Shoes Off, No Cap‪.‬ Shoes Off, No Cap.

Learning dance can be a challenge. But moving abroad and learning a new language adds another level of difficulty. However, that didn't deter Nickson Lai in his pursuit to master the art of dance. His hard work paid off; he got the chance to train and perform as part of Just Jerk, a prominent dance crew in South Korea. You might want to check out the previous episode to learn more about this particular experience. But in this episode, Nickson discusses how learning dance abroad may improve one's local dance scene.



What you will learn from this episode:




the realities of learning dance abroad
getting out of comfort zone
dealing with burnout
the kpop scene



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Official Instagram: @shoesoffnocap

Guest: Nickson Lai

Hosts: Izzaz, Diyana, Eli

Producers: Shaun, May Ann

Note-taker: Vincent

Nickson Lai is a member of Just Jerk, an internationally renowned dance crew from South Korea. He got accepted into Just Jerk in 2016 after working hard on building his dance and Korean language skills. He was and still is (at the time of publishing) the only foreigner in the crew. Throughout his time with Just Jerk, he had the opportunity to perform at big stages such as America's Got Talent 2017 and Pyeong Chang Winter Olympics 2018. Nickson continued to compete with the team and also had the chance to teach at Just Jerk Academy for a year before heading back to Malaysia in 2020 for a heart surgery. Don't worry, it's all good now.

Listen to this episode with Nickson to find out more on:


Why exactly he went to South Korea
His Just Jerk audition experience in detail
Challenges dancing with Just Jerk
His golden tips on how your dance crew can improve



Oh and Nickson speaks a bit of Korean in this episode ;)

Enjoying our podcast?

Give us 5 STARS rating and submit a review!

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Official Instagram: @shoesoffnocap

Guest: Nickson Lai

Hosts: Izzaz, Diyana, Eli

Producers: Shaun, May Ann

Note-taker: Daphne

Being in the dance industry for more than a decade, Shrizz has a lot of tips and advice for those of you who are aspiring to become industry dancers. This includes tips to learn choreo quickly, rules to live by, and how to network with other dancers. To hear more about his overall career, do give the previous episode a listen so you get a better picture of his dance journey. Oh and in case you didn't know, we have a video version of this and other episodes of Season 2 on our YouTube with the channel name Shoes Off No Cap.

In this episode, we talk to Shrizz about:


his first job as a dancer
what budding dancers must learn
tips to train choreo retention
how to build network in the dance industry
biggest changes in the Malaysian dance scene



If you enjoy this episode, please rate us 5 stars and share with your friends!

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Official Instagram: @shoesoffnocap

Guest: Shrizz

Hosts: Izzaz, Diyana

Producer: Shaun

Note-taker: Daphne

Today’s guest is a prolific mainstay in our scene, Shahrul Rizza, or more affectionately known as Shrizz. A real gem, he started his career in dance in the early 2010s when he was an Engineering student. After championing Astro Battleground in 2013, he has continued to win numerous other competitions and performed with some notable local artists like Joe Flizzow and Stacy, to name a few.

In this episode, we discover:


how Shrizz found his calling as a dancer
his method when it comes to teaching classes
some tips he’s gained over his long dance career

If you enjoy this episode, please give us a 5-star rating and share with your friends!

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Official Instagram: @shoesoffnocap

Guest: Shrizz

Hosts: Izzaz, Diyana

Producer: Shaun

Note-taker: Daphne

During the 2020 pandemic, Malaysia was on lockdown not once but three times up until 2021. Businesses were severely affected and Mustang Dance Academy was no exception. But thankfully, they have managed to keep afloat and now is up and running again.

In episode #25, Marvin shares about:


the situation during the pandemic
how he kept the business alive despite lockdowns
the biggest lesson learned throughout this crisis



If you find this episode of value, please subscribe and rate 5 stars! Also, if you're in Kuala Lumpur, do support Mustang Dance Academy so they may continue to strengthen the dance community in Malaysia.

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Official Instagram: @shoesoffnocap

Hosts: Diyana, Izzaz, Shaun

Producer: Shaun

The big bawse of Mustang Dance Academy (MDA) has finally graced us with his presence on this podcast! Marvin has been a part of MDA, located in Kuala Lumpur, since its inception in 2009. A few years later, he took up a much bigger responsibility and steered the business to what it is today — a dance studio with a strong community and various dance styles.

In episode #24, we talk about:


how Marvin started getting into dance
what is needed to start a dance business
the first years of MDA
the pivotal moment in 2013
how he hires amazing dance instructors

If you enjoy this episode, please give us a 5-star rating and share with your friends!

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Official Instagram: @shoesoffnocap

Hosts: Diyana, Izzaz, Shaun

Producer: Shaun