Meet Nathan Muñoz | Dancer, Choreographer, & Creative Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nathan Muñoz and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nathan, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Ever since I was a little boy, I’ve always been very eccentric. Whether that be in my fashion or the way I’ve always expressed myself. Ever since I could walk I’ve been dancing. When I was a kid I would learn the choreography for music videos and watch MTV or VH1 in the morning before school. I always had the desire to want to perform and be on a big stage. The wise Britney Spears once said, “there’s only two types of people in the world: the ones who entertain and the ones who observe”, and I definitely was put on this earth to entertain. It’s truly my calling in life.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I like to dip my toe in lots of different modems of art. I’m a classically trained dancer of 17 years in ballet, jazz, contemporary and hiphop. I teach class every day to kids and have competition teams and soloists that I compete and travel with. I also love to direct, film, and create visuals. Whether they be dance inspired, to be visually stimulating, or for advertisements & promotions for brands. And I also like to interview and learn more about people. I’m a Scorpio and love getting down to the nitty gritty with people and exploring more about the depths that people don’t always like to talk about. I love to create art with my body through dance, through visual media, and through social connection.

I’m super proud of myself in the fact that I get to do what I love every day and be able to make a living off of it. Some artists aren’t as lucky sometimes, but I’ve always pushed myself in my craft to be the best that I possibly could be. I moved to Los Angeles in summer of 2022 and I’ve been able to work with some of my biggest inspirations and queer icons. Some of those include Sasha Colby, Gigi Goode, Symone, Krystal Versace, Denali, Kylie Sonique Love, Tayce, and so many more.

Since middle school I’ve struggled with anxiety and depression. I don’t talk about it as much, but in now becoming an adult I think it’s better to normalize this conversation so we can help others out. I often suffer from imposter syndrome and doubt myself constantly. In dance world, there’s always going to be better dancers than you. Always. Sometimes I see videos of dancers doing 50 turns or do 10 backflips in a row and I’m like… damn. And in the age of technology and the internet, EVERYONE is a critic. Everyone has an opinion. But what I’ve learned is that there’s so much power in being apologetically you and not holding back. For every hate comment, there’s 20 more comments of love and support. When people see you living your life unapologetically, it inspires them to do the same. And when you do live your life the way you want, success begins to follow you.

I want the world to know that opportunity and success is at your fingertips. All you have to do is try. Try again. Try again. Try again. And guess what, try again. Failure or rejection is just redirection and an opportunity in how to make the next attempt better. My entire brand and aesthetic is built on being very vibrant and colorful and that’s how life should be lived, celebrated, and showcased.

I recently in November 2023 started a dance group called “Fruit Punch” with my best friends Jordan Bautista, Brett Karabinos, and Luis Cervantes. We film and create short form dance content for instagram and TikTok. We’ve had a lot of success in our first 2 months and have already gained over 50k followers on TikTok! We’re set to collaborate with some really cool and fun people soon and I can’t wait to see where this new journey takes off!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Ahhh there’s so much to do in a week here in LA! I love to go out, so immediately that’s my first thought. You can never go wrong with the West Hollywood strip. There’s several super fun bars all lined up next to each other and it’s very likely that you’ll run into a celebrity, famous drag queen, or well known influencers. I also love going out in Silverlake and downtown, because everyone is so diverse and eclectic. And although I do like to go out, I’m a pretty chill person. So I’d take my friend to Venice area to walk and explore, shopping at either Melrose Trading Post or Santee Alley, or take a drive to Malibu to experience the beautiful beaches they have. Some of my favorite places to eat include Queen Violet, Tatsu Ramen, Great White, Gjusta, and Dialog Cafe

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
In my time being a dancer and creative, I’ve been surrounded by countless people who have inspired me and gotten me to where I am today. I could go on for hours! There’s several people from New Mexico where I grew up, dance company members from college in Redlands, peers in San Diego, my colleagues at work at Center Stage Studio, and some of my best friends and family that I have in LA that have all contributed to my success. People have always believed in me and my talents and supported me to keep going. To keep creating, dancing and going after my dreams.

Instagram: @nathancats & @fruitpunch.xo

Youtube: https://youtu.be/O9D05U_WIMI

Other: TikTok: @nathancats @fruit.punch.xo

Image Credits
Black and white photo: Ceraun Loggins (@ceraunthedivanun) Dance Photos: Dennis Covey (@malefolio) Cowboy & spilled groceries: Talon Cooper (@talonreedcooper) Picture w/ Gigi Goode: Brandon Morelos (@bran_more),  Olivia Lauger (@livillauger)