From watching Michael Jackson videos on YouTube as early as preschool age to attending his first dance workshop with Corpus Christi native Charles Roy at age 6, dancer, choreographer and founder of CC Hip Hop Unit Anthony Milan has known that chasing the feeling he found through dance was essential.
Fresh off his team’s appearance at the World of Dance Summit, Milan auditioned for and earned a spot on the San Antonio Spurs’ dance and cheer team, the Hype Squad, becoming one of its newest members for the upcoming NBA season. Representing his hometown both near and far, the 18-year-old shares the motivation behind founding CC Hip Hop Unit, the importance of nurturing young, local talent and more.
KYLIE COOPER: How would you describe your journey from a young dancer to founding CC Hip Hop Unit?
ANTHONY MILAN: Growing up in Corpus Christi, I loved dance so much that in high school I couldn’t stop thinking about what it would be like to have a real hip-hop team. I became the first student at my school to start a hip-hop halftime performance club, and even through all the trials and tribulations that came with building something from the ground up, I stayed committed to the vision. That club eventually grew into the hip-hop unit, a traveling competitive team that’s competed beyond South Texas, including the World of Dance Summit. In South Texas, especially Corpus Christi, there aren’t many opportunities for dancers interested in commercial dance or the industry side of hip hop, so creating CC Hip Hop Unit became about proving that talented dancers here deserve the same training, experiences and opportunities as dancers in bigger cities.
COOPER: What made you decide this community needed a competitive hip-hop team in the first place?
MILAN: I’ve always believed Corpus Christi had more competitive dancers than people gave it credit for. I’m a naturally competitive person myself, and growing up in different dance environments made me realize I couldn’t be the only one thinking bigger. I knew there had to be other dancers my age who wanted to train harder; perform at a higher level; and compete against the best instead of settling for what was available locally. That’s what made me feel like Corpus didn’t just need a competitive hip-hop team; it was already full of people waiting for one to exist.
COOPER: This summer, your team became the first group from the Coastal Bend to qualify for the World of Dance Summit. What did that moment mean to you, knowing you were representing both your team and your community?
MILAN: It felt like a huge win and a really surreal realization. I was honestly shocked it hadn’t happened before because Corpus Christi has had so much incredible talent for years. More than anything, it made me proud to show that dancers from South Texas deserve to be on those stages too. I hope it proves that where you’re from doesn’t determine how far you can go, and that our team opened the door for more dancers and studios from Corpus to believe those opportunities are within reach. Representing our city on a stage like that was something I’ll never take for granted.
COOPER: What did you take away from your experience at World of Dance?
MILAN: A lot of the dance industry is built around reacting in the moment, but World of Dance taught our team the importance of slowing down and thinking with intention. It challenged every dancer to step outside of the comfort zones they didn’t even realize they were holding on to, whether that was performance quality, confidence, creativity or simply trusting themselves on stage. Competing alongside some of the best teams pushed us to raise our own standards and realize how much bigger the dance world really is.
It completely shifted the way we approach training, rehearsals and even the way we support one another as a team. Looking back, it was one of those defining experiences that completely changed our perspective, and it’s something we’ll always carry with us every time we step into a studio or onto a stage.
COOPER: How has becoming a mentor at such a young age changed the way you think about success?
MILAN: Being so young but also leading others near my age with the same passion is more of a calling than a responsibility. Helping others puts me out of my own aspect, and it’s intimate moments like muscle memory kicking in mid-practice or my dancers visibly feeling better in their body at practice. Becoming a mentor has shown me that the small wins each and every day that people don’t see then continue to build up for big moments that people do see—and honestly, the success feels better.
COOPER: Dance isn’t always viewed as a traditional career path, especially in smaller communities. What has it taken to build credibility for yourself and for hip-hop dance here in Corpus Christi?
MILAN: It definitely took consistency more than anything. I had to keep showing up, putting on quality work and proving that hip-hop deserves the same respect as any other style of dance or sport. Once people started seeing our dancers grow, our accomplishments stack up and our city represented on bigger stages, the conversation slowly shifted from “Is this real?” to “What’s next?”
COOPER: Many people leave home to pursue opportunities in the arts, but you’ve chosen to invest in your hometown. Why was it important to build something here first?
MILAN: I’ve always believed talent isn’t the problem here; opportunity is. I could’ve waited until I left to chase my dreams, but I wanted the next generation to know they didn’t have to leave first just to feel seen. If Corpus Christi can become a city that develops artists instead of losing them, then we’ve already changed the story.
COOPER: What’s one moment that reminded you why you started CC Hip Hop Unit in the first place?
MILAN: Honestly, it’s never just one big competition moment. It’s those random practices where I look around and see dancers who were once shy leading counts, hyping each other up and believing in themselves in a way they never did before. That’s when I remember this team was always about building people first and performers second.
COOPER: When someone watches your team perform, what do you hope they see beyond the choreography?
MILAN: I hope they see confidence that’s earned, not acted. Every routine has personalities, stories and hours of work behind it, so I want people to walk away remembering how the performance made them feel instead of just what moves we did. If they leave inspired to create something of their own, then we’ve done our job.
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Cooper: You recently earned your place on the San Antonio Spurs’ Hype Squad. How was that experience, and how are you feeling about this new chapter in your career?
Milan: I’m beyond excited to start this next chapter with the Spurs, but don’t worry, my city is still stuck with me. Every opportunity I’ve been given has my city’s fingerprints all over it, and I never want to be the kind of person who only comes home when there’s something to celebrate. The auditions were a whole experience in itself, being a rookie, soaking up every bit of advice from the staff and veterans who were so generous with their time, and honestly just finding joy in making it through each day and getting a little better than I was the day before. I want my success to open doors for the next kid who thinks their dream is “too big” or “out of reach.” The greatest thing you can do with a blessing is become someone else’s blessing.
COOPER: What’s your current obsession outside of dance? Any local favorites?
MILAN: My local favorite as of right now is Peoples Street; it’s the mini L.A. of Corpus, and all of the niche online personalities go there. I always have the time of my life on this street!
Contact: @anthonyymilann
