A Staten Island-born dancer known simply as TJ has transformed New York City’s bustling streets into his personal dance studio, creating viral videos that capture the spontaneous energy of the five boroughs.
TJ, who was born in Brooklyn and raised on Staten Island, began his dance journey in high school, according to a recent interview. “I started dancing in high school,” he said, describing his early exploration of African clubs, international clubs, hip-hop, Afro, and Caribbean dance styles. “I was doing all of it, just for fun.”
His passion for movement followed him upstate to the University at Buffalo, where he studied marketing while joining African dance clubs to connect with new people. TJ quickly distinguished himself in the campus dance community, leveraging what he describes as natural visual learning abilities.
“I’m a quick visual learner,” TJ explained. “I started picking up choreography naturally, and before I knew it, I was leading, choreographing, and performing at fashion shows.”
After graduation, TJ returned to New York City and entered corporate work, but dance remained central to his life. He began teaching dance classes and started filming videos to show potential students what they could expect from his sessions. The strategy worked, drawing participants to his classes and eventually expanding his reach beyond studio walls.
TJ’s transition from indoor studios to street performances emerged from practical considerations. When collaborating with dancers from different boroughs, Manhattan became the natural meeting point. “If I’m meeting someone from the Bronx or Brooklyn, we’re meeting in the city,” he said. “Times Square has the lighting, the background, the movement– it just works.”
The move to street dancing eliminated financial barriers and created new opportunities for spontaneous performances. “The street is free,” TJ noted. “Out here, you get real New York: skyscrapers, people passing by, the noise, the energy.”
TJ’s creative process begins with music, according to his description of his workflow. “The music comes first,” he said. “I can’t stop thinking about the song.” Only after a song resonates with him does he develop choreography, followed by selecting the appropriate environment for filming.
Filming in public spaces has introduced elements of unpredictability that TJ now embraces as essential to his work. “A lot of New York is random,” he observed. “Spontaneous things happen all the time.” Passersby frequently wander into his shots, sometimes joining the dancing unexpectedly.
TJ’s approach to these interruptions has evolved over time. “Before, if someone jumped into the frame, I’d be like, ‘They messed up my video,’” he admitted. “Now, that’s what makes it.”
The dancer’s welcoming energy appears to encourage public participation. “Even if someone’s having a bad day, it only takes 30 seconds,” TJ said about viewers’ reactions. “They see it, they smile.”
Times Square remains a frequent location for TJ’s performances, serving as both backdrop and community hub. “Other creators are there. Other dancers are there,” he explained. “You’re not alone.”
For TJ, dance represents more than entertainment or social media content. “Dance lets you express freedom,” he said. “When you’re moving, you’re not supposed to overthink it. It’s about how the beat makes you feel.”
His viral success stems partly from embracing New York’s unpredictable nature. “A lot of the videos that go viral are the unexpected ones,” TJ observed. “That’s New York.”
Through his street performances, TJ has found a way to merge his Staten Island roots with the broader energy of New York City, creating content that reflects the spontaneous connections possible in urban spaces.
