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Weekly conversations with dancers, musicians, and other friends about jazz, life, and connections.
Hi, my name is Diego Meda, and dance is language.
Paul:Hi, I'm Paul or Paul Dances if you know me from Twitch or Instagram, and welcome to my new podcast, Paul and Response. The goal here is to sit down and chat with dancers from all over and have deeper conversations about life, dance, jazz, community, and more. New episodes will drop every Tuesday, and I'll also occasionally share older podcast episodes from some of my earlier projects. If you like this work and you want to support it, consider contributing $5 per month on patreon.com/pauldances. Alright, let's get into the first episode.
Paul:Wow, that's pretty good. Dances language. Okay. Cool. Welcome to the first episode of...
Paul:Are you ready for the name? Paul and Response. Oh
Diego:my god. Well, oddly fitting.
Paul:Excited to be sitting
Diego:here with with Diego.
Paul:Long time friend now. I don't know. How long have we known each other? Been...
Diego:Like, at least eight, seven, eight years? Yeah. Maybe? Yeah.
Paul:Yeah. It's it's been a long time, and it's been it's been lovely. I love Diego. And and I miss Diego. We'll talk about that a little bit later.
Paul:But give give me the give me the the background of of Diego up to present time. The short
Diego:Okay. Okay. Short version. The very, very short version. So I'm Mexican.
Diego:I grew up in Tijuana. So that's that's a fun fact about me. I live in Guadalajara right now, but, like, all of my childhood was was spent in Tijuana. Tijuana being a border town with San Diego is very bilingual, bicultural, I would also say. And I grew up, like, with a dual...
Diego:Not officially. Like, I'm only Mexican, but I kinda have, like, a dual citizenship in what my culture is, what my language is. A lot of people get, like, confused when they hear me speak English because I speak it like... I'm from SoCal, which I'm technically am. Yeah.
Diego:So growing growing up in this environment, it's it's pretty cool and sometimes not so cool to get to see, like, what actually makes differences in in, like, one country versus the other. Actually, growing up in that environment also made me learn about Lindy Hop when I was in high school. Like, I I feel like most people in Mexico in general don't have access or knowledge to access about, like, swing dancing, jazz music. Lydia... Like, I would say 90% of the pop...
Diego:Or even more of the population of Mexico doesn't even know Lydia Hopp exists. Swing music is danceable. Like, they might have heard it at some point. Don't know it's something people dance to. So being in TJ allowed me to, like, somehow learn about it, but I was never able to learn how to Lindy Hop because I was a huge nerd, a huge introvert, not a lot of friends kinda guy.
Diego:I would actually go to, like, San Diego Comic Con every single year from, like, middle school all through high school. Oh, wow. That's You know, like, house playing. No. No.
Diego:I volunteered every single year.
Paul:Oh, cool.
Diego:Yeah. And I would, like, take the trolley up to to San Diego Convention Center and everything. So huge nerd. Thank you. Just
Paul:just because this will definitely be a nerdy podcast, what kinda what kinda nerdy things? I I know anime. Right?
Diego:Yeah. I am... I kinda like a mood speaker. No. I I am...
Diego:I'm very much into Japanese culture, anime, especially more so when I was growing up. What else? Well, you know, video games, some comics as well, but not, like, like, hardcore fans of, like, that follow a single. It's just like... I like animation in general.
Diego:But, yeah, that sort of nerd.
Paul:Okay. So grew up going to con... I actually didn't know this. I didn't know that you were constantly in Southern California. Yeah.
Paul:That's that's cool. I mean, and it makes sense. You can literally just walk across the border.
Diego:And it's it's like the way that Tijuana is, like, very, very embedded into like American just like society in a way that most schools in Tijuana, for example, our field trips are to San Diego Zoo, San Diego aquarium... Or SeaWorld. Sorry. We'll we'll go to Balboa for all the museums, and it's like our school trips. Like, our school trips would involve getting in line to cross the border, bring your passport, bring your visa.
Diego:You're not allowed to have, like, fruits because, like... Anyways, that... Those sort of things are are stuff that I grew up with and that are, like, so normal to me. But a lot of people, especially in The US, don't don't even realize how much of a process and how difficult it is from someone... For someone from Mexico to get into The US.
Diego:Mhmm. And that's just something that I grew up with on my day to day almost. So... But it's also very close. Like, it's you can go shopping at once and then be back to have dinner in your favorite taquerias.
Paul:Wow. Wow. Okay. And then what was your family like growing up? Do you you have one brother?
Diego:I have two brothers. So Okay. I have a, an older brother, and then my parents are divorced. And my... I don't like...
Diego:I'm a bit estranged from my my father's side of the family. But from my mom's side, she had another kid. He's, like, thirteen years younger than me. And he's a half sibling technically because he's he's from a different dad, but we... Like, he lives with me and, yeah, we're we're brothers.
Paul:Okay.
Diego:And... Yeah. So that's what I consider my my family nucleus would be, like, my mom and my younger... My older brother. And then, we all...
Diego:Well, my mom and my older brother are still in TJ. My younger brother's living me... With with me right now in Guadalajara. And, yeah, like, the other the other side is non relevant.
Paul:Yeah. Yeah. I mean, that's funny. It's very similar to because my brother lives with me. Youngest brother.
Diego:Younger? Yeah,
Paul:there's six kids and Todd is the youngest and my parents call us the bookends. Oh. Oh. Thirteen years. Oh, same.
Paul:Oh, wow. Wait. Same?
Diego:Yeah. Same. That's pretty pretty. Like, I'm I'm turning 35 and he's 23. Yeah.
Diego:No. Wait. No. He's 22.
Paul:Yeah. I'm 40.
Diego:Oh, is that... That's with the beard.
Paul:Yeah. It's audio only. Remember.
Diego:I'm kidding. I'm... Well, you guys should admire the graceful beard he's rocking. Anyways.
Paul:Okay. Cool. So grew up in Tijuana. Then then how did you... You said you saw Lindy Hop.
Paul:What... Where did you see it?
Diego:My best friend from high school, also a huge nerd during high school, she found out or found the clip from. Oh, really? Oh, you did. Wow. And And she was like, oh my god.
Diego:Look at this. It's so cool. And we geeked about... We geeked out about it for, like, months watching videos, trying to learn how to dance from videos, not being able to because, like, I don't know if you know about nerds in high school, but, like, they don't have good motor skills.
Paul:As a high school nerd, yes, this is true.
Diego:Those... Yeah. We we get those skills later in life. But... Yeah.
Diego:So I grew up not even, like, knowing how to dance anything. Mhmm. So salsa and bachata cumby are, like, very much in Mexican tradition. You go to, like, whatever party, and that's what they play. Since I was not going to parties, and I was not I was not dancing.
Diego:Like, I I only started to learn how to salsa dance or became more interested in it until after I I learned how to, which is way later in my life. It's very, very interesting, very... I think it's it's a funny thing. But... So from TJ, and that's how I learned about LindyHub, I wasn't able to...
Diego:Or I didn't have access to classes. So this is me at 18 years old wanting to learn it and not being able to and then, like, just, like, putting it on the back of, like, the very, very last drawer and forgetting about it. So what happened in the meantime is I moved to Guadalajara to get my college degree in computer science, not because I like computers, but because I think... Well, back then, I I made a decision of, like, okay. I can study something that I'm gonna love but not not have good money or...
Diego:Which is... Would would have been physics. Or I also wanted to be a cook, but I didn't want to be exploited. So I decided not to go to culinary school, and then I was like, okay. I just wanna, you know, slack off and have an easy time and get money.
Paul:Work in tech.
Diego:Work in tech was the right answer. So I moved to Guadalajara. I got my college degree. During college, I did that one year exchange program in Japan. Okay.
Diego:During this whole time, I was learning Japanese, so I'm trilingual. And then after college... So after graduating, I started working in my first, like, corporate job at Oracle. And at Oracle, you know, you you start making, like, office buddies, whatever. You you meet people.
Diego:I remember one day, this girl, like, I wouldn't... Back then, don't know if I would have called her a friend. Like, I I barely knew her. Like, we were from from different teams, and we would see each other, like, passing by. She came directly up to me and and was like, hey.
Diego:I'm going to a swing dancing workshop next weekend. Do you wanna come with me? I was like... Like, I had... At that point, I had, like, pretty much forgotten that Lindy Hop existed.
Diego:This was when I was 25 years old, so ten years ago. And I was like, hold up. What? And it turns out, like, back then, a number of things happened to make it so that people from Mexico City who learned how to learning hub in Europe had then, like, gotten to a point where they wanted to start teaching, and someone brought them to Guadalajara. And those, like, those were the first, like, Lenny Hub workshops that happened in Guadalajara ten years ago.
Paul:Wow. And
Diego:that's when I started, and I have a substance.
Paul:Do I know... Would I be familiar with any of these names?
Diego:Tim and Richie's.
Paul:Oh, okay.
Diego:Yeah. Well, the first workshop I took was with... And these were, like, weekend only because they had to, like, come into the city and then go back. My first workshop was with Eduardo Mercado in Lapa, Aviles. And then next one was with Tim and Ruchis.
Diego:And, yeah, like, I'm I'm... I really hold them, like, dear to me because they're, like, my first Linea Hub teachers. And it kinda, like, when the first workshop ended, I just like knew, like, oh, it should have started six years ago.
Paul:Yeah. And then who was the girl that invited you out?
Diego:Oh oh, yeah. She's a dear friend of mine now. Like, yeah, she's amazing. And her name is Luce Elena. I think you might have met her.
Diego:I don't know. She's a great, great, great salsa dancer now. Like Oh. When when... Back then, like, when when...
Diego:We did that workshop, and she was trying to, like, find hobbies. She liked Lindy Hop, but then she went to a salsa workshop, and she liked that better. So we started our, like, dance careers at the same time. But she went on the salsa path, and I went on, like, Lindy Hop. And we've got into a point where we're, like, both competing and getting, like, awards at competitions.
Diego:But we also, like, for example, she would... She came to GLX to hang out, and she's, like, there and rooting for me, and I'm there and rooting for her as well and and her salsa journey. So... Yeah. That's cool.
Diego:Love you, Lucilena. If you... If you're listening to this, love you so much.
Paul:That's super cool. So ten years into dancing now. Mhmm. How's it going?
Diego:Yeah. This... Oh, wow. Well, there's so many things that change and so many things that remain the same and and how, like, I was back when I started dancing. And then then when you have that, like, growth spurt of, oh, my...
Diego:Oh, it's,
Paul:like, so passionate. This is all I wanna do all day every day, and then kinda, like,
Diego:you know, it it mellows out, but then you get these, like, peaks and valleys and and how intense and how involved you are. So
Paul:how did you go from taking that workshop? Was there anything regular in Guadalajara at the time?
Diego:Not not right at that time, but eventually, yes. Like, a teacher from Mexico City moved to Guadalajara to start teaching regular workshops. I ended up taking classes with him, like, for two
Paul:or three months.
Diego:But then soon after, like, I had the opportunity to go to my first weekend or Lindy Hop weekend, it was Swing Break Mexico. It was another one of those moments where it's like, ah, okay. This is what I do now. So right so Spring Break Mexico happened in, when was it? 2017.
Diego:Wait. No. 2016? No. Yeah.
Diego:First one I went to was 2016, I think. I might have the the dates wrong, but I remember the first year I went, I met girl from Seattle working with
Paul:Kevin and Joe?
Diego:Camp No. Camp Jitterbug.
Paul:Oh, yes. Yes.
Diego:And she was like, hey. You should come to Camp Jitterbug. It's really fun. And at that point, I was like, I need to go to more events like these because when you first start dancing, you're like, oh my god. My local teachers are, like, like, the best dancers in the world.
Diego:And they... They're pretty good, of course. But then you go and, like, your eyes are opened to the world of of dancing that is out there, like the world of dancers that is out there. And it really, like, broadens your your horizons, and that's what happened to me. So I really wanted to go.
Diego:She convinced me to go. Like, she she she hosted me. She got me a volunteer spot. Shout out to Tanya. Like, thank you.
Diego:I I actually ended up volunteering for a computer book for, like, three or four years in a row Oh, gosh. To to keep attending because it's it's a lovely event. I can't wait to to go back. And this this year was Kristen. Kristen Ames, I think is her last name.
Diego:Might have changed now. I think she got married. But but I mentioned this because from that point onwards, I stopped going to regular classes in in my scene, like, in back back home here. And I basically started learning exclusively from traveling to events, taking classes, and mostly social dancing. I feel like that's that's the best classroom.
Paul:So learning on the road, at what point did you decide, oh, I wanna I wanna now reinvest this in my local scene? Because I know you do a fair amount of that.
Diego:Yeah. And that's... That was two years after I started dancing because I I started a project called Guadalajara Lin Society. It it came from a need or the feeling of a need of wanting to have more options out there for people who maybe their values or or their style of life didn't resonate with with the one option that was out there for classes, social dances, like, everything. Being such a social and such a, like, a community oriented dance, Mhmm.
Diego:It's also kinda, like, weird when when the community that exists doesn't really, like, relate to you or you can't really relate to to the way that the community is being built. And I'm not saying it to, like, mean that it's better or worse. It's just different. Like... And there's people that that you resonate with and that you hang out with, and there's people who you don't.
Diego:And then if there's no options, then people are not gonna be encouraged to stay unless they have the same exact mindset or they they can, like, integrate really well into that specific group. You know? Mhmm. So for me, it was like that, and I I felt like I didn't have space, and I didn't really, like, have the social skills to connect with the people who who were forming this this core of the community. So I was like, hey.
Diego:You know what? I wanna keep dancing. I wanna keep, like, I wanna start teaching, like, all of the things or or sharing the things that I've I've managed to to pick up. So society came from a, like, a group of people that felt the same way and wanted to, like, keep spreading out the word about Lenny Hub and, like, getting swing dancing out there and getting, in general, like, this culture known in Mexico. This is, like, as I said before, like, pretty much unknown.
Diego:Mhmm. So that happened. And and, like, we started off just, like, giving out, like, free classes every now and then, like, organizing social dances, like, in the street. Then it it became, like, weekly classes, more of, like, regular, you know, content, and we ended up... There's a lot of things.
Diego:And while the Holiday Society has been alive for, like, eight years now, we we did our three years of of GLX this year. We're putting in a pause probably coming back next year. But it's it's going to to be, like, a bigger initiative than, like, jump to starting members, and I'm I'm happy about it. But, yeah, that that transition happened, like, pretty early on. I I feel like most people would probably not start trying to teach when they haven't even danced for, like, two years.
Diego:But in my mind, it's like, okay. So I know, like, very, very basic steps, and I can, like, start people... Get people started dancing with these. These are tools enough that you can, like, enjoy dance and start connecting with with the the culture. So I felt like, yeah.
Diego:Well, the option is nothing or rock, step, triple step, rock... Step, step, triple step. I'll I'll share that out, and I'll I'll teach it to as many people as I can, and we'll see where it goes from there. So, yeah, that was my logic. And...
Paul:Yeah. No. I'm... I have a very similar... Like, I come from a very rural town in in SoCal, and it took me, like, at at minimum an hour to go dancing.
Paul:So I was like, if I wanna dance locally, I wanna start teaching. And so it's like a very... I mean, a similar path as far as, like, I was teaching probably a year into my dance ex... Experience. Yeah.
Diego:And and also, like, when I started teaching, I I fig... I realized, like, oh, wow. Like, when I'm put into the position of of how do I share this with someone else, I started, like, understanding it differently and, like, thinking about it differently and... Or or thinking about things more thoroughly. Mhmm.
Diego:So then I also feel like I I... I've grown as a dancer, not only as a dance teacher, but as a dancer because of of of sharing what I what I've learned.
Paul:I wanna talk a little bit about Guadalajara Lindy Exchange.
Diego:Hey.
Paul:Yeah. Just because it was, I think, such a it was such a learning experience for me to come down and be in your scene, and, like, it was so, like, cultural culturally focused. I think one of the the intentions behind it was to combine, like, and get people into Mexico and see what it's all about. So I wanna talk a little bit about that, and then just brought on a broader sense, what dance means to you.
Diego:Right now, like, talking about my my background, like, how I grew up and, like, my environment dancing and, like, how I learned how to dance more, like, traveling and such. For me, it's like, yes. Every time I travel, I meet new people. I enjoy dance. I enjoy music.
Diego:It's wonderful. It's like, yes. I want to be in this all the time. But, like, every time that I I came back home, I was like, oh, I'm dancing with, like, all my friends here who I love, who I enjoy dancing with a lot, but they don't get to share that with me. So my first kinda, like, idea was like, oh, well, if we organize an event here that's up to standards or or, like, that's good enough or or that's interesting enough to bring people over from other places, then my friends here could also meet them mainly because it's not...
Diego:It's either not easy or not even possible for my friends to to travel because it's it's hard. Like, average Mexicans don't have a US visa. So... And and they're pretty, pretty difficult to get. I see.
Diego:And they're getting harder because of your president.
Paul:Not my president, Diego.
Diego:I mean, the president of your country. He doubled the price of the visa. It's like, why? It's already hard. Don't take it worse.
Diego:Still, I'm I'm really glad that you talk about it like that because it's... I didn't want the event to seem like, hey, guys. Like, hey, Mexican, community. I'm bringing people over from The US. I'm bring...
Diego:I'm not bringing anyone, but, like, I'm I'm calling out to people from other places so that we can dance with them as as if, like, some weird kinda, like, colonization was happening where we're like, oh, we have people who have been dancing their whole life. Yes. That's... That is true. Like, we we are dancing with more experienced dancers, but we're also dancers.
Diego:Like, we're... We also have something to to share and to say. Right? And it it it really felt like that. And that's the whole point of of the event.
Diego:Like, it's a Lindy exchange. To me, it was, at some point, like, unfathomable how, close Mexico is to The US, both geo... Geographically. And and for me, it's like culturally, like, yeah, these are two cultures that are me, like, together. Mhmm.
Diego:Yet, most of my friends from The US are like, I don't know. I've never been to Mexico. And I don't... It's like completely foreign and very detached from their realities even though we're very close. We're literally neighbors, And we have so many things in common, but also so many things that are different and so many things that we can learn from each other.
Diego:And that goes also for my Mexican friends. Like, a lot of them would probably never think of, like, getting a US visa just because. Like, why? Do I need it for work? Or, like, I'd rather travel to other places.
Diego:I don't know. But, again, like, being so close, being so similar yet so different, I feel like we can learn a lot from each other. And we can have each other's back in a way that we we can build a, like, a greater community that, like, helps us get better. Not not only as ancestors, but as people. Mhmm.
Diego:So that was, like, kinda like the intent of of GLX. My hopeful thinking is, like, we'll just do a fun event, and we'll we'll we'll have things that are oriented on on what should be bringing us together as a community globally in the agenda, but never, like, even once doubting on on getting the best dancing experience possible as, like, the core point because that's, like... That's the center of it for me. Like, if you got the dancing, if people are connecting through dance, good things are gonna happen. So
Paul:Mhmm.
Diego:Let's start from there, and let's go. So the first year went really well. Set... All all years of GLX have been, like, damn, so good. I'm just talking about it.
Diego:Right now, it's, like, getting me a bit emotional about the fact that we're not... We're... We paused it for this year, but, I mean, it was a hard decision to take, but one that made sense. So... But, yeah, GLX is great.
Diego:Once we're back, please come. And what else do you wanna... Like, GLX and
Paul:And then just kind of just generally what... Even just currently, because I know this shifts and and changes throughout your experiences, but, like, what
Diego:do you mean? What you mean to I feel like at the end of the day, what resonates with people, what makes art art is how universal it can get to human experience. Mhmm. So great art, classical art, like what we know of, like, I don't know, painting, plastic arts, the the works of art that are more, like, widely known are ones that anyone regarding their context, language, or or whatever is able to appreciate and be astonished by. Mhmm.
Diego:The same goes for dancing. So language. That's that's where I'm at right now. And it's been like... Especially coming coming back from...
Diego:I mean, not coming back. It's already been, like, a month. From IHC, it was like, oh, oh, this is a rap rap coveted mouth. But it's like... It it it really felt like it...
Diego:Like, it's just... Yeah. It's just human interaction, human communication. The more I think about it, the more I do it, the more I love it. And it's funny because some of my friends and family, when I started dancing, they were like, Oh, yeah, it's a face.
Diego:He'll grow out of it. It's been ten years. I don't think so. That's just me.
Paul:So what are some of your hopes and dreams, aspirations wise, dance wise or even life wise, at this point?
Diego:Oh, that's a good one. I don't know if it's like a... It's kinda like anticapitalist way of thinking maybe that I think of my professional life or, like, what my career life is as something that I don't want dancing to be a part of. Mhmm. So I I don't want...
Diego:I explicitly don't want to profit or, like, make my living from my art. Mhmm. It's not bad. Like, I I encourage and I admire and I look up to artists who live from their art... From their craft.
Diego:Like, that's incredible to me. But I I feel for me that the way my brain works is, like, I don't want, like, I don't wanna compromise my art to my way of living or my quality of life. So professionally speaking, I'm like, yeah, I really don't have any hopes and dreams because I don't admire or I don't wanna look up to CEOs of major companies or, like, people who are, like, hoarding wealth and and being millionaires while other people are, like, starving to death. It's like, fuck them. I'll deal with that.
Diego:No. Kidding. Eat the rich. No. Yeah.
Diego:But
Paul:No. Yeah.
Diego:Yeah. No. But... Yeah. Nope.
Diego:I mean, if I could change society... I don't know if you've been listening. Like, I would do a lot of things that... To make the society different, but I feel like that's completely different on on the dance space. Mhmm.
Diego:I feel like given my position as someone who stands in between... I'm sorry. I'm getting emotional. Uh-huh.
Paul:It's okay.
Diego:But... Yes. So in the dance space, I see my, involvement as if someone came before me, getting maybe to be that person who can make dance more accessible to people here, I would die happy then. So
Paul:It's it's funny. I think this is why one of the reasons that I've always, like, that I've always looked up to you so much is because we... I think we have very similar... Like, that is my... I feel like my self proclaimed calling in life is to, like, bring dance to more people.
Paul:Like, I was, like... Somewhere along the... My journey, I was like, you know what? If I can make people's days just a little less shitty, I I feel like that's my calling in life. And dance is a a very easy way to do that in my opinion.
Paul:So...
Diego:Yeah. And it's like... I also feel like dancing has... I mean, I'm not saying, like, every dancer is a good person. Yeah.
Diego:With this, there's a lot of good dancers and not good dancers in... As people.
Paul:Yeah. Yeah.
Diego:But I I do feel like, at least for me, it's been something very positive, very transformative, something that has just changed the way I I see my life. And I'm not saying it has to be that for everyone. No. Like, there's people who can do it super casually. That's perfectly fine.
Diego:That's that's part of it. But I just feel like it's I don't know. It's it's more... In my mindset, it's more important to be able to at least help get more people to communicate and to connect and to to understand different cultures that also resonate with with their own values even they don't know they're out there, the... Those cultures.
Diego:Mhmm. So, yeah, dance wise, I have a lot of of goals and and projects that I haven't started or that are on hold or projects that are on pause. But in general, and it's also gotta be a muscle because it is reminding me of the decision that I took last year to stop traveling
Paul:Yeah.
Diego:To The US.
Paul:Do wanna talk about that a little bit?
Diego:Oh, don't know if I'm ready right. Oh, yes. Let's let's continue with with the projects, and then I'll I'll talk about that. Okay. Because I get emotional.
Diego:I'm a I'm a big crybaby. The projects. Okay. So getting more people to this, helping more helping more... Or opening more spaces, get...
Diego:I I don't know. Like, this is the one thing that hasn't changed. I don't know if maybe Mexican society and culture is not so open to Lindy Hop or to swing dancing in general, or maybe we're not doing the best job at it. It's also, you know, coming from a standpoint of, like, the Mexican society, you speak Spanish, you listen to and you dance to salsa cumia bachata. So for most people, it's a foreign...
Diego:I mean, for everyone, it's a foreign dance, and the... A lot of... Most people don't speak English either, so it's like they can't relate as directly to the dance as I can probably because I grew up speaking, like, English. But I know that in the kind of like values or what lies underneath the language or like whatever barriers exist, I feel like that is a layer that we can all connect to, we can all resonate with, which is communicating, understanding each other, seeing each other as humans regardless of, like, age, gender. So I feel like that is something that that is universal.
Diego:And that's what I want to have people in Mexico or at least in Guadalajara understand, connect with, and like enjoy as I have. So that is still like top priority number one, more swing in Mexico. How? Well, thanks for asking.
Paul:Okay. I'm sorry. I'm not that... This is my first No.
Diego:I'm just it's just... I I... It's... I mean, it is an interview, so it's kinda supposed to go like that where you ask one question, and then I go on, like, a ten hour monoline. Here's my here's my recentest living poll.
Diego:But, yeah, how... More classes, more social dances. I have a near near medium term, kinda, like, project to do a more kind of, like, weekend... Like, workshop weekend event in Mexico happen. GLF is great.
Diego:Everything it stands for is great, but I would say that I made a mistake in some parts of it in that it became, like, for some people. It it was never my opinion or my my goal for it to be received like that, but it was, like, Diego's event. And... No. Like, GLX is so much more than that, and I never wanted to be like Diego's event even though, like, a lot of my life experience is, like, expressed there, and it's like...
Diego:It addresses a lot of of what my my journey in dance has been. Mhmm. I I don't ever want it to feel like here is Diego doing this for for people. No.
Paul:This is an interesting this is an interesting thing that you just made me think about because I I think when organizers first start up, that's a lot of times, like, how it's perceived, right? Like I think about Summer Swing Fest in Arizona, that's Ashley's event right now.
Diego:Ashley,
Paul:yeah. But it gets to a point to then it grows beyond that person, right? It's almost like George Lucas made Star Wars, but it's not George Lucas's Star Wars anymore, it's Star Wars, right? It's like, gets to a point where it just outgrows you as the organizer, But I think it being Diego's event for the first few years, I think might be unavoidable, especially because you're promoting it, you know what I mean?
Diego:Yeah. But I I feel like even that somehow was still a little bit problematic because it... For me, or at least from my standpoint, it's like I'm standing alongside all of these co organizers that are being somehow, like, left unnoticed or maybe that the event is not projecting or is not representing their, like... Maybe that they're not aligning to the same kinda, like, event goals. And we actually had people drop from from the organizing team because they were like, I don't even know what I'm doing here before...
Diego:Like, anymore. Like, I don't connect to this. This doesn't resonate with me, and they they just quit.
Paul:I see. And Okay.
Diego:That was, like, a mistake on my side because I... When you're... Well, it's my first time organizing an event. I never thought that the first thing that you have to do or that you need to think of is what being intentional and being clear and precise so that everyone can be aligned on what the event stands for. Mhmm.
Diego:And let that be the the major focus and the major, driving point of all decisions you take. Right. Because since we didn't do that, like, right now, I look back and I see, oh, yeah. First, second event. Third event, yes.
Diego:This this was... Or this has been our our goal all the time. But back then, I didn't think a lot about it. It was just like, hey, I want to make a great event here so more people from not only The US, but anywhere can come and dance with the Mexican dancers. And we all connect, and we we start generating more community.
Paul:Yeah.
Diego:That is not a clear vision for an event. So, like, I feel like my next gig or my next big thing is gonna be when I decide finally. Like, I am gonna do it, but I don't... I haven't said minor... Like, not not many details still, but I want to make an event happen that really, like, drives that same kinda, like, vision but in a more, like, refined, explicit, intentional way into an event that really, like, I don't know, moves that point forward of, like, pushing for a global community.
Diego:Like, if if maybe that level at least, like, North American because not because we're excluding anyone, but because we're close and it's convenient. And, like, why should we be traveling to Europe... All the way to Europe? It's so expensive. It's so carbon emitting.
Diego:It's not optimal. I'm not saying don't do it. It's great if you have the opportunity, but it's also very privileged to have that opportunity. And people don't see that. But anyways, doing an event that really, like, has that very, very clear defined and easy to relate to goal or vision and then really, like, put pull...
Diego:Put my energy and effort into that. I'm not saying that I am gonna be abandoning GLX, but I think GLX has... Like, it needs to grow to be more than Diego's event.
Paul:Yeah.
Diego:That makes sense. Yeah. And and this this next one, it might actually, like, Diego dance camp. Like Yeah. It it can be.
Diego:Like, I... Because I I am going... Like, I... If I want to, like, I I want to be intentional about it, and and then, like, everyone who's on board with with that can decide to be like part of the team or like it's going to help with the way of working. So that's one thing.
Diego:And the other thing is I'm planning my comeback to The U. S.
Paul:And I'm You heard it here, folks.
Diego:You can thank
Paul:you here. Well, you heard it here first, folks.
Diego:Yes. No. So, it is it is like, yes. Oh, this is a big one. So I want to be able to use my experience traveling internationally, like, knowing more languages, dealing with, like, VISAS and, like, with all those kinda, like, paperworks to more dancers in Latin America.
Diego:So I want to do, like, a... I don't know how to call it yet. It's it's gonna be, like, a nonprofit or something like that. Some organization that focuses on getting access and getting resources to more dancers in Latin America to kinda, like, even out the playing field a little bit. I don't know.
Diego:Just, like, to make it more more attainable, to to try to share what privilege I have in the dancing, dance, like, area Mhmm. To more more people in in Mexico and, like, in Latin America because it's it's not easy. And, like, arts in general in Latin America are are hard because you don't have the privilege of even having that much free time. The way I wanna do that is like, I don't know, collaborating with organizers from other events to get like sponsorships or recommendation letters so that people can apply for their visas, help with with visa paperwork, help with translation, or, like, whatever kind of, like, communication help is needed because people don't know. Like, I I know the answers who...
Diego:From Guadalajara who had registered, had a pass, had their flights, everything to go to ILAC, and then, oh, their visa got rejected, so screw them. And all their money, all their effort to
Paul:Their Canadian visas got rejected?
Diego:Yeah. Because they don't have a US visa. So not having a US visa for Canada means, like, oh, this person might be trying to immigrate here illegally, so no. Bye. Yeah.
Diego:I was I
Paul:remember the first time I was talking with a dancer in in Mexico, just about... I was like, oh, yeah. Just come up to come up to Camp Camp Hollywood. You know? It's like, it's LA.
Paul:I'm sure you can find a cheap flight. And it's like, no. No. No. It's.
Paul:Yeah.
Diego:It's fucked up. So, yeah, that that organization is, like, something that I've been thinking about and trying to, like, put into, like, a more actionable kinda, like, I don't know, project. Mhmm. And I want to do that sooner rather than later because that ties back to when I come back to The US. I feel like mainly Camp Hollywood actually, now that it's so close, I I think about it a lot.
Diego:And every year, I go and I see the the the student teams, and I'm like, wow.
Paul:Hell, yeah. You're gonna bring a student team.
Diego:Hopefully. Yeah. So that's, like, maybe two, three years from now. I don't know. I don't I don't only want, like, a student team.
Diego:I want, like, a team team. You know? Like Yeah. We're coming to get you, US. Jem Hollywood, I'm looking at you.
Paul:That's cool. Well, I'm excited. Alright. I'm going a little long now, but I do wanna ask Sorry. Just a couple...
Paul:No. It's... I mean, I knew, especially with the two of us. I was like, I I know.
Diego:Especially with all the crying, Diego. God. Okay. It wouldn't be Mexican without a soap opera.
Paul:Alright. This question, and it's... If you don't have an answer for it, that's okay. Any hot
Diego:takes? Oh. Oh, so many, man. It's like
Paul:Hot takes that you actually feel comfortable saying out loud.
Diego:It's like, that's locally, people. Like, you you... We are trying to consume locally so we don't impact our our our... What is it? Like, our
Paul:Environment?
Diego:Eco... No. Like, yeah, our our environment. And we're like, oh, yeah. I don't eat meat because I I need to be eco friendly.
Diego:And then I traveled to 50 fucking countries and use a a bunch of positive views. Guys, get your arguments in line. Come on. So that's one hot take. Okay.
Paul:That's perfect. Yeah. Right? That's that's perfect.
Diego:Okay. That's that's fine. We'll we'll go with that one.
Paul:And then just generally, I know you've already mess... Left a lot of messages, I think, for the dance community. But if one message one message to leave with the dance community, what would it be?
Diego:So it is very layered because if if it's your first time dancing or if it's your your first year dancing, you're not gonna go to a social social dance and be like, what is my purpose in life? No. But but, like, for everyone else who has been doing this for a long time, like, if you have been doing this for twenty, thirty years and don't know what your role is or what your place is is because you need to put some time and and energy into, like, understanding what you want, what you are, what your background is, and how that plays into Lindy Hub and... Or or Dancing, whatever Dancing you're doing. So that to me makes it easy for me.
Diego:Like, I I under... I think... I feel like I understand what I wanna do. I have a path in my in my dancing, like, idea. Right?
Diego:My my dancing journey. If you don't know what that is, this is a good way to find out or, like, to to think about it. Feel... Again, this is this is all my my personal experience. I don't have the answers for for everyone, and everyone's life is like their own.
Diego:Right? But I feel like in general, we can be a better community if we have more people being intentional about how we're building a community together than just, like, sticking together because it's fun and, like, a but then I don't care what the other ones do.
Paul:I think maybe summing it up in my words, we spend a lot of time trying to understand the context of the dance, like, the historical context of what... And what it means to to everybody else. And I think we... You're saying, while, of course, those things are important, understanding your own context is really important.
Diego:Yeah. Yeah. And like, okay, you want to be a better dancer or you want to be the best dancer. I don't know. Okay.
Diego:That's cool. But why?
Paul:Because So of my personal self worth is tied to my competitions.
Diego:Oh, man. You should go to therapy instead of social dance tonight. Hot take number two, that one's for free. Don't worry.
Paul:Let's do it.
Diego:Also also, people, another hot take. Please, people, stop saying dance is therapy. It is... It can be therapeutic, but it does not mean you're doing a therapy process. Like, you're not, like, actually working through your, like, bullshit.
Diego:You're just putting it back. Like, no. No. No. No.
Diego:People go... Please go to therapy. Come on.
Paul:I was just talking to Matt Ritchie, and I was just... I was kind of, like, voicing this, I'm like, Matt, how am I twenty years into this dance and I still, at times, like, choke during con... Contests? Like, I get so nervous that I actually choke. It's just like, I don't know.
Paul:You should probably try therapy.
Diego:And, like, going back going back to... Yes. Actually, yes. Oh my god. I was just talking with Kitzali about this.
Diego:Like, people who go out there and, like, fucking wrap out their their emotions and dance. It's like, wow. That is so so, like, vulnerable. Like, you're going out there. You're saying your ideas.
Diego:This this came when we were, like, watching the social, throwdown Mhmm. The the solo throwdown in in Natalie C. Also, please go watch that. But it's like... Okay.
Diego:So last thing I I promise, like, with the the... It... Because it it encompasses everything. Like, when you're going to a competition and you don't know what you're trying to say, you're not gonna be comfortable there, and you're not gonna be expressing yourself. So if you go to a debate or you go to a, like, a recital...
Diego:An... Like, an oratory contest and you haven't prepared your speech, what are you doing, man? Like, if you get there because you're handsome or maybe you have a great voice or or you have good posture or something like that, those are good attributes to have for an oratory or like a selling contest, whatever. But if you haven't prepared your speech, if you haven't understood what your message is and what you're trying to say is, I don't think you're gonna win. And if you win, that's a questionable win.
Diego:So unless you feel that you're putting yourself... Your true self out there and you've done that to, like, like, you're like, yes. This is me. This is what I wanna say. And this is how I wanted to say it.
Diego:That that should be your win in any contest.
Paul:Paul and Response hosted, recorded, and edited by me, Paul Writing. The intro and outro song is Writing with Paul by Jonathan Stout and his Campus Five. If you haven't already, please subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Like, share, and tell your friends. Would you like to be interviewed or have someone you'd like to recommend?
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