Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandon “BAM” Morales.
Hi Brandon, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I credit my “entertainment” genes most definitely to my Mom! This was the lifestyle she wanted to live as a child and I was able to be the one to carry out her dream. I was always dancing as a little kid – imitating Michael Jackson, MC Hammer, Kriss Kross and other artists I would see on TV! At the age of 15, we moved from Long Island, NY to Atlanta, GA because of the cheaper cost of living. It wasn’t until this transition that I would discover my passion for dance. The nightlife in ATL was so unique, the music captivated me and the numerous amounts of dance creations that poured from this city were inescapable. The “Snap Dance” and “Crank Dat” era played a large role for me discovering the dance culture and actually becoming a part of it. Watching dance crews like Flo-Mastas, Motion Sickness, Showtime ENT and Animation ENT were some of my earliest inspirations in how I dance and move today! Throw in the iconic dance movie “You Got Served” and this would be the humble beginnings of who I’d become later on in life. I would go to local dance events and compete in tournament battles to earn my respect. Becoming a familiar face in the dance community, I would soon join my current crew called “Dragon House”!
From just being someone who would record other dancers, I’d eventually start dancing in front of one. Posting consistent videos on YouTube, I started gaining traction and growing my audience. My first dance video to go viral was in 2013 for the 70,000,000+ accumulated viewed “Disney NaeNae Character” video. This set me apart from the rest of my crew whom shared a similar dance style in comparison to my highly energetic, charismatic and variety of dance styles. I started to become a viral Internet sensation, utilizing all of the popular social media platforms to create my brand: “BamTheDancer”. Posting entertaining videos, networking and being a voice in my community would take me from just a local individual – to being known worldwide! Through dedication and hard work, I began checking off my dance goals: Movies, TV Shows, Commercials, Tours, Brand Deals and more! This has been a crazy journey for me, yet I still have more to accomplish. I know the inner child in me is so proud to see what I’m doing now and how I’m able to inspire others to do what they love!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I would be lying to you all if I said this dance lifestyle came easy, lol! It certainly has its challenges and struggles that will push you to the brink of wanting to quit. Had I just chosen dance as a casual hobby – I think it wouldn’t have been so tough. Once dance became a career that is when the mindset shifted from just fun to “I have to make this an actual living”. Dance is something that doesn’t reward you as fast as other career choices. It takes several years for you to become actually “good:” in this craft. The more you train properly, understand the path you wish to pursue in this lifestyle will make this road a lot smoother. At the time I was dancing, “social media dancers” was a brand new thing. Only a handful of examples of dancers that were able to not only make money from this career but could actually sustain it. There were plenty of moments where I was broke, where I would hit plateaus in my style and times where I wasn’t booking any gigs or opportunities! Not to mention realizing that dance being such a physically demanding job – it doesn’t come with health benefits. If you get injured, you’re out of the game until you recover. Also, there are many dance politics within the street dance culture that can wear and tear on you mentally and emotionally. You really have to have thick skin and be able to control your emotions to ultimately stay focused on your path!
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Let me reintroduce myself to those who aren’t familiar with who I am. My name is Brandon Morales, but I’m known to the world as “BAM”! I’m a part of the world-renowned dance crew called “Dragon House”! We’ve appeared on TV Shows such as: So You Think You Can Dance, World of Dance, America’s Got Talent and The Ellen DeGeneres Show!
As for myself, I am a Professional Hip-Hop Freestyle Dancer specializing in Tutting, Animation and popular dance crazes! As well as being a Professional dancer, I’m also a: Choreographer, Actor, Instructor, Creative Director, Influencer, Brand Ambassador and Mascot Extraordinaire. Some of my popular works include: Featured dancer in Silento’s – “Watch Me Whip/NaeNae” music video, creator of “The Bam Reverse”, I’ve appeared on “The Jimmy Fallon Show”, also featured in Disney childhood star China McClain’s “Calling All The Monsters” (2021) music video, featured dancer in ‘2 Chainz – “2 Step” music video, Capital One commercial with Spike Lee, Samuel L. Jackson & Charles Barkley, CLIF Bar commercial, Coca-Cola commercial and I play the role of ‘Dancing Guard’ in the latest Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 movies!
I would say I’m most proud of booking ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’! Not only did I get to check off a career highlight, which was to be in a movie. But I was able to book my first ever film being a Marvel movie which is so highly respected and of great magnitude. I was also able to showcase my dance creation called “The Bam Reverse” which will forever be a part of The Marvel Cinematic Universe and within dance itself. This will be seen for generations upon generations which I think is so amazing!
I think what sets me apart from most people in my field is: my consistency, genuineness, charisma and authenticity! I’ve stayed true to my brand and what I do since the beginning without losing focus or being deterred.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
Wow! This is really a great question and something I had to ponder on quite a bit before answering. I could honestly speak on this particular topic for a while but I think I have one that resonates with me the most. I think “what matters to me most” is providing clarity to those who are aspiring to be a Professional Dancers! I want to make sure the essence of which dance came from isn’t lost and that people understand the history in what they do. With social media constantly changing, sometimes dancers aren’t aware of their origins and know their style in its entirety. I’m always making sure to utilize my social media platforms to be the voice that uplifts dancers while also educating them. This was something that I didn’t really have when I first started in this career and I’d like to make other’s paths easier than the road I had!
The popular expression “each one, teach one” is what motivates me to continue doing what I do.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.bamthedancer.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/bamthedancer
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/bamthedancer
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/bamthedancer
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@bamthedancer
