030 | Niako (Legion X) – A conversation about roots, responsibility and truly seeing one another

In this episode of the Offstage Podcast, recorded as part of our summer special series "Summer of Hip Hop," I had a very special guest: Niako, born Lamarre Michaël. This one came together completely spontaneously – we were both at the camp, so we used the time. And it turned into one of the deepest conversations of the series. Niako has been dancing since 1998 and is one of the most respected voices in international Hip Hop culture. But instead of running through his résumé, I wanted to explore his landscape. He shares how, as a shy kid, he stood "in the back row," and how dance was what taught him to stand up for himself – from music, to the graffiti that gave him his name, to breaking. We talk about the moment he chose dance against his mother's will, about a broken hand that forced him to reinvent himself, and about his conviction that he "made his name in defeat." We get into self-love and self-confidence, which Niako speaks about openly – including his own path through bodywork and psychotherapy – and how he now uses dance as a tool to truly see people: classes that start with music and end in something close to group therapy. He remembers the pioneer Marjorie Smart, who told him to "use his voice and stand for the culture," talks about his work with "Hip Hop for Hope" in the Philippines, about DJing, and about who he is offstage – a self-confessed geek. A conversation about attitude, responsibility and the power of real connection. Tune in! More about Niako Instagram: @niakolegionx.official Hyper Week (his camp in Italy) More about Mark Gerowski / All about me Web: markgerowski.de Mail: [email protected] Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube – Apple Podcast & Spotify: Offstage Podcast