“He is the poster child of what we want for Collective, he is so good at it.” – Dejan Tubic
Dejan was the first DanceMakers faculty to notice Lucas. And he continued to notice him, year after year, calling him out, having him on stage and sponsoring his nomination to Collective. Relationships define life and work and this year as a member of Season XI of Collective Lucas had the opportunity to experience his extracurricular activity of dance in the real working world. He learned how to run backstage, the logistics of staging, coordinating dancers and supporting awards, assisting faculty ranging in styles and familiarity, learning their preferences on running the music and teaching, and being on all the time whether he was backstage, on stage, or in the elevator. He knew dancers of all ages were watching him because he had done the same. Collective from seasons past had hyped him, inspired him and been a role model. From the nervous youngest to the talented oldest, he offered support, laughed with them and celebrated for them. Every weekend he was deepening his relationships with the faculty and staff and building new ones with every dancer and studio owner he interacted with. And every weekend, in cities around the country, hearing the cheers from the crowd when he was introduced, his impact was felt.