{"id":17184,"date":"2023-03-27T16:15:50","date_gmt":"2023-03-27T20:15:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dancemogul.com\/news\/?p=17184"},"modified":"2025-11-18T00:42:51","modified_gmt":"2025-11-18T05:42:51","slug":"derek-holloway-l-dance-mogul-exclusive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dancemogul.com\/news\/derek-holloway-l-dance-mogul-exclusive\/","title":{"rendered":"Derek Holloway | Dance Mogul Exclusive"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Dance Mogul <\/em><\/strong>Exclusive Interview…<\/em><\/span><\/h1>\n
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\"\"Dance Mogul:<\/strong> <\/span>When did you develop a love for dance?
\n<\/span>Derek H: <\/strong><\/span>When I discovered Britney Spear\u2019s album at age 6. I had never taken a dance class, and I had not the life experience to understand what \u201cbaby one more time\u201d was truly all about but hearing it inspired me to put on the little black wig I made my mother buy me from the wig shop because they were all out of long ones. I broke down in the driveway every afternoon while the little Asian girls across the street watched in amusement until their dad made them go inside. That is when I knew I loved performing.<\/p>\n

Dance Mogul:<\/strong><\/span> How did you develop a work ethic to be progressive and successful?
\n<\/span>Derek H: <\/strong><\/span>My work ethic and motivation have always been intrinsic to the things I love to do! Creative, imaginative work has ignited enough passion in me that I have an incredible drive to push the project I\u2019m working on to its most creative potential, hopefully discovering fresh, new, exciting ideas along the way! I\u2019ve always LOVED performing, so I give me all for fun. Doing what makes me happy feels effortless. Doing what makes me happy has been the thing that has made me the most successful!<\/p>\n

Dance Mogul:<\/span> <\/strong>Did you have family support?
\n<\/span>Derek H:\u00a0 <\/strong><\/span>Yes! Life and career-wise, I have no family member who isn\u2019t positively supporting me, my life, or my endeavors in ways they can (besides money, nobody gives me money). I have a very supportive family.<\/p>\n

\"\"Dance Mogul: <\/strong><\/span>When did you realize you could be a professional?
\n<\/span>Derek H: <\/strong>I booked a tour at the end of high school, a job that broke and rebuilt me in so many ways. After learning so much about myself and my professionalism from the job, I felt much more prepared for all the incredible work I have done and will continue to do!<\/span><\/p>\n

Dance Mogul:\u00a0 <\/strong><\/span>What have been some of your most memorable dance moments?
\n<\/span>Derek H:\u00a0 <\/strong><\/span>Besides dancing in my wig as a 5-year-old, the experience of the day I auditioned for the performing arts high school I attended (LACSHA), making it onto my favorite dance crew and living out my dream on the stage at W.O.D as a teen, the rush of being told to re-perform a dance at a lady Gaga audition by myself in front of everyone and a bunch of cameramen and the random burst of confidence that came with it, feeling like being inside of a movie while doing a live promo for The Greatest Showman at Warner Bros and shaking booty at the club. I LOVE dancing at the club.<\/p>\n

Dance Mogul:<\/span> <\/strong>How did you survive the pandemic and overall day-to-day of 2020?
\n<\/span>Derek H:\u00a0 <\/strong><\/span>I got to move back home, live rent-free, and get home-cooked meals for the first few months while collecting unemployment and having almost no responsibilities. It was incredible. Luckily I also ran into some video editing jobs at the start and got to edit a music video for Nia Sioux, make a video for the adorable Boss Baby Brody, and another one for a cute little dancing queen named Cha-Cha. These kept me so busy and gave me extra income that I did not report to unemployment. Then I found out that the Lady Gaga music video I did immediately before the pandemic was turning into a national commercial and that I was getting residuals- so after I discovered\/collected my residuals, I immediately went on shopping sprees. Now that I think of it, this is probably one of the best few months of my life. I then moved to Burbank in June 2020. After moving in, I couldn\u2019t do much, of course, but stay in, irritate my roommates, and order sushi. That money was gone by the beginning of 2021. I wish I had stayed home.<\/p>\n

\"\"Dance Mogul:<\/span> <\/strong>How has 2020 affected your artistic decisions and progress?
\n<\/span>Derek H:\u00a0 <\/strong><\/span>The editing jobs I got gave me lots of new experience and practice- however, as far as dance, I lost so much stamina and didn\u2019t take much class because wearing the masks in class while going full out was enough to give me asthma. I lost the momentum to take dance classes consistently, and I probably have asthma now because my stamina feels like it has decreased by 50%, but I\u2019m getting back into it and rebuilding now!<\/p>\n

Dance Mogul:<\/span> <\/strong>What advice do you have for all artists as they return to normalcy?
\n<\/span>Derek H: <\/strong>Normalcy? HAHA! Give \u201cnormal\u201d up. Life is truly an unexpected joy and mess simultaneously, especially in adulthood. I say to embrace and accept the unexpected, find and stay true to yourself, meditate, go to therapy, and SAVE MONEY.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"Dance Mogul:<\/span> <\/strong>What would you like your legacy with dance to look like 20 years from now?
\n<\/span>Derek H:\u00a0 <\/strong><\/span>By the time I\u2019m 45, I would like to have experimented and worked enough to have created innovative work and perhaps programs to help inspire and evolve the art form and its people.<\/p>\n


\nDance Mogul:<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong> Is there anyone you’d like to thank for helping you on your journey?
\n<\/span>Derek H: <\/strong><\/span>My entire supportive family, friends, and teachers who\u2019ve made their classes about their student\u2019s growth and myself.<\/p>\n

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