Dr. Arnel Calvario Ripkins shares his inspiring journey from growing up in a diverse community to becoming a pioneering leader in the dance world. He highlights the importance of community, identity, and healing through dance while embracing the experiences that shape our lives.

• Dr. Arnel’s upbringing in a culturally rich environment
• The creation of Kaba Modern as a response to community needs
• Impact of social media on dance and the shift from personal to digital learning
• Experience with Awesome Shock and integrating dance therapy
• Leadership lessons and the importance of nurturing future dancers
• Contribution to "With Love" discussing queer and Filipino identities
• Emphasis on self-care for dancers and leaders
• Great insights on personal growth and community involvement

Guest bio:
As a visionary leader in the dance community, Arnel has inspired countless individuals through his work as founder of Kaba Modern, former Executive Director and former Board President of Culture Shock LA, former President of Culture Shock International, and as a member of the Kinjaz, while also empowering future leaders through his global education programs LEADERSHIP TOOLS for the DANCE LEADER and  ROOTS B4 BRANCHES.

He recently was the closing speaker for TEDx UC Irvine this past May and is a contributing author for recently released book: WITH LOVE - What we wish we knew about being Queer and Filipino in America.  In addition to all this, he works full-time as a Doctor of Occupational Therapy for the Long Beach Unified School District and is working in collaboration with Andy Ho and Culture Shock LA to expand his DANCE THERAPY program Awesome Shock LA in 2025 to provide an affirming and impactful space for dancers with disabilities.

Socials:
IG: @arnelcalvario
FB: Arnel Calvario
Website: www.DrArnel.com

Links/resources:

• Kaba Modern (wiki page)
• “How I learned to live authentically” (Arnel’s TEDx talk)
• With Love: What We Wish We Knew About Being Queer and Filipino in America by Dustin E. Domingo (book)
• Words that Move Me by Dana Wilson (podcast)
• Yung Pueblo (author, poet)
• Devon Blow - @Devthepineapple (Illustrator, IG)
• We The Urban (IG)

One Thousand Gurus Podcast:
Everyone has a compelling story to tell with insights we can all be inspired by. J.R. Yonocruz is a self-improvement blogger, relationship coach, and serial hobbyist with a passion for learning. He interviews unique guests from various fields to distill the strategies, habits, and mindsets we can use in our own lives. Each “guru” has a chance to give the audience a peek into a new world.

www.onethousandgurus.com
Instagram: @OneThousandGurus
TikTok: @onethousandgurus
YouTube: One Thousand Gurus Podcast
Email: [email protected]