Follow the journey of this dancer, from her professional burnout to her resurrection as a social network sensation.
For modern dancer and rollerblading star Keon Saghari, putting on her skates means finding her balance in more ways than one. After training in ballet and modern dance and performing for a decade, Keon's spirits were low. Thanks in part to the pandemic, she met a particularly active skating community in Venice Beach. With them, she was able to recharge her creativity and regain her enthusiasm.
Her custom neon by yellowpop, "Flowasis", is a symbol of where she feels best. A state of mind where movement has no rules, the sun always shines and you're exactly where you're supposed to be.
Today, brands like Sonic and Outdoor Voices notice her iconic curls and super cool moves. But her dedication proves that being in the right place at the right time isn't enough. We picked up some tips from the rising star and caught up with her to learn more about her return to joy.
Thank you for taking the time to chat with us. You're awesome. No, seriously! We watched the videos. Can you tell our readers how you got into skating and what it means to you?
First of all, thank you! I've been a dancer and performer since I was three years old, so knowing that my art is appreciated by so many people because of my videos is a dream come true. I started skating towards the end of my full-time dance career. I was a concert modern dancer,
touring with companies in
San Francisco, before moving to Los Angeles.
Dance has never been a straight and narrow path for me. I have had to face a lot of adversity and overcome many obstacles to get the opportunities I have had. My love of dance, movement and performance has driven me to never give up. The life of a dancer is not a smooth ride, especially in a field where your body is your instrument and your appearance is on display for criticism and validation.
Photo by @ximeetchart
After working tirelessly for a few years in the commercial dance industry in Los Angeles, while holding down several jobs at once and struggling to make ends meet, I reached a point where the stress and exhaustion of freelancing outweighed the joy I was receiving in return. I was in the midst of an identity crisis, unable to fully grasp who I was if I wasn't an artist or dancer.
Skating entered my life as a way to cope with this transition. I wanted to stay active and engaged in my physicality, but more specifically, I wanted to find a new way to enjoy my body. Skating quickly became a form of movement that challenged me, introduced me to a new community of people, and helped me regain my confidence. My favorite place to be is skating at the beach - being in the warmth of the sun, breathing in the fresh air, and being carried away by the music.
At yellowpop, our goal is to bring joy to people. Maybe we're projecting, but skating and neon have that in common. Do you think there is more joy in skating than in other types of movement?
I think the joy derived from movement varies from person to person. For me, skating healed the wounds of my dance career. I thought I would never dance professionally again, but skating has brought dance back into my life in a way I never expected. The joy I feel when I skate is otherworldly. It is a combination of physical freedom, synchronization with the music and a sense of authenticity. In dance, I often had to look a certain way and be a certain way. In skating, I can be who I really am, there are no rules about how I choose to interpret the movement when I am on wheels.
Speaking of joy. . . Tell us about your neon yellowpop! Where did you hang it? What impact does it have on the mood of your space?
My neon yellowpop is my favorite thing in my house! I have it hanging in my office - creative space. First of all, "Flowasis" is a term I coined with one of my skateboarder friends. It's a combination of "flow" and "oasis". It's a metaphorical land where everyone is welcome, and where who you are is exactly who you're supposed to be. It's when your mind, body, and soul align almost like a trance. You enter your flow state, connect with yourself and do deep work (of any kind). In flowasis, you learn, grow and experience pure joy, and that's why I have it in my creative space. It pushes me to trust myself, look within and go with the flow!
You have such a fun and funky retro style. Where do you get your inspiration? Does the way you dress impact your mood?
I've always loved bright colors, but living in a cold, foggy city like SF didn't allow me to bring out my fashion. When I moved to LA, my wardrobe went from 90% black to almost every color of the rainbow. I fully embraced my unique look and my curly hair. I want the brightness and joy I feel on the inside to reflect on the outside. If I can make even one person smile when I walk by, I've achieved my goal for the day! A lot of my color inspiration comes from candy. I've always had a sweet tooth and candy makes me happy, so this is my way of returning the favor.
It may not be the most common "sport", but skating sounds super physical. What does it take to be a good skater? How often do you train?
As with all sports and physical activities, practice, practice, practice! At the very beginning, I didn't skate often because I would tire quickly and it would manifest itself in lower back and shin pain (I was wobbly and those parts of my body were working too hard). Once I found my balance and started introducing new moves and skating backwards, I would go to the rink and outside in Venice Beach about three times a week and on weekends.
Then when the pandemic hit, I started skating every day. Even though I was only spending 10 minutes in my skates at home, having my skates on my feet helped me quickly build the muscle memory I needed to take it to the next level.
Photo by @jtrav
I also had a lot of inspiration around me. Seeing incredible skaters in my community motivated me to continue training and discover my own style and flow. I am now at a point where I can incorporate my dance into my skates, which allows me to create many interesting movement possibilities.
It is also essential to incorporate some type of alternative strengthening and stretching (I like Pilates and yoga) to keep your joints and muscles healthy while skating. All that being said, find your balance on your skates first, and then start using any other movement methods you know to enhance your experience on wheels.
Gravity is a cruel mistress. Can you give aspiring skaters some tips on how to take the plunge and get started?
The most important thing is the protection and everything you need to feel safe and comfortable. Helmet, wrist guards, knee pads, elbow pads, butt pads, etc. - whatever it takes! Try to use every fall as a learning opportunity. Notice the cause of your fall, identify the part of your body involved and the adjustments you need to make to prevent it from happening again. Sometimes it's as simple as lifting your eyes off the ground or moving your shoulder forward. Sometimes there are several things you need to be aware of, but the more you train and practice this approach to body awareness, the faster you can develop muscle memory.
Thank you for sharing your love of skating with us. Do you have any exciting projects (skating or otherwise) that you would like to share with our readers?
I do have a few exciting projects in the works, but I can't share them yet! The best way to stay in touch is to check out my Instagram @neonkeon or sign up for my newsletter.