Adrian “DJ Dubz” Wiltshire

Adrian Wiltshire was one of my first visions of a all around great dancer. He was one year ahead of me in the high school dance department at Laguardia high school. At that time he was also a student at the School of American Ballet. I would watch Adrian in ballet class all the time! He was phenomenal. Adrian had a beautiful technique and amazing jumps. It seemed too easy. I found out why one day after school… I had the pleasure of watching an Amountboyz rehearsal. The Amountboyz is an excellent group of hip hop dancers and artists. Adrian is one of the founders along with Anthony Antboogie Rue. Adrian was so musical and dynamic! He was clean…a natural. His moves always had a lot of unexpected twists. This great mix of styles made Adrian a complete dancer. I wanted to move like that! He was amazing… I mean…what can’t this guy do?

Born and bred in Brooklyn, NY, Adrian “DJ Dubz” Wiltshire has been in the entertainment industry for over 10 years. Beginning his journey as a choreographer, he’s toured the world with well-known artists such as The Black-Eyed Peas, Janelle Monae, Ryan Leslie, Jennifer Hudson, Diddy, Ne-Yo, Sade, Mariah Carey and many more. His silver screen resume includes Dreamgirls, Stomp the Yard 1 & 2, Honey, Step Up 3D and This Is the End. Additionally, he choreographed the MTV VMA nominee for Best Choreography, That Power by will.i.am and the Oscar-nominated performance with Pharrell Williams for Happy.

The evolution of his DJ skills has led to musical arrangement, direction and production. His latest accomplishments include the Cheryl Cole International tour and co-producing her breakdown for the X-Factor performance, as well as DJing for Mike Posner on Justin Beiber’s Believe Tour and Ke$ha’s Warrior Tour. Moreover, he’s executive produced, composed and assisted in the musical direction and arrangement of Ceelo’s Vegas show Loberace, Selena Gomez’s Stars Dance World Tour, and the Soul Train Awards Opening Medleys (2010-2014). DJ Dubz has spun at some of the biggest venues in NYC, LA and worldwide.

DJ Dubz is truly one-of-a-kind. There is no other DJ who can spin the hottest and classic tunes, jump down to the crowd and bust a move, provide musical direction and choreography to an artist, as well as produce an indescribable concert experience. He’s a modern day Renaissance man that takes the word entertainment to levels that are unimaginable. With his style and explosive energy, Dubz does more than just set the tone for an event; he’s the foundation for an amazing experience. He’s not afraid to connect with the audience. His passion for his craft transcends beyond creative scratching techniques, he’s there to design a memory that leaves fans talking for years.

Adrian was a big inspiration for me in those days…today he continues to be the amazing artist that I looked up to. I am always impressed…his drive and passion inspires me to also push forward. I have amazing friends. Thank you Adrian for your inspiration.

When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up? Did you always want to do what you’re doing now?

When i was little i really wanted to be a doctor or lawyer, then that quickly changed to fireman and policeman. I was confused as a little kid. But i was already bouncing around the house at the age of 2 my mom would say, and then dance school was the option my mom chose to keep me still and tire me out… little did she know that I was destine to become a dancer …. As I got older yes I knew what I am doing now is what I wanted to do … well let me rephrase… dance wise yes because my world have come together and I am doing more than I expected. But as I grew so did my visions.

Your Favorites?

I absolutely love to bowl it makes me feel high on life, i also love to cook , going to the movies… I go by my self all the time. I love to style my self, so we can include shopping, dancing and producing, play video games, am I allowed to say have sex .. hahahaha … and of recently my son I love and my favorite thing in the world is spend time with my son

Favorite Things to eat?

Japanese food, Sushi, Soul food, spanish food (empanada). My grandma´s food oh yes, sour worms pistachios, pecans and walnuts, grill cheese, mangos, pomegranate, pineapples, watermelon (so black).

Favorite Books?

The alchemist, The secret,

Favorite Movies?

Wow I have so many. Coming to America, The last dragon, Bad boys 1 and 2, Seven Pounds, Step Brothers, Transformers Trilogy, 300 Sequal, The matrix trilogy, Anchorman, all The fast and furious, Limitless, The Prestige, anything with Kevin Hart in it and a few other movies.

Favorite Dance Piece or Show/Musical or both?

All of The AmountBoyz Performances, Fela, Hairspray, Rent, Chicago, Phantom of the opera.

I like dancers who…

Who want to use dance as a platform to grow in their careers, but when dancing express their thoughts through their body, who gives me chills when they dance, who are excited no matter what the job is, dancers who can really teach others, and inspire and grown with you.

I am afraid of…

Dying and not seeing my son grow and doing what he wants to do in life and starting his legacy. Anyone close to me passing away esp my mom not going to heaven.

A dance piece should…

Inspire, help create, help you and your views grow, entertain and excite anyone.

Something you like to do other your current job?

Considering its all that I have if its not one of my favorite things. I just like to work in general.

One of the happiest moments in your life?

When my son was born.

One of your most unusual or coolest experiences?

Working with some of the top artist in the game such as Pharrell, Will I am, Black eyed Peas, Sade. Whats cool to me in this aspect is I´ve started as a dancer became a choreographer transitioned into being a DJ and producer and now I have combined all that together into who I am and I am now touring as all of the above.

One of the most embarrassing moments in your professional career?

As a li´l kid my first tap performance was “see you later alligator” and with in the first 5 secs I did a shuffle step and kick my shoe off but I did the whole tap performance with one shoe on and one shoe off ….lol

Second, I was recently working on the voice and I stepped back to take a look at the set they were building me and fell 4 feet off the stage into the camera pit backwards, luckily I wasn’t hurt I had my back pack on and I was layered up… but I broke a $35,000 camera OUCH . But I heard I wasn’t the first to “hit the pit” as they say. Others weren’t so fortunate to walk away from the pit unharmed I will say GOD was with me.

Who has been the most influential person/people in your life? or Career? and why?

Its hard to say because I had no one to really look up to my goal was just to be as amazing so someone can look up to me. I respected all my teachers and took into account all they have done for me ….but it was never one individual or a group of people its was just ME… and I was my own super hero. I will say my mom played a very big role in supporting me and that gave me the ability to never quit …. I can also say I love the people who didn´t think I´d ever make it so they influenced me to go where I am today and get what I want where I am going.

One of the hardest things about your job?

Pleasing everyone, the lack of sleep, the thought of not knowing if you delivered, being wrong, the not knowing how financial stable you will be, and finding the next step or investment.

Do you have any goals you still wish to achieve?

I would love to tour as myself and my own entity, create a new lane in the future for dance and music, just be iconic and well respected.

If you could change one thing in the dance world, what would it be?

I would love for it to be honored and idolized just as any other musician, sports player, artist etc etc is honored and payed, we work just as hard and we don’t reap the benefits as others do. Change how corrupt social media has made dance. I want people to love dance for dance and not to be famous for it, not to mention how corporate America see dance – they see the highlights and not the hard work and real essence of dance, they don´t love it like we do …

The Music world??

This is hard because music is music whether its good or bad and now a days we have less influential artist but if I could change anything about it, it would be to make sure the writers and artist and people behind the music continue to send positive messages ….

If you could change one thing in the REAL world, what would it be?

This may sound Cliche but I want WORLD PEACE.

A question you want to know the answer to:

What will happen when we die, the feeling that we feel now everyday the way we live eat the friends we make, will we ever feel this again, what happens 100000 years from now. What will we all do, who will we know, what happens in the future when this feeling we have now is NO MORE.

A piece of advice for aspiring artists?

Trust in the lord or who ever gives you the energy you need to move forward and do what you do. Do what you love from the heart, inspire yourself before you can and want to inspire others. Never give up, surround your self with positive energy, don’t block your or anyone else’s blessings, be proud no matter what, love thy self and love thy work. Spread love in everything you do.