Photo Courtesy of Kaela
Kaela is a dynamic dancer and instructor who has found her niche in the vibrant world of waacking. After years of training in ballet and exploring various street styles, she discovered her passion for waacking and has since become a sought-after teacher. We’re excited to delve into her unique perspective on this expressive dance form and her work with Join us as we uncover her journey and her approach to teaching the art of waacking.
What initially drew you to ballet at such a young age, and how did your early training shape your approach to dance later in life?
Funny story — my parents enrolled me in ballet after seeing that I could do a split. Like most children, I didn’t take it seriously at first. But over time, I came to realise that ballet gave me more than just technique. It instilled in me discipline, resilience, time management, and perseverance — values that have stayed with me and continue to shape the dancer I am today.
At 17, you transitioned from ballet to street style. What sparked this shift, and how did your ballet foundation influence your street dance journey?
We all know that ballet, as a style, can be quite restrictive. When I discovered street styles, it was the first time in years that I truly felt free. Ballet made me feel like I could only move within certain limits, but street styles allowed my body to experience movement in ways I had never felt before. Still, I’m deeply grateful for my ballet foundation. It gave me a strong sense of body awareness, flow, balance, and control — all of which became an advantage as I transitioned into street dance.
That early training helped me pick up techniques more quickly, understand lines and form, and approach movement with precision and discipline, even in freestyle-heavy spaces.
Waacking is a vibrant, expressive style. What about it resonates most with you personally and artistically?
What resonates with me most about waacking is its deep-rooted connection to freedom, resistance, identity, and celebration. Waacking, both as a culture and a style, was born out of the need to express oneself boldly and unapologetically. As I learned more about its history, I came to appreciate how it became a platform for those who couldn’t fully express themselves. Perhaps that’s why my transition from ballet to waacking felt so natural. Where ballet was structured and restrained, waacking allowed me to be free — to turn struggle into power and movement into storytelling.
It draws me in because it lets me fully embrace my individuality while staying connected to a collective history of resilience and pride.
Are there elements of ballet that you still incorporate into your waacking or other street styles?
Definitely! After being told to look for my “identity” as a waacker, I started exploring how to incorporate my ballet background. As a result, one side of me as a waacker is a graceful one — highly aware of lines, posture, and body control, which naturally carry over when I perform or choreograph. I’m more intentional with my arm extensions, balance, and flexibility.
While waacking gives me the freedom to express and release, ballet provides the structure and discipline that helps me move with purpose.
You teach at Kidlat, Alon, and First Block Studios. How do you adapt your teaching style to suit different spaces or student groups?
It depends on the market too. For instance, at Kidlat, I use K-pop songs to suit their target audience. At Alon, I usually play disco tracks, as I teach basic waacking classes there. At First Block, I use a wider range of genres since I handle intermediate to advanced levels. I believe that as time evolves, music evolves too — but that doesn’t mean we’re taking away from the culture of waacking. I make it a point to inform my students about the history of waacking, share my personal views, and encourage them to learn from other waackers as well.
What’s your philosophy as a dance educator? How do you balance technical rigor with creativity and self-expression?
As a dance educator, I often tell my students that their goal should not be to look/dance like me. My philosophy is rooted in helping dancers discover their own identity — not just within a specific style like waacking, but as movers and artists in their own right.
I want them to understand their own movement, voice, and perspective. Waacking is just one of many possible paths; what matters most to me is that they move with intention, self-awareness, and authenticity.
Before anything else, I encourage my students to explore who they are as dancers — to move intentionally, to ask questions, and to stay curious about their own bodies. My role is to guide, not to mold — to open up possibilities, not impose patterns.
How do you introduce waacking to students who are new to the style? What’s the first lesson you want them to learn?
When I teach, I always start with a brief history of waacking — where it came from, who it was for, and why it was created. I believe it’s important for students to understand that waacking isn’t just movement; it’s culture, identity, and resistance. I also go over the “basics” and share some tips — not just technical stuff, but also little mindset cues to help them ease into the style. More than anything, I want them to understand that waacking is a form of self-expression. It’s not about copying someone else or trying to look a certain way. It’s about owning your space, telling your story, and letting your emotions guide your movement. Especially for beginners, I emphasise that there is no “right” way to feel — what matters is intention and honesty in the way you move.
What was the biggest challenge when you first began training in waacking, and how did you overcome it?
I formally learned waacking through the Philippines Next Top Waackers program in 2020, training directly under IHOW Philippines Father, Afrodite. Everything felt so new — especially the freestyle aspect, which was completely different from the structured movement I was used to. The biggest challenge for me was unlearning some of the restrictions I had carried over from ballet.
Since waacking is a freestyle-based form, it pushed me to break out of rigid habits, trust my instincts, and explore movement from a place of freedom and intention. That process of unlearning became just as important as learning the technique itself.
Teaching often requires vulnerability. Have you faced moments of self-doubt as an instructor, and how did you navigate them?
Of course — many times. I’ve often questioned whether I’m enough to teach the style, especially knowing how deeply waacking is rooted in culture. But what always pulls me through is my passion to share what I’ve learned and what waacking has made me feel. I remind myself that teaching isn’t about having authority or being perfect — it’s about creating space for others to grow, and growing alongside them. Even as instructors, we still have so much to learn. My classes aren’t just a space for teaching — they’re also a space where I continue to learn, reflect, and evolve with my students.
How do you see waacking’s role in today’s dance community, and what would you like to contribute to its evolution?
I see waacking in today’s dance community as a reminder of what dance is truly about — not just having fun, but also storytelling and the search for identity. As more dancers explore waacking, it opens up important conversations around history, culture, and self-expression. What I hope to contribute to waacking’s evolution is both accessibility and growth. I want to create learning spaces where people feel safe to explore the style deeply — not just to learn the movements, but to understand the mindset and meaning behind them. I also want dancers to recognise that as time evolves, so does the style. That evolution doesn’t erase waacking’s culture — it honors it by keeping it alive, relevant, and responsive to the present.
What’s the most rewarding feedback you’ve received from a student?
One student told me that she appreciated not just how I teach, but how I make them feel. She said the way I share my wisdom — not just knowledge — is something they’ll remember. My classes are fun because I create an environment where students don’t feel intimidated by waacking. Instead, I show them that it’s an expressive, empowering, and enjoyable style.
What advice would you give to dancers hesitant to explore styles outside their comfort zone?
One thing I’ve come to realise is that growth doesn’t happen in the comfort zone. I stayed in mine for 12 years. So I understand how scary it can feel to try something new — or to start over. But that discomfort is part of the journey. It’s in those unfamiliar spaces that we begin to uncover new parts of ourselves. Be patient, stay open, and give yourself the grace to grow. You might just discover a version of yourself you never knew existed.
What’s one lesson you’ve learned about teaching that you wish you’d known earlier?
You don’t need to have everything figured out. I’ve learned that over time, and I think being a university instructor by profession has helped shape the way I approach teaching dance. I carry over some of those values into the studio. Teaching, in any context, is just as much about listening, adapting, and learning with your students. You grow together. You don’t need to be the best dancer in the room, or the ultimate authority to lead — you just need to show up with intention and a genuine desire to share.
Want to learn the fundamentals of waacking and level up your dance skills? Kaela’s classes are perfect for beginners and experienced dancers alike! Learn the history, technique, and artistry of this iconic style. Click here for details on upcoming classes!
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