FOCO FLAVA TEAM

 

Foco Flava Team

 

  • Hey everyone!

    I'm Ernan Torrez, born and raised in the colorful state of Colorado, now living in the heart of Fort Collins. Dance has been my close friend and teacher for over 15 years, guiding me through the rhythms of hip-hop and into the profound depths of its culture and history. My dance journey is more than a passion; it's a mission to embody and spread the spirit of hip-hop, illuminating its cultural value for those in my orbit and myself.

    Within our crew, I play a variety of roles aimed at amplifying our presence. Whether it's through ingenious marketing, dynamic social media engagement, or capturing those golden moments, I'm all about spotlighting our collective brilliance. Yet, my ambitions stretch beyond the spotlight. I'm a connector at heart, passionate about orchestrating events that weave us closer, dreaming without limits about how we can enhance the fabric of our community.

    My dance style is as diverse as my roles, ranging from the grounded beats of House to Breaking, the soulful grooves of Funk-styles, and the expressive freedom of Freestyle. These styles are my languages of choice, allowing me to express my innermost feelings and connect with the supportive and appreciative hip-hop community that thrives across Colorado.

    As for my Flava? Picture Smoothness with a dash of Speed (careful, I might blur!), all wrapped up in a Funky essence. I'm here to push boundaries, foster deep connections, and honor the profound legacy of hip-hop with every move I make.

    Let’s keep creating the hip-hop narrative, one beat at a time!

  • Hello, my name is Kylie, also known as Smiley, and I am the vice chair of FOCO FLAVA. I have lived in Colorado my whole life. I have lived in Fort Collins since going to CSU. I have been a part of FOCO FLAVA since 2015 before becoming a nonprofit in 2023. My specialty and skill set is in photography, videography, marketing, community outreach, and dancing. My vision for FOCO FLAVA is to continue to build a strong community for dancers, supporters, and collaborators, increase awareness and education for hip hop dance foundation, and engage the public in Colorado in our performances and workshops. I want to contribute to our mission by making our services accessible to all and offer a quality and fun experience with every interaction.

    I bring the goofy energy to the crew and endless amounts of grooves. I enjoy highlighting my crew members through photos, videos, marketing, and community outreach.

    Dance is my longest standing friend and continues to uplift me. When I am fully committed to the movement, that is when I show my truest form of self. My favorite dance style is house, popping, new jack swing, and hip hop. My movement is inspired by nature and by witnessing dancers who move intentionally, flow between sharp and smooth textures, and aim for connection with others through dance. I was introduced to hip hop through seeing the Jabbawockeez live and watching America’s Best Dance Crew.

    My Flava is quirky, groovy, and genuine.

  • Hey there, I'm Floyd, your Treasurer at FOCO FLAVA, and I've been deeply rooted in Colorado's hip hop scene for over a decade. Outside of our dynamic crew, I wear multiple hats as a business owner and engineer.

    When I'm not crunching numbers or solving technical puzzles, you can find me diving into the world of MMA, hitting the pavement for a run, or challenging myself in the pool or at the gym. I'm a true hobbyist at heart, always eager to explore new interests and refine my skills.

    With my diverse background and passion for hip hop, I bring a unique perspective to FOCO FLAVA. Together, we're not just dancing—we're building a community and spreading the Flava far and wide.

  • Hi, my name is Jedd DelosReyes, but the homies call me Sweddy Jeddy! I am the Secretary of FOCO FLAVA. My background is in the health sciences. I’ve worked in a gym, have explored strength training in the collegiate level, and have been a personal trainer for my friends and family throughout college. As of right now, I am currently pursuing a career in Emergency Medical Services, and have recently become an EMT to start it off.

    My responsibility as the Secretary for the group is to make sure we meet up as a board, stay on task, and ensure we have notes for every meeting/decision we make. My experiences with various health careers have refined my detail-oriented abilities, and I look forward to using them to help FOCO FLAVA serve our community and grow the hip hop scene in northern Colorado.

    You can say I’ve been dancing all my life; some of my earliest memories are of me at family parties and school dances just absolutely throwing it down. However, towards the end of my undergrad at CSU, I wanted something more and to refine my skills as a dancer, so I joined Foco Flava and have had no regrets since.

    If we’re talking Flava, I’m more of a, bring the hype/let’s go 100% type of guy, and if we are talking specific styles, I consider myself a breakdancer the most, but I do enjoy popping, hip hop, and actually started more so with shuffling. Dance has become an outlet of energy and emotion for my life recently, and I couldn’t imagine my life without it!

  • It’s a common story. A brilliant artist grows up in a home full of art and artists. Inspiration and exposure to the arts creates a brilliant artistic anomaly. Not so for the drifter. Artistic exploration was suppressed under the guise of protection from satan. This only drove the drifter to desire what satan had. Sure, the secular sounds of the day were forbidden, but the sounds of the past, secular or not, were fair play. And play he did. Though he was a relative latecomer to the modern world of music, by the time he arrived his musical background was deep and diverse.

    And maybe it was due to this musical suppression, or maybe it was something more karmic, but whatever sounds he heard he had to share. And share he did. When the drifter was 12 he spent the summer working in a peach orchard with immigrant farmers. This was the late 80’s and while most kids his age were listening to bon jovi, guns ‘n roses and madonna, the drifter’s favorite album was the soundtrack to la bamba. Prompted by his need to share what music he did get his peach pickin’ hands on, he took his la bamba record, dubbed it to tape and took it with his boombox to the peach orchard. That day the peach orchard never rocked so hard as his fellow Mexicans demanded he rewind and re-play la bamba. All. Day. Long.

  • Kevin Yu has been immersed in Hip Hop culture for the past 10+ years learning from Colorado’s finest and has traveled the world for dance events. Hip is the Knowledge Hop is the Movement. And in turn has been passing on what he has learned. Each One teach One.

  • My name is Marcelo also known as Bboy Chill and I have been dancing for 6 years, and I love to breakdance. I breakdance because it's a way to express myself and the community is full of cool people that make the dance fun. When people see me dance I want them to know that I love to do it and that breaking is the best thing that has ever happened to me. Also that I love to do powermoves which are the crazy moves that make the crowd go wild. For me the most important thing about being in Foco Flava is that we are a community full of great people and if you want to dance with us, don't be scared, go ahead!

  • Nathan Tran was born in Los Angeles and raised in Greeley, Colorado. After being exposed to the dance world through YouTube videos, tutorials, and a Las Vegas Jabbawockeez show, Tran began his dance journey at the age of 15. Once a timid and lost individual, he began to find his own sense of identity and community through the arts. His goal is to help others find their own identity and communities through the arts as well. He is also a member of Denver dance crew Machinez Remainz. He has competed and performed in various events both local and abroad.: Hip Hop International, Breakin Convention, and more.

  • Born and raised in the heart of Colorado, Bella’s love for movement started early, growing up with ballet, contemporary, and a touch of breaking that sparked her passion for all styles of dance. With a deep appreciation for music and a heart open to creativity, Bella thrives on blending art forms. When she’s not dancing, you’ll find her exploring Colorado’s trails on foot or ripping through the mountains on dirtbikes. Her artistic side doesn’t stop there—Bella is also passionate about the art of barbering, recently becoming part-owner of the new Snow Leopard Barbershop in Denver’s buzzing RiNo district!

  • Hello, I am Dayana (she/her), a proud Mexican-American woman, born and raised in Greeley, CO but living in Fort Collins. I was raised by a resilient immigrant parent who has made me who I am today.

    A little bit about me: 

    Dancing has been a part of my life since 2014, inspired by season 6 of America’s Best Dance Crew. I spend most of my dancing hours doing different styles of hip hop, sometimes will partake in contemporary. Freestyle is my favorite form of dance, as it is the most freeing, but I have plenty of hours creating and learning choreo. When I’m away from the linoleum, I’m starting new crochet projects, binge-reading books/manga, gaming, or adding more shoes to my limitless collection, or supporting elementary students in their literacy/reading skills. 

    Although I am shy and a homebody, I love meeting new people and making friends. If you want to reach out feel free! :)

  • Gracie has been learning and training in hip hop and its elements, popping, locking, breaking, and house, for almost 15 years. Most of her earlier dance career was spent at Streetside Studios in Boulder, where she learned and is now a director. During college, she joined Foco Flava and taught at Canyon Concert Ballet in Fort Collins. Throughout her career, she also received training in contemporary and ballet, allowing her to draw from these styles as well, for her own choreography and performance.

  • Hi! I’m Marge, also known as LMC (Large Marge in Charge). For me, dance is more than movement—it's a universal language that transcends words and brings people together. Born and raised in Johnstown, Colorado, I began my dance journey in classical styles like ballet, contemporary, and jazz. However, my world truly opened up when I found the FOCO FLAVA community in 2023, where I fell in love with the freedom and expression of freestyle. My passion for dance has taken me across the globe. In Ghana, I learned the deep cultural significance of Afrobeats and traditional dance, gaining an understanding of how music and movement communicate stories that words cannot. In Berlin, I connected with a diverse group of dancers, each with their own style and background, reinforcing the idea that dance is a bridge between cultures. As I prepare to return to Germany for an au pair year, I’m excited to continue exploring the world through dance, finding new communities, and sharing the belief that movement is a language we all speak—no matter where we’re from. But no matter where I go, FOCO FLAVA will always be my dance home.