Jonathan Xavier Weinert 2008

Who would have thought? In the 7th grade I was the wallflower at the school dances. Now it's all I want to do when I break free of the research. I think the bug hit me somewhere during my freshman year of college busting moves on the ATO "pit" dance floor to "Rappers Delight".  Then my senior or college, I took what was to become my favorite course of all my four years at college, "Modern Dance 101" with Eric Blair.  That really opened up the world of dance to me. 

I spent Fall 03 in Los Angeles, which was my first introduction into totally hot, funky, fresh L.A. hip-hop dance culture. I took dance classes at Millenium Dance, the same studio where they hold auditions for Britney Spears and Janet Jackson videos. I met people from all over the world in these classes (mostly Japanese) who came all the way here just to learn LA style hip-hop. Special thanks to my teachers Dante, Reno, and Wade. They’re incredible. I took one special class (along with about 60 others) with Wade Robson, the 25 yr old prodigy choreographer of N’Sync, Britney, and recent host of the MTV show, The Wade Robson Project, a kind of “American Idol” for dancers.

When I returned to Davis, I took several classes with Hong Kong hip-hop superstar Eman Lam (she was in Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl video). This girl can break it DOWN!

Now, I live in Shanghai and my dancing days are few and far between.  I guess my interests have changed as I grow older.  Though if the opportunity ever arise, as it seems to ever so often at a chance wedding or other special event, you can guarantee I'll be out sweating it to some dank beats on the ole DF (dancefloor).