Exclusive Q&A With NBC World of Dance's Poppin John
Poppin John absolutely stunned the judges and audiences this season and took popping to a whole new level with his creative and emotional routines. Learn more about this veteran performer in WOD Magazine's exclusive Q&A and check out his incredible Division Finals performance below.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfI2t450vLk
WOD: How did it feel when you found out you’d be on Season 3?
PJ: I was very excited to get accepted to be on Season 3 as a soloist. I have always enjoyed dancing with a partner or on a team, but this time I wanted to give it a go as a soloist.
WOD: What style are you performing, and why?
PJ: Popping! I am a popper. Popping is the style I have excelled at my whole dancing career I have never steered from this style or the community that I represent. I’m very proud to represent the style that I love so much.
WOD: How long have you been dancing, or dancing with your group?
PJ: I have been Popping for 20 years I started in 1998 as a 12 year old.
WOD: Where do you draw inspiration from? Who/what inspires you?
PJ: I draw inspiration for all sorts of movement. From real life machinery to stage performance but my most valuable source of inspiration is my imagination I really take pride in digging into my imagination and creating moves and concepts..
WOD: What do you think your fans would want to know about you?
PJ: I am a easy going person that loves dance and loves competition. I am happily married to the love of my life and I am enjoying my life to the fullest. I enjoy spending time outdoors and exploring nature.
WOD: Why do you think dance is important to the world?
PJ: I think dance is so important, especially today with so much negativity. Dance kept me out of trouble and away from so many bad things as a young man. It is therapeutic and is a great way to escape everyday troubles and stresses.
WOD: What are you most excited/nervous about being on the show?
PJ: I am most excited to expose myself to a completely different audience then what I am used to. I will be a new face for every day viewers that don't watch many dance videos online. I’m just excited to represent Popping on the World of Dance stage! I am also excited to hear what the judges thing about my skill level. I have been training the past 20 year for opportunities like this so I’m very excited to see how far I can go a a solo street dancer.
WOD: Do you have a signature move/trick?
PJ: I have many signature moves, a few being my bobble head move, footwork combinations, my head neck isolation where I walk around my body with my head fixed in space.
WOD: What sets you apart from the competition?
PJ: I feel my variety of concepts along with my high level of technique sets me apart form the competition. Also my experience- 20 years is longer that some of these dancers have been alive!
