“9-1-1’”s Ryan Guzman Shares Tribute to tWitch Alongside Rare Dancing Video: 'Your Spirit Is Still Present'

Guzman, 36, is learning to rediscover dance and paid tribute to his late friend and 'Step Up' costar on Instagram

Ryan Guzman is finding healing in dance.

The 9-1-1 actor posted a video of himself freestyle dancing in his living room on Instagram on May 5, and he reflected on how he’s rediscovering his love of dance in honor of his late friend, Stephen “tWitch” Boss.

“Thank you, Twitch! You changed my life without getting the proper feedback from me,” Guzman, 36, began the caption of his post as he looked back on his friendship with the dancer, who died by suicide at age 40 in December 2022.

“I've felt imposter syndrome to the umpteenth degree for calling you a brother but not being more involved in your life, and to that fact, you've changed the definition of connection for me," he continued. "Now, I aim to connect deep with those I love. Showing all my sides and not just the bright ones. I wouldn't have made that leap without you. I know your spirit is still present, and your essence still lives on in the hearts of many.”

Related: Allison Holker Says It's 'Been a Challenging Year' but She Wants to 'Celebrate Life' for Husband tWitch

Guzman, who now stars as Eddie Diaz on 9-1-1, was candid in the caption as he reflected on his time in the Step Up franchise, where he met and worked alongside tWitch on Step Up Revolution (2012) and Step Up: All In (2014).

“Quick confession... Since Step Up, I've been so afraid to dance. For fear of being judged on the principle, I played a professional dancer in a movie and was held to a standard of dance I couldn't uphold,” he wrote.

“It was Twitches voice in my head that reminded me to get out of my head and dance for the fun of it. Laugh at yourself. Be goofy. Mess up. But most of all, be vulnerable and feel the music. In your honor Twitch, I danced for the first time in a long time n let go of the fear,” he continued, concluding the caption with a message to the dancer. ”God bless you, brother 🙏🏽.”

Related: Cat Deeley Remembers SYTYCD Colleague Stephen 'tWitch' Boss as a 'Charming, Gentle Giant' (Exclusive)

In the year and a half since tWitch's death, dance has been an outlet and a catharsis for many of his loved ones in their healing process.

For his wife, Allison Holker, dance didn't come back into her life for months after the loss, and she admitted to being "overwhelmed with so many emotions" when she danced for the first time without him.

"I was both scared and excited. But dance has always been there for me... even now and I am so grateful for that," she wrote on Instagram in August 2023, as she shared a video dancing with a friend. "Truly felt so good to dance again."

Related: Allison Holker Says It's 'Been a Challenging Year' but She Wants to 'Celebrate Life' for Husband tWitch

Earlier, Holker, 36, had opened up to PEOPLE about dancing with her late husband, which is how they met while on So You Think You Can Dance in 2010. "Dancing with him was so special. He was wonderful," she said in May, five months after his death.

At that point, she hadn't danced yet, but admitted, "I know that I will get there. I will."

"That will probably be, honestly, my last step into healing," she continued. "The healing will be going on forever. I know that's gonna be a big step for me, but I'll get there."

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Since then, dancing has become a healing practice for Holker and her children, Weslie, 15, Zaia, 3, and Maddox, 7, who she shares with tWitch.

"Dancing with my children, it has been so much fun. They're so adorable," she said on The Jennifer Hudson Show in March. "It's fun to have dance as a way for us to connect and express all of these emotions together."

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