Dominic Sandoval Demo Reel

A great quote from Dominic concerning dreams and goals: "Think about it. Think about it as much as you can, because I feel like the way you're mind is set, the way you think about things, and the way you look at your future, I think if you think about things enough and you believe it inside, then it's just gonna happen. You just believe it and then do it."
The forever-lovable jokester, Dominic first started performing publicly in a fifth-grade talent show. He started b-boying in 1999, at the age of 13, often practicing with his friends in the garage. Family didn't always see a future in dance for Dom so he really had to focus and commit to his goals of succeeding at dance beyond breakdance competitions. Joining in his hometown crew Flexible Flav in 2000-2001 they worked their way into touring. In 2005 and 2006 Dom traveled with Flexible Fav winning competitions around the world in various countries. When shows like STYCD and ABDC hit the airwaves doors for dancers really began to open. Wanting " ...to see myself on t.v. ... ", in 2007, at the age of 21, he auditioned for and was featured on the television show "So You Think You Can Dance." Just hoping to get a little airtime and have his solo audition shown on television he was pleasantly surprised to make it past the L.A. rounds. The show started in March and in January Dominic took some dance classes to learn more about hiphop and choreography. While that may have helped a little he was still very challenged with the dance routines the shows choreographers threw at him week after week -- especially the Viennesse Spanish Waltz. In preparation, Dom would go online to see what he could learn about each dance and watch video's of each style to get an idea of what was expected of him. He relied on playing each assigned character to the fullest to compensate for any technical difficulties. Placing in the top ten he was invited to tour with the show.

Without working out outside of dancing, Dom says breaking is what keeps him in great shape. Practicing four to six hours a day, and teaching as well, builds endurance and strength. The one style he says he would have chosen to learn, if he could go back a few years, would have been ballet because ballet seems to be at the center of all other genres of dance. The fluency in ballet can help one pick up other styles a lot quicker.

Dominic joined Quest Crew in December 2007, getting together with friends, and the crew won ABDC in March of 2009. Having known Victor from the neighborhood and being in the same breaking crew earlier, and having met Hok a year before SYTYCD, it was just a coincidence that these guys all ended up auditioning for the same show. Many of them have known each other for quite some time. The guys of Quest all get along so well it makes work seem like play. He represents Quest Crew, Stepboyz Entertainment, and Flexible Flav. Currently, he travels and performs with Quest Crew across North America, holding workshops as well. Since making the leap and trying out for SYTYCD many doors have opened and has offered him the opportunity to dance for a variety of celebs, work with some great choreographers, travel, dance and entertain, and meet some great people along the journey. In his down time he says he likes to watch movies, golf, play pool, and bowl.

Dominic says that while he doesn't necessarily feel being on these shows has changed his dancing it has changed his life. His mind has been opened to the world of possibilities and having met such wonderful people sharing the same experiences is life-changing in itself. He is also realistic about the longevity the show exposure gives him. He knows that, with television, shows come and go and one needs to take advantage of the highlights when they are happening, but that he also has to look to his future and plan accordingly to continue moving forward when the spotlights shift. Future plans include continuing to travel, perform, and hold workshops with Quest, and seeing where all this creativity and talent can lead him. The best part of all is having so many positive people around him and opportunities available, and knowing his parents are proud of him.

So what does Dominic want from you, the fans? "The most appreciative thing I've heard so far, things that inspire me is when people say they get inspired from watching the show, and it makes them want to go back into dancing or something that they want to learn. Just to have that feeling of knowing that us on the show we can inspire people to do what they love, I think that's worth more than the $250,000 cash prize."

   / thedominicshow