Freestyle, Culture, Community

Danny Miller, USA

Danny Miller is the co-founder of Foreign, a Freestyle Soccer event and clothing label focused on organizing global freestyle competitions. His photos were taken at the Secret Walls headquarters in Los Angeles during Foreign Jam IV — their international freestyle competition that brought together some of the best freestylers from across the USA and around the globe.

My name is Danny Miller, I'm the co-founder of Foreign alongside Fahed Al Breiki. Foreign is a Freestyle Soccer event and clothing label, primarily focusing on organizing international freestyle competitions. 

I was born in Kenya, but lived in Sudan (it became South Sudan due to the civil war while I was living there) and Tanzania. My parents were missionaries so we traveled around quite a bit while I was growing up. Going to a boarding school with lots of international students at a young age, starting at 7th grade, definitely impacted my love of the game. 

Soccer in all its forms is still a huge part of my life, from playing pickup in San Diego, to my current full time job working in soccer marketing. I also worked for several pro teams in the US in the past, including the Portland Timbers (MLS) and Portland Thorns (NWSL) simultaneously, and then the San Diego Loyal (USL Championship) before they folded. 

What has your soccer journey been like up until now? 

I have played soccer my whole life but started freestyling in the early 2000s while I was living in Africa after finding the early videos on a school computer of Ronaldinho and Touzani (a legendary freestyler, who many consider to be one of the "godfathers" of freestyle). Touzani was one of the first to land a lot of tricks that people thought couldn't be done, which really opened up the pathway of what is possible within freestyle. 

Growing up overseas and moving a lot, soccer has always been the universal language for me from an early age. I moved every 3-4 years and I went to boarding school throughout 7th, 8th, and 9th grade at a school called Rift Valley Academy (RVA) in Kenya. Wherever we moved, the second I brought a ball out, I found a new community of friends and a culture to be involved in. 

I will always love soccer, but to me freestyle is something truly special within the broader soccer community. It is the purest form of self expression and creativity with a soccer ball, and brings people together in truly unique and special ways. The sense of community is really strong. 

What did you try to show with the photos? Was there any wider meaning with the photos?

The photos were taken in Los Angeles at the Secret Walls headquarters at our last international freestyle competition, Foreign Jam IV. Secret Walls is an experiential art brand based in Los Angeles that brings together creatives and artists for large scale art battles (murals), though they hold competitions and events worldwide. 

The people featured are some of the best freestylers across the United States and across the globe. We prioritize making our events an open invitation and not limiting it to just US citizens. Our past two events have featured freestylers from over 10 different countries, all coming together to compete and participate in the growing freestyle culture. 

We wanted to capture the raw and authentic energy at the event. My favorite photo is the hugging photo between Pat Shaw, who won the competition, and Kevin Medina, the runner up, because to me it shows what this community is all about. It is about creating a community and a supportive culture, not just competing and winning. Like with any sport, athletes want to win and push themselves to the highest level, but in freestyle, the community aspect is equally important, and in the end it's all love between everyone. We all want the scene to grow and improve. 

Pat Shaw has a really cool story. His first ever competition was the first Foreign Jam in Chicago several years ago while he was in high school. Since then, he has really accelerated and has become one of the best freestylers in the world. For him to come back to Foreign Jam IV in LA and win this time was a cool full circle moment for us, and for him.

What impact has Foreign Jam had on you and your community?

Foreign Jam has become something really special to the freestyle community in the US. It has become something people look forward to, not just for the event itself, but as a way to meet online friends for the first time or reconnect with people you have known for years. Again, it is all about the community and the culture surrounding it. 

I want to see how far we can take this thing. To be honest, it has already become more than we imagined back when we first started. I just want to keep going. 

What does soccer and freestyle mean to you and your community? 

Soccer and freestyle are inseparable in my opinion. As long as there is soccer, there will be freestyle, and a freestyle community. Seeing how both these sports give other people what they have given me through the sense of community means the world. 

Soccer will always be a part of my life, my friendships, my relationships, and a way for me to create and connect with people.

What is the future for soccer and freestyle in the USA? What would you like to change?

The future of soccer and freestyle in the US is very bright. Just look at what is ahead in the coming years, including the Men's World Cup in 2026, the growth of domestic leagues including the NWSL, and the involvement of female freestylers. Soccer, in all its forms, including freestyle, is truly open to anyone, and I want to see it continue to open doors for people. 

I want to see it continue to grow as a sport and community. I love that many people are starting to make a living from doing shows, performances, and brand deals, but I want the community and culture of it to live on beyond that and keep the scene alive. That is a big part of why we started Foreign.