Meet Billy Mustapha | Dancer and Choreographer

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

Hi Billy, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
My authenticity has been pivotal to my success as a dancer. My ability to create art that speaks honestly about who I am or what I am feeling is an asset that makes my work relatable and allows the audience to be easily moved or impacted by what I am doing. There are so many artists in the dance industry. It can be easy to find yourself trying to emulate what is being “booked” or start to resemble the people that you are training under. My commitment to developing and nurturing my individual artistry is what makes me standout amongst a crowd of many movers. My passion of dance pushes me to take class from many dance educators from all over the world, rather than just a few. This versatile training shows in my movement. I take class from many teachers from all over so it allows me to become a melting pot of all their strengths while coating it with my own artistry. Taking what I learn and transferring it into myself is what lets me continue to grow while maintaining my authentic artist voice.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I love to dance. I am eager to keep learning and growing. This drive and desire for improvement is something that sets me apart from others and has accelerated my career. Being driven to take lots of class has put me in front of many choreographers, giving me the opportunity to show them what I have to offer. Training under these working choreographers allows me to see how they create and what they appreciate in a dancer. Also, learning from a variety of choreographers has taught me different ways to absorb choreography, so I can learn quickly and execute with precision and flair immediately. Working with the industries top choreographers has elevated not only my dancing, but also my skills as a choreographer. I am so grateful to be branching into the choreography realm. Being able to witness how efficiently these choreographers create is inspiring. I have been creating my own choreography for a few years now but to see brilliant choreographers such as Mandy Moore constantly thinking 5 steps ahead gives me something to strive for.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
The beaches are my favourites spots to spend my time in LA. I love to find a spot past Malibu and enjoy the sound of the waves crashing and the sweet LA sunshine on my skin. I also love to enjoy the sun on a nice hike, usually Fryman or Runyon Canyon but they are all beautiful.

My favourite food spot might be Sweetgreen or Roscoe’s House Of Chicken and Waffles…

I might be bias but the dance classes in LA are unmatched so I would love to show my friend my favourite dance studios and classes.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I am so grateful to my mentors for inspiring and encouraging me to pursue my goals. There are many amazing humans that have gotten me to where I am but two mentors who have been pivotal in making my dreams come true are Megan Lawson and Jillian Meyers.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/billymustapha

Twitter: https://twitter.com/billymustapha

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/billy.mustapha

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79Gc72FwXcw

Image Credits
CREATEV STUDIO Richie Lubaton Studio Meaghan Gipps Photography Jane Thomson Photography Ernest von Rosen Photography