The Dance Podcast (Lauren Ritchie)

First introduced to Canada on SYTYCD Season 1, Kevin has danced with today's biggest names like Meghan Trainor, Paul McCartney, and Rasta Thomas. Kevin shares how his dance journey has taken him from Cruise Ships, to Broadway, to World Tours with Cirque Du Soleil. 

This episode is dedicated to the Evolution of You; the wandering, curious soul committed to big dreams and personal growth!

Deirdre Barnes started her career performing in Las Vegas with world renowned entertainment company: Cirque du Soleil in their show Criss Angel “Believe” then went onto to tour the world with some of the most iconic pop stars, like Britney Spears and Justin Bieber. Deirdre opens up about what that initial transition into the professional world was like for her, what she learned from reowned choreographer Wade Robson, and the best thing she took away from both her stage and touring experiences. Since moving to Los Angeles Deirdre has worked extensively in film and TV. She has been featured on Dancing With The Stars, Disney: Descendants, the Ellen Show, Glee, Shake it Up, The Voice, Black Eyed Peas, American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance and multiple award shows. She has also danced alongside artists such as: Nicki Minaj, David Guetta, Nick Jonas, Gwen Stefani, Backstreet Boys, Incubus, Pitbull, Jlo and Gloria Estefan. Deirdre has toured the globe alongside Justin Bieber and was featured in his “Believe” film and dance instructional DVD. Most recently, Deirdre completed a 2 year residency performing alongside Britney Spears in her hit show: “Piece Of Me.”

Have you been hearing it too?! There are some magical, consistent, messages from all of the interviewees that are at the heart of what makes this career (and life!) amazing & successful.

Bree Wasylenko is a well known dancer, choreographer and actress. Bree has created a successful career for herself out in Toronto performing in film and television, Co-Directing Collective Elite Entertainment, creating the Canadian dance convention, Pure Dance, and she now stars on the Family Channels hit show “The Next Step”. Bree shares her incredible advice about auditions, how to accentuate what makes YOU special and other gems she has learned about making it in the dance industry. Enjoy!

What are the best & worst parts of being in a company? What is it like to be the only boy dancer, in the studio and at school? How do you get over the Europe to dance?  Jake Casey shares his thoughts and experiences. Casey was a 2013 NYC Finalist for the Youth American Grand Prix and joined Cincinnati Ballet in 2014 in the Corps de Ballet. In 2015, he choreographed a piece for the Inaugural Cincinnati Ballet Choreography Workshop. During the Summer of 2015, Casey danced at the National Choreographer’s Initiative in Irvine, CA. As a guest teacher and artist, Jake has instructed and danced at institutions all around the country, even virtually with CLI studios!

With twelve years of experience performing around the globe, teaching dance worldwide, and coaching exceptional talent, Gina helps dancers and the dance community recognize that they can be seen, heard, and loved for who they are and what they love to do. From being your own CEO to transitioning with purpose, Gina helps us exude happiness from the inside out! 

Colette began her dance training under Evelyn Kreason at Michigan Ballet Theatre.  Eventually, she completed her Independent Study at the Alvin Ailey School and began choreographing, performing and teaching in NYC, LA and London.  She pursued her MFA Choreography Degree at Roehampton University and co-founded the LA Follies, a company of phenomenal dancers, acrobats, synchronized swimmers, roller skaters, poppers, breakers, ballerinas, tappers, aerialists, fire dancers, ice skaters, aerialists (and sometimes mermaids) that bring arena size magic to Hollywood and Los Angeles events. www.thedancepodcast.com

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Learn more about the Dance Studio Owners Association:

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Moe Brody is at the Hub of Vancouver's dance scene. She has a successful commercial dance career, co-owns Harbour Dance Centre and directs one of the best training programs in the city. Lauren and Moe talk about what your first big move away from home can look like, what it's like getting back into dancing, after taking time away from it, and how you can build a community and reputation that support a fulfilling career.

Colette began her dance training under Evelyn Kreason at Michigan Ballet Theatre.  Eventually, she completed her Independent Study at the Alvin Ailey School and began choreographing, performing and teaching in NYC, LA and London.  She pursued her MFA Choreography Degree at Roehampton University and co-founded the LA Follies, a company of phenomenal dancers, acrobats, synchronized swimmers, roller skaters, poppers, breakers, ballerinas, tappers, aerialists, fire dancers, ice skaters, aerialists (and sometimes mermaids) that bring arena size magic to Hollywood and Los Angeles events. www.thedancepodcast.com

Learn more about the Dance Studio Owners Association:

https://dsoa.com/

https://www.instagram.com/dancestudioownersassociation/

https://www.facebook.com/dancestudioownersassociation/

Emmy Nominated Choreographer, and International tap star Chloé Arnold was discovered at a young age in Washington, DC by the legendary Debbie Allen. A leading lady of tap, Chloé has performed on stages around the globe and her choreography has been featured in over 50 episodes of The Late Late Show With James Corden, including the hit Crosswalk The Musical, Aladdin with Will Smith, Mena Massoud, and Naomi Scott.  Also on hit television shows such as So You Think You Can Dance, Good Morning America, HBO's Black Lady Sketch show, and national commercials/print campaigns for Special K, Macy’s, GAP, Aldo/Refinery 29, and Cantu.  

Chloé’s is the Artistic Director & Founder of Syncopated Ladies, an all-female Tap company that are widely known for viral videos that have accumulated over 50 million views. The most successful being their tribute to Prince and their cover of Beyoncé’s Formation, which Beyoncé shared on all of her social media and then hired Chloé and the Syncopated Ladies to perform at her Ivy Park active wear clothing line launch at TopShop, London. Chloé along with her company performed live on ABC's Good Morning America and have had sold-out concerts in Los Angeles, Dubai, New York City and Washington, DC, receiving rave reviews in The New York Times and more.  

Chloé is also a female entrepreneur that holds a degree from Columbia University. She and her sister co-founded Chloé and Maud Productions and DC Tap Festival, and co-produced the award-winning documentary TAP WORLD with Hollywood Executive Producer Dean Hargrove. 

Other career highlights include winning So You Think You Can Dance: Dance Crew Battle (Season 11), HBO’s The Comeback, recurring role as an Onyx Girl on HBO's Boardwalk Empire, guest performing on America's Got Talent and Dancing With The Stars, a sold-out NY run of her One Woman show My Life. My Diary. My Dance. at La MaMa in New York City, Global Fusion Concert in Dubai, Jacob’s Pillow Dance, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids Easter Bonnet at The Minskoff Theatre, numerous musical productions with Debbie Allen including performing at a star-studded gala hosted by Diddy at the Howard Theatre in Washington, DC.

Rosalynn Miller graduated from Point Park University, Conservatory of Performing Arts, with two dance degrees in 2008.  With a duel concentration in jazz dance and dance pedagogy (the art of teaching dance), Rosalynn, affectionately referred to as Roz by her students and peers, quickly landed teaching jobs at various prestigious dance establishments in the Pittsburgh area.  While in college she was Vice President to the student hip hop dance group “Impulse”, first Hispanic President to the United Student Government at Point Park and maintained an apprenticeship through the COPA department all four years of her education.  She fulfilled her apprenticeship working as a hip hop teacher for an after school dance program at McKees Rocks Middle School.

In an effort to continue her dance education, Roz attends an array of dance teacher conventions, seminars, workshops and classes to better serve her students and help strengthen the local dance community. The Dance Teacher Summit in New York, More Than Just Great Dancing with Misty Lown and Dance Masters of Pennsylvania are just some of the dance teacher functions she regularly attends throughout the year.

Roz is the owner and artistic dance director of Synergy Performing Arts Academy located in Canonsburg, Pa. Her students perform in local parades and community charity events.  The Synergy Dance Company trains and competes at a competitive level. Roz’s choreography has received recognition at both regional and national levels and has received multiple award winning titles. Synergy just celebrated their 10th year anniversary.  

Outside of teaching, Roz judges for local dance competitions and talent shows.  She has judged for Showbiz National Talent Competition and On Stage America dance competition. She is proud to be one of the founding 15 members of More Than Just Great Dancing, “MTJGD”, with Misty Lown, the PA Charter member of MTJGD, and a MTJGD certified Coach .  In 2014 Roz was accepted into Dance Masters of America (Pa chapter 10), Dance Educators of America (Pittsburgh chapter) in 2015, and in 2019 she was awarded “Dance Educator of the Year” by GROOVE dance competition at their Myrtle Beach Nationals.  In July of 2019 she was honored to be on the faculty and present business seminars at the NYC Dance Teacher Summit.  In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and playing with her son, a cancer survivor, Cruz!  

Erin is an online business coach for dance educators and host of the Dance Boss Podcast. She is a Jersey girl all the way, graduated from Montclair State University with a B.F.A. in Dance and received her Masters in Dance Education from New York University. Erin helps dance educators niche down, build an online business, and bring in additional revenue for them and their families. Erin began her coaching journey as a dance education coach, providing resources and training to help dance educators run more successful classrooms. Now Erin helps her fellow dance educators pursue their dreams and start an online business that impacts the masses.  To learn more about Erin visit erindpride.com, and you can hang out with Erin on Instagram and Facebook.

The question asked was "What has surprised you most about Adulthood?". Lauren shares and reflects on navigating this dance career while we all find our feet as Adults! 

From winning the world ballet competition Prix de Lausanne, to hitting the stages with ABT, Miami City Ballet,  SYTYCD, and Broadway’s Newsies Alex Wong has crossed over from ballet companies to tv, film, and live theatre.  Alex speaks about his resistance to dance at a young age because “only girls dance” to being instrumental in the Boys Dance Too viral movement. He shares how his teachers were the most critical part of his ballet success as well as the multiple, often public, injuries that shaped his career and defined how he moves through life as a person, dancer and artist.

Alex can be seen in multiple roles starting in 2011 including the TV series "Smash" directed by Steven Spielberg, "Glee," and as a semi-finalist on "American Idol." On Broadway, he portrayed Sniper in the original cast of "Newsies" and later in "The King and I." In 2014/2015 he landed roles in NBC's "Peter Pan Live!", "Ted 2" and "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" and a co-starring role in the Starz series "Flesh and Bone." Alex also continues to return every season as a reoccurring All-Star on "So You Think You Can Dance."

Christian Vincent is a master teacher and dancer who recently joined the USC Gloria Kaufman School of Dance faculty. He holds a B.F.A from Butler University where he graduated with highest honours, cum laude and a MFA in dance from the University of California. Whether he is dancing for Madonna, or sitting behind the adjudicators table, Christian's powerful presence and wealth of knowledge is not to be missed!

Chris Hale is Associate Director and Director of Education at Pushing Progress Contemporary Dance in NYC. He started out in the industry as a Triple Threat and at a young age,  established himself at one of the world's leading Dance Drop-In studios, Broadway Dance Centre. Chris talk about how he built up his classes in one of the largest dance communities in the world,  how his perceptive of a dancer's body and its functionality has evolved, and OF COURSE, we connect about Liz Gilbert and the act of following our Curiosity. 

Julio Fuentes is a Vancouver based dancer, MT performer, and choreographer. Although dance came to him at the later age of 19, he has since then fallen in love with dance and has been training & teaching throughout Canada. So, what's it like to take your 1st ballet class as a grown man? How do you break into the Cdn MT industry? Julio shares his dance stories, audition rituals & the powerful lessons he has learned from an injury. We talk body, mentorship, and the winding path of tries, fails & experiences in this dance world!  

Married director/choreographer duo Tabitha and Napoleon, aka Nappytabs, are sharing everything from SYTYCD stories, to audition tips, to their life motto that has built Emmy Award winning success!

Marjorie Goodson is breaking physical and creative boundaries with her luxurious, avant-garde coffee table book simply titled, MG. She is the daughter of Mark Goodson, the most popular game show creator and producer in the history of TV (Family Feud, The Price is Right, Match Game, To Tell The Truth, Beat the Clock)

Marjorie is a proud and active supporter of The Actors Fund's Career Transition for Dancers, and has been an avid dancer since childhood. For Marjorie, dancing is her need, her want, her strength, her desire, her pleasure, her energy and sometimes her pain. “It’s my purpose and my passion, and it feeds my soul,” said Marjorie.

With the release of MG, her book of photographic essays three years in the making, Marjorie most definitely pushes the artistic envelope to the pinnacle of creative performance.

The book includes 153 commanding and empowering images by noted Romanian born art and fashion photographer, Andreea Radutoiu. The life-long dancer is captured – in glorious color, dramatic black and white and stimulating sepia tones – the magnificent and glorious 55-year-old Goodson in multiple dance postures in her passionate pursuit of life that goes beyond age and into the stratosphere of the emotional and physical connection to one’s inner self. “I feel my time is now,” says Goodson. There’s always tomorrow – there’s always an opportunity,” she says. “It’s tapping into your youth and having the courage to be creative and to live in the body physical.”

MG is an artistic and visual collaboration between Goodson (concept and creative content), Radutoiu, and hair and makeup stylist, Torsten Witte (LaLa Land, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), set against some of Southern California’s most dramatic and historic locations including, The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, Milk Studios, the Dunes at Pismo and Zuma Beach.

Goodson has always loved using her body to express art and with this exquisite tome, she hopes to inspire other women by letting them know they, too, can find their passion and confidence at any age.

Menina knows, "Talent is such a small percentage of a dancers success". Ms. Fortunato is a Portuguese and French Canadian, who has been killing it in California since 2001 with an Entrepreneurial spirit and taking every obstacle into an opportunity. She can be seen in several commercials for Pepsi with Britney Spears, and Lux Shampoo with Keira Knightly. She has extensive work behind the camera as well in production, choreography and casting on various projects including AMERICA's GOT TALENT, THE X FACTOR.  She is also the CEO of MENINA ENTERTAINMENT that produces music videos, instructional videos, and The Hollywood Summer Tour with the intention to educate, prepare and inspire serious dancers wishing to pursue a career in the commercial dance industry.

Casey Gonzalez, an Arizona native, has always had a passion for movement. She graduated from The Ailey School Certificate program in 2012 and followed up with achieving a B.S. in Healthy Lifestyles and Coaching From Arizona State University, a classical comprehensive Pilates Certification and both GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS® Teacher Training certifications by 2017. Her dance career has bridged the gap between the commercial and concert worlds. She has worked with choreographers such as Mandy Moore and Andrew Winghart, for brands like Master Card, Smirnoff, and Disney and performed on stages across Germany, France, Switzerland, and Dubai touring in Sweetbird Productions “Rock the Ballet X” and “Romeo & Juliette” ballets, choreographed by Adrienne Canterna. Casey began assisting for CLI Studios in 2019 for choreographers like Teddy Forance and Kathryn McCormick and made the move to Massachusetts from Los Angeles in 2021 to be a resident faculty member at The CLI Conservatory. Casey is also on faculty with Dana Foglia Dance programs. Casey takes great pride in working with younger dancers that have professional aspirations. From her own career experience and extensive study of movement, Casey’s mission is to coach and guide dancers to understand and value efficiency in movement. Casey believes that with the right combination of concentration, balance, and energy, even the most advanced movements can be done with ease and flow. Each class is aimed to unlock the greatest potential in each individual body.

Marissa Labog, nicknamed "Mighty" by her peers, is committed to her strong belief in the transformative power of storytelling. Indicated by her nickname, as an actor, dancer, and stunt woman, Marissa is fearless and powerful in her pursuit for creative adventure earning her awards such as the Lester Horton Award for Outstanding Performer, the Solo Award, and an Ovation Award Nomination.

Commercially, she has worked with artists such as Tina Turner, Christina Aguillera, Justin Timberlake, and Toni Basil. She has also appeared in countless commercials for Nike, iPod, Coke, and T-Mobile. Her TV and film credits include: MTV Movie Awards, the Emmys, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Wolverine,

Dancing nationally and internationally with PCB Ballet and Inland Pacific Ballet, Marissa was urged by her loving mother to take up martial arts to learn to "defend" herself while traveling abroad. Enrolling her in Karate, Marissa excelled and furthered her study with capoeira, and Tae Kwon Do. Curious of her training and its connection to her growing desire to tell stories, Marissa went on to Scripps College where she graduated with a BA in both Dance and English and the coveted Lucille Morrison Scholarship. After graduation, Marissa performed as a principle dancer across the United States, Japan, Ireland, Portugal, Russia, China, Holland, Belgium, and England.

Lisa La Touche never imagined Tapping her way through a dance career, but through a lot of love and hard work, Lisa has performed in Shuffle Along on Broadway, Stomp off-Broadway and educates around the world. We talk about her Plan A vs Plan B career strategy, how she locally created the opportunities that she was in search of, and about the inner voices & Artists Will that guided her journey. She has mentored by the incredible Sean Cheeseman and has worked with some of the Tap communities best like Savion Glover, Bril Barrett, Trey Dumas and Jumaane Taylor. Lisa also speaks to the Tap Legends like Gregory Hines, Buster Brown, and Jimmy Slide.  

Misty Lown is a dance powerhouse and entrepreneurial force. Misty Lown is the founder, president and energized force behind More Than Just Great Dancing™ - A licensed dance studio affiliation program that has a positive impact on over 60,000 dance students around the globe each week. She is also the founder of MoreThanDancers.com, an online lifestyle magazine for young people that has over 35,000 visitors each month.

Her dance studio, Misty’s Dance Unlimited, founded in 1998 and named a “Top 50 Studios in the Nation” by Dance Spirit Magazine has provided $225,000 in scholarship for dancers. Misty has been a speaker at the  PULSE Teachers Convention, Hollywood Connection, Dance Teacher Web, Dance Teacher Summit, and the DanceLife Conference. She has also been the keynote speaker for the Australian Teachers of Dancing Convention. Misty is on the staff of Dance Revolution Convention, a faith based dance convention, and has authored over 40 industry articles.

She is a sought after speaker and recently shared her business methods as a guest blogger on SUCCESS.com and as a speaker at IF:Gathering Local and the US Army Garrison Woman’s Equality Day. She has been recognized as “Teacher of the Year” by Eclipse, "Outstanding Businesswoman of the Year" by the YWCA and awarded the “Pope John XXIII Award for Distinguished Service” by Viterbo University and the “Philanthropy Award” from the Red Cross.

Misty is an entrepreneur at heart. In addition to her dance studio and licensing program, she owns a dancewear store, a dance competition and a self-storage business. She is the author of One Small Yes and creator the One Small Yes podcast.

Not only has she danced with Janet Jackson, Prince and Justin Timberlake, Kelly Konno has changed the trajectory of Canadian dance careers with her Triple Threat Dance Convention partners, Dorie and Carolina.  Want to know how to get (and stay) hired? Listen up! This goes way beyond the dance world.

Jocelyn Peden has been a renowned name in the Canadian dance scene,boasting extensive dance, choreography, acting, and co-directing credits. From dancing with Janet to Co-Directing and Choreographing massive Opening and Closing ceremonies, Jocelyn shares her insights on audition tips, how to transition from dancer to director and how to do it all while building a family! 

More on Jocelyn: Some of Jocelyn’s dance credits include working with Janet Jackson on the videos Rhythm Nation, Miss You Much and Alright. Her feature film credits include The Bodyguard, the 6th Day, Dudley Do Right, Toys and the Sixth Man. She has extensive NBA experience as a Los Angeles Laker Girl and director/choreographer for the Vancouver Grizzlies Extreme Dance Team. Jocelyn has worked with such artists as Paula Abdul, Vanessa Williams, Paul McCartney, Jay Leno, Whitney Houston, Steve Winwood & Bette Midler. Some of Jocelyn’s co-directing and choreography credits include the 2010 Parlympic Opening and Closing Ceremonies, 2010 Olympic Bid and Mascot Unveiling, Juno Awards, Legoland Theme Parks, Guangzhou China World Cultural Event, Cirque Pop, Bring on the Night, Rolling Thunder, the 93rd Annual Grey Cup and the Great Big Boo. She has also choreographed for international level figure skaters including Emanuel Sandhu.

Heather  has performed on stage and screen as an actor, dancer and singer. Her journey has lead her to weave in and out of the commercial and company sectors of dance. She recently choreographed the Lifetime Biopic "Britney Ever After". As an on set choreographer Heather has choreographed for The CW Network's iZombie (season 2& 3), A&E's "Bates Motel",  Hallmark Network's "Harvest Moon", and many more! The premiere of her new full length contemporary dance piece "The Tunnel" will be presented by New Works at The Roundhouse Theatre, April 2017 in Vancouver. HLG shares her insights as an adjudicator, what it's like to work as the only head female in a male, and how she has made a long career grow and flourish in Canada.

What is is like to follow an internationally acclaimed choreographer for 8 years? Filmmaker Tomer Heymann shares his latest documentary capturing Ohad Naharin, one of the world's most influential choreographers who created his own "movement language", Gaga. When he was 22, Ohad was invited to perform with the prestigious Martha Graham dance company and attended Juilliard and the School of American Ballet simultaneously. But Ohad was not happy until he could do exactly what he wanted. Moving back to Israel, Naharin became the Artistic Director of the Batsheva Dance Company, developing Gaga within his own ensemble. Listen now as Tomer shares his insights, perspective, and love for both Ohad and the dance community! 

Jeff Mortensen is a multi-talented dancer, gymnast, assistant choreographer, and performer. Jeff shares his unique journey through So You Think You Can Dance, to Cirque Du Soleil, to performing and assisting on renowned productions like Disney's The Descendants and Rocky Horror Picture Show. Jeff gives quick and applicable advice on what you can use as inspiration in your career and solid tips when on set!

In 2014, she completed a certification for dance medicine from the Westside Dance Physical Therapy in New York, where she studied with physical therapists who oversee the health of the New York City Ballet and other prominent professional dance companies. She earned a master’s degree in spiritual psychology from the University of Santa Monica, emphasizing in consciousness, health and healing; and dual bachelor degrees in dance and communications from California State University, Fullerton. We talk about how to train like an elite dancer, what cross function training can do to build healthier bodies and what we can do to build an even stronger community of dancers and artists!!!

When Oprah herself tells you to do something - you listen! Well, Jonathan Givens did.  From Performer to Technical Director to Set Designer and now Photographer - Jonathan has worked on films & shows like Rock Of Ages, Iron Man 3, The Oprah Winfrey Show and countless stage productions. Jonathan shares his biggest lesson learned from career-ending injuries, the truth about world class Talent and Technical crews, and how Dance photography inspired Dance Across the USA - an adventure that took Jonathan into every US state to capture the beauty of diversity, dance and nature. 

Co-Founder of an internationally acclaimed Jazz company (DJD) and University Professor of Dance, Michele Moss is a lover of all the world of dance. How do you build a successful dance company? How do you mentor young dancers from university into a career? What can we do for our bodies to create longevity? We cover it all. And talk about career envy! Michele has conducted ethnographic research in field sites such as Italy, Jamaica, Poland, India, Japan, Sénégal and The Gambia, West Africa as well as New York City, New Orleans, Winnipeg, Toronto, Victoria, Paris and Monréal to name a few locales. Her most significant ethnographic field sites are Guinée, West Africa and Cuba. Her professional training has her seek out many experiences including swing, salsa, house dance as well as educational and current training practices to enhance her studio practice. Her research mostly takes the form of creation projects but also includes textual projects, recently co-authoring chapters, with Dr. Jill Crosby, on the history of jazz in a Feb 2014 publication from the University Press of Florida called Jazz Dance: Roots and Branches. She greatly enjoys her U of C teaching assignments and finds the studio a vibrant place to be.

Known for his signature smile and captivating dance moves, So You Think You Can Dance Season 12 fan favorite, Neptune, is a multi talented superstar! His fans highlight his ground breaking performances and charming personality. Neptune specializes in Freestyle (i.e. Krump & Popping) and Hip Hop. With no formal training, he surprised America and conquered every genre of dance thrown his way, including Contemporary, Broadway, Bollywood, Jazz etc., which secured his spot in the top 8.

After SYTYCD, his career continued to soar as he gained a reputation for being the dancer who does it all! He’s performed and toured with several top artists, including Beyonce, Mary J. Blige & Pharrell etc. Neptune’s featured in many commercials, TV shows and films including the Academy Awards, Grownish, Space Jam: A New Legacy, Coming 2 America, to name a few. His biggest success to date, is getting to combine all of his talents as the lead actor in the award winning short film, Boogie Rage.

Neptune’s journey as a Hip Hop instructor started over 9 years ago. He’s taught all ages at various studios in North America and assisted “tWitch” at 24 Seven Dance convention and workshops for over 3 years. Neptune’s teaching style includes a blend of educating dancers on the knowledge of hip hop, creating fun and energetic choreography and giving dancers a challenge they can be proud of.

With over 1.2 Million followers on TikTok, social media has allowed Neptune to broaden his creativity and expand his brand! On TikTok, Instagram and YouTube he’s known for his viral and explosive freestyle videos. Neptune’s followers, of all generations, find excitement in doing his trendy dance challenges (from 90s to modern day Hip Hop, Dancehall and Afrobeats). He’s also well known for his dance content with his wife, Keda and their brand “The Eskridge’s”. As a content creator Neptune has collaborated with many of the industry's top brands including Mercedes Benz, Walmart, Paramount Pictures etc. to name a few.

Neptune is a natural born entertainer, incredible creator and excited to share his knowledge and elevate the next generation of artists!

Genevieve Carson is the artistic director of L.A. Contemporary Dance Company (LACDC).  Genevieve’s work as a director, choreographer, and performer has spanned across North America, the Philippines, Argentina, Sweden, and New Zealand. Genevieve’s work is often focused on the human condition. Genevieve has been a guest artist and instructor at Chapman University, Cal Arts, Cal State Long Beach, University of Auckland, and University of the Philippines. She is on faculty at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA), where she teaches an array of classes and directs concerts. Genevieve graduated cum laude with a BFA in Dance Performance from Chapman University.www.thedancepodcast.com

Learn more about the Dance Studio Owners Association:

https://dsoa.com/

https://www.instagram.com/dancestudioownersassociation/

https://www.facebook.com/dancestudioownersassociation/

When did you feel like you "made it"? That was a question asked to the world-class faculty in a Q&A this weekend at a convention. Lauren shares their answers and what she knows about the process and unpacking of "making it" in this industry. 

Headshots, Resumes, Reels, Agent introductions- we cover it all with Melissa Panton! Although a performer at heart, Melissa was always interested in the business side of entertainment. While building credits as a choreographer in Toronto, she began studying Arts Administration at Humber College, and gathering experience in production, casting, and stage management. Melissa is now the principal agent in Vancouver, BC and gives LOADS of advice about getting and working with an agent!

Lam was born in Marin County, California. Born from immigrant parents from Vietnam, Lam found his passion for life in dance at age 4. Training at Marin Ballet, Lam formed vital relationships that would mold his career and was coached by renowned Svetlana Afanasieva, Cynthia Lucas, and Mikko Nissinen. In 200, Lam began his tenure with Canada's National Ballet School under the directorship of Mavis Staines. Coached by famous Sergiu Stefanschi, Lam developed a foundation that would launch his career in 2003 with the invitation from Mikko Nissinen to join Boston Ballet. www.thedancepodcast.com

Learn more about the Dance Studio Owners Association:

https://dsoa.com/

https://www.instagram.com/dancestudioownersassociation/

https://www.facebook.com/dancestudioownersassociation/

Blake Stanley is an internationally recognized educator, coach, and choreographer. He is

a past mentee of contemporary dance legend Mia Michaels, and has spearheaded his own

training method, Blake Stanley Techniques.

He received his formal education from many studios & educators across the USA, with

most notable having been a full-scholarship student at the Indiana Ballet Conservatory. He

consistently trained with industry leading choreographers and educational leaders, eventually

transitioning into more professional studies ranging from anatomy and physiology, to myofascial

pain release, injury-prevention for dancers, childhood development, and is on the forefront of

new methods of dancer injury prevention pedagogy; certified in T Spheres Injury Prevention

Techniques. He has a kinetically expressive teaching style that is grounded in classical technique

and is easily relatable to students of all backgrounds and levels.

Blake has held long term residencies with universities and dance studios across the US;

currently having students in over 40 US states as well as Canada, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Costa

Rica, Uganda, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. He is a true trail-blazer in the virtual dance

community, with his weekly zoom classes reaching over 1000 students and having launched his

own virtual dance app, featuring New York City’s top educators, “DanceX!”

In the competitive dance community, he is recognized as a leading educator with students

receiving the highest honors such as overall winners at every major convention circuit; including

“Best Dance Winner” at The Dance Awards, “Protégé Winner” at Radix Nationals, “Outstanding

Dancer” at NYCDA Nationals, invitations to YAGP Finals, performances in YAGP Finals Gala,

Young Arts Scholarship invitees, and features in Dance Spirit Magazine. His mentees and

students include dancers at, or accepted to, the most prestigious performing arts schools;

LaGuardia Arts, Frank Sinatra, and Mark Twain, Summer Intensives; Juilliard Summer Intensive

and ABT Summer Intensive, Bolshoi SI, Royal Ballet in London, Pre-Professional Companies;

Alvin Ailey, Joffrey, Ballet and Academy East, and Universities; NYU-Tisch, Marymount, Pace,

and Point Park.

Sarah Rodenhouse is the Founder/Movement Leader of Moved LA *and* Artistic Director of MashUp Contemporary Dance Company.  Between these two entities, she is quickly becoming a mover and shaker in the LA dance scene. Through Moved LA, she brings movement workshops to working professionals in businesses such as Pinterest - and hosts wellness retreats. Via MashUp, Sarah choreographs with professional dancers and presents performances all of LA including the A+D Museum, Glendale Brand Library, and multiple festivals.  www.thedancepodcast.com

Learn more about the Dance Studio Owners Association:

https://dsoa.com/

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The Texas native is known as the "It Girl" of music videos and tours, she has appeared alongside chart-topping artists, including: Selena Gomez, Rihanna, Beyonce, Katy Perry, Chris Brown, Nick Jonas, Meghan Trainor, and many more. Brittany speaks powerfully on what happens when you get fired, how to treated your fellow dancers, and the most effect way to build your career. Perry-Russell has made an incredible transition from lead dancer to actress and can now be seen in Netflix hit 13 Reasons Why! Listen now!

From Cruise ships to the Can-Can, Cara Lee has created a career that includes hip hop commercial work, show girl spectacles, and tv series. This episode includes everything from changing your name for the industry, to how to prepare for auditions, to what it's like to learn an entirely new style of dance in a brand new country!

Mentorship is a powerful way to receive guidance and advice from the people who you admire and respect. So many of us crave mentorship, but what how do you approach a mentor? What do you do when you have one? And do you need one? With 5 steps, Lauren dives deep into the strength, approach, and relationships with a Mentor. 

This season we have been interviewing faculty from the newest dance convention experience called The Moment by KM Agency. Today we are speaking with Hip Hop educator and master teacher Draico. From his late introduction to dance, to comparison, to his Emmy nomination for the Aretha Franklin Story, to moving through creative blocks - we cover so much. Dondraico has created movement for artists like Madonna, Miley Cyrus, Britney Spears, Ricky Martin, & Jennifer Lopez.

His feature film credits include GHOSTBUSTERS, HAUNTED MANSION, STEP UP 3D, STEP UP REVOLUTION, and Michael Jackson's THIS IS IT. Draico and I also have a Parent Conversation posted on the Km Agency Instagram page if you are craving more!

Julia Pearson has been a dance instructor for the past 23 years, specializing in teaching children ages 2-12yrs in ballet, tap, and jazz. Ms. Julia has been a resident instructor at Danceology in San Diego, winner of 2022 Studio of the Year (The Dance Awards). She has coached & taught competitive dancers for the last two decades including national title winners, award-winning mini groups, and tik tok sensations.

Ms. Julia has played an instrumental role in developing a student Mentorship program, tots classes, diva division, dance camps, and more specifically at her home studio, Danceology. She was honored with Citizen of Excellence in 2020 for her work with our Adaptive dance class, teaching dancers with special needs and Down syndrome.

She holds a Master's Degree in Organizational Leadership and brings a wealth of wisdom & experience to the dance community. Ms. Pearson is the author of the Miss Juju Ballet book series which encourages little ones to find the joy in ballet every day. She cultivates a warm and inviting learning atmosphere for young ones while providing the structure to teach true technique. Every class with Ms. Julia is a delightful experience!

The London dance scene is full of opportunities in commercial, musical theatre and contemporary work - but it looks and runs differently than in North America. Christie Lee is diving deep into the community and sharing all of her insights and tips for London living that she has learned along the way. Speaking from honesty and authenticity, this powerhouse creator and innovator will leave you inspired and ready for ACTION!

Expectations we put on our art and ourselves, how to cultivate our own self worth, embracing the growth and transitions as us  as artists and, of course, failure. We cover it all this week with Christie Lee Manning!

Christie Lee Manning is one of the UK’s most versatile performers. Born and raised in Vancouver, Canada, Christie has worked with such artists as Lenny Kravitz, Nelly Furtado, and Michael Buble. She played a lead role in the musical 'Sweet Mystery', and has performed and adjudicated in Brazil for the XXI International Dance Seminar alongside Chan Goh, Monica Proenca, and Karah Abiog. Other credits include the sitcom Package Deal (TV), sci-fi series Warehouse 13 (TV), and Sky 1's 'Got To Dance' Season 5, mentored by Adam Garcia.

Christie has taught all over the world, from New York to Australia, choreographed for the National Lacrosse League, and is also the Creator of Industry Dance Magazine, a Canadian online website for dancers and choreographers alike. She is a member of Lukas McFarlane's contemporary company, UnTitled, and is the artistic director of BODY Jazz Theatre UK. 

If it doesn't exist- you can create it. You can create your job. You can create your community. You can create the spaces that will hold all of your favourite people and deepest passions. Lauren shares how & why she continues to create new work and new opportunities. PLUS! An amazing special announcement not to be missed!

A true legend! MARGUERITE DERRICKS is one of dance’s most highly recognized and respected working choreographers. She is the first and only choreographer to have received three consecutive Emmy Awards for Outstanding Choreography, and is also the recipient of five MTV Movie Awards for Best Dance Sequence.  

Marguerite’s television credits include THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL, Netflix’s GLOW, the revival of GILMORE GIRLS, ​and film  blockbusters films like  the AUSTIN POWERS franchise, CHARLIE'S ANGELS, TROPIC THUNDER, MR. AND MRS. SMITH, 10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU, LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE, NO STRINGS ATTACHED, and 13 GOING ON 30.

In this episode, Marguerite generously shares her dance journey - from ballet roots to TV, Film, Broadway, Vegas and what I am calling Dance-World-Domination. We talk about how she hires and expectations she holds from the dancers she works with. What came after winning 3 Emmy’s, how to best collaborate amongst creatives, pitching projects, where technology is fitting into her career growth, and her biggest mistakes that taught her the most. 

Please enjoy and share this beautiful conversation with the dance community. 

She is back for round 2! Her first episode on the podcast, Episode 43, was a bomb of inspiration and love. Liana has worked with everyone from Britney Spears to Ricky Martin to Katy Perry. We loved her so much - we brought her back and this time to talk about her program, Body Language. Over the past few years, Liana has taken her love of dance and movement and brought back into an authentic experience - one that is centered around enjoying your how your body moves, how your heart grooves, and how community connects us all.

Anthony Morigerato is a Tap Dancer, Director, Emmy nominated Choreographer and the Founder of “Operation Tap”. We break down MAJOR topics, like Improv and it’s true technique, what every dancer and performer needs in order to achieve a FANTASTIC performance, how dancer’s should train to give themselves an edge, and what he sees as a fellow choreographer and adjudicator. His knowledge is deep, his experience is incomparable, and his observations are profound.

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ANTHONY IS ALSO THE PRODUCER OF AM DANCE PRODUCTIONS WHICH HAS PRODUCED LIVE THEATRICAL PERFORMANCES AND FILM IN NYC SINCE 2006. AS A PERFORMER ANTHONY WAS A SOLOIST AND MEMBER OF MICHAEL MINERY’S TAPAHOLICS (2002-2012), THE LEAD TAP DANCER AND CHOREOGRAPHER FOR THE MUSICAL GROUP MATT AND ANTHONY (2009-2012), A SOLOIST AND ASSOCIATE CHOREOGRAPHER FOR STACEY TOOKEY’S STILL MOTION (2012-PRESENT), AND A GUEST ARTIST FOR VARIOUS FESTIVALS, BENEFITS, INDUSTRIALS, SEMINARS, AND PERFORMANCES SINCE 1999. ANTHONY HAS APPEARED AS A CHOREOGRAPHER AND OR A PERFORMER ON SEVERAL TELEVISION SHOWS INCLUDING AMERICA’S GOT TALENT, THE ARSENIO HALL SHOW, SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE, AND THE TONY DANZA SHOW.

During his teenage years, Mark met a man named Luther Brown (choreographer/judge of So You Think You Can Dance Canada), who was soon to be his mentor, partner and close friend for many years to come. Luther invited Mark to be a part of Canada's first ever Hip-Hop/R&B Dance Agency – Do Dat Entertainment. While dancing for Do Dat, Mark performed with countless Canadian artists, such as Jully Black, Shawn Desman, Maestro Fresh Wes, Victoria Duffield and Nelly Furtado to name a few. He has also performed at some of the industries top stellar events, such as the Juno Awards, The MMVA’s, Canadian Idol, Canada's Got Talent and So You Think You Can Dance Canada.

Mark decided to make his next major move: to become a dancer in U.S. He had the opportunity to work with the some of America's biggest choreographers such as Fatima Robinson, Laurie-Ann Gibson, Sho-Tyme and Hi Hat. During his U.S. journey, he danced for artists like Cam’ron, Mariah Carey, Nivea, Missy Elliott, Mary J Blige, Olivia, Kelis and Mario to name a few. 

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Joey Arrigo is an dancer, aerialist and choreographer. He was “the trickster” in Cirque du Soleil’s KOOZA and part of Shaping Sound Dance Company’s first national tour. He was also a Top 20 dancer on So You Think You Can Dance Canada and a choreographer’s assistant to Mia Michaels during Seasons 1–3. Joey holds multiple titles from Dance Masters of America and was the 2010 Senior National VIP for JUMP. He has choreographed and taught in Canada, the US, Europe, and Australia, including teaching with Break The Floor’s conventions, JUMP, NUVO and 24/7. Currently, Joey plays the lead role of “Waz” in Cirque du Soleil’s VOLTA.

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Dominique Kelley has been named one of the most promising up and coming choreographers of his generation.  An avid tapper and percussionist, Dominique tries to fuse rhythm patterns with classical movement to create a visual and aural experience.

"Black and Blue" was his first Broadway tour at age 12, and then “Bring in ‘Da Noise, Bring in ‘Da Funk national tour at 15, and ever since he has had a love of performing, choreographing, and movement coaching.

No stranger to stage and live performance, he has collaborated with recording artists such as Beyonce’, Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, Gwen Stefani, Chris Martin, Queen Latifah, Taylor Swift, FKA Twigs, Miley Cyrus, Frank Ocean, Nelly, Cee Lo Green, B.o.B, and Flo Rida,. Not leaving out sports entertainment, he has been one of the main choreographers for such sports teams as the San Francisco 49ers, San Diego Chargers, Brooklyn Nets, Boston Celtics,  LA Clippers, and many teams around the country. Dominique’s goal and endeavor is to bring movement and dance artistry to every facet of the entertainment industry.

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You may recognize Harper Watters from his "pink heels" viral vids, but Harper is a demi-soloist at Houston Ballet and the face of The Pre Show on youtube. Harper talks about his early transition out of high school to Houston, the shocks and surprises of becoming a professional Ballet dancer, and how he structures his social media and builds his following. 

Raised in Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada, Calen Kurka started his training in Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Musical Theatre, and Modern. He moved to NY with big dreams, but few plans or job prospects! Calen shares how his career, and life, have evolved in ways he couldn't have anticipated. He is the founder and Artistic Director of :pushing progress a company, and inspires Dancers at every stage of their career to take a mindful approach to bring their most authentic self into their work and life. 

Chris Hale chats about his love for Ballet and the Body and getting to see the body in a new way will help every discipline of dance! 

Lauren shares a coaching tool that can transform your performance or training experience in a moment. It's easy, accessible and can provide clarity when you are feeling stuck or are simply craving MORE! This is one for Dancers, dance teachers, and parents!

This one will leave you wanting more! Dana Wilson is a bright and vivacious content creator, choreographer, and performer. She illuminates everything she crosses from the worlds biggest stages to smallest cell phone screens. She may be best known for performing along side Justin Timberlake (on three world tours and at last year’s Super Bowl Halftime Show), Dana’s feature in Dance Magazine declares her “Anything But A Backup Dancer”. Dana shares her expectations after high school, Justin TImberlake Tour experiences, relationship with her body and the stories around navigating “cool” and “sexy” in LA.  She has created an incredible podcast, Words That Move Me, and after this convo - I have no doubt you will be seeking her and the Seaweed Sisters out!

More on Dana:

Most recently, Dana contributed choreography to the Film adaptation of In The Heights, and acted as the pre-production movement coach for Baz Luhrmann’s upcoming Elvis Biopic.

Dana also makes up one third of the wildly original and imaginative group “The Seaweed Sisters” (adored and admired by a wide range of audiences from toddlers and their parents to the screens of Dance Camera West, and the Cascadia International Women’s Film Festival).

Dana has been teaching for over thirteen years, and she is constantly experimenting with new technologies and techniques (like 360 degree video, VR and Drones). She draws inspiration from every corner of the dance world, from street styles to social dances, and Mime to Burlesque. Most distinguishable by her refined yet bizarre style always calling on a healthy sense of humor sure to leave a smile on every face.

This is the last faculty Faculty Feature with The Moment Dance convention and we will be hearing from our show creator, Lauren Ritchie, as she is the Mental Skills Educator for dancers, teacher and parents at The Moment. Lauren shares her expertise on confidence, comparison, growth mindset, and the power of self talk as we pursue artistic and athletic growth. 

Lauren Ritchie (MEd, BA, ESFCC) is an established mental skills educator, dance teacher, and choreographer. Her areas of interest and expertise include sports and performance mental training, as well as the intersection of well-being and mindfulness. 

Her work has led to the creation of international teacher training programs, dance and sport conventions, the pioneering show The Dance Podcast, and mental performance-based curriculums for dancers, athletes, and coaches. Lauren’s proficiency in performance preparation and enhancement has led to supporting youth and professionals in dance, theatre, hockey, music, gymnastics, volleyball, and soccer.

Lauren has been a featured speaker for the Women In Sport Speaker Series, Alberta Dance Alliance, Dance Studio Owners Association, House of Jazz (London), and the Toronto Dance Teacher Expo. She has delivered workshops to prestigious schools and programs like Harbour Dance Centre, the Alberta Ballet School, the Dancer Transition Resource Centre, Capilano University, the University of Calgary, and The Bridge Movement.

Kim began training as a dancer at three years old. From the very start, she loved every second of dance. By age eight, she was training in ballet 30 hours a week, and at 12 years old she received 3rd in the nation at a National Tap Event sponsored by tap industry legend Gregory Hines. Mr. Hines was so impressed with Kim that he traveled to her studio in Dallas to give her a private lesson.

At 24 years old, Kim moved to L.A., where she quickly achieved success, booking jobs with celebrities such as Britney Spears, N’Sync and Michael Jackson, among many others. As well as working in films with stars such as Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck. Despite her growing career, Kim felt drawn to teaching and decided to focus her career strictly on training dancers.

As a teacher, Kim first joined Adrenaline on the convention circuit before being picked up by the largest dance convention in the world, JUMP. For six years, Kim taught everything from ballet and jazz to hip-hop, interacting with thousands of students a week. After that experience, Kim joined NUVO as the Children’s Director. Focusing on technical development, she gained a reputation for inspiring young dancers to be more than excellent performers, but also excellent people.

The longer she taught, the more other instructors wanted to learn from Kim. In city after city, Kim’s teacher seminars drew huge crowds as she motivated countless instructors to be the best educator and role model they could be for their students. Additionally, many of her own students have gone on to achieve incredible success, working with some of the most talented artists in the dance and film industry.

These experiences led Kim to retire from the convention circuit to focus on the success of her unique Changing Lives program. Kim now travels across the country, working directly with studios to educate their faculty and implement her teaching philosophy, along with speaking engagements, parent seminars, and business consulting.

With Kim’s experience and reputation in the industry, she enjoys strong relationships with a wide range of teachers and choreographers. As well as teaching young students, her mission now includes training others to be leading mentors and trainers in the dance world.

Our brain and our beliefs transform how dancers train and perform. Mental Performance trainer, Dr. Matt Brown, shares his advice on how to become a more powerful dancer and why we really do want to fail! 

Jess Spinner is a former professional ballet dancer turned Health Coach and founder of The Whole Dancer. She supports dancers in reaching their body goals through one on one coaching and her online course, The Dancers' Best Body Program. Dancers from New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Boston Ballet, and aspiring dancers from around the world have participated in individual coaching and group programs from The Whole Dancer. There are options to fit every need and budget and many resources are provided at no – charge in order to support as many dancers as possible to find balance and true happiness as you work towards your dance goals.

Many Dancers DREAM of a career like Taylor's! He has created a successful Commercial career, dancing with stars like J.lo and Michael Jackson, booking national TV shows and commercials, and  shooting countless music videos. Taylor talks all about practical ways to start your career, personal branding, and the one demon that will take you down.

Luis Javier Fuentes is a small, but oh so mighty Ballet boy who is spreading his love of the Ballet Lifestyle across the world! What do you do when you don’t fit the Ballet mold ? What did sacrifice look like him and the young Cuban boys?    Luis shares how his reaching approach has changed the lives of dancers in South Africa, Cuba and across North America! 

Dr. Justin is fascinated by movement and is committed to a practice of personal and collective growth. With a passion for continual learning and sharing, he thrives off of cultivating experiences and evidence informed knowledge surrounding movement, self-development, and life optimization. 

Graduating with a Doctorate in Chiropractic Medicine (D.C). Justin received the Palmer West Clinical Excellence and Virgil V. Strang Chiropractic Philosophy awards. Accolades which are distinguishing honours reflecting his commitment to delivering a result orientated treatment, optimal client experience, with a focus on community and client engagement and education.

Justin innovated Rollax, a movement therapy system that engages and optimizes the brain-body connection. He is a movement and health legacy ambassador for Lululemon Athletica and Clear Float Spa, is a privileged Instructor for the movement company, Rocktape. 

Side by side with names like Andy Blankenbuehler and Mia Michaels, Logan Epstein shares how she builds relationships, why she chose PACE University, and practical things to do while creating your dance career. 

Seats have swapped and Lauren is in the interview chair as Calen asks about her journey and why the Golden Threads are so close to her heart.

We talk about body-positive teaching, the impact of conscious educators and the impact of mindfulness within dance.

She trained in the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) syllabus, and has completed their Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies (CBTS). She also trained at the San Francisco Conservatory of dance and performed professionally with Brisas de Espana, a Flamenco and Spanish dance company.

She has been teaching for over 10 years, teaching at both for-profit and not for profit schools and serving a diverse community of dancers. Benicia Ballet School, Community Youth Center, San Francisco Conservatory of Dance, Sonoma Conservatory of Dance are just a few of the places that have been her dance homes.

She graduated with B.A. in Theater and Dance from CSUEB, where she had the opportunity to add to her training in modern, choreography, jazz and hip-hop from noted Bay Area directors/choreographers Nina Haft, Eric Kupers and Laura Elaine Ellis. Katrena has performed and taught across the United States and Canada including Vancouver, New Mexico, and New York.

EMMY Award Winner Tyce Diorio has been a powerful force in the entertainment industry since he was a teenager. Originally from Brooklyn, Diorio moved to Los Angeles to dance with legends like Paula Abdul, Janet Jackson, Ricky Martin, Jennifer Lopez, Mya, *NSYNC, Kelly Osbourne, Céline Dion and Toni Braxton. In addition to performing on numerous TV shows and films, Diorio also starred in the Tony Award winning Broadway hits Fosse and Chicago. We talk all about finding you VOICE as a dancer, how to have longevity and how to become a master of rejection!

From SYTYCD Canada to World Tours to connecting to your best self- Kim Gingras shares all of her insights and best practices while building her CRAZY AWESOME career!

They have dance for over 20 Seasons with Alvin Ailey - and done it withmastery and grace. From Injury prevention, to what dancers and parents need to know- Glenn and Linda share how dancers create longevity and happiness within their career, Linda Celeste Sims began her dance training at Ballet Hispanico School of Dance and is a graduate of LaGuardia High School of the Performing Arts. In addition to a National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts award, Mrs. Sims won Outstanding Performance at the 2014 New York Dance and Performance Awards (“The Bessies”).   Featured on the cover Dance Magazine, and in annual “Best of” lists, she has performed as a guest star on So You Think You Can Dance, Dancing with the Stars, and The Today Show. Glenn Allen Sims began his classical dance training at the Academy of Dance Arts in Red Bank, New Jersey. He attended The Juilliard School under the artistic guidance of Benjamin Harkarvy. In 2004, Mr. Sims was the youngest person to be inducted into the Long Branch High School’s Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame. He has been seen in several network television programs, including BET Honors, Dancing with the Stars, The Today Show, and So You Think You Can Dance. 

Josh is a New York based choreographer and performer. Throughout Josh's career, he has worked some of the most respected jobs in the industry including Broadway, national tours, national commercials, film and television. He has performed in major venues across the world including United States, Canada, Mexico and Europe.

Some of his recent choreographic work includes New York Fashion Week, Audi Ottawa, a commercial for Modos Furniture, Mary Poppins at Arrow Rocks Lyceum Theater and the world premiere of Medicine the Musical, which ran in New York City, Off-Broadway. He was the associate choreographer for the Saturday Night Fever National Tour as well as Kiss me Kate at the Summer Theater of New Canaan. This summer Josh will be returning to the Lyceum Theater to choreograph their season opening, Cinderella.

As a performer, some of his favorite credits include Disney's 1st National Tour of Newsies (asst. Dance Captain), Neleus in Mary Poppins on Broadway and the 1st National Tour, Baby John in West Side story (Stratford Festival), Wizard Of Oz National Tour (Troika), and dancing on NBC's Saturday Night Live with Jimmy Fallon. Josh has been featured in Dance Spirit Magazine, Dance Canada Quarterly, Industry Dance Magazine and Dance Plug Los Angeles. He has taught at Edge Performing Arts Center and is currently on faculty at the Broadway Dance Center in New York City where he has been a guest choreographer for many of their events.

Gene Gabriel may not be a trained dancer, but he has transformed hundreds of Dancers into deeper, more diverse, Artists through his acting and improv workshops. With a resume ranging from Broadway to Film to TV - Gene shares how he creates special experiences for Dancers and why Acting can play a pivotal role in a Dancer's career.

Welcome to the Dance Podcast! Meet Lauren as she shares her story and the truths she learned about being a competitive dancer transitioning in to the professional world of Dance. Want to know about her Cruise Ship experiences? unanticipated mental and physical challenges? her journey into Coaching dancers? Listen up! Then, head over to thedancepodcast.com and let her know what you want to hear more about and who you want to hear interviewed!

What do you do when you feel like you don't fit the norms? Or you lose your dance mojo? Once a contemporary dancer, now a fitness & Belly Dance Entrepreneur, Oreet shares her dance story and how she took her differences and made them a successful career. She has been featured on NBC, ABC, CBS and CNN - sharing her love of dance and words of wisdom to the world!

He is back! As the most interviewed and only interviewer on the podcast! This week Calen and Lauren are all about the Teachers as Calen and Lauren open up some of their processes, approaches, and fails. Calen talks about the distinction between Contemporary and Lyrical, how he provides a space for play and where failing as a teacher is necessary. He also speaks to a flip in his leadership style that may inspire a new perspective for dance educators around the world!

You might have seen him on Laurieann Gibson’s show “Beyond The Spotlight” or as a dancer for Laurieann on “The Four".  King Chris has taken his technical background and transitioned into the LA commercial world. He heard a lot of "advice" and tried to fit in, but Chris shares his biggest lessons learned and what he wants the next generation of dancers to know. 

Melanie Mah gives a sneak peak into the Janet Jackson world tour as well as the magic that Yoga can bring into a Dancer's life. Starting her amazing dance journey by being mentored by Blake McGrath, Melanie has experienced the dancers life through adventures with Glee, Disney, Justin Beiber and Alicia Keys!

Lauren shares her insights on the twists and turns of life and a helpful exercise to ease the way.