It's hard to look past Chantell Sampson when she walks into the room. Not just because of her neon blue hair, tattoos and hip-hop style, but because she's probably surrounded by a horde of little hip-hop dancers. This pied piper of hip-hop at Gasper's School of Dance in Fargo once worked in corporate America until the day she realized she needed to follow her passions. In her four short years at Gasper's, she's helped build the hip-hop program from seven students to nearly 100, which includes the award-winning Gasper's Hip Hop Troupe. When she's not dancing, she's pursuing another passion: painting. How did your career begin? I graduated from Concordia in 2010 and right after that, I got an event job at Microsoft in the marketing department and I loved it. I did a multimillion-dollar event as an intern out in California. I worked with and met some of the executives. It was insane. I loved every second of it. At the end of my internship, my project was done so I had some time and so I started helping a Web development team. When my internship was over, they had a spot open and since I was already trained in, I was offered the position as a Web producer at Microsoft. And at 22, I was dumb not to take it. So I stayed with them for three years. I was also continuing to teach dance part time at Bonnie Haney's.
How did you go from being a Web developer and part-time artist/dance teacher to making them your career? I really loved Microsoft, but the job just wasn't for me. It wasn't a good fit. I started to think about moving to Colorado, just thinking about starting over. So I left Bonnie's thinking I'd be moving, and then I ran into Matt (Gasper, of Gasper's School of Dance) and he asked me what I was doing and wondered if I could teach for them. He talked me into teaching just a couple of classes, but I was still planning on moving. He asked me why I was moving. He said, "The kids love you, I love you. Is there any way you can stay?" I told him I needed something to do during the day. I wasn't going to be working at Microsoft and I needed to pay my student loans. So he suggested in addition to teaching that I become his business manager. He had said, "It's going to be tough. I expect a lot." And I said, "Bring it on, I come from corporate! Whatever you got, I'm here!" It takes a lot to run a studio. I'm his right-hand man, and I love that! That was quite a leap. Were you scared? I went from full benefits and making a crazy amount of money for my age to something where I was making less than half, with no benefits. It was a huge risk. But I knew that if I still ended up moving in a year, I could still say I had the experience of running a dance studio, which is what I dreamed about doing as a kid. I knew even if I had to live on ramen, I needed to do this. I've been here four years and I love it. We've gone from one class that Matt taught to seven and they're full. It's incredible. We have the hip-hop troupe that I started. It's a chance for kids who wouldn't normally be able to compete to have that chance, and it also gets Gasper's name out there at basketball games or wherever we'd perform. [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_original","fid":"1994785","attributes":{"alt":"Artwork by Chantell Sampson. David Samson / The Forum","class":"media-image","height":"1317","title":"Artwork by Chantell Sampson. David Samson / The Forum","width":"1200"}}]] What do you love about hip-hop? I love that you can add your own style, flavor and uniqueness. You can express yourself. Any emotion you have, you can dance it out. The kids seem to come alive around you. What do you get from them? I wake up in the morning and say, "I get to go to work today. I get to be with some of my favorite people." Kids really know what life is about. They love life. Every time I'm feeling down and having a bad day, I love coming here because I love hearing about their days and I love how much they make me laugh and the goofiness that comes from kids. How did you start doing your artwork? I was still at Microsoft and I was teaching just a couple of dance classes, but in the summertime when I wasn't teaching dance, I think I was starved for a creative outlet. I took one art class in college and I think I barely passed it. It was such a foreign concept. I'd look at a blank canvas and think, I'd rather have a 20-page paper that I had to research and draft than this blank canvas. But I was left with all of these art supplies from the class. And I remember one day after work thinking, "Let's just get rid of all of these supplies." I figured I'd just use up all of the paint. You know, just grab a glass of wine, have fun and just paint. But I remember how it felt when I was painting. It was like all of my stress went away. I felt really comfortable and free. I remember thinking, "This is really cool!" I thought this will be my new hobby. I'd paint every day after I came home from Microsoft. My mentality was nobody is going to see this. I'm not selling this, I don't care if no one likes it. It was therapy for me. But then I ended up posting a couple of things on Facebook for fun. You know, like, "Look at me and what I'm doodling." Then people started asking where they could buy it. I couldn't believe it. So I started doing requests. I started selling them here and there. Do you see yourself dancing and painting for awhile? Yes, I can't imagine giving one up. When I get older, I'm not going to be able to do hip-hop dance, but I will be able to paint and do art. For now, I love being here and helping the kids learn about dance. I wanted my work to matter. I wanted my work to inspire, to give life. I want kids to have a voice, I want them to be able to express themselves no matter what kind of background they come from. I want them to have fun, feel good about their bodies, and be in a free environment. And we get that right here.It's hard to look past Chantell Sampson when she walks into the room. Not just because of her neon blue hair, tattoos and hip-hop style, but because she's probably surrounded by a horde of little hip-hop dancers. This pied piper of hip-hop at Gasper's School of Dance in Fargo once worked in corporate America until the day she realized she needed to follow her passions. In her four short years at Gasper's, she's helped build the hip-hop program from seven students to nearly 100, which includes the award-winning Gasper's Hip Hop Troupe. When she's not dancing, she's pursuing another passion: painting. How did your career begin? I graduated from Concordia in 2010 and right after that, I got an event job at Microsoft in the marketing department and I loved it. I did a multimillion-dollar event as an intern out in California. I worked with and met some of the executives. It was insane. I loved every second of it. At the end of my internship, my project was done so I had some time and so I started helping a Web development team. When my internship was over, they had a spot open and since I was already trained in, I was offered the position as a Web producer at Microsoft. And at 22, I was dumb not to take it. So I stayed with them for three years. I was also continuing to teach dance part time at Bonnie Haney's. [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_original","fid":"1994774","attributes":{"alt":"Artwork by Chantell Sampson. David Samson / The Forum","class":"media-image","height":"1190","title":"Artwork by Chantell Sampson. David Samson / The Forum","width":"1200"}}]] How did you go from being a Web developer and part-time artist/dance teacher to making them your career? I really loved Microsoft, but the job just wasn't for me. It wasn't a good fit. I started to think about moving to Colorado, just thinking about starting over. So I left Bonnie's thinking I'd be moving, and then I ran into Matt (Gasper, of Gasper's School of Dance) and he asked me what I was doing and wondered if I could teach for them. He talked me into teaching just a couple of classes, but I was still planning on moving. He asked me why I was moving. He said, "The kids love you, I love you. Is there any way you can stay?" I told him I needed something to do during the day. I wasn't going to be working at Microsoft and I needed to pay my student loans. So he suggested in addition to teaching that I become his business manager. He had said, "It's going to be tough. I expect a lot." And I said, "Bring it on, I come from corporate! Whatever you got, I'm here!" It takes a lot to run a studio. I'm his right-hand man, and I love that! That was quite a leap. Were you scared? I went from full benefits and making a crazy amount of money for my age to something where I was making less than half, with no benefits. It was a huge risk. But I knew that if I still ended up moving in a year, I could still say I had the experience of running a dance studio, which is what I dreamed about doing as a kid. I knew even if I had to live on ramen, I needed to do this. I've been here four years and I love it. We've gone from one class that Matt taught to seven and they're full. It's incredible. We have the hip-hop troupe that I started. It's a chance for kids who wouldn't normally be able to compete to have that chance, and it also gets Gasper's name out there at basketball games or wherever we'd perform.
What do you love about hip-hop? I love that you can add your own style, flavor and uniqueness. You can express yourself. Any emotion you have, you can dance it out. The kids seem to come alive around you. What do you get from them? I wake up in the morning and say, "I get to go to work today. I get to be with some of my favorite people." Kids really know what life is about. They love life. Every time I'm feeling down and having a bad day, I love coming here because I love hearing about their days and I love how much they make me laugh and the goofiness that comes from kids. How did you start doing your artwork? I was still at Microsoft and I was teaching just a couple of dance classes, but in the summertime when I wasn't teaching dance, I think I was starved for a creative outlet. I took one art class in college and I think I barely passed it. It was such a foreign concept. I'd look at a blank canvas and think, I'd rather have a 20-page paper that I had to research and draft than this blank canvas. But I was left with all of these art supplies from the class. And I remember one day after work thinking, "Let's just get rid of all of these supplies." I figured I'd just use up all of the paint. You know, just grab a glass of wine, have fun and just paint. But I remember how it felt when I was painting. It was like all of my stress went away. I felt really comfortable and free. I remember thinking, "This is really cool!" I thought this will be my new hobby. I'd paint every day after I came home from Microsoft. My mentality was nobody is going to see this. I'm not selling this, I don't care if no one likes it. It was therapy for me. But then I ended up posting a couple of things on Facebook for fun. You know, like, "Look at me and what I'm doodling." Then people started asking where they could buy it. I couldn't believe it. So I started doing requests. I started selling them here and there. Do you see yourself dancing and painting for awhile? Yes, I can't imagine giving one up. When I get older, I'm not going to be able to do hip-hop dance, but I will be able to paint and do art. For now, I love being here and helping the kids learn about dance. I wanted my work to matter. I wanted my work to inspire, to give life. I want kids to have a voice, I want them to be able to express themselves no matter what kind of background they come from. I want them to have fun, feel good about their bodies, and be in a free environment. And we get that right here.It's hard to look past Chantell Sampson when she walks into the room. Not just because of her neon blue hair, tattoos and hip-hop style, but because she's probably surrounded by a horde of little hip-hop dancers.This pied piper of hip-hop at Gasper's School of Dance in Fargo once worked in corporate America until the day she realized she needed to follow her passions. In her four short years at Gasper's, she's helped build the hip-hop program from seven students to nearly 100, which includes the award-winning Gasper's Hip Hop Troupe.When she's not dancing, she's pursuing another passion: painting.How did your career begin?I graduated from Concordia in 2010 and right after that, I got an event job at Microsoft in the marketing department and I loved it. I did a multimillion-dollar event as an intern out in California. I worked with and met some of the executives. It was insane. I loved every second of it.At the end of my internship, my project was done so I had some time and so I started helping a Web development team. When my internship was over, they had a spot open and since I was already trained in, I was offered the position as a Web producer at Microsoft. And at 22, I was dumb not to take it. So I stayed with them for three years. I was also continuing to teach dance part time at Bonnie Haney's.
How did you go from being a Web developer and part-time artist/dance teacher to making them your career?I really loved Microsoft, but the job just wasn't for me. It wasn't a good fit. I started to think about moving to Colorado, just thinking about starting over. So I left Bonnie's thinking I'd be moving, and then I ran into Matt (Gasper, of Gasper's School of Dance) and he asked me what I was doing and wondered if I could teach for them. He talked me into teaching just a couple of classes, but I was still planning on moving. He asked me why I was moving. He said, "The kids love you, I love you. Is there any way you can stay?" I told him I needed something to do during the day. I wasn't going to be working at Microsoft and I needed to pay my student loans. So he suggested in addition to teaching that I become his business manager. He had said, "It's going to be tough. I expect a lot." And I said, "Bring it on, I come from corporate! Whatever you got, I'm here!" It takes a lot to run a studio. I'm his right-hand man, and I love that!That was quite a leap. Were you scared?I went from full benefits and making a crazy amount of money for my age to something where I was making less than half, with no benefits. It was a huge risk. But I knew that if I still ended up moving in a year, I could still say I had the experience of running a dance studio, which is what I dreamed about doing as a kid. I knew even if I had to live on ramen, I needed to do this. I've been here four years and I love it. We've gone from one class that Matt taught to seven and they're full. It's incredible. We have the hip-hop troupe that I started. It's a chance for kids who wouldn't normally be able to compete to have that chance, and it also gets Gasper's name out there at basketball games or wherever we'd perform.[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_original","fid":"1994785","attributes":{"alt":"Artwork by Chantell Sampson. David Samson / The Forum","class":"media-image","height":"1317","title":"Artwork by Chantell Sampson. David Samson / The Forum","width":"1200"}}]]What do you love about hip-hop?I love that you can add your own style, flavor and uniqueness. You can express yourself. Any emotion you have, you can dance it out.The kids seem to come alive around you. What do you get from them?I wake up in the morning and say, "I get to go to work today. I get to be with some of my favorite people." Kids really know what life is about. They love life. Every time I'm feeling down and having a bad day, I love coming here because I love hearing about their days and I love how much they make me laugh and the goofiness that comes from kids.How did you start doing your artwork?I was still at Microsoft and I was teaching just a couple of dance classes, but in the summertime when I wasn't teaching dance, I think I was starved for a creative outlet. I took one art class in college and I think I barely passed it. It was such a foreign concept. I'd look at a blank canvas and think, I'd rather have a 20-page paper that I had to research and draft than this blank canvas. But I was left with all of these art supplies from the class. And I remember one day after work thinking, "Let's just get rid of all of these supplies."I figured I'd just use up all of the paint. You know, just grab a glass of wine, have fun and just paint. But I remember how it felt when I was painting. It was like all of my stress went away. I felt really comfortable and free. I remember thinking, "This is really cool!" I thought this will be my new hobby.I'd paint every day after I came home from Microsoft. My mentality was nobody is going to see this. I'm not selling this, I don't care if no one likes it. It was therapy for me. But then I ended up posting a couple of things on Facebook for fun. You know, like, "Look at me and what I'm doodling." Then people started asking where they could buy it. I couldn't believe it. So I started doing requests. I started selling them here and there.Do you see yourself dancing and painting for awhile?Yes, I can't imagine giving one up. When I get older, I'm not going to be able to do hip-hop dance, but I will be able to paint and do art. For now, I love being here and helping the kids learn about dance. I wanted my work to matter. I wanted my work to inspire, to give life. I want kids to have a voice, I want them to be able to express themselves no matter what kind of background they come from. I want them to have fun, feel good about their bodies, and be in a free environment. And we get that right here.It's hard to look past Chantell Sampson when she walks into the room. Not just because of her neon blue hair, tattoos and hip-hop style, but because she's probably surrounded by a horde of little hip-hop dancers.This pied piper of hip-hop at Gasper's School of Dance in Fargo once worked in corporate America until the day she realized she needed to follow her passions. In her four short years at Gasper's, she's helped build the hip-hop program from seven students to nearly 100, which includes the award-winning Gasper's Hip Hop Troupe.When she's not dancing, she's pursuing another passion: painting.How did your career begin?I graduated from Concordia in 2010 and right after that, I got an event job at Microsoft in the marketing department and I loved it. I did a multimillion-dollar event as an intern out in California. I worked with and met some of the executives. It was insane. I loved every second of it.At the end of my internship, my project was done so I had some time and so I started helping a Web development team. When my internship was over, they had a spot open and since I was already trained in, I was offered the position as a Web producer at Microsoft. And at 22, I was dumb not to take it. So I stayed with them for three years. I was also continuing to teach dance part time at Bonnie Haney's.[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_original","fid":"1994774","attributes":{"alt":"Artwork by Chantell Sampson. David Samson / The Forum","class":"media-image","height":"1190","title":"Artwork by Chantell Sampson. David Samson / The Forum","width":"1200"}}]]How did you go from being a Web developer and part-time artist/dance teacher to making them your career?I really loved Microsoft, but the job just wasn't for me. It wasn't a good fit. I started to think about moving to Colorado, just thinking about starting over. So I left Bonnie's thinking I'd be moving, and then I ran into Matt (Gasper, of Gasper's School of Dance) and he asked me what I was doing and wondered if I could teach for them. He talked me into teaching just a couple of classes, but I was still planning on moving. He asked me why I was moving. He said, "The kids love you, I love you. Is there any way you can stay?" I told him I needed something to do during the day. I wasn't going to be working at Microsoft and I needed to pay my student loans. So he suggested in addition to teaching that I become his business manager. He had said, "It's going to be tough. I expect a lot." And I said, "Bring it on, I come from corporate! Whatever you got, I'm here!" It takes a lot to run a studio. I'm his right-hand man, and I love that!That was quite a leap. Were you scared?I went from full benefits and making a crazy amount of money for my age to something where I was making less than half, with no benefits. It was a huge risk. But I knew that if I still ended up moving in a year, I could still say I had the experience of running a dance studio, which is what I dreamed about doing as a kid. I knew even if I had to live on ramen, I needed to do this. I've been here four years and I love it. We've gone from one class that Matt taught to seven and they're full. It's incredible. We have the hip-hop troupe that I started. It's a chance for kids who wouldn't normally be able to compete to have that chance, and it also gets Gasper's name out there at basketball games or wherever we'd perform.
What do you love about hip-hop?I love that you can add your own style, flavor and uniqueness. You can express yourself. Any emotion you have, you can dance it out.The kids seem to come alive around you. What do you get from them?I wake up in the morning and say, "I get to go to work today. I get to be with some of my favorite people." Kids really know what life is about. They love life. Every time I'm feeling down and having a bad day, I love coming here because I love hearing about their days and I love how much they make me laugh and the goofiness that comes from kids.How did you start doing your artwork?I was still at Microsoft and I was teaching just a couple of dance classes, but in the summertime when I wasn't teaching dance, I think I was starved for a creative outlet. I took one art class in college and I think I barely passed it. It was such a foreign concept. I'd look at a blank canvas and think, I'd rather have a 20-page paper that I had to research and draft than this blank canvas. But I was left with all of these art supplies from the class. And I remember one day after work thinking, "Let's just get rid of all of these supplies."I figured I'd just use up all of the paint. You know, just grab a glass of wine, have fun and just paint. But I remember how it felt when I was painting. It was like all of my stress went away. I felt really comfortable and free. I remember thinking, "This is really cool!" I thought this will be my new hobby.I'd paint every day after I came home from Microsoft. My mentality was nobody is going to see this. I'm not selling this, I don't care if no one likes it. It was therapy for me. But then I ended up posting a couple of things on Facebook for fun. You know, like, "Look at me and what I'm doodling." Then people started asking where they could buy it. I couldn't believe it. So I started doing requests. I started selling them here and there.Do you see yourself dancing and painting for awhile?Yes, I can't imagine giving one up. When I get older, I'm not going to be able to do hip-hop dance, but I will be able to paint and do art. For now, I love being here and helping the kids learn about dance. I wanted my work to matter. I wanted my work to inspire, to give life. I want kids to have a voice, I want them to be able to express themselves no matter what kind of background they come from. I want them to have fun, feel good about their bodies, and be in a free environment. And we get that right here.
