29 May ‘Bringing People Together’: Local Dance Studio Hosts First Production

LGNDS Studios dancers perform in “Dance to the Future” at De Anza High on May 19.

Story and photos by Joe Porrello

As a 10-year-old dancer, Connor Cu became inspired by studios he went to and performers he met. As a 25-year-old, he is now inspiring and guiding other young dancers at his Hercules-based studio, LGNDS, which stands for Learn, Grow, Nurture, Dance, Seek.

“There aren’t a ton of hip-hop studios in this area, so it’s nice to be able to provide that service,” he said.

Opening LGNDS with 12 members in July of 2022, the studio now has 85 dancers. On May 19, Cu — with the help of his family — presented his first stage production.

 

Outgrowing its usual performing space at LGNDS, which allows a maximum 100 occupants, the show held at De Anza High drew over 250 attendees.

“This is a milestone… It’s kind of surreal,” said Cu’s mother, Bernadette Todd, who chose and purchased costumes for the performance. “I don’t know how we got here, but we’re so happy for all the support.”

 

The show, titled Dance to the Future —  an ode to the popular movie trilogy “Back to the Future” — featured children of all ages performing to music from varying decades.

Accompanying the 13 dances were video compilations from different movies and music videos, as well as a woven-in storyline that sees a young Marty McFly go back in time seeking dance skills to gain confidence asking a girl to the school dance.

 

Cu’s father, Jeff Todd, wrote the show’s script and played Doc Brown — who helps McFly travel to the past and back again.

Todd’s son Riley played a school bully that picked on a few attendance members, including Golden State Warriors TV announcer Kelenna Azuibuke. Jeff and Bernadette Todd co-own the Hercules tea shop where Azuibuke launched a gourmet cornbread line earlier this year.

“It’s really a family affair,” said Bernadette Todd.

That familial feel extended to the dancers’ parents, who switched off volunteering at the show between the first and second performance of the one-and-a-half-hour acts.

“It takes a village,” she said. “It couldn’t be done without the parents.”

Some parents, including Bernadette, even surprised their kids by putting on their own 1990s-themed dance.

Following the show, video was shown of the timeline from Cu ordering the first LGNDS storefront banner and initially seeing the location’s unfinished interior to a packed room of practicing young dancers in a fully equipped studio.

Cu noted the camaraderie in his line of work is what most fulfills him.

“More than dancing, I just care about community and bringing people together; dance is just a vessel,” he said.

 

Though appreciative of his studio’s success, Cu says he is not content.

“I’m really proud, but I’m still super invested in diving deeper into it,” he said.

LGNDS dancers’ next performance will be at a competition in Sacramento, and the studio will host a weeklong summer camp in June and July for children ages 7-15.

Other teachings offered by LGNDS include: foundational classes, heels classes, freestyle and movement exploration, K-Pop cover classes and Zumba classes.