“My life is just study dance and sleep right now,” junior Marcus Laguisma said.
Many students can say that they have thought about pursuing a nonacademic career, but judging by the overwhelming number of MVHS students who have their sights set on becoming engineers or scientists, not many have seriously embraced the idea. Laguisma is one who is unaffected by the pervasive MVHS culture.
Almost every waking minute of the day before an upcoming show, he is constantly playing tracks in his head and marking choreography. Even during tests, he finds it hard to concentrate. Although Laguisma has only been dancing for four years, he has already earned a spot on one of the world’s best hip hop dance crews, Academy of Villains. In the past couple of years, they have earned a name for themselves by surviving until the final round of America’s Got Talent and even making a guest appearance on So You Think You Can Dance.
“I stayed on the Academy of Villains youth team for two years, slowly got better and I now perform with Academy of Villains at Great America’s Halloween Haunt. I am going to get paid for the gig, but it’s not that much — about $1,300 for 42 shows. It’s okay with me though. I only dance because I want to entertain an audience,” Laguisma said.
Although a professional career in dancing does not pay much, he continues to devote the majority of his time to the art.
Dancing requires an obsessive dedication. Years of practicing sometimes go into a single three-minute long performance. It is a craft that no longer accepts anything worse than absolute perfection.
Being in a crew like AOV, it is especially important that one completely devotes themselves to the crew. Much like the MV scene, the dance world is such a competitive environment that everything else besides one’s crew must come secondary in order to become the best.
Marcus had been gymnast for most of his life, and when he was originally exposed to hip hop, he fell in love immediately. After winning a school dance competition at his middle school, he realized his full potential as a dancer. Less than a year later, he had his heart set on becoming a professional dancer.
However, Laguisma’s family does not think that professional dancing is the best career option for him.
“Being an immigrant coming from a third world country, I’m more traditional on the aspect of choosing a career,” said Rod Laguisma, Marcus’s father.
Marcus, however, believes that the pressure to conform to MVHS standard is evident in the school’s culture, and it has affected the career decisions of many students.
“My dad doesn’t think that dancing is going to be a stable career when I grow up and he wants me to be an engineer like all Cupertino parents. Most dancers really don’t get paid much unless you make it big in the entertainment industry, which is rare. There are also other risks. Not many dancers are still able to make a living after they turn 30,” Laguisma said.
There were even times in his short career that he almost quit dancing because of this realization.
“There have been a lot of times like that cause I just felt discouraged. I thought, ‘What is coming to the studio every week and learning how to dance going to do for me in the future?’” he said.
Laguisma has battled these pessimistic thoughts for the past year. Although he loves the art, he understands the economic risks associated with a career in dance. The average annual income of the average Cupertino household is over $130,000, but the average annual income of the average professional dancer is under $30,000.
“It will ultimately be my children’s choice on what to do with their lives. I just ask from them to know all the pros, cons and sacrifices that will come from making that decision. My children’s happiness is what matters to me the most,” Rod said.
Laguisma acknowledges that he is a minority at MVHS, as he wishes to pursue a nonacademic career. However, he but embraces this difference and many others as well.
“I try to be as unique as possible in whatever I do, whether it be the time I spend on my hobbies or even the way I dress. I do not care what the majority of people my age are doing,” he said.
Laguisma has his heart set on his passion and his mind focused on what makes him happy against all odds and his parents continue to support him.
“It will ultimately be my children’s choice on what to do with their lives. I just ask from them to know all the pros, cons and sacrifices that will come from making that decision. My children’s happiness is what matters to me the most,” Rod said.
