world?
DM: Dance is a part of everyculture. It brings people together. There are no paintbrushes needed, noinstruments to hold, solely the shapes of the human body and its connection tothe music. It’s one of the arts that is intangible, and hard to document, however,this show creates a platform for this art form to be recorded, seen by many, andshared.
WOD: What are you most excited/nervous about being on the show?
DM: We are mostexcited about being able to share our work on such a large platform. It is noteveryday that artists are able to reach such a wide audience so quickly. We canonly hope to inspire people like us, as well as unlike us.
WOD: What sets you apart from the competition?
DM: One thing we take pride in is ourability to lift one another. We genuinely work together. We try to defy thetypical standard of men solely supporting women in lifts, there are many timeswhere Madison is supporting all of Derion’s weight as well.
