Pure World of Dance Season 1 Contestant Profile: Ian Eastwood and the Young Lions

I think we’ve already discussed my love for the cutie Ian Eastwood, but who is this guy and where did he come from? I just love his style and I think NeYo nailed it when he said that he is like a “taller, whiter, Bruno Mars”…and I love me some Bruno Mars.

Ian went to a convention at age 10 and met Nappytabs…and at first they weren’t impressed, but he won them over by the end of the convention. But even earlier than that, as he says in his website’s bio, he knew he wanted to dance:

When N’sync was getting big I’d see them on award shows and try and mimic them with my friends. We’d make a routine, get the boombox out (yes a boom box a.k.a. the thing that played songs from a circular disk as well as radio.) and show my parents. Eventually my parents thought – “hey, our boy isn’t too bad” so they threw me in my first dance class the week of Halloween. I remember it was Halloween because my teacher Mr. Sydney wore a rainbow afro wig and taught the choreography from “Thriller”. When I walked out of the class my Ma asked me what I thought and I said, “Mama I wanna do this for the rest of my life.”

Ian was 13 when Youtube came along and he started putting up videos and gathering a following. But his career really got started at age 16 when he found himself traveling all over the world teaching dance and choreographing for a variety of artists. Before you know it, “Young Lions” was created by his family which represented “Yound and hungry” youth. His bio says there is even a clothing line!!

I could go on, but it’s easiest for you to visit his website and read all about him. 🙂

Here’s his latest, I think, and appropriately enough it’s set to Bruno Mars “24k Magic” – Love it!

I love all the screaming girls in this one – imagine what a good showing on WoD will do for him!

And, finally, here’s their performance for the qualifiers of WoD, but shot and edited by Ian himself. He likes creative control. He reminds of Derek a good bit, with the directing, etc.

He’s getting some media as well; here’s an interview Vogue posted a while ago with Access Hollywood Live.

Ian Eastwood Youtube
Ian Eastwood Twitter
Ian Eastwood Instagram