For the first time ever, Kollaboration is providing readers with an exclusive glimpse into the world of David Elsewhere – you know, the crazy break-dancer in the orange shirt! Rather than using traditional methods to report his incredible journey from Kollaboration to stardom, we use a style as unorthodox as his dancing to provide a more candid and intimate look at his Kollaboration experience.
This is the story of David Elsewhere…through the words of David Elsewhere .
David (aka David Bernal) Elsewhere's unique form of dancing has made him one of the most popular performers to come out of Kollaboration . “I would say it's an alien-esque form of popping, waving, liquid, floating, gliding. It's like an unorthodox form of break dancing. I listen to really weird electronic music, stuff that can be best described as eerie. I think my dancing reflects that.” We agree! If you don't, then you have never seen him dance. So, before reading any further, get out of that cave you must have been living in for the last 5 years and check out his first performance at Kollaboration here: David's Myspace
The clip says Kollaboration 2001 , but we know… he doesn't look Korean . You as well as other inquiring minds may then want to know, “I'm a mutt. My mom is Peruvian; my dad was born and raised in New Mexico. So I like to say I'm half New Mexican.”
Kollaboration staff members are always asked the question, “Then how did he end up on Kollaboration ; isn't it a show for Koreans?”
"Well, I had a friend from back then [circa 2001] that got me gigs. I guess you could kind of say he was my agent at the time, but I don't like calling him that. I just wanted to get out there, get exposure and make a little money off of the dancing I did. One day he was just chilling at his house as some guys were painting it. One of the guys, Peter Cho, was part of Kollaboration staff at the time and they got to talking about Kollaboration. My friend basically showed him footage of me, and that's when Peter brought it to Kollaboration."
One of the requirements for competing at Kollaboration is that at least one member of the competing group must have some Korean heritage. However, we also host free-style dance and vocal competitions during the show, where members of the audience (regardless of race) can compete for a cash prize based on audience applause. This is where David caught his break with Kollaboration. His memory of this first performance at Kollaboration is that, "Kollaboration was actually really cool. The thing that struck me the most - the one thing I remember - was it was probably the most responsive crowd I had ever gotten. I kind of noticed it before I even went up, actually. The crowd was really into the show; everyone was cheering already. So I was very relaxed, went out and did my thing. And then suddenly the crowd just went crazy. I really appreciated that particular part of the performance; it was a really cool performance. I really enjoyed it a lot."
The audience was unanimous and David won the title as the winner of the free-style dance competition, but he actually gained something even more valuable that night: an infamous video clip of his performance. This was first available on the Kollaboration website ( www.kollaboration.org ) and was soon being circulated all over the world! It was months before David even realized what a cyberspace star he had become!
"I was on a dance forum, a discussion board on the internet. There was a thread that said: "You gotta see this! Check this out!" And it was the Kollaboration video clip. But I still didn't think anything of it.
And then, I just kept seeing it over and over again. Every now and then I'd see it on some other website or someone would link to it, and it just started popping up more and more. Then at the end of the clip it said kollaboration.org, so finally I went to the website. I went to the contact section and there was a special blurb that said: "If you want to contact David Elsewhere, then contact this e-mail address." And it was my friend/agent at the time, whom by that point I wasn't getting along with anymore. We were no longer on speaking terms. So I was like, "WTF?" I had never seen or received any e-mails so I didn't know what the hell he was doing with all these emails.
So, I e-mailed Kollaboration and got my e-mail address posted on kollaboration.org. Right away I literally started getting dozens of e-mails a day. To this day there is a constant flow of e-mails. I started doing a lot of TV shows and commercials and stuff. I have a real agent now, and he is a professional."
His performance vita is incredible and speaks for itself! Here are just a few of the more popular performance spots he has earned after the spread of the Kollaboration promotion video:
Commercial: Heineken, 7-Eleven, Apple iPod, Pepsi, Volkswagon
Television: Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Tonight Show, The Steve Harvey Show, Inside Edition
Film: You Got Served
In closing, we thought it fit to give David the last words:
"Definitely don't quit your day job! But whatever you're doing, practice your ass off. And you really have got to just get as much exposure as you can. If that means making videos on the Internet or going to talent shows-- whatever you're comfortable with, go for it. Leave room for lots of practicing. You should never give up.
I just want to thank the Kollaboration staff for everything. Thanks PK, for putting that clip on the Internet and for being a good friend. And congrats again for getting married! Thanks again guys, I really appreciate everything."
Interview conducted by: Eugene Choi
