Meet Stefan and Karline from the 2018 World of Dance Championships
Stefan and Karline (Stefan Maynard and Karline Brathwaite) are artists who pursued a dance partnership after meeting at a social dancing event. Their chemistry inspired them to continue performing together and has led them to the 2018 World of Dance Championship Week. They duo is focused on telling stories with their bodies and want to move the audience. Get to know more about Stefan and Karline's journey to our championship competition.https://youtu.be/X_9FcEzNiHM
World of Dance asks Stefan and Karline About Their Journey to Championship Week
WOD: Can you give us a little background about the crew? How long have you beentogether and how did you meet?Stefan and Karline: We have been working as a dance couple for only about a year and a half. However, we have been friends for over 7 years. Karline and I met through mutual a friend socialdancing. We would meet up at parties and look forward to getting to dance with each other. As time progressed we both realized we had a similar passion for Latin social dancing. As soon as we came to that realization, Karline left Trinidad for 4 years to pursue her Master’s degree. As far as we were concerned, that was that.Upon her return though, it was as though we picked up right where we left off. Casually, we decided to try performing together. There is a Latin Dance Festival in Trinidad and Tobago every year so that was the perfect opportunity to create something we both believed in. We didn’t anticipate any of the things that followed because all we really wanted to do was share this wonderful privilege of dance.WOD: What are you feeling going the Championships?Stefan and Karline: So many feelings!!! Ridiculously nervous because we never imagined getting to this point ever! Tremendously grateful because we are here doing what we love. Completely privileged and proud to be here representing our beloved twin island republic Trinidad and Tobago on this international stage! Just to name a few!WOD:What is your favorite part of competing in World of Dance?Stefan and Karline: Definitely the host of opportunities that comes with the World of Dance platform: to meet so many talented people from around the world, to be seen by so many people from around the world and to meet and be inspired by the talented professionals and judges.WOD:What part of your dance, choreography, or performance are you most proud of?Stefan and Karline: We are most proud of the stories we get to tell with our bodies that sometimes are difficult to put into words or can’t entirely be captured by just words. It’s even more enthralling to see the audience get it! The feel it and are moved by it and that makes us so proud of the work we do.WOD:What exciting things will you be doing/focusing on in the next year?Stefan and Karline: Well, hopefully we will be in LA recording season 3 of WOD! Until then, we are going to maximize on opportunities to showcase our brand of work with wider audiences. We willbe in St. Vincent, Panama and of course back home in Trinidad teaching and performing. We are going to continue exploring different ways to manipulate Latin dance rhythms to tell untold or unspoken stories of the human experience.WOD:Why do you think dance is important to the world?Stefan and Karline: Dance levels the barriers and social constructs that constrict our human experience. By virtue of having a body; able-bodied or disabled, black or white, big or small, gay orstraight, young or old etc. Dance unites especially in a time where we need to come together and be one in the world. It gives voice to the voiceless, empowers the powerless and brings life to death like experiences. For a lot of us, dance is where we feel most alive!WOD:What’s your favorite part about being a crew?Stefan and Karline: They say two heads are better than one! Working together gives us the opportunity to learn from each other and be supported during challenging times. The unique chemistry on the dance floor that we share is also a great thing about this team.
