How choreographer Lenny DeLa Pena won the respect he yearned for
The veteran dancer only wanted one person's approval — his brother's
Lenny DeLa Pena, better known as Lenny Len, is used to leaving an impression on people. If he's not dancing, they likely notice the moustache and tattoos first; but when he's in motion — which is often — it's his graceful, sometimes forceful footwork that leaves jaws hanging open. The Toronto-based choreographer, video director and founder of FLAVORSHOP moved to the city from the Bay Area, where the street life threatened to swallow up his promising future. But moving to Canada opened up a host of opportunities — DeLa Pena has become the go-to figure for numerous stars of the international music scene, from Rihanna to Ludacris to Melanie Fiona.
In this video, DeLa Pena tells the story of his tumultuous early life, and how social divisions that separated him from a family member were toppled by the power of dance.