“Hey!” – She shouted, scaring the bejesus out of me.
That was Bokyoung Park, smiling and ready to be a part of Alice’s world.
It took one class with Bo to never stop going. I was the worst student there but also the happiest. In the end I apologized to her, for making her work of art look like a horror movie, but I went back. Strangely I felt like I belonged there, even if alone.
When she stretches her legs, she twists her body to the ceiling and leaves her hand lingering in the sky. So gently and elegant, like she’s playing piano for the stars. She presses play and the fragile figure disappears, becoming an empowering dancing speech. She floats through the room, drawing the beats with her body, her hair covers half of her face and although her mouth is shut, she’s speaking to every single person. In that moment, Bo is rhythm, technique, movement and passion. Her eyes are fixed in herself, nothing else matters, she also deserves her attention. If you look close enough you can see her breathing, she’s still there. When the music stops, she looks at us, takes her hair off her face and pushes the t-shirt down:
Does it make sense?! – She asks like an innocent child, just happy to express herself.
“Look to the mirror, you deserve attention.”
When Bo got to my deepest emotions, through a melancholic song and a strong choreography, was the only day I didn’t smile in her class. I was shaking, refusing all the memories and feelings she made me bring to life. My eyes were fighting the tears, I wanted to be alone and breathe. When I was ready to leave the building, Bo approached me, held my hand, said something nice and hugged me. I was sweaty and sticky, but that didn’t stop her. She’s a hugger! On this day I knew I had to write about her. It blows my mind how a random person can get to you through art. Without doing anything else except sharing her passion and hard work with the world.
Oh boy, so glad I interviewed her. What an intelligent and fierce woman!
Politeness and respect for others kept Bo away from her passion. Being a professional dancer was an unsupported dream, although she revealed her talent in middle school and college showcases, she postponed her vision. Being a physical education teacher or an information tech wasn’t meant for Bo. So, she googled “dance studios in the world” and Broadway Dance center, in New York, poped-up. She sat down and wrote a to do list to achieve her goal: change her major to English, get support from her family, move to New York and enroll in an exchange program at BDC. Bo’s friends were her main emotional support, and because she’s a stubborn hustler she did it all.
In New York she struggled with money and with her mind. Her initial goals were achieved, what now? A friend offered a position to teach teenagers, and that was Bo’s next step. In the meantime, she was going to auditions, booking jobs and performing at showcases. The opportunity of interacting with amazing choreographers was bigger than her ego. This how she built her resume and booked an agency.
Don’t get the wrong idea, auditioning isn’t an easy thing to do. It could be very frustrating. You can either get the job or be rejected, not because you lack talent but because of your unusual look. You can’t change who you are, so she was getting unique roles but there were jobs she wouldn’t dare dream of getting. This uncertainty frightened her, this wasn’t the way to survive in New York.
Then Brian Friedman came along and her life went on a different path. She was so inspired by his unpredictability and creativity, he had such a unique style, new formations, images and musicality. This was something exciting and new. There and then, she realized she wanted to be a creator and a choreographer, regardless of fear of judgment or disappointment.
Bo was so eager to create that she took a risk, rented Ripley studio and started teaching for free every Sunday, for few weeks. Candace Brown, from Peridance Capezio Center, offered her a job as a substitute teacher. Her classes were not full, sometimes she had five, three or zero students. But good things take time. Months later, she got a chance to have her own slots at Peridance. Always trying to find ways to improve. In the meantime, she booked Slumbershow, her wake-up call. Created by Keone and Mari, the Slumbershow took Bo around the world and opened her mind. She found her dance style with them, and realized that creativity comes from her own mind. She learned that nothing is impossible when we are out of our comfort zone and when we are inspired. Once the show was over, she returned to teaching. Something in her had changed. She realized that, so did others.
Her classes, at Peridance Center, are now packed. If you attend one of them, you will see Bo get inspired by uncommon things and sounds. She will show us what’s on her mind and what mood she is in. She can be happy, sad or reminiscing past relationships. Whatever it is, we know her journey was worth it.
Do what you love, and you’ll never work another day in your life.
A perfect Bo day is wearing Nike, jeans and a black shirt, having her blond hair on fleek and her few, seven to be precise, tattoos telling her story. Wandering around hearing music, mentally choreographing the beats and lyrics, consistently searching for details that will set her creativity on fire. When she is not Popin, Wacking or freestyling, she enjoys meditating, watching Silence of the Lambs (again), listening to some guilty pleasures, (like the Titanic soundtrack) and goofing around. Did I mentioned she is a Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones geek? Yes, felt like I hit the Jackpot with that one. If she’s hungry, feed her Ramen noodles, not cookies. She doesn’t like it. She’s allergic to cats, loves dogs and is fascinated by giraffes. Not because they are humongous in height, but by how graceful they move.
In five years she sees herself creating her own show, telling a story and entertaining the big apple with her dreams. For now, New York is her home. Wherever she goes, she will be wearing her mother’s necklace. When times get difficult, she can hold it, like she’s talking directly to her. I know the feeling.
All of this led her here, and I was brought here to learn from her. The story of these two girls overlapped. Two different lives, nationalities and goals, but the same hunger to grow and succeed.
Bo Park is like a simple, clean and smart choreography. A beautiful strong soul that carries the fears and insecurities of every human being. All of this, behind a mysterious South Korean girl, whose age doesn’t matter. Doesn’t matter because she wouldn’t tell me, although I tried, but that’s not the point.
Maybe there’s hundreds of people like you, but you were my wake-up call. For the first time, since I left home, I have my dance days again. Me and my giggly Alice, we belong again. Thank you, Bo!
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