Ask Me Anything ft. The Ones to Know: Brian Esperon

As an extension of The Ones to Know — Day One’s curated resource of creators, artists, athletes, innovators, change makers and storytellers from diverse communities who are stopping us in our scrolls — we’ve created the series Ask Me Anything. Throughout the series, we aim to amplify creators and storytellers from underrepresented, minority communities by delving further into their background and inspirations.
For our first installment, we’d like to introduce you to Brian Esperon.
Brian is a choreographer and dancer from Guam. He started his dance career at an early age and trained in many dance styles such as jazz, hip-hop and contemporary. He’s now an instructor for his longtime studio Skip Entertainment Co. and travels to studios worldwide, helping to teach and inspire the next generation of dancers. Brian is also a popular content creator on social media, spreading positive energy and engaging videos of his choreography. One of Brian’s notable moments include choreographing a hit routine to Nicki Minaj’s “Black Barbie,” which Nicki Minaj shared to her social channels. He’s also a viral sensation on TikTok for his choreography to Cardi B’s “WAP” and Ariana Grande’s “34+35.”
Keep reading below to learn more about Brian, his social media insight and what has inspired him within dance.
Brian’s Inspiration
Q: How do you stay inspired?
A: I stay inspired by constantly and actively consuming content through social media, television and movies. I love seeing talented people do what they love, which always inspires me to do the same.
Q: How do you use music to pull inspiration into your choreography?
A: Music has a heavy influence on how I choreograph. I love choreographing to the lyrics, the way the artist sings and the song’s overall vibe.
Q: You coached students for the Grand Showbiz Finals in Las Vegas and led them to multiple wins in the process. What were your most memorable pieces?
A: My favorite dances have been “7 Years” from Showbiz 2016 in Daytona Beach and “Call Me Mother” from Showstopper 2018 in Myrtle Beach. Both dances are entirely different, but “7 Years” was based purely on storytelling, and “Call Me Mother” was based on finding your inner diva. My students not only blew me away with their performances, but both dances were received with great admiration from the judges, audiences and their families.
Q: How has Andre Fuentes shaped your choreography and drive today?
A: Andre Fuentes was a mentor of mine and the choreographer to Britney Spears. Through Andre, I developed a love for jazz-funk and lyrical dance. He taught me how to embrace my inner superstar, and that is something I try to do with all my students.
Brian’s Industry Perspective
Q: What would you like to see more often in the industry?
A: I would love for choreographers and dancers to be credited more. They contribute a lot to the entertainment industry, especially with music and music videos, and I think they should be more well known and appreciated.
Q: Would you look into getting your viral choreography copyrighted through Jaquel Knight’s program alongside Keara Wilson and the Nae Nae Twins?
A: I would love to copyright my choreography. That is something I never even knew would be possible, so I am so happy that choreographers are finally getting their credit.
Brian’s Creative Insight
Q: What advice would you give to anyone looking to get started in your field?
A: For anyone looking into getting started with dance and social media, I would tell them that starting will be the hardest part. Stay consistent, work hard, find something you love and run with it to the fullest extent.
Q: What’s the most exciting part of being a creator?
A: The most exciting part of being a creator is the unlimited potential for my work to be seen and the immediate feedback I receive from my followers and audiences. There’s always something new to create and always an opportunity to outdo myself.
Q: What’s a recent trend you love right now?
A: I love all the dances to Doja Cat’s Planet Her album. I myself have created some dances.