August 4, 2023

Community Spotlight with LongTTran!

Hey hey dancers!

It has been a while, but we're coming back with a new Community Spotlight, this cozy space where we shine a bit of light on our dear community members. This time, we welcome content creator, dancer, and food lover LongTTran!

[JD] News Article - Community Spotlight on LongTTran - longttranselfie

On the Just Dance team, we love nothing more than a good origin story! And as it turns out? Long's history with music and dancing goes back all the way to high school where he played the saxophone, got into doing spins, cartwheels, and gyros by doing breakdancing and kept on slaying with ballroom dancing for many years.

It's safe to say that Long has a long-term love for dancing! For him it's the perfect way to kick off the day and the whole week with an uplifting experience, and an infectious energy that spreads easily whether it's in real life or through a screen.

And speaking of screens, when was the first time he got his hands on a Just Dance game?

> "I started playing Just Dance 1 on my Wii!  I did not know much about the series at the time, but I remembered having fun with my family during the holidays back then."

A casual start of a connection that has lasted for such a long time! And why? Long admits to loving the creativity of the song selection, the choreography, and the settings behind the songs, but mostly, the accessibility.

> "You do not need past dance experience to get into the game and love it. If you find a song you click with, then chances are you'll stick with the dancing and find yourself getting better, whether you're dancing for fun or wanting to be the best."

[JD] News Article - Community Spotlight on LongTTran - longttranselfie2

It wasn't until 2012 when Long discovered streaming and how people could enjoy watching other people playing live. And when Just Dance 2014 came out? Well, the rest is history! He began a journey that allowed him to live amazing experiences with Just Dance and meeting other members of the community from all over the world.

His Youtube Channel now features more than 300 videos - and he's not stopping anytime soon! His motivation to create content is unstoppable, and we love it.

> "As long as I made at least one or two people feel better about themselves, I was validated in continuing to dance not just for my sake, but for others. (...) My hope is that if people watching me dance end up feeling better than when they first tuned into me, I have done my job."

HOW could you not love that passion!?

Knowing how much he enjoys bringing joy to everyone, we weren't surprised at all when he told us his favorite map is Happy. His favorite coach? A well-known classic from JD22 that he didn't miss the opportunity to cosplay alongside fellow Just Dancer Tijka: P1 from Funk.

[JD] News Article - Community Spotlight on LongTTran - funkcosplay

Of course, Long has nothing but praise for the Just Dance community. He loves the diversity within it, the off-the-charts creativity, and the amazing generosity of a community that puts their best effort forward to have an impact; whether it's doing fundraising campaigns for worthwhile causes or simply spreading positive vibes. However, if there's one thing Long is incredibly thankful for, it is the amazing support the Just Dance community has given to him.

> "Without them, I could not have come as far as I have today.  I always wondered when I would eventually stop dancing or making content altogether.  Thankfully, I have been encouraged over the years to keep dancing and keep being a positive influence for them, so I am not even close to being done."

And honestly? We couldn't be more grateful!

Long has been in the community for a long time, bringing us non-stop happiness and joy. We enjoy his passion, his spirit and his boundless energy. And obviously, we couldn't end this article without letting him share a very special message with you all:

> "Don't ever give up on dancing.  If you enjoy dancing in even the least, then dance!  (...)  Keep shining a light on your corner of the world and let that light grow."

You heard him luvs, keep glowing, serving and slaying no matter what x

Wanna know more about Long Tran? Then don't forget to check out his Instagram, Youtube, TikTok and Threads!

See you on our next Community Spotlight, dancers! As always, you'll find us groovin' in our TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram.