Podcast #208

Kinjaz – Respect All, Fear None

After an upsetting second place finish on America’s Next Dance Crew in 2015, the fan favorite Kinjaz turned their loss into a huge win, by going on to form the first ever crowd-funded global dance studio ($127,000), and the highest raised ever in the dance category on Indiegogo. Since then, the group has opened up 3 studios in the US and China, launched an international camp program, and a line of merchandise ranging from watches to swords to jackets, and racked up millions of interactions across social media. Additionally, they’ve worked with brands and partners ranging from McDonald’s to AT&T, Bruce Lee, and Volkswagen to name a few. On this episode, co-owner Ben Chung (formerly of the Jabbawockeez) and choreographer/teacher Charles Nguyen speak on their inspirations, building community, and balancing art and business, and managing the expectations of 30+ crew members.