About
Versatile in visual arts, performing arts, entertainment, modeling & more…my titles vary across a multitude of industries.
Self-Portrait. 2021. Philadelphia, Pa.
Street-Jazz instructor, studio photographer, brand model, team captain, award-winning dancer, commercial video editor, freelancer, scare actor…
At 26 years old, my vast areas of experience, diverse positions, and extensive background vary abundantly between creative, professional, and commercial level roles. Well versed, I wear a lot of hats…(both literally and metaphorically speaking). Slovakian descendant, I was born and raised in the suburbs of a small farm town located in southeast Pennsylvania. My self-taught artistic routes began with dance as a teenager: impersonating Michael Jackson, winning the middle school talent shows and mimicking URBAN DANCE CAMP YouTube routines in my bedroom. Progressively, my stand-out talents grew exponentially after being awarded scholarship admission to the award-winning, Premiere Dance Studio (“PDS”) during my senior high school year, as well as the critically acclaimed University of the Arts (UArts) as a freshman at community college. Furthermore, former UArts alumi and Royal Caribbean & Carnival cruise line dancer Ryan Tuerk served as my close mentor assisting my dance trainings, expanding my knowledge and guiding me professionally.
Aspiring to take my dance career to the next level during my college years, I became employed as an Instructor spanning three years across Pennsylvania at various studios to students of all ages, levels, and backgrounds (‘Allegheny Ballet Company’, ‘Let’s Get Dancing!’, ‘Miracles in Motion’). Post graduation teaching experience includes workshops (“PDS”, ‘Flair Dance Company’), summer intensives (‘Dance Fusion’ & ‘Diana Alexis Dance Academy’) and masterclasses (‘Elements Dance Factory’). Transitioning into the commercial realm, during the NHL season I share my radiant energy, persona and passion with thousands of hockey fans weekly as a rookie veteran captain on the Philadelphia Flyers ‘Ice Team’. Joining the team as the only male in 2021, my standout role/work/leadership granted me the title of the [first ever] male team captain during my third season in ‘23-’24. Our work as the Flyers’ entertainment troupe of skaters/dancers/cheerleaders goes beyond the Wells Fargo Center, working with Flyers charities, beach caravans, “Flyers Recess” school assembly programs (find out details here) and more. Diversifying my experience in the industry, I worked as a Scare Actor for Six Flag’s “Fright Fest” as well as character performing for the ‘Electric Zoo: Supernaturals’ Aftermovie in 2021.
Aside from dance, my laundry list of talents exceeds average expectations…
My photographic work behind the camera is also a distinct specialty and have been be viewed in zines (‘Palette’), as limited edition prints (‘Greying Ghost’), and in exhibitions (Crayola Gallery). Expanding my brand work experience, while living in Brooklyn I served as an App Curator for ‘Seek’, a mobile app for the best NYC experiences/recommendations/hot-spots. Additionally, whilst living in New York City I tapped into the modeling industry slowly but steadily also. Eventually modeling freelance on photoshoots for big name brands such as Wingstop, Rohto Eye Drops and CLEAN Cause. Smaller scale user generated content (UGC) for companies such as ‘Suavecito’ [Pomade] and JuneShine’s ambassador program. However, my most notable achievement in commercial modeling is for the boutique eyewear company HEYWEAR. My image has been commercially used on the company website, email announcements, Instagram posts, web ads, printed in zines, and even plastered on the walls of the Flatiron District flagship store. Furthering my desire to work freelance in the arts and entertainment, for 2 years I work as a “Company MVP” for New York City’s biggest entertainment company, 'Total Entertainment’ (TE). Company highlights include partying onstage next to rapper 50 Cent, summer water gun fights in the Hamptons and cosplaying as a Storm Trooper at NYC’s ‘Museum of Natural History’.
More-so, I was employed previously as a Social Media Video Editor during the summer of 2022 for Tracy Anderson (TA), a prolific/high-end company and fitness figure in the health and wellness industry. With hundreds of thousands of social media followers, my edits were viewed worldwide reaching millions of views. In the midst of all my freelance brand endeavors, there is but one name that sticks with me as an ongoing occupation for 2 years now: Pricklee Cactus Water. With the title, “Field Marketing Lead”, I am in charge of company in-person field activations/events/partnerships such as BRIC: “Celebrate Brooklyn!” (NYC), ‘Malibu Triathlon’ (CA), & ‘Goldrush’ music festival (AZ). As a partner with the company, my role doesn’t stop there, dabbling in departments such as: brand relations & affiliations, campaigns, brand ambassador assist, social media management, design and serving as a [literal] brand mascot. Find ‘Pricklee’ on the shelves of popular healthy-living chain Sprouts Farmers Market and on ‘Shark Tank’.
Prior to all of the eclectic artistic endeavors, a noteworthy feat in my retail employment includes the Vans boutique store in Williamsburg, Brooklyn titled, ‘The General by Vans’. The General serves celebrity clientele, offered water & coffee to guests, sold exclusive products & held pop-up events.
My educational studies concluded in May of 2021 upon earning my Bachelor of Design via the College of Arts & Architecture from the Pennsylvania State University’s School of Visual Arts (SoVA). Graduating in the top 6% of my class with Cum Laude academic honors distinction and a notable National Society of Leadership and Success [NSLS] lifetime member aka Sigma Alpha Pi (ΣAπ). University organization affiliations include Staff Committee publications for ‘VALLEY’ Magazine (PSU’s student-lead fashion magazine), as well as a member of hip-hop dance team/club ‘R.A.M. (Raw Aesthetic Movement) Squad’.
Nowadays, in my (seldom) free time, you can find me in a tattoo parlor, on an URBEX adventure, at a concert, hunting for vintage clothing or taking classes at Broadway Dance Center (BDC).