Julian (he/him) was born and raised on Oahu, Hawai’i, where swimming is a way of life. However, aquatic comfort did not come immediately to Julian. It took classes at three different swim schools and many attempts to overcome an intense fear of the water. Things finally clicked around the age of six - and Julian was off to the races, literally! He went on to spend years training, competing, and playing water polo at the Santa Clara Swim Club’s Hawaii branch at the American Renaissance Academy. After graduating from the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa in 2024 with a BA in Communication and a BA in Dance, Julian moved to New York in pursuit of his dreams as a professional dancer. He is currently in his first season as a company member with Graham 2 at the Martha Graham Center of Contemporary Dance. While away from his ocean-home in the Pacific, he now uses his passion for the water to teach children how to swim and overcome their fears just as he once did.