No matter when you see him, he remains on the same corner of Third Street and Cardinal Boulevard. Oblivious to the cars driving by or phones pointed for a funny Snapchat, he’s there nearly every day, working on the missing puzzle piece to that week’s dance sequence.
It might be isolated movements of the torso, or perfecting the art of spotting, but most of the time it’s just because that’s what 21-year-old Jack Dallam wants to do.
Learning moves from Youtube and America’s Best Dance crew, he taught himself handstands and other tricks, despite uncertainty from family members.
“I’ve always loved to dance, but I was very secretive about it. I used to do it in my room after bedtime. It felt like a very feminine thing, so I never told anyone,” says Dallam.
When he was 17, Dallam decided to break the barriers of bedroom doors and now dances in various public locations, like bus stops or downtown. He says his favorite spots to perform are right in front of restaurants or bars—not because of the heavy foot traffic, but often these places provide floor to roof windows that can double as a mirror to study his movements.
“Instead of using a studio mirror, I use a restaurant window. I prefer using headphones and this way no one else can hear the music,” Dallam said.
Of course, the public display is widely noticed. People stop to tell him they dance as well and applaud him for his charisma. Sometimes the response is a bit on the negative side (“I’ve had drunk people throw bottles and change at me”) but often, the praise is positive. Sometimes, people have told him that it brightened their day on their way to school or work. He has been called in by restaurant owners who are concerned with what he’s doing. His response is simply “because I want to.”
“It’s not necessarily about money or fame,” Dallam said. “It’s about practicing and getting better, and I just want to do it for the people.”
Dallam’s life has not been easy. Dallam, who says he was an Atheist at the time, says he was bullied in middle school and never felt accepted in his Catholic high school. He has never met his biological mother, and his father has not always been in his life. His grandfather raised him as a widower. His dancing wasn’t supported from the start, and to this day, is often in his own hands.
“For my dad to not see me become a doctor or lawyer or have two degrees like he does, hurt him in the beginning, especially when I got out of college. But after I told him what I wanted to do (with dance), I think he opened up to it a little, like the idea of what dance can do as a career. I would love to pursue it as a career or even as a side job for the future,” said Dallam.
Dallam’s grandfather recently gave him money to go to San Diego, which was a major change. That experience opened his eyes to the community of dance.
“San Diego is a very family oriented place. It’s not as competitive and cut throat as Los Angeles, and it’s not centered around money like New York,” Dallam said. “But now I want to focus on our city.”
Dallam dreams of working with youth. He says that there is nothing to cultivate their talent or creativity in Louisville—yet. He would love to teach a class but says he doesn’t think he’s ready because he was self taught and has only taken one professional dance class.
“If I can, (I will) build a dance community where kids can come in when they have nothing else. I don’t want kids to be where I was a few years ago and feel like they have nowhere to go.”
So what advice would Dallam give to his younger self?
He recalls when he performed at a restaurant, and he has never been back because he was disappointed with his performance. Dallam thinks out loud, “But to let that stop me from doing what I love and care about is ridiculous. Why would I let anything stop me?”
“I think of performing as practicing. I’m always working on my skills. Know your limits but don’t be afraid to push them. Spend as much time practicing as you can. Everyone has to start somewhere,” Dallam said. “It’s so important to push yourself out of your comfort zone.”
Dallam seeks to befriend more experienced dancers in Louisville. He believes that is how anyone becomes better at their craft. His favorite dancer is Keone Madrid, who does performances with his wife Mari.
“He and his wife have such a unique style of jazz, contemporary and hip hop. Their chemistry balances off each other,” Dallam gushed.
At the end of the day, Dallam feels supported by his roommates and the people he has met while dancing. He can’t wait to share that support with kids around Louisville.
“Why not dance? It’s fun and happy. If I’m angry or frustrated, I’ll let it all out with dance,” Dallam said. “I want to hear a song and put a story to it, because I know a lot of kids and myself have a lot to say. Sometimes a song can speak better than myself.”
