1 00:00:01,360 --> 00:00:04,160 Speaker 1: And when I walked from the shelter to the subway, 2 00:00:05,000 --> 00:00:07,000 Speaker 1: I was one kind of person. I was the kind 3 00:00:07,000 --> 00:00:09,680 Speaker 1: of young boy who'd belong in a place with burnt 4 00:00:09,720 --> 00:00:12,520 Speaker 1: out cars and crackheads on the street. And then I 5 00:00:12,520 --> 00:00:14,480 Speaker 1: got on a six train and I traveled for forty 6 00:00:14,480 --> 00:00:18,480 Speaker 1: five minutes, and there the men wore suits and ties, 7 00:00:18,520 --> 00:00:22,120 Speaker 1: and they carried briefcases, and I became a totally different person. 8 00:00:22,280 --> 00:00:23,960 Speaker 1: We have a word for that now, right, It's called 9 00:00:24,040 --> 00:00:26,439 Speaker 1: code switching. We didn't have it word for that thirty 10 00:00:26,520 --> 00:00:30,080 Speaker 1: years ago. I would be the person who belonged in 11 00:00:30,120 --> 00:00:32,320 Speaker 1: the Vallet studio, and then I would be the person 12 00:00:32,320 --> 00:00:36,080 Speaker 1: who belonged on the street corner in both worlds. And 13 00:00:36,159 --> 00:00:38,400 Speaker 1: so when I went home and I said, hey, I 14 00:00:38,400 --> 00:00:41,519 Speaker 1: want to be a dancer, my mother was great, but 15 00:00:41,600 --> 00:00:43,559 Speaker 1: she didn't understand that. 16 00:00:43,680 --> 00:00:49,000 Speaker 2: Was internationally known dancer, choreographer and educator Stephen Melndez describing 17 00:00:49,040 --> 00:00:53,520 Speaker 2: his experience growing up in the Bronx but actually living 18 00:00:53,560 --> 00:01:00,920 Speaker 2: another life. 19 00:01:03,920 --> 00:01:07,399 Speaker 3: He's the greatest suspersion entertainment. Connect you with Kerrie Chappi, 20 00:01:07,480 --> 00:01:10,240 Speaker 3: and then Carrie Chappy is to be a champion, a champion, 21 00:01:10,319 --> 00:01:13,399 Speaker 3: and Carrie Chappion Nigger played got a Champion and Carri 22 00:01:13,600 --> 00:01:17,319 Speaker 3: Chapion and Carrie Shep Greatest entertainment can nag. 23 00:01:17,200 --> 00:01:20,039 Speaker 2: You ward Hey, everybody, thank you guys for listening to 24 00:01:20,120 --> 00:01:23,080 Speaker 2: this edition of Naked Today. I have a very special 25 00:01:23,120 --> 00:01:26,160 Speaker 2: guest on and the reason why he is special for 26 00:01:26,200 --> 00:01:31,600 Speaker 2: me is because I feel as if Stephen Melndez is inspiring, 27 00:01:31,640 --> 00:01:33,600 Speaker 2: and I think you'll feel the same way. He's an 28 00:01:33,600 --> 00:01:38,520 Speaker 2: international dancer, a choreographer, an educator, and within the last 29 00:01:38,680 --> 00:01:41,600 Speaker 2: year or so, he just became the artistic director of 30 00:01:41,640 --> 00:01:44,399 Speaker 2: the New York Theater Ballet. And it's a full Sourcle 31 00:01:44,480 --> 00:01:48,840 Speaker 2: moment because the New York Theater Ballet has a program 32 00:01:48,920 --> 00:01:53,320 Speaker 2: called Lyft. It is to help homeless kids and homeless 33 00:01:53,320 --> 00:01:55,760 Speaker 2: insecure children discover the arts. 34 00:01:56,480 --> 00:01:57,000 Speaker 4: And it's this. 35 00:01:57,200 --> 00:02:01,840 Speaker 2: Very program that Steven joined when he was seven years 36 00:02:01,880 --> 00:02:05,440 Speaker 2: old that made him who he is today. So for 37 00:02:05,520 --> 00:02:08,320 Speaker 2: him to now run the program that changed his life 38 00:02:08,919 --> 00:02:13,320 Speaker 2: and mentor other young children who really need it seems 39 00:02:13,360 --> 00:02:17,600 Speaker 2: extremely special and chosen. I hope you guys really pay 40 00:02:17,600 --> 00:02:21,480 Speaker 2: attention and enjoy this edition of Nate. We caught up 41 00:02:21,520 --> 00:02:24,960 Speaker 2: with Stephen Melndez in his favorite place where the kids 42 00:02:25,120 --> 00:02:30,200 Speaker 2: are rehearsing and singing and dancing in the background, So 43 00:02:30,280 --> 00:02:33,560 Speaker 2: please excuse the noise and pay attention to the story. 44 00:02:33,720 --> 00:02:36,079 Speaker 3: A champion and care with chapion and care with chat. 45 00:02:37,120 --> 00:02:39,640 Speaker 2: So my podcast, I love to interview people who are 46 00:02:39,760 --> 00:02:44,000 Speaker 2: very honest and naked. So this is apropos as and 47 00:02:44,080 --> 00:02:46,920 Speaker 2: so I'd like to start. I'd like for you to 48 00:02:47,000 --> 00:02:52,120 Speaker 2: tell me how at seven years old you and your 49 00:02:52,160 --> 00:02:55,160 Speaker 2: family were homeless and you lived in shelters in New 50 00:02:55,240 --> 00:03:00,560 Speaker 2: York And if that, I'm really really curious how it 51 00:03:00,639 --> 00:03:02,919 Speaker 2: got to that point in your life at seven years old. 52 00:03:02,960 --> 00:03:08,680 Speaker 2: That's such an important age to me personally. I remember everything, 53 00:03:08,720 --> 00:03:10,960 Speaker 2: but it always starts at seven for me. 54 00:03:11,600 --> 00:03:14,519 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's funny. I don't actually know all of the details. 55 00:03:14,639 --> 00:03:16,280 Speaker 1: I mean, I know all the details in the way 56 00:03:16,280 --> 00:03:18,080 Speaker 1: that a seven year old does the details, you know, 57 00:03:18,320 --> 00:03:21,600 Speaker 1: which is to say not very well. Here's what I 58 00:03:21,639 --> 00:03:24,280 Speaker 1: know for sure. I know that when I was very young, 59 00:03:24,400 --> 00:03:26,880 Speaker 1: I lived in a really quite a nice house and 60 00:03:27,360 --> 00:03:29,600 Speaker 1: not a bad neighborhood in the Bronx in New York City. 61 00:03:30,360 --> 00:03:34,160 Speaker 1: We had a garden in a backyard, an attic, and 62 00:03:35,160 --> 00:03:37,960 Speaker 1: I know that one day the landlord, the person who 63 00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:40,760 Speaker 1: owned the home that we were renting from died, he 64 00:03:40,840 --> 00:03:44,760 Speaker 1: passed away, and almost immediately after he died, whoever it 65 00:03:44,800 --> 00:03:47,080 Speaker 1: was it took over the house after that. I don't 66 00:03:47,120 --> 00:03:48,760 Speaker 1: know if they were meaning to be mean or not, 67 00:03:48,960 --> 00:03:53,000 Speaker 1: but they kicked us out, and as far as I know, 68 00:03:53,080 --> 00:03:55,640 Speaker 1: it happened overnight. Now, you know, I don't know what 69 00:03:55,760 --> 00:03:58,440 Speaker 1: the conversations were. I was seven years old, but it 70 00:03:58,480 --> 00:04:02,560 Speaker 1: was so abrupt being evicted from there that my mother 71 00:04:02,680 --> 00:04:07,080 Speaker 1: is a single mother. She didn't even have the opportunity 72 00:04:07,160 --> 00:04:12,320 Speaker 1: to collect our belongings. They were all locked in the house. 73 00:04:12,960 --> 00:04:14,960 Speaker 1: And so the next day we went back to the 74 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:18,440 Speaker 1: house and we broke in through the back window, just 75 00:04:18,480 --> 00:04:21,920 Speaker 1: so that we could grab our own things, the things 76 00:04:21,960 --> 00:04:26,279 Speaker 1: that we lived with, things that we needed, medicine, files, pictures, clothes, 77 00:04:26,400 --> 00:04:30,760 Speaker 1: stuff like that. And that week and the maybe two weeks, 78 00:04:30,760 --> 00:04:33,239 Speaker 1: I don't know how long I was, was really tough. 79 00:04:34,000 --> 00:04:35,840 Speaker 1: And then we ended up in the shelter in the 80 00:04:35,880 --> 00:04:40,400 Speaker 1: New York City Shelter for Families, And the shelter was 81 00:04:40,400 --> 00:04:43,520 Speaker 1: in the South Bronx, which in the early nineties was 82 00:04:43,880 --> 00:04:46,160 Speaker 1: the stereotype of the South Bronx, you know, burned out 83 00:04:46,200 --> 00:04:55,000 Speaker 1: doors and really disgusting, horrible things and thus began a 84 00:04:55,080 --> 00:04:58,440 Speaker 1: totally different childhood than the path I was on, you know, 85 00:04:59,080 --> 00:05:02,120 Speaker 1: and I don't know. You know, people ask me, you know, well, 86 00:05:02,120 --> 00:05:04,080 Speaker 1: it's not for the list program, if not for New 87 00:05:04,160 --> 00:05:07,839 Speaker 1: York her Ballet, right, when I haven't become a dancer. 88 00:05:08,040 --> 00:05:10,080 Speaker 2: That was going to be my next question. I was 89 00:05:10,080 --> 00:05:12,120 Speaker 2: going to say, two different paths, but were they all 90 00:05:12,160 --> 00:05:13,279 Speaker 2: taking you in the same place? 91 00:05:14,200 --> 00:05:16,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, the truth is, I don't know. I mean, I 92 00:05:16,520 --> 00:05:18,560 Speaker 1: was a Puerto Rican boy in the Bronx, right, So 93 00:05:18,760 --> 00:05:22,200 Speaker 1: none of those things lead toward ballet. Right. It's not 94 00:05:22,279 --> 00:05:24,800 Speaker 1: a thing for Puerto Ricans really to be ballet answers. 95 00:05:24,839 --> 00:05:27,080 Speaker 1: It's not a thing for boys, young boys, certainly to 96 00:05:27,160 --> 00:05:29,040 Speaker 1: valid answers. In the neighborhood I was in, whether it 97 00:05:29,080 --> 00:05:31,520 Speaker 1: was the first neighborhood or the shelter neighborhood, it wasn't 98 00:05:31,560 --> 00:05:33,960 Speaker 1: part of the culture. It wasn't part of the lifestyle 99 00:05:34,160 --> 00:05:36,960 Speaker 1: or the curriculum of life you know at that time. Yea, 100 00:05:37,760 --> 00:05:40,360 Speaker 1: So it's unlikely that I would have had a life 101 00:05:40,400 --> 00:05:43,240 Speaker 1: in the arts if not for the shelter. But also, 102 00:05:43,320 --> 00:05:47,560 Speaker 1: you know, my mother was incredible. She was really smart 103 00:05:47,640 --> 00:05:53,680 Speaker 1: and dedicated and competent. Single mother you know, she was 104 00:05:53,720 --> 00:05:57,640 Speaker 1: saying a mother by choice, not by accident. In fact, 105 00:05:57,960 --> 00:06:02,760 Speaker 1: she had two children, and yeah, she was an amazing woman. 106 00:06:04,200 --> 00:06:06,320 Speaker 1: And so it's possible that, you know, she understood the 107 00:06:06,320 --> 00:06:07,640 Speaker 1: power of the arts, and she would have put me 108 00:06:07,680 --> 00:06:09,960 Speaker 1: in some kind of arts thing. Anyway, I don't know, 109 00:06:11,000 --> 00:06:14,039 Speaker 1: but certainly being in the shelter is what gave me 110 00:06:14,080 --> 00:06:16,560 Speaker 1: the direct line through this outreach program a New York 111 00:06:16,640 --> 00:06:20,000 Speaker 1: Theater ballot to study balot. Now, the truth is, when 112 00:06:20,040 --> 00:06:22,520 Speaker 1: I first took a class, I didn't like it. It wasn't 113 00:06:22,520 --> 00:06:25,720 Speaker 1: for me. But you know, about a year later, I 114 00:06:25,720 --> 00:06:27,839 Speaker 1: guess it was almost exactly a year later, because the 115 00:06:28,240 --> 00:06:31,680 Speaker 1: first outreach workshop was in the holiday break, you know, 116 00:06:31,760 --> 00:06:34,839 Speaker 1: over Christmas and New Year's in the public schools. And 117 00:06:34,880 --> 00:06:36,680 Speaker 1: then one year after that, I was in my first 118 00:06:36,720 --> 00:06:40,120 Speaker 1: performance of the Nutcracker, which is, you know, the performance 119 00:06:40,160 --> 00:06:44,240 Speaker 1: that every child does when they're a dancer. I was 120 00:06:44,279 --> 00:06:46,960 Speaker 1: a little mouse number two in a giant costume with 121 00:06:47,040 --> 00:06:50,279 Speaker 1: a big mask on and all the professional dancers with it, 122 00:06:50,640 --> 00:06:52,960 Speaker 1: and I was on a stage for probably thirty seconds, 123 00:06:53,000 --> 00:06:55,599 Speaker 1: maybe less, I don't know, And at the end of 124 00:06:55,600 --> 00:06:57,440 Speaker 1: the show I got to take a bow and I 125 00:06:57,440 --> 00:06:59,280 Speaker 1: thought it was the most incredible thing that everybody in 126 00:06:59,320 --> 00:07:01,480 Speaker 1: the audience was clopping for me. Now, the truth is, 127 00:07:01,480 --> 00:07:03,159 Speaker 1: they weren't clapping for me, right, they were clapping for 128 00:07:03,200 --> 00:07:06,000 Speaker 1: the professional dancers behind you. I thought they were clapping 129 00:07:06,080 --> 00:07:10,800 Speaker 1: for me and that affirmation. Maybe it's my ego, I 130 00:07:10,800 --> 00:07:14,920 Speaker 1: don't know, whatever, whatever what I like people clapping where 131 00:07:14,960 --> 00:07:17,120 Speaker 1: we landed at the end of it, thank you, thank you. 132 00:07:18,400 --> 00:07:21,400 Speaker 1: And now now as an adult person and someone who 133 00:07:21,400 --> 00:07:24,440 Speaker 1: works with Jordan, I realize that actually what that is, 134 00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:30,080 Speaker 1: that liking people clapping for you thing is the affirmation 135 00:07:30,480 --> 00:07:35,480 Speaker 1: of being adequate. For any young person, they need that, 136 00:07:35,600 --> 00:07:38,840 Speaker 1: of course, earning their own self respect. Yeah, okay, it's 137 00:07:38,880 --> 00:07:40,920 Speaker 1: necessary for a child to do something because they know 138 00:07:41,000 --> 00:07:42,720 Speaker 1: it's the right thing to do. But for some kids 139 00:07:42,720 --> 00:07:43,840 Speaker 1: they need to get that, they need to hear. 140 00:07:43,760 --> 00:07:46,280 Speaker 2: That from Yes, of course, I don't know what human 141 00:07:46,360 --> 00:07:49,040 Speaker 2: being doesn't need to hear that period. I don't care 142 00:07:49,080 --> 00:07:50,680 Speaker 2: what you say. I do believe we need it at 143 00:07:50,720 --> 00:07:53,440 Speaker 2: it at all ages because if you if you don't 144 00:07:53,480 --> 00:07:56,720 Speaker 2: have someone along the way affirming you, it really does 145 00:07:57,000 --> 00:07:59,760 Speaker 2: change your trajectory for you. It was lived for me. 146 00:07:59,760 --> 00:08:02,720 Speaker 2: It's program called up Were Bound? I really like for 147 00:08:02,760 --> 00:08:06,320 Speaker 2: you to share with me how full circled it is. 148 00:08:06,360 --> 00:08:08,760 Speaker 2: For a full circle moment, it is for you to 149 00:08:09,720 --> 00:08:13,000 Speaker 2: be able to be the creative director at the ballet 150 00:08:13,080 --> 00:08:15,680 Speaker 2: that you studied at the theater. I'm making sure I 151 00:08:15,720 --> 00:08:20,800 Speaker 2: say that correctly. I'm no ballerina, clearly, clearly not a 152 00:08:20,840 --> 00:08:23,400 Speaker 2: tech guru either, but you know what I'm saying. It's 153 00:08:23,560 --> 00:08:26,080 Speaker 2: like a full circle moment. I'm like, here, I am, 154 00:08:26,240 --> 00:08:28,680 Speaker 2: I study here, and now I'm back being great here. 155 00:08:28,760 --> 00:08:31,440 Speaker 2: I think it's beautiful. I just love this whole story. 156 00:08:32,280 --> 00:08:34,800 Speaker 1: Thank you. Yeah, it's pretty wild. I mean, you know, 157 00:08:35,080 --> 00:08:38,920 Speaker 1: my career spanned nearly twenty years dancing. You know, I 158 00:08:38,920 --> 00:08:41,280 Speaker 1: became a dancer. I joined the company I was fourteen, 159 00:08:41,520 --> 00:08:46,480 Speaker 1: which is pretty young. Yeah. I was traveling around the 160 00:08:46,520 --> 00:08:49,880 Speaker 1: world already as a teenager. I moved to South America. 161 00:08:50,160 --> 00:08:53,360 Speaker 1: I joined a company in Argentina, and I was in Europe. 162 00:08:53,400 --> 00:08:56,040 Speaker 1: I was in Estonia for three years. I started the 163 00:08:56,080 --> 00:08:59,400 Speaker 1: ballet program in Japan, where I taught in the summers 164 00:08:59,440 --> 00:09:01,800 Speaker 1: for ten years or maybe eleven or twelve, I don't 165 00:09:01,800 --> 00:09:05,520 Speaker 1: even know how long. And I was dancing and performing, 166 00:09:05,520 --> 00:09:07,719 Speaker 1: in choreographing, you doing kinds of really great things. I'm 167 00:09:07,840 --> 00:09:10,640 Speaker 1: all on from the seed of the Lift program at 168 00:09:10,640 --> 00:09:14,240 Speaker 1: New York Theater Ballet. And then I got injured, which is, 169 00:09:14,400 --> 00:09:18,600 Speaker 1: you know, the stereotype of every ballet dancer ever, and 170 00:09:18,679 --> 00:09:21,280 Speaker 1: I had to make a harm pivot to something else. 171 00:09:21,640 --> 00:09:24,520 Speaker 1: But luckily I had made a little bit of a 172 00:09:24,559 --> 00:09:28,560 Speaker 1: name for myself as a dancer. And not long after, 173 00:09:28,880 --> 00:09:30,679 Speaker 1: you know, I sort of told the world that I 174 00:09:30,760 --> 00:09:32,880 Speaker 1: was retiring from the stage, and I did a dance anymore. 175 00:09:33,360 --> 00:09:36,560 Speaker 1: I was offered a job as the artistic director of 176 00:09:36,600 --> 00:09:40,400 Speaker 1: the Highland Program at National Dance Institute in New Mexico, 177 00:09:41,040 --> 00:09:44,680 Speaker 1: and there for three years. And for those three years, 178 00:09:44,720 --> 00:09:49,440 Speaker 1: I had a crash course in emails and meetings and 179 00:09:49,480 --> 00:09:52,959 Speaker 1: agendas and all of the office stuff. You know, but 180 00:09:54,080 --> 00:09:58,040 Speaker 1: it's called budgets and and all that stuff. 181 00:09:58,120 --> 00:10:04,360 Speaker 4: Like you with me. Yeah, not artistic, Not artistic at all, that's. 182 00:10:04,240 --> 00:10:06,880 Speaker 1: Not at all. I spent my entire life traveling from 183 00:10:06,920 --> 00:10:08,880 Speaker 1: the airport to the theater to the hotel. 184 00:10:08,960 --> 00:10:11,480 Speaker 4: Yeah, I got it, I get it. 185 00:10:11,000 --> 00:10:13,559 Speaker 1: I'd go to the movies and call it research for 186 00:10:13,679 --> 00:10:14,720 Speaker 1: my current development. 187 00:10:14,840 --> 00:10:15,000 Speaker 4: Him. 188 00:10:16,280 --> 00:10:19,840 Speaker 1: Now suddenly I'm doing spreadsheets. So I had three years 189 00:10:19,840 --> 00:10:19,959 Speaker 1: of this. 190 00:10:21,960 --> 00:10:26,040 Speaker 2: I imagine I would believe you would be losing your mind. 191 00:10:26,280 --> 00:10:29,679 Speaker 2: If someone told me to work in an office nine 192 00:10:29,720 --> 00:10:31,800 Speaker 2: to five at this stage of my life, I'd be like, no, 193 00:10:31,960 --> 00:10:34,440 Speaker 2: I could not. I must be one with the people. 194 00:10:34,520 --> 00:10:36,640 Speaker 2: So I totally get it. I must. 195 00:10:37,960 --> 00:10:43,600 Speaker 1: Yeah. Okay. So Diana, who is the founder and artistic 196 00:10:43,640 --> 00:10:46,480 Speaker 1: director of New York Theater Ballet, decided she was going 197 00:10:46,559 --> 00:10:48,920 Speaker 1: to retire. She'd been running New York Theater allids was 198 00:10:48,960 --> 00:10:52,080 Speaker 1: forty five years. For forty four years, I guess. And 199 00:10:52,600 --> 00:10:54,760 Speaker 1: she called me and she said, I want to retire. 200 00:10:55,280 --> 00:10:56,199 Speaker 1: Do you want my job? 201 00:10:57,000 --> 00:10:57,600 Speaker 4: That's great. 202 00:10:58,240 --> 00:10:59,640 Speaker 1: I thought about it for a little bit. You know, 203 00:10:59,720 --> 00:11:00,840 Speaker 1: I I understand. 204 00:11:00,520 --> 00:11:01,959 Speaker 4: How long is a little bit? How long is a 205 00:11:02,000 --> 00:11:02,400 Speaker 4: little bit? 206 00:11:03,160 --> 00:11:05,440 Speaker 1: Oh maybe a year? A year? 207 00:11:06,480 --> 00:11:08,520 Speaker 4: You had to It took you a year to decide 208 00:11:08,520 --> 00:11:09,520 Speaker 4: if you wanted the job. 209 00:11:10,480 --> 00:11:12,120 Speaker 1: It took me a year to figure out what the 210 00:11:12,200 --> 00:11:12,800 Speaker 1: job was. 211 00:11:13,480 --> 00:11:16,319 Speaker 4: Well, meanwhile, were you doing spreadsheets this whole time for 212 00:11:16,440 --> 00:11:16,840 Speaker 4: that year? 213 00:11:17,040 --> 00:11:17,439 Speaker 1: Yeah? 214 00:11:17,559 --> 00:11:21,480 Speaker 4: Oh no, go on, go on. I didn't mean to interrupt, 215 00:11:22,200 --> 00:11:22,400 Speaker 4: you know. 216 00:11:22,559 --> 00:11:25,679 Speaker 1: Well, yeah, Kitterbelly is a huge organization, you know, with 217 00:11:25,720 --> 00:11:29,199 Speaker 1: the there's a performed there's professional company, there's a valley school, 218 00:11:29,440 --> 00:11:29,959 Speaker 1: and there's. 219 00:11:29,840 --> 00:11:30,920 Speaker 4: All the things you want. 220 00:11:31,000 --> 00:11:33,280 Speaker 2: I don't understand what the thought is. The thought is, yes, 221 00:11:33,320 --> 00:11:34,800 Speaker 2: I'll figure it out when I get there, but you 222 00:11:34,800 --> 00:11:36,720 Speaker 2: think differently. Go on, artists, go on. 223 00:11:37,559 --> 00:11:42,400 Speaker 1: Yeah, Well, my biggest concern was, you know that there's 224 00:11:42,440 --> 00:11:46,560 Speaker 1: a cliche of the moment when a son dunks the 225 00:11:46,640 --> 00:11:49,000 Speaker 1: basketball over his father's head. 226 00:11:49,320 --> 00:11:51,040 Speaker 4: Yes, yes, yes, yes yes, or. 227 00:11:51,080 --> 00:11:53,040 Speaker 1: The moment when you when you're playing chess, you know, 228 00:11:53,120 --> 00:11:54,840 Speaker 1: you checkmate your parents or. 229 00:11:54,840 --> 00:11:56,720 Speaker 4: Something, when the student becomes the teacher. 230 00:11:56,840 --> 00:12:01,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, there was something really like a like a ground 231 00:12:01,679 --> 00:12:05,160 Speaker 1: shift for me to hear that Diana was retiring and 232 00:12:05,200 --> 00:12:08,480 Speaker 1: then to think that I would take her position. I mean, 233 00:12:08,520 --> 00:12:09,959 Speaker 1: I knew what she had meant to me, and I 234 00:12:10,040 --> 00:12:13,080 Speaker 1: knew what she's meant to one hundred thousands probably of 235 00:12:13,160 --> 00:12:15,880 Speaker 1: children in New York City. Not to mention running the company, 236 00:12:15,920 --> 00:12:17,640 Speaker 1: you know, but you're at a ballet company. You've got 237 00:12:17,679 --> 00:12:20,120 Speaker 1: all these dancers, you know, fifteen to twenty dancers here 238 00:12:20,400 --> 00:12:23,040 Speaker 1: that are in the primes of their careers that now 239 00:12:23,080 --> 00:12:26,319 Speaker 1: they rest on you know, whether I programmed the right 240 00:12:26,360 --> 00:12:28,040 Speaker 1: thing and get the right critic in the room to 241 00:12:28,040 --> 00:12:30,400 Speaker 1: get them the right to you know, I'm holding their 242 00:12:30,400 --> 00:12:32,800 Speaker 1: careers there. So there was a lot of sort of 243 00:12:33,559 --> 00:12:36,120 Speaker 1: imposter syndromeat. Can I do that? Really? You want me? 244 00:12:36,200 --> 00:12:38,000 Speaker 1: I got all the people on the planet. You're talking 245 00:12:38,240 --> 00:12:41,240 Speaker 1: about me here, I was, you know, thirty held them 246 00:12:41,280 --> 00:12:43,800 Speaker 1: at thirty seven, trying to figure out how I'm going 247 00:12:43,840 --> 00:12:47,200 Speaker 1: to run you know, a million dollar organization. Now a 248 00:12:47,200 --> 00:12:49,680 Speaker 1: million dollars is actually small compared to the National Dance 249 00:12:49,679 --> 00:12:52,200 Speaker 1: Institute and where I'd learned all the budgets, so not 250 00:12:52,320 --> 00:12:53,120 Speaker 1: that much video. 251 00:12:53,320 --> 00:12:55,480 Speaker 2: Okay, well you were the place where you worked the 252 00:12:55,520 --> 00:12:57,680 Speaker 2: heck a really long name. I'll get to you about 253 00:12:57,679 --> 00:13:00,880 Speaker 2: why these names are so long in a minute. 254 00:13:03,160 --> 00:13:05,480 Speaker 1: Now. I'm now, I'm here. I've been here for a year. 255 00:13:05,600 --> 00:13:09,120 Speaker 1: I'm just starting my second year. Yes, directly than. 256 00:13:09,200 --> 00:13:11,400 Speaker 4: Congratulation, thank you, thank you. 257 00:13:11,960 --> 00:13:13,440 Speaker 1: I haven't burned anything down yet. 258 00:13:13,640 --> 00:13:15,320 Speaker 4: Yeah me, this is great. 259 00:13:16,080 --> 00:13:20,080 Speaker 1: New York cit Ballet is celebrating forty fifth anniversary this year, 260 00:13:21,000 --> 00:13:25,160 Speaker 1: and LIFT program is as strong as ever, in fact stronger. 261 00:13:25,160 --> 00:13:27,640 Speaker 1: Now we've got a freaking movie. Yeah right, So people 262 00:13:27,679 --> 00:13:29,840 Speaker 1: will know about what we do and hopefully they will 263 00:13:29,880 --> 00:13:32,640 Speaker 1: get involved and we'll be able to get to the 264 00:13:32,679 --> 00:13:34,680 Speaker 1: next the next level. 265 00:13:35,240 --> 00:13:36,839 Speaker 2: I think I think I think we got to pay 266 00:13:36,840 --> 00:13:39,280 Speaker 2: some bills we'll be right back and just a few moments. 267 00:13:39,320 --> 00:13:40,480 Speaker 4: Thanks for listening to Naked. 268 00:13:40,720 --> 00:13:43,560 Speaker 3: Every champion and Cary Chappion is to be a champion, 269 00:13:43,679 --> 00:13:47,000 Speaker 3: A champion, and Cary Chappion and carried chat Beta Champion 270 00:13:47,040 --> 00:13:49,640 Speaker 3: and Cary Chappion and carried Chaty great. It is this 271 00:13:49,679 --> 00:13:59,880 Speaker 3: sports and entertainment and Naked work. Very champion and carreach 272 00:14:00,440 --> 00:14:03,079 Speaker 3: is to be a champion, A champion. They care a Chappion, 273 00:14:03,160 --> 00:14:06,880 Speaker 3: they champion. They care with Chapion, they care with chat. 274 00:14:09,000 --> 00:14:09,360 Speaker 1: You work. 275 00:14:09,840 --> 00:14:14,839 Speaker 2: Hey, everybody, welcome back to Naked. Today's guest is a choreographer, 276 00:14:14,920 --> 00:14:19,480 Speaker 2: a dancer and educator, Stephen Melndez. He has a documentary 277 00:14:19,560 --> 00:14:22,480 Speaker 2: that's out right now called Lift. You can watch it 278 00:14:22,520 --> 00:14:25,120 Speaker 2: on Paramount Plus or you can Google to see where 279 00:14:25,160 --> 00:14:27,400 Speaker 2: you can find it. But I just want to make 280 00:14:27,440 --> 00:14:31,600 Speaker 2: sure that we support this project. Melindez has so many 281 00:14:31,640 --> 00:14:35,160 Speaker 2: profound things to say. Take a listen. The kids in 282 00:14:35,200 --> 00:14:38,840 Speaker 2: the documentary are so soulful and so honest and so 283 00:14:39,000 --> 00:14:44,680 Speaker 2: wise beyond their years. I mean, it is lovely and 284 00:14:44,720 --> 00:14:47,200 Speaker 2: your story is amazing. And while I'm teasing you because 285 00:14:47,200 --> 00:14:49,640 Speaker 2: you're an artist and you're thoughtful, and I'm like, just 286 00:14:49,680 --> 00:14:51,880 Speaker 2: take the job. You're like, well, do you understand there 287 00:14:51,880 --> 00:14:55,240 Speaker 2: are so there are many implications here, young lady. I'm 288 00:14:55,280 --> 00:14:58,480 Speaker 2: like wait, and I'm like, well, I've been like it 289 00:14:58,520 --> 00:15:01,800 Speaker 2: took a year after no, I'm kidding, but it all 290 00:15:01,800 --> 00:15:05,840 Speaker 2: worked together, and I just I'm excited for this story 291 00:15:05,960 --> 00:15:10,080 Speaker 2: because all you need is a yes. That's all you need, 292 00:15:10,080 --> 00:15:13,200 Speaker 2: that affirmation, and you are living proof of that, which 293 00:15:13,240 --> 00:15:15,080 Speaker 2: is why I didn't know why it took you to 294 00:15:15,120 --> 00:15:17,560 Speaker 2: take the gig, but I get it. And so now 295 00:15:17,600 --> 00:15:21,360 Speaker 2: that you guys are thriving in your second year, are 296 00:15:21,400 --> 00:15:25,120 Speaker 2: you feeling less imposter syndrome? Are you feeling like this 297 00:15:25,200 --> 00:15:27,440 Speaker 2: is what this is me? I am doing what I 298 00:15:27,480 --> 00:15:28,600 Speaker 2: amant to be doing. 299 00:15:29,680 --> 00:15:33,960 Speaker 1: You know, I'm I'm not feeling less imposter syndrome, mostly 300 00:15:34,080 --> 00:15:38,960 Speaker 1: because I have really, really big ambitions. I see a 301 00:15:39,040 --> 00:15:44,080 Speaker 1: future where the dance industry is very different than it 302 00:15:44,120 --> 00:15:48,000 Speaker 1: is right now, and I look around and I wonder 303 00:15:48,440 --> 00:15:50,800 Speaker 1: who's going to do that, Who's going to make that happen? 304 00:15:51,200 --> 00:15:54,400 Speaker 1: And then I realize, oh, yes, Stephen, you're the one 305 00:15:54,400 --> 00:15:56,560 Speaker 1: who's the director of a major ballet company in New 306 00:15:56,640 --> 00:15:58,920 Speaker 1: York City. You're the one who's going to make it happen. 307 00:15:59,040 --> 00:16:01,840 Speaker 1: You have to do it, and that for me is 308 00:16:02,200 --> 00:16:05,320 Speaker 1: really crazy, really crazy that it's me. I'm the one 309 00:16:05,920 --> 00:16:08,560 Speaker 1: that's the whole world has boiled down to what Steven 310 00:16:08,680 --> 00:16:11,840 Speaker 1: is going to do. But that's okay. I have plans. 311 00:16:11,920 --> 00:16:16,040 Speaker 1: I have spreadsheets now because I have plans that have 312 00:16:16,120 --> 00:16:20,640 Speaker 1: strategic plans and they have like financial performers associated with 313 00:16:21,040 --> 00:16:24,280 Speaker 1: just a word I know now because yeah, it's like 314 00:16:25,280 --> 00:16:28,960 Speaker 1: I think. Let me tell you one of the one 315 00:16:29,000 --> 00:16:31,960 Speaker 1: of the this is great program is great, right, working 316 00:16:32,000 --> 00:16:35,000 Speaker 1: with working with young kids is great, and introducing them 317 00:16:35,080 --> 00:16:39,920 Speaker 1: and giving them access to a humble, different world is 318 00:16:39,960 --> 00:16:44,960 Speaker 1: amazing and important work. But one of the things that 319 00:16:45,920 --> 00:16:50,360 Speaker 1: doesn't work so well with the current format of outreach 320 00:16:50,440 --> 00:16:52,680 Speaker 1: work and then out which wor getting you've heard of 321 00:16:52,680 --> 00:16:56,720 Speaker 1: this before. Right arts programs go into public schools and 322 00:16:56,760 --> 00:16:58,560 Speaker 1: they give them free tickets to come see a show. 323 00:16:58,680 --> 00:17:01,120 Speaker 1: Right and maybe like a school that's great, you know, 324 00:17:01,720 --> 00:17:05,119 Speaker 1: teacher aides come from wherever and they do like a 325 00:17:05,119 --> 00:17:07,600 Speaker 1: seminar or a lecture or workshop in the school for 326 00:17:07,680 --> 00:17:10,280 Speaker 1: a week, or they do a school assembly or something, 327 00:17:10,440 --> 00:17:12,199 Speaker 1: and they had some really cool person to come in 328 00:17:12,240 --> 00:17:14,399 Speaker 1: and tell all the kittens about their job, right, like 329 00:17:14,520 --> 00:17:17,159 Speaker 1: the what do they call it, the job day at 330 00:17:17,200 --> 00:17:20,119 Speaker 1: the school. Right, that's great, and they open the eyes 331 00:17:20,160 --> 00:17:23,080 Speaker 1: of these young people to all these great, amazing possibilities 332 00:17:23,119 --> 00:17:26,000 Speaker 1: in the future that they could have. The problem is 333 00:17:27,400 --> 00:17:30,199 Speaker 1: that those kids, often, certainly if you're a child like 334 00:17:30,240 --> 00:17:34,560 Speaker 1: where I came from, often they go home to their 335 00:17:34,640 --> 00:17:36,720 Speaker 1: parents or their grandparents, or their aunt or uncle or 336 00:17:36,720 --> 00:17:38,440 Speaker 1: their big sister, whoever it is that's taking care of 337 00:17:38,480 --> 00:17:41,560 Speaker 1: them at home, and they go I had the most 338 00:17:41,560 --> 00:17:45,040 Speaker 1: incredible experience today. I want to be a dancer because 339 00:17:45,040 --> 00:17:46,560 Speaker 1: I learned about dance. I want to be a musician 340 00:17:46,600 --> 00:17:48,720 Speaker 1: because I learned about music. I want to be whatever. Right, 341 00:17:49,440 --> 00:17:54,119 Speaker 1: And unless those parents or teachers or wherever the adult 342 00:17:54,200 --> 00:17:57,199 Speaker 1: is in the house, was at the workshop, they have 343 00:17:57,320 --> 00:18:00,639 Speaker 1: no idea what the kid is talking about, no idea 344 00:18:00,760 --> 00:18:03,919 Speaker 1: why dance is so special and what it can do 345 00:18:04,000 --> 00:18:06,360 Speaker 1: for a young child and how it helps in their 346 00:18:06,400 --> 00:18:10,280 Speaker 1: development beyond any other activity they could possibly do. And 347 00:18:10,359 --> 00:18:13,720 Speaker 1: so instead they meet like a like a brick wall. 348 00:18:13,720 --> 00:18:18,399 Speaker 1: They crashed into the reality of their home culture, of 349 00:18:18,480 --> 00:18:21,360 Speaker 1: the community that they live in. And this was my situation. 350 00:18:21,400 --> 00:18:24,119 Speaker 1: You know, the shelter was in the South Bronx, and 351 00:18:24,160 --> 00:18:27,760 Speaker 1: when I walked from the shelter to the subway, I 352 00:18:27,840 --> 00:18:29,760 Speaker 1: was one kind of person. I was the kind of 353 00:18:29,840 --> 00:18:32,600 Speaker 1: young boy would belong in a place with burnt out 354 00:18:32,600 --> 00:18:35,360 Speaker 1: cars and crackheads on the street. And then I got 355 00:18:35,359 --> 00:18:37,360 Speaker 1: on a six train and I traveled for forty five 356 00:18:37,359 --> 00:18:40,160 Speaker 1: minutes and I got off the train on Park Avenue 357 00:18:40,320 --> 00:18:44,000 Speaker 1: and thirty first Street in Manhattan. And there the men 358 00:18:44,040 --> 00:18:47,960 Speaker 1: wore suits and ties and they carried briefcases. And that 359 00:18:48,080 --> 00:18:50,720 Speaker 1: was a totally different thing. And I became a totally 360 00:18:50,720 --> 00:18:52,880 Speaker 1: different person. We have a word for that now, right, 361 00:18:52,880 --> 00:18:55,200 Speaker 1: It's called code switching. We didn't have it worked for 362 00:18:55,240 --> 00:18:56,000 Speaker 1: that thirty years. 363 00:18:55,880 --> 00:18:57,320 Speaker 4: Ago, I agree. 364 00:18:57,359 --> 00:18:59,520 Speaker 1: But that's what I was. That's what I was doing, right. 365 00:18:59,680 --> 00:19:03,240 Speaker 1: I would be the person who belonged in the Vallet studio, 366 00:19:03,320 --> 00:19:05,199 Speaker 1: and then I would be the person who belonged on 367 00:19:05,240 --> 00:19:09,280 Speaker 1: the street corner in both worlds. And so when I 368 00:19:09,320 --> 00:19:10,879 Speaker 1: went home and I said, hey, I want to be 369 00:19:10,880 --> 00:19:15,920 Speaker 1: a dancer, my mother was great, but she didn't understand this, 370 00:19:16,400 --> 00:19:20,680 Speaker 1: not really. And my friends, you know, the young kid 371 00:19:20,800 --> 00:19:22,800 Speaker 1: boyfriends that I had when I was younger, you know, 372 00:19:22,880 --> 00:19:27,600 Speaker 1: the girls in the neighborhood, They didn't understand definitely, So 373 00:19:27,680 --> 00:19:30,440 Speaker 1: I had to kind of figure it out. That was 374 00:19:30,480 --> 00:19:32,240 Speaker 1: a burden I had to carry out myself. Luckily, I'm 375 00:19:32,240 --> 00:19:35,840 Speaker 1: pretty stubborn, so you know, I persevered. But I could 376 00:19:35,920 --> 00:19:39,040 Speaker 1: imagine that there are a lot of children who have 377 00:19:39,240 --> 00:19:44,960 Speaker 1: the opportunity, through some amazing outreach program to experience something fantastic, 378 00:19:46,200 --> 00:19:49,199 Speaker 1: then to go back to their home community and be 379 00:19:49,520 --> 00:19:53,159 Speaker 1: shut down. And so what I want to do, what 380 00:19:53,280 --> 00:19:57,040 Speaker 1: I think is necessary, is to add to the current 381 00:19:57,119 --> 00:20:02,280 Speaker 1: model of outreach programs to ad work that involves the 382 00:20:02,359 --> 00:20:07,600 Speaker 1: adults in these children's lives. That's the difference between bringing 383 00:20:08,800 --> 00:20:10,720 Speaker 1: all of these I'll use this work. This is like 384 00:20:10,760 --> 00:20:14,119 Speaker 1: a catchy word now, right, all of these diverse and 385 00:20:14,200 --> 00:20:19,480 Speaker 1: inclusive audiences into our space, as I say hour now, 386 00:20:19,480 --> 00:20:21,920 Speaker 1: because I can't deny that I'm part of the dance industry, right, 387 00:20:21,960 --> 00:20:27,360 Speaker 1: so into our space versus us from the dance industry 388 00:20:27,600 --> 00:20:34,600 Speaker 1: going out into those diverse and inclusive communities. And that 389 00:20:34,640 --> 00:20:38,199 Speaker 1: little distinction putting the onus on us to figure out 390 00:20:38,240 --> 00:20:40,920 Speaker 1: how to make this work rather than making the burden 391 00:20:41,119 --> 00:20:42,960 Speaker 1: for them to figure out how to make this work, 392 00:20:43,320 --> 00:20:46,919 Speaker 1: is a critical change in the way outreach needs to 393 00:20:46,960 --> 00:20:50,920 Speaker 1: be approached what I think, and so I look around, 394 00:20:50,960 --> 00:20:52,359 Speaker 1: like I said, and I go, well, who in the 395 00:20:52,400 --> 00:20:54,479 Speaker 1: dance industry is going to do this? It's me. I'm 396 00:20:54,520 --> 00:20:55,000 Speaker 1: going to do it. 397 00:20:55,400 --> 00:20:55,600 Speaker 4: Yep. 398 00:20:56,840 --> 00:20:59,159 Speaker 2: Let me tell you how where you can start. You 399 00:20:59,200 --> 00:21:04,920 Speaker 2: can watch this documentary premiered on Paramount Plus September fifteenth. 400 00:21:04,960 --> 00:21:08,160 Speaker 2: It's caught lyft and I think it will help you 401 00:21:08,560 --> 00:21:11,159 Speaker 2: begin to do the work you want to do. I 402 00:21:11,200 --> 00:21:16,159 Speaker 2: think that's what somebody's told me. So before Stephen Melndez 403 00:21:16,600 --> 00:21:19,600 Speaker 2: finished up this interview with me, I asked him something 404 00:21:19,600 --> 00:21:21,639 Speaker 2: that I felt was really personal for me because I 405 00:21:21,680 --> 00:21:25,560 Speaker 2: have a mentorship program called Brown Girls Dream. And as 406 00:21:25,560 --> 00:21:28,879 Speaker 2: he's telling his story and how mentorship is so important, 407 00:21:29,480 --> 00:21:33,119 Speaker 2: I simply said, what does that mean to you? And 408 00:21:33,160 --> 00:21:34,320 Speaker 2: I think you'll like his answer. 409 00:21:34,760 --> 00:21:37,640 Speaker 1: You know, there are a lot of people who will 410 00:21:37,680 --> 00:21:44,160 Speaker 1: approach mentorship from the wrong direction. They do it somehow 411 00:21:44,280 --> 00:21:48,040 Speaker 1: of or about or related to themselves. Now, they take 412 00:21:48,119 --> 00:21:51,040 Speaker 1: pride that they have proteges or if they have something 413 00:21:51,440 --> 00:21:53,880 Speaker 1: that they want the other person to become or to do, 414 00:21:54,080 --> 00:21:57,320 Speaker 1: or to say or to achieve, or they have some 415 00:21:57,359 --> 00:22:02,760 Speaker 1: investment for themselves to be associated with this process. And 416 00:22:03,080 --> 00:22:06,439 Speaker 1: I think that's the wrong place to approach mentorship from. 417 00:22:06,920 --> 00:22:12,080 Speaker 1: I think that mentorship at its best is about understanding 418 00:22:12,119 --> 00:22:14,640 Speaker 1: the person in front of you and understanding what they 419 00:22:14,640 --> 00:22:16,679 Speaker 1: want and what their aspirations are, what they need and 420 00:22:16,680 --> 00:22:21,000 Speaker 1: what their what their struggles are, and providing for them 421 00:22:21,160 --> 00:22:25,199 Speaker 1: what is best for them. And often I think that 422 00:22:25,280 --> 00:22:31,520 Speaker 1: means taking a light approach, not a heavy approach. But 423 00:22:31,560 --> 00:22:33,920 Speaker 1: she was counterintuitive. It seems like if you're a mentor, 424 00:22:34,400 --> 00:22:36,800 Speaker 1: maybe you have to sort of be a charge somehow, 425 00:22:36,960 --> 00:22:39,160 Speaker 1: you know, like you like maybe sitting a younger sibly. 426 00:22:40,720 --> 00:22:44,600 Speaker 1: But I think that's really really a dangerous backward way 427 00:22:44,640 --> 00:22:45,440 Speaker 1: to approachhip. 428 00:22:46,280 --> 00:22:48,000 Speaker 5: A lot of the young people that I have worked 429 00:22:48,000 --> 00:22:53,160 Speaker 5: with in my life have been people who are mature 430 00:22:53,240 --> 00:22:58,600 Speaker 5: beyond their years because they come from backgrounds that force 431 00:22:58,680 --> 00:23:02,200 Speaker 5: them to grow up really quickly, force them to understand 432 00:23:02,280 --> 00:23:02,919 Speaker 5: the world. 433 00:23:02,640 --> 00:23:09,280 Speaker 1: Around them very seriously. And what I found is that 434 00:23:09,440 --> 00:23:13,080 Speaker 1: treating those children, you know, usually their children, treating them 435 00:23:13,520 --> 00:23:17,399 Speaker 1: like children like you would hope that children should be, 436 00:23:17,560 --> 00:23:22,440 Speaker 1: perhaps with innocence and naivete and an innocent unicorns outlook 437 00:23:22,520 --> 00:23:26,119 Speaker 1: to the world that only does them a disservice, but 438 00:23:26,440 --> 00:23:28,400 Speaker 1: makes it so that they don't really relate to you 439 00:23:28,480 --> 00:23:30,159 Speaker 1: because they can see right through all that. You know, 440 00:23:30,160 --> 00:23:32,639 Speaker 1: little kids that are like they're the best bullshit detectors 441 00:23:33,640 --> 00:23:36,360 Speaker 1: the way it goes. And so, you know, I've had 442 00:23:36,359 --> 00:23:39,480 Speaker 1: in my life the opportunity to work with kids that 443 00:23:41,040 --> 00:23:47,040 Speaker 1: are really just incredible and if given the opportunity to 444 00:23:48,240 --> 00:23:53,359 Speaker 1: prove themselves importantly, to prove themselves to themselves, not to 445 00:23:53,359 --> 00:23:56,639 Speaker 1: prove themselves to me, it's not about me, it's about them, 446 00:23:58,280 --> 00:24:02,440 Speaker 1: then they really are able to Somebody told me something recently, 447 00:24:03,000 --> 00:24:04,960 Speaker 1: well it's been a couple of years now. They said 448 00:24:04,960 --> 00:24:11,360 Speaker 1: that young people are often told that they have to 449 00:24:11,400 --> 00:24:15,760 Speaker 1: earn the respect of others. Right. Trust is not granted, 450 00:24:15,760 --> 00:24:17,600 Speaker 1: it's earned. Respect is not granted, it's earned. 451 00:24:17,680 --> 00:24:17,800 Speaker 2: Right. 452 00:24:17,960 --> 00:24:21,120 Speaker 1: That's a common turn of phrase. But I think what 453 00:24:21,160 --> 00:24:24,399 Speaker 1: we what we don't always think about, is how we 454 00:24:24,480 --> 00:24:29,240 Speaker 1: have to earn our own self respect. You know, it's 455 00:24:29,280 --> 00:24:32,240 Speaker 1: not something that just is in the air that somebody 456 00:24:32,359 --> 00:24:35,719 Speaker 1: is born and they respect themselves. In fact, there are 457 00:24:35,720 --> 00:24:38,240 Speaker 1: a lot of people for whom that's that is the problem, 458 00:24:38,280 --> 00:24:41,760 Speaker 1: but they don't respect selves enough. And the truth is 459 00:24:41,760 --> 00:24:45,560 Speaker 1: that for young people in their approaching life from deficit. 460 00:24:46,320 --> 00:24:48,160 Speaker 1: You know, the kids that I work with are homeless 461 00:24:48,200 --> 00:24:50,679 Speaker 1: or only secure often, but even the ones who aren't. 462 00:24:51,840 --> 00:24:56,600 Speaker 1: Children who are approaching life from deficit are often also 463 00:24:56,720 --> 00:25:01,640 Speaker 1: at a deficit of opportunities to earn their own self respect. 464 00:25:02,240 --> 00:25:06,239 Speaker 1: You know. They're not given the opportunity to succeed, and 465 00:25:06,280 --> 00:25:09,160 Speaker 1: then therefore they don't succeed, and then therefore they don't 466 00:25:09,160 --> 00:25:12,560 Speaker 1: respect themselves, and then because they don't respect themselves, then 467 00:25:12,600 --> 00:25:16,159 Speaker 1: it becomes a circle. Yeah, sure, yeah, and something. You know. 468 00:25:16,400 --> 00:25:19,040 Speaker 1: I work in the world of ballet, you know, so 469 00:25:19,320 --> 00:25:21,760 Speaker 1: I have a lot of opportunities to offer a young 470 00:25:21,880 --> 00:25:25,720 Speaker 1: person the chance to succeed at something, and as a 471 00:25:25,800 --> 00:25:29,760 Speaker 1: dance teacher, I can create some wicked combinations that are 472 00:25:29,840 --> 00:25:32,680 Speaker 1: impossible except if you're neui ever brush Nikoff or something 473 00:25:33,240 --> 00:25:35,040 Speaker 1: or you know, and I can for the child to 474 00:25:35,080 --> 00:25:39,320 Speaker 1: fail just as well, like for sure, sure sure knowing 475 00:25:39,359 --> 00:25:41,919 Speaker 1: how to balance that, you know, nowadays we get this 476 00:25:41,960 --> 00:25:43,560 Speaker 1: thing where everybody gets a blue ribbon, you know, the 477 00:25:43,560 --> 00:25:47,359 Speaker 1: attendance ribbons. All that se a uniquely millennial idea. I 478 00:25:47,400 --> 00:25:50,440 Speaker 1: don't know what, but it's a balance between maybe the 479 00:25:50,480 --> 00:25:54,280 Speaker 1: cliche stereotype old school way and the cliche stereotype new 480 00:25:54,320 --> 00:25:58,159 Speaker 1: school way that I think where the answer is, I'm 481 00:25:58,200 --> 00:25:58,800 Speaker 1: going to get talk. 482 00:25:59,119 --> 00:26:02,160 Speaker 2: So you asked me, no, I was gonna say, I 483 00:26:02,240 --> 00:26:04,480 Speaker 2: have a I have a mentorship program. And the way 484 00:26:04,520 --> 00:26:07,520 Speaker 2: you describe it is very true how most people, myself included, 485 00:26:07,600 --> 00:26:13,119 Speaker 2: look at mentorship. The question is important because the documentary really, 486 00:26:13,280 --> 00:26:17,640 Speaker 2: to me, has a central focus on mentorship and what 487 00:26:17,720 --> 00:26:20,520 Speaker 2: you give back from where you've been. And you're approaching 488 00:26:21,080 --> 00:26:23,840 Speaker 2: mentorship in a very different way. You're not trying to 489 00:26:23,920 --> 00:26:28,440 Speaker 2: create a bunch of dancers such as yourself. You don't 490 00:26:28,440 --> 00:26:30,800 Speaker 2: want a bunch of little Stevens around you know if 491 00:26:30,840 --> 00:26:33,639 Speaker 2: you will, and so I think it's important that we 492 00:26:33,760 --> 00:26:34,399 Speaker 2: highlight that. 493 00:26:35,040 --> 00:26:36,880 Speaker 4: Steven, I love you. Thanks for coming on the show. 494 00:26:37,560 --> 00:26:38,880 Speaker 4: I appreciate it. 495 00:26:38,240 --> 00:26:39,480 Speaker 1: It was great. 496 00:26:39,920 --> 00:26:41,879 Speaker 4: Oh good, I was great. I was just having a blast. 497 00:26:41,920 --> 00:26:42,440 Speaker 4: I was laughing. 498 00:26:42,480 --> 00:26:44,840 Speaker 2: I was he can As you were telling the story, 499 00:26:44,840 --> 00:26:47,000 Speaker 2: I was like, yeah, I'm there with you. Yeah, it's okay, 500 00:26:47,000 --> 00:26:48,760 Speaker 2: walking down streating the Bronx. We get off and then 501 00:26:48,840 --> 00:26:51,440 Speaker 2: we go into Manhattan. I'm there, I visualize it. 502 00:26:51,480 --> 00:26:51,840 Speaker 4: I'm there. 503 00:26:51,920 --> 00:26:54,320 Speaker 2: This is a very very very good interview. So I 504 00:26:54,359 --> 00:26:55,680 Speaker 2: appreciate you for being here. 505 00:26:56,600 --> 00:26:58,560 Speaker 1: Cool, Thanks for having me again. 506 00:26:58,600 --> 00:27:01,960 Speaker 2: You guys go out and support this documentary. It's called Lift. 507 00:27:02,000 --> 00:27:04,240 Speaker 2: It's on Paramount Plus. You can also Google and see 508 00:27:04,240 --> 00:27:08,560 Speaker 2: where you can find it. I'm really, really, really excited 509 00:27:09,080 --> 00:27:10,879 Speaker 2: about his future and what he plans to do in 510 00:27:10,920 --> 00:27:14,040 Speaker 2: the arts, especially for young kids that need it. Thank 511 00:27:14,080 --> 00:27:16,760 Speaker 2: you all for listening to this edition of Naked. I'll 512 00:27:16,800 --> 00:27:18,000 Speaker 2: be back next week.