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

Hi Jason, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
I think about risk the same way I look at life in general, there’s no guarantee that you’ll see the next day, week or paycheck so you might as well take a leap of faith. Living in a fear mindset was never my jam, that just keeps you on the hamster wheel… The current risk I took was uprooting my life back in 2016 and moving to Los Angeles to pursue my dance dreams, and I’ve been here ever since. Yes, there’s been ups and downs, but I’m still standing, creating art on a regular basis and doing well in one of the most expensive cities in the US.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My “heART” is dance and I spelled it like that because I dance from the heart. What sets me apart from others is that I’m a 1 of 1, my soul can’t be duplicated….My creativity comes from my ancestors and dancestors that sacrificed so much, so that I can simply exist in this rich movement lifestyle. If it wasn’t for their ceremonial creativity and fortitude through struggle, slavery and apartheid there would be no ME… The road is never easy and there’s beauty in the journey, every part of it. I overcame the challenges by staying humble and dedicated knowing that if I keep chipping away at my dream I “will” shine. Your mindset is literally the catapult that will make you or break you. I also took BREAKS when I felt overwhelmed or had doubts. Nature, prayer and meditation has continually kept me centered throughout my mission. The lessons I’ve learned is to be grateful for every single inch of success you get and BASK in it ALL!

I want the world to know that I’m here to stay and my resilience is tougher than leather. I want my dance work and vlogging to be shared for generations to come. I’m creating for a lifetime of archives and then some.

Stay Tuned in for more GREATNESS..

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Anacron Allen! This King was one of the first people in LA that believed in my art and supported me financially. Anacron and I are still solid friends to this day and from time to time I’ll do some gigs with him.

Website: https://www.dnd80.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mamba_1980/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3GfhD3OIKrRFj8Fpz_eAww

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.