From writing code as a software engineer to writing books as an author, from the rhythmic pulse of dance floors to martial arts mats and meditative stillness, follow me on my journey that is everything but straightforward.
1. From Code to Choreography
My first professional steps had nothing to do with the arts at all. Taking after my father, I learned software development in school and became a IT engineer. After only four years, I transitioned away from this lonesome field in which your only friend is the screen to follow a creative calling. But the logical lens I developed during my programming days remains deeply ingrained. And I am eternally grateful for that. Now, I perceive the world through a unique fusion of artistry and structured logic.
For those who are interested, here is the nitty-gritty of my engineering career: I learned programming and logic at HTBLA Salzburg and worked in this field for four and a half years. My primary programming languages were C++, Java and a little bit of C#. I wrote applications for logistics and time management at a company called MECS. I am also decent with PHP, Javascript, HTML and CSS. But, I won’t go back into software development.
2. A martial artist from childhood.
My introduction to discipline (or getting shit done – as I prefer to call it) began on the mats of Judo, in my teen years. What started as a fun hobby evolved into a competitive pursuit, with a few national-level youth accolades to my name. But as the competitive nature of the sport started to dominate, my appreciation of it faded. Yet, the discipline and physicality rooted themselves deep within. Decades later, I felt pull of martial arts again and stepped back into it with a fresh perspective. I first came across Kickboxing and later Taiji Quan, Wing Tsun and Eskrima, but sadly time constraints shorted those journeys. I currently participate in a teacher training at the International Lau Family Hung Kuen Kung Fu Academy in Salzburg.
3. FraGue’s Dance Evolution
The rhythm first found me in 1999 at Tanzschule Seifert in Salzburg. Ballroom dancing was my first love, and I even tried my hand at some competitions. But the real transformation came when I tried a breaking class. The acrobatic moves and the street style were irresistible. The ballroom took a backseat, almost immediately. An injury once paused my dance journey, pushing me towards hip-hop, house, and krumping. This diversified my dance palette, later leading me to dance in theatre productions with dance troupes like Nobulus and Hungry Sharks.
4. From Passion to Profession: The Rookies at Work Story
2014 was a hallmark year. Alongside Mike Tike and Cosmic, I founded Rookies at Work GmbH, a venture born from our shared passion for breaking. Our flagship event, Circle Industry, soon became the biggest international breaking battle in Austria. Being the agency doing the Red Bull BC One Cyphers in Austria and later Red Bull Dance Your Style Austria added more feathers to our cap. Our repertoire expanded to encompass social media and advertising. But there came a time when I stepped back to prioritize my art. Today, I’ve rejoined the ranks, albeit in a different capacity – speaking as a regular employee instead of a shareholder, ensuring I’m grounded at home for my young daughter and my wife. More about this part of the journey will follow later.
5. An Affair with Fantasy – RPGs and LARPs
Way before dance took over, role-playing games (RPGs) dominated my free time. DSA, Shadowrun, and Vampire: The Masquerade were my gateways to otherworldly realms. LARPs, akin to improv theatre without an audience, followed suit. Organizing a few LARPs, I found my interest for orchestrating stories, a passion that probably sowed the seeds for my theatre and film projects.
6. Telling Stories on Stages and Screens
Alongside my wonderful wife, I’ve crafted multiple pieces for the theatre stage and short films. We used dance and music as the core medium to tell stories, as it is a language capable of expressing emotions and narratives in ways that words can’t. Currently, I am taking a break from creating stage pieces, but there are still some stories to be told. When and how? I don’t know yet.
7. Twirling Torches: Merging Martial Arts with Mesmerizing Moves
Swirling weapons have a meditative charm. Martial weapon flow blends the finesse of dance with martial prowess. This synergy of my twin passions – dance and martial arts – feels like home. And what’s more exhilarating than setting the props aflame? My go-tos for a fiery spectacle are the Nunchucks and the staff, but when not burning, I sometimes indulge in fluid routines with short sticks and knives. Someday, I will also learn rope darts or meteor hammers.
8. Artfeeders – The Quest for Artistic Sustainability
Alongside my better half, I embarked on a mission: founding an association dedicated to the cause of freelance artists. We’re committed to uncovering and imparting methods enabling artists to sustainably monetize their talents without burning out.
The association continues under the name Artfeeders, which was originally the project name of our productions. Since the name perfectly suits the association’s topic, we decided to stick with it.
9. Life’s Most Rewarding Challenge
Today, two roles define me profoundly – being a husband and a father. Navigating these roles, ensuring I’m present, supportive, and nurturing, all while staying true to my essence, is both the most challenging and rewarding endeavor of my life.
Part of this challenge is also staying on top of potentially harmful developments in our society and ensuring I am ready to deal with them if the need to protect the family arises.
10. From Footwork to Footnotes: FraGue’s shift into writing
With the birth of our daughter, the need to be around the family took center stage. The tours, the travel, the on-the-road lifestyle weren’t conducive to the environment I wanted to provide. And thus, pivoting from the stage’s spotlight to the soft glow of my laptop was the correct step, when life presented another opportunity. I began to craft sentences and paragraphs instead of steps and choreographies. As I had already run a blog before that, the transition was not a hard one.
I published Dance Smart, together with Da Bürgermasta, Performance Skills, and The Dance Business Manual. These a glimpse into my view of the art that defined me. Already stepping into this field, the opportunity to join the editorial team of one of the biggest brands in dance came up, and I took the leap of faith into yet uncharted territory. Somehow it worked.
I realized that stories, like dance routines, can inspire and educate. While the pivot was initially due to the circumstances, it made me appreciate the beauty of expressing through words. My daughter’s giggles while hearing some of my hilarious rhymes or her joyous dances that never follow the guidance I offer reassured me – sometimes, life’s unforeseen pivots lead to the most harmonious tunes.
Speaking about tunes, there’s another one incoming.
11. Sonic Sketches: Drawing Tunes from a Dancer’s Heart
When I was young, I played a little bit guitar and the keys. Sadly, I didn’t persist. But the allure of music is still too potent to resist. The Cajon resonates with my rhythms, and my attempts with the guitar and Ableton Live bring joy. Under the moniker Moskin Tribe, I’ve embarked on a musical voyage. While I did not release much, there are some pieces you can listen to below.
And sometimes, I play the supporting act, mixing and mastering the superior musical compositions of my wife.
12. Raw Realities: FraGue is chasing the Unadulterated Truth
Remember ‘The Matrix’? I’ve always been a Red Pill kind of person. I have an insatiable hunger to confront unsettling realities over comforting delusions. This journey of discovery means I’ve often revisited and reshaped my beliefs. When I stand by an opinion, know that I thought it through.
I also think speaking the truth is more important than not offending people and that being offended is a choice. Most of the time, being offended is a bad choice.
But I still have a sense of humour and can laugh about a good meme.
13. Inner Echelons: Navigating Meditation and the Mysteries of Qi Gong
The frenetic pace of parenthood made me cherish the serenity of meditation. Taming my restless mind turned out to be a prerequisite to functioning and staying on top of my responsibilities. My spiritual quest and search for more ways to stay in shape introduced me to Qigong, which is currently the biggest thing in my life after my family. Since January 2024, I have been teaching what I learned on my Qi Gong journey.
14. Exploring Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence is one of the major developments of our generation. And it goes way differently than most of us imagined. Very few people expected AI to become a competitor in the creative field first. But it did. While the moral and ethical concerns around the topic are fully valid, and I dislike that I must compete with bots and LLMs, pretending that it is not happening would be naive. Imho, we are beyond the point of no return.
Understanding what AI is, how it does what it does, and how to utilize it ethically is probably the most important skill to stay relevant in tomorrow’s job market. It might not be the most important thing for me personally, as my skill set can carry me easily for the rest of my days. I am still dedicated to learn, as the tech is highly interesting, and I want my daughter to be prepared for the world that’s to come.
This is, in short, my story until today. But there’s more to come.