Joshua Cesan

But when the founder of Identity Dance Company (IDCO), one of Aotearoa’s most successful hip-hop dance companies, takes a moment to look at his life through the eyes of his 10-year-old self, he realises he has reached milestones he could never have dreamed of.

“Waking up every day excited and inspired to go to work’ is something I never take for granted,” he says. “I feel incredibly grateful every day that I get to live this life and do what I love.”

For over a decade, Cesan has been travelling the world performing, competing, teaching and choreographing hip hop dance at the highest level. He established IDCO in 2014 and led the company to multiple gold, silver and bronze medals at the World Hip Hop Championship, making history as the first New Zealand team to win the prestigious World of Dance Championships.

“My team at IDCO continues to inspire me every day,” he says. “Their creativity constantly motivates me to keep striving for more and to always outdo ourselves.”

Teaching and sharing knowledge is at the heart of everything Cesan does, and he is grateful to have taught in world-class dance studios in over 15 countries and counting.

“Seeing my students grow and thrive is one of the greatest joys – watching their hard work pay off and witnessing those lightbulb moments in the studio when everything clicks,” he says.

A lifelong learner himself, Cesan says he loves absorbing information and exploring different perspectives, and credits this open-minded curiosity as directly feeding into his artistry and creativity.

Cesan’s own “lightbulb” moment as a student came during his time studying a Bachelor of Dance Studies at the University of Auckland.

“It opened my eyes to the true depth of dance, movement and choreography,” he says. “Before starting my studies, I had only scratched the surface of what dance could be.”

He credits his tutors for allowing him to expand his perspective and imagination.
“Learning from such brilliant creative minds pushed me to think differently, approach choreography in new ways and ultimately embrace being unique as an artist.”

It was this foundation of knowledge and support from his tutors that also helped him overcome one of the greatest challenges he’s encountered in his career as a creative – the trap of comparison.

“Everything shifted for me as a choreographer and artist when I stopped seeking validation and started honouring what felt authentic to me,” he says. “The moment I fully committed to my own voice and path, I unlocked a level of creativity and connection that felt incredibly special – both for myself and for the people experiencing my work.”

As he looks to the future, Cesan has big personal and professional plans, including spending as much time with his family as he can within his busy schedule.

“Family is everything to me,” he says. “All of my career achievements mean nothing if I can’t share them with the people I love most.”

He’s also looking to take IDCO shows around the world, while also building a dedicated hub for the company here in Aotearoa – “a space for dance, music and creativity”.

All of it to make that 10 year-old version of himself proud.

“I always dreamed of traveling the world to share my craft, continuing to compete, coach and choreograph,” he says. “Since leaving university that dream has skyrocketed into reality – and now I’m doing all of those things on a scale even bigger and better than I ever imagined.”