Meet Michael Hydroflow” Scheitzbach | Dancer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Michael “Hydroflow” Scheitzbach and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Michael “Hydroflow”, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I wanted to pursue a career in the arts because it was what I’d been drawn to from a young age. I grew up playing sports, but once I began dance I’d fallen in love with the art form and enjoyed it more than anything. And I think that especially now, my inner child that really loved dance has become the driving force in pursuing my career here in LA. I want to make younger me proud by showing him that I can actually do this as my lifestyle and my career; and it does fill my soul knowing that I’m doing that right now.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
For me, I’m most proud of my growth over the years. I believe that my hard work, dedication to my craft, and always trying to be better than I was is what makes me different. Dance never really came easy to me, but I just loved doing it and it made me happy. So I would put all the energy I could into it, and over the years confidence would grow and whither. But since moving to LA in 2021, I’ve really started to find myself and to trust myself to fully believe in myself, my skill, and my artistry. I know who I am as a dancer, but I also know what I’m capable of and I still to this day surprise myself with what I do. It’s a humbling reminder to me that I know I can always push a bit harder, but I’ve come a long, long way from where I was – and that makes me the most proud. The accolades, the famous names, the rather superficial stuff is great and in a sense it is validating to know how far I’ve come from a professional standpoint; but knowing that I’ve grown and telling myself that I’m proud of myself and how far I’ve come even when work might be slow is more important to me. Sometimes I feel like in this career we measure our self-worth in how booked or busy we are, and we stop enjoying the journey because we’re too focused on the next destination. Especially now, I’m working on myself more to allow me to fully enjoy the roller coaster with my hands up and a smile on my face instead of wondering what ride to hop on next.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Oh this is fun! I am quite the sucker for Asian food, so the first place I’d take them would be Dai Chan in Studio City. One of my good friends showed me this spot and I am known there as Mr. Gyoza Party because I ordered 30 gyoza at once.

I also love going to the beach, so Malibu is definitely happening. It’s nice to enjoy a little road trip and enjoy the sea breeze, go swimming and then watch the sunset on the beach.

I am a bit of a homebody, so most likely we’d be spending a day or five playing Mario Kart or Smash Bros at my place, unless someone wants to get smoked in a Pokémon battle….then good luck to you.

This also sounds so basic, but I love going shopping so a day trip to The Grove and then Melrose and Fairfax is probably going to happen…and please tell me I don’t actually need another pair of shoes.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The biggest shoutout goes to my family: my parents and my younger brother. Kevin and I grew up dancing together and he’s always pushed me to be better and do better; and it’s been such a joy to watch him thrive since we’ve moved to LA a couple years ago. I couldn’t be prouder of him and I’m still glad we get to teach and dance together when we get to. Our parents have been super supportive of us since we started dancing: they’d drive us to classes, rehearsals, sit and watch all of our competitions, recitals and shows growing up and always encouraged us to go train outside of our comfort zone. I can speak on behalf of Kevin when I say we wouldn’t be anywhere close to where we are today, and for that we are both forever grateful to Mom and Dad for all that they’ve done and continue to do. Love you guys so much!

Lastly, to my tribe. You know who you are. Mentors, friends, family. Thank you for standing with me through the hard times, pushing me toward greatness, and still willing to stand with me no matter where in the world I am. I appreciate you more than you know.

Instagram: MikeHydroflow

Image Credits
Pictures by Mary Mason Photo with Mariah Carey: from her IG post