The Real Future: Street Dance Conversations

What is the value of raw, in-person confrontation in a social media era? Guest Alvin Désir joins photographer Nyboer on The Real Future to discuss face-to-face confrontation, dance cyphers as proving grounds, and they end with a live drum and dance improvisation.

Missed the beginning? Watch The Real Future Episode 27 (Part 1).

Episode Chapters:

(00:00) Intro & Discretion Notice

(00:44) The Diminishing Skill of In-Person Communication

(05:53) Proving Grounds: Evolution of the Dance Cypher

(11:39) Pivoting Priorities: Family vs. The Dance Community

(13:33) Finding Freedom: Chasing Hollywood Dreams in LA

(28:46) Navigating the Realities and Illusions of Los Angeles

(34:17) Behind the Lens: The Host's Photography Journey

(45:19) Rant Against Efficiency: The Socioeconomic Impact of AI

(54:32) Episode Outro & Instrumental Improv

LINKS

• ⁠Alvin’s Instagram⁠⁠
• Nyboer Photography⁠
• ⁠HotZone Sessions YouTube
• ⁠⁠Alvin’s DJ SoundCloud⁠⁠

CREDITS

• Production, Writing, Concept, Design, Video, Audio, Music, Photography by John Nyboer
• Movement by Alvin Désir

ABOUT THE REAL FUTURE PODCAST

Hosted by Los Angeles-based movement photographer John Nyboer, The Real Future is a dedicated street dance podcast exploring the history, culture, and future of global hip-hop. From underground battle cyphers to industry stages, the show features raw interviews, dance discussions, and live drum and dance sessions. 

CONNECT

• Nyboer Photography Instagram
• Nyboer Photography Website

Follow the show to join the conversation with the world's top breakers, poppers, lockers, animators, and choreographers.

My guest today is dancer, DJ, and event organizer Alvin Désir.

Alvin is one of the first dancers I got to know when I started photographing the street dance community. Unbeknownst to us at the time, he had just moved here from Florida, and I had just started photographing dancers, so maybe we shared a similar vulnerability. Whatever the case, we’ve developed a friendship over the years and when he moved to Arizona and started producing The Hot Zone Sessions with Julio Saran, I made sure to get out there with my camera.

We get into all of that and learn some funny things about how we perceived each other when we first met. We also discuss what it means for Alvin, now a father, to balance family life with dance, and how he sees the true meaning of success. Yes, those are big topics and we talked for a while, so this is Part One of a two-part episode.

LINKS

• Alvin’s Instagram
• Nyboer Photography
• HotZone YouTube
• Alvin’s DJ SoundCloud
• DJ Roxswift IG

CREDITS

• Production, Writing, Concept, Design, Video, Audio, Music, Photography by John Nyboer

Welcome to Episode 26 of The Real Future, Las Vegas Edition #3.

My guest today is Brendon Paredes aka Boujee. When I first met Boujee in 2024 at the Elite Invitational battle, I didn’t even realize that he, or anyone named Boujee, was behind the event! In face, if you’re taking this in on video, I have very few photos of him and tried to find shots that at least have his logo in the background. Anyway, I had gone to this event because I knew several of the participants and it was a good opportunity to get to know more about the Las Vegas dance community. Eventually I figured out what was going on and met this person who was drawing the best dancers in the Southwest to his battles without drawing much attention to himself. I’ve photographed several of his events since that time and it’s always a welcoming environment with quality competition. So I was glad to get the opportunity to host him on the podcast and get to know him a little better. As you’ll find out, he’s just getting started and I think he’s building something special for the Vegas dance community.

LINKS

Nyboer Photography

Boujee Block YouTube

Boujee Block Instagram

Kida The Great YouTube

Trevontae “Trey” Leggins YouTube

The Middle Ground Instagram

CREDITS

Production, Writing, Concept, Design, Video, Audio, Music, Photography by John Nyboer

My guest today is Host, MC, Dancer, and Las Vegas community voice M.P. Art. If you want to know what is happening in Las Vegas, you want to follow Art and the There’s Nothing To Do In Vegas media channels he curates with Coco Jenkins.

I met Art in L.A. where he often comes out to host dance events and participate in the community. Since then I’ve been to several events he’s MC’d in Vegas, including the legendary First Friday battles at Ninja Karaoke, and I’ve come to really admire his ability to keep things moving, make everyone feel welcome, and truly represent his community. It looks effortless, but that’s only because he puts in the work to do it right.

So when I knew I’d be in Vegas again I made sure to invite him onto the podcast. We talk about how his Chicano, Coachella Valley roots brought him to hip hop and shaped his views on community. We also discuss his core values and those who helped him along the way. I think you’ll enjoy Art’s calm, determined presence, so let’s get into The Real Future with M.P. Art. 

And I’ve got to make a quick apology for the sound quality of this conversation - I had a tech glitch (aka User Error) with my remote setup and did not capture the usual high-quality audio. 

LINKS

• M.P. Art Instagram
• Nyboer Photography
• Coco Jenkins
• Project Blowed YT
• There’s Nothing To Do In Vegas

CREDITS

• Production, Writing, Concept, Design, Video, Audio, Music, Photography by John Nyboer

This is the second half of Episode 24 with Dread. This episode was recorded in Las Vegas and it’s the first I’ve recorded outside of my Los Angeles studio.

Dread is part of the CCFFK Krump fam, a member of the Outlaws of Havoc freestyle crew, and is one of his generation’s best Krumpers. He is one of the best Krumpers on the planet, period, and in case there was any doubt, on May 9 2026 he took the crown at the  KCS Kill Krump battle in Las Vegas.  We met several years ago in Los Angeles at Battle Games 1, and he was the first Krumper I ever saw in person. He moved to Las Vegas several years ago and I was excited to have him as my guest for my first out-of-town episode. As we discuss at some length, Dread is intensely competitive and it was great to get to know the person behind what can be an intimidating exterior. We talk about his journey through Krump culture, about Krump’s increasing popularity, and about living with cystic fibrosis and how that drives him to push so hard as a dancer. In fact, we talked so much that I split this into two parts.

LINKS

CCRFK Fam

James Moore R.I.P.

Stix

Shake City

Get Krump

Tha J-Squad

CREDITS

Production, Writing, Concept, Design, Video, Audio, Music, Photography by John Nyboer

My guest today is Dread, aka Ultra, aka Violent Crush. Dread is part of the CCFFK Krump fam, a member of the Outlaws of Havoc freestyle crew, and is one of his generation’s best Krumpers. He is one of the best Krumpers on the planet, period, and in case there was any doubt, on May 9 2026 he took the crown at the  KCS Kill Krump battle in Las Vegas.  We met several years ago in Los Angeles at Battle Games 1, and he was the first Krumper I ever saw in person. He moved to Las Vegas several years ago and I was excited to have him as my guest for my first out-of-town episode. As we discuss at some length, Dread is intensely competitive and it was great to get to know the person behind what can be an intimidating exterior. We talk about his journey through Krump culture, about Krump’s increasing popularity, and about living with cystic fibrosis and how that drives him to push so hard as a dancer. In fact, we talked so much that I split this into two parts.

LINKS

• CCRFK Fam
• James Moore R.I.P.
• Stix
• Shake City
• Get Krump
• Tha J-Squad
  

CREDITS

• Production, Writing, Concept, Design, Video, Audio, Music, Photography by John Nyboer

My guest today is Seji Gaerlan. Seji is a founding member of the Syde Project dance crew and the Producer of the Orange County based Bridge The Gap jams. I’ve photographed two of these events and was impressed by the spirit and quality of the jams. I invited him in to ask about his personal story and the motivation behind Bridge The Gap. He’s a really thoughtful observer of the Southern California dance community and of life in general, and we get pretty deep into discussion about both the dance world and his experience as a kid moving here from the Philippines. Seji is both humble and audacious and I think you’ll enjoy our conversation. So let’s get into The Real Future with Seji Gaerlan.

CREDITS

• Production, Writing, Concept, Design, Video, Audio, Music, Photography by John Nyboer

LINKS

• Nyboer Photography 
• Syde Project YouTube
• Chamber Creative

My guest today is Cassandra Tsolis.

I first asked Cassie about being a guest last summer at Unimate 2025.  We were talking and she said she’d only been dancing for 6 years. I had to know more! How did she become such an explosive krumper in such a short period of time? We get into that story and how it relates to her writing a book and the development her somatic therapy program called Echo Movement. 

Cassie is someone who always grabs the crowd’s attention in a battle because she leaves it all on the dance floor every time. It was great to hear her story and I think you’ll enjoy our conversation.

CREDITS

• Production, Writing, Concept, Design, Video, Audio, Music, Photography by John Nyboer

LINKS

• Nyboer Photography
• Cassandra’s Book, “Coming Home To Me”
• Echo Movement IG
• Noé "Jbad" Rios
• Bvck Originals YT

My guest today is Ernesto Galarza aka Precise. Precise is the Artistic Director for Versa-Style Legacy, and the Digital Content and Marketing Director for Versa-Style Dance Co. He’s also a member of the Soulbotics crew and one of L.A.’s best known dancers.  I’ve photographed him going back to 2017 and it was great to sit down and learn about his background. And because he has been a part of Versa-Style practically since the beginning, he has great insight into the history and values of this invaluable organization. We finished the podcast with a drum and dance session that you don’t want to miss. Let’s get into The Real Future with one of L.A.’s finest, Precise.

CREDITS

• Production, Writing, Concept, Design, Video, Audio, Music, Photography by John Nyboer
• Movement by Ernesto Galarza aka Precise

LINKS

• Nyboer Photography
• Soulbotics Crew
• Versa-Style Dance Co.

I brought my Nord drum synthesizer to Unimate, the international robot and animation dance convention, for a series and drum and dance improvisations. If you are listening to an audio-only platform I really encourage you to change it up watch this on YouTube or Spotify - I’ll put a link in the show notes.

This music and movement exchange features Australian animation and waving dancer Mitchell Trott. Mitch has been at all three editions of Unimate. His fluid, emotive style made an impression from the jump and every year he adds to his unique vocabulary that evokes  both contemporary dance and street styles. Like all good dancers, Mitch knows how to listen and our exchange really locked in from the start. Let’s get into a  Real Future drum and dance improv, with Mitchell Trott

CREDITS

• Nord Drum 3, Production, Writing, Concept, Design, Video, Audio, Music by John Nyboer
• Movement by Mitchell Trott

LINKS

• Watch this drum and dance session on YouTube
• Mitchell Trott Instagram
• Nyboer Photography
• Unimate Dance