Keone and Mariel Madrid are stepping into the spotlight, although the San Diegans already are celebrities in dance circles.
The married couple, who perform and choreograph as Keone & Mari, will compete on NBC's new "World of Dance" series debuting May 30.
Imagine a dance version of "American Idol." This competition dangles a $1 million prize and showcases a trio of celebrity judges: Jennifer Lopez (who doubles as executive producer), Derek Hough and NE-YO, along with host Jenna Dewan Tatum.
It also features dance forms you may never have heard of, such as locking, popping and krump, and single performers as well as troupes, including the 20-member Boys of Temecula.
But back to Keone & Mari. The urban dance duo caused an online sensation when they starred in Justin Bieber's "Love Yourself" music video — dancing on, and in, a bed. The video has attracted nearly 1.2 billion views on YouTube.
They also choreographed a music video of Flying Lotus' "Never Catch Me" with rapper Kendrick Lamar that was nominated for an MTV video music award.
The couple didn't meet until after both were offered a teaching job in Norway that was promised to whoever responded first. Keone, who both danced and taught with Future Shock and Culture Shock San Diego, replied before Mariel and got the job.
When their dance paths later crossed, there was an instant attraction but it would be six months before the Carlsbad couple actually choreographed together — and they haven't stopped since.
They have created routines for TV's "So You Think You Can Dance" and "Dancing With the Stars," appeared on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" and even on a Times Square billboard.
The couple's true passion, though, is to tell stories via dance. Hence, they are creating a dance novel — a book in which tales are told through movement, expressions and music.
Their project's GoFundMe campaign exceeded its $45,000 goal by $12,000 as Keone & Mari continue to create new chapters.
"The opportunity to impact people's lives will always taste so much sweeter than a viral video or the biggest TV show," notes Keone. "And that's what really continues to drive us today."
Back to the future: Among graduates at San Diego City College Friday will be one very familiar figure — the school's former president, Terry Burgess.
Burgess led the college from 2001-2013. Shortly after retiring, however, he decided to enroll in City College to earn an associate degree in Spanish.
"I've always wanted to learn Spanish, and retirement provided me with the time to pursue it," said Burgess, 69.
He and his wife plan to move to Latin America and, although he has a college bachelor's degree, master's degree and two doctoral degrees, he wasn't fluent in Spanish.
He described the younger students as welcoming even if some didn't understand references he made to the 1960s and 1970s.
Burgess, who will graduate with high honors and a GPA between 3.75 and 3.99, is hardly the oldest of the 500 expected to walk in Friday's 5 p.m. commencement service. One fellow grad is age 84.
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