Dancespeak

Holy Moly! We are up to episode 96 of the DanceSpeak Podcast and this time our episode 52 alum, Teresa Espinosa, is coming through for her second interview. She is on an unimaginable journey the world could've never expected to take place! Am I excited enough? A little background... Teresa Espinosa is a veteran dancer and choreographer with credits that include Magic Mike, Britney Spears, Janet Freakin' Jackson, and... so many many more. So... yeah... Teresa is a big deal and yet she's very humble. Flash forward to 2018-2019, Teresa is now the owner of the widely respected Debbie Reynold's Studio now known as Debbie Reynolds Legacy. This is the studio where Michael Jackson rehearsed for Thriller, and decades of venerated dancers have learned and rehearsed. At the end of 2018, the dance world gave a tearful goodbye to the physical Debbie Reynolds studio, as it was torn down for construction, in spite of the efforts of Teresa and the dance community. Here we are in 2019 and the Debbie Reynolds Legacy is being h

Welcome to episode 95 of DanceSpeak with Dominique Kelley. He's done Broadway, he's toured, he was in Disney's the Princess and the Frog, he's danced on film... and on your favorite TV shows, he's got wit for days, and will warm your heart. With over 25 years under his belt as a professional, Dominique is the epitome of a seasoned dancer. Topics that we explore in this episode include: what some of the pillars of a successful career are, what Dominique would be doing if he wasn't a dancer, the choice to go to college as an artist, training as a young professional dancer, getting unstuck around inspiration, what a proper jazz dance education looks like, Dominique's rare love for auditions, audition advice for dancers, transitioning into becoming a choreographer, dance activism, negotiating on dance jobs, tips on getting specific around the work you want to book, advice on working with professional kids and teens, the gems that can come out of rejection, and more!

Welcome to episode 94 of the DanceSpeak podcast with Peter Pinnock, an influencer who aspires to inspire. Peter shares how he's made his career his own and the journey that has lead him to the opportunities he has today. Peter is as open and conversational as one can be as we dive into topics that include overcoming injury, recommendations to those considering traveling as a dance teacher, views on what his generation wants for dance, his dreams as a dancer, booking work before having representation, and more. Also, we talk about love, dating, and all that good stuff. After all, dancers are people too... right? Trust, we had fun on this episode and did not hold back one bit!

Episode 93 delivers a candid and poignant conversation with last week's guest, Amy Allen (Usher, Chris Brown, Britney Spears, Aaliyah, and more) and her mother, Betty Allen. As our interview with Amy was coming to an end, we found it impossible to ignore the fact that her mother, Betty, was in the room with morsels of insight to share. The conversation starts with a simple question: "What would you like to acknowledge Amy for..." and flourishes into a talk around opinions, nature vs. nurture, and the darling dynamic that occurs between a parent and their child (whom is now a grown woman, but still... we are all someone's child). Trust, it was informative and precious in such a way, that it demanded an episode of its own. Following the episode is a motivational and personal segment from your host, Galit Friedlander.

We are surely starting off the year with a bang! Credits include a plethora of high-end work, including dancing with artists such as Chris Brown, Pharrell, Justin Bieber, Ciara, and so many more. She's a dancer's dancer, intellectual AF, and humble foreal foreal. We had to do this as a two-parter as the content of our conversation was so rich and works through so many years of life. Part 1 covers Lindsay's multicultural background: moving from Paris to the U.S. and between NorCal and SoCal. Linsday opens up about her dynamic early years as an ice-skating, unstoppable child, and the choice she made to change focus as she entered her teen years. Lindsay's confidence and vulnerability make her immediately easy to connect with. We talk about bullying, how to stay confident regardless of surrounding energies, how anxiety can have a silver lining, failing upwards, and a discussion around not shrinking yourself for others. Listen, enjoy, rate, share. This podcast is intended to be an EXPERIENCE. Unfiltered, unapolog

Episode 92 sits us down with Amy Allen, the savvy and inspired dance extraordinaire with credits that include Jason Derulo, Chris Brown, Usher, Beyoncé, SNL, American Idol, Pitch Perfect, 2 VMA nominated videos for choreography and way way more. What adds a unique dimension to Amy is that she has worked closely with so many of the best of best within the dance world's top tier creatives, including Fatima, Hi-Hat, Rich and Tone, Jamaica, and Aakomon. Amy's warmth and openness lends itself to an interview with breadth and depth, as we explore topics that include: recommendations on staying fresh and recharging within a busy career, her path as an assistant to the best of the best, what Amy learned specifically from the most successful choreographers/leaders of the dance industry she has worked closely with, her unparalleled diversity in training, the injuries that she has had to overcome, empowering thoughts around aging in the industry, the recreations of self she has had throughout her career (and continues t

Welcome to episode 91 of the DanceSpeak podcast with our guest: Jojo Diggs. When Jojo gave us her first interview in 2016 (episode 15), she blew us away with her unique perspective, clarity and strength in the way she has made many a life-shifting decisions. Two year later, Jojo has moved from L.A. to Vegas, is a member of the esteemed Jabbawockeez cast on the Vegas strip, and has taken on a major focal change from dance dance dance to the psychology of movement, mental health, and coaching. So, naturally, I had to pick her brain. The main points we covered in this dynamic interview include: an empowering view on taking non-dance jobs while pursuing one's career (I lurv this topic), working as dancer on Jabbawockeez and how Jojo (a veteran + seasoned dancer) pulled up for it, learning to enjoy frustration (whoa, chew on that), learning to move through not feeling 'good enough' for a job, choosing to leave Los Angeles, moving to Las Vegas, a conversation around mental health, procrastination, thoughts on peopl

Episode 90 of DanceSpeak brings you a unique delivery of the podcast as a recorded coaching call between professional Life Coach: Tania Friedlander, and Dancer/Choreographer: Bryant Anderson. During the coaching call between Tania and Bryant, common issues that come up when taking the leap to pursue a passion as career, quickly surface and are powerfully explored. Within my 18 years in the dance world (also dabbling in acting) I have heard a plethora of conversations about where people get stuck, and it boils down to a handful of basic themes: struggling to pay the bills while investing time + energy + into working within your desired field, burning out, losing inspiration, fear of having to move back to wherever you came from, not feeling good enough, losing a sense of self while pleasing others, and... well... you get the idea. All of these topics are covered here and Bryant, who vulnerably shares what he is up against, gets empowered around navigating through his circumstances and creating a breakthrough a

Welcome to Episode 89 of the DanceSpeak podcast with the beautiful Jasmine Rafael. You may have seen Jasmine dancing with Ariana Grande on the recent VMA's or in her class videos from Millennium. Of course, I had to geek out a little on Jasmine's teaching and ask her about how she prepares for her classes, etc, but, the heart of this episode lives in us having a REAL human-to-human conversation about the 'less glamorous' aspects that might be harder to discuss in an industry that praises perfection. Jasmine shares about her focus on being a professional dancer in the midst of teaching success and her big move from Los Angeles to New York City, followed by a choice to move back to Los Angeles. This is a brave person right here who takes the reigns on her destiny! We then explore topics that I hear a lot about in confidence, but I'm not sure they are discussed in the open. We talk about depression, addictive patterns, body image, relationships, and being 'in it.' AND, how we can still stay plugged into the wor

Welcome to episode 88 of the DanceSpeak podcast with Mel Mah. As a dancer, credits include Janet Jackson, Justin Bieber, Kanye West, Britney Spears, and more. As Mel has been pursuing directing, in addition to her own projects, she recently assisted the director on the film: The Hate U Give. That's a big deal y'all. This episode covers stories and insights from Mel's experiences as a professional dancer, her passion for mindfulness as a yoga teacher, her journey as a film director, her business life with You Got This Girl, and, life lessons as a human being. From Mel's dance life, she shares what she did to stay working and empowered during the 'slow seasons' as well as her choice to drastically change her look, even if it meant booking less work. We then explore Mel's choice to transition out of dance and into the film world, even if it meant turning down a potential second tour experience with Janet Jackson. Mel shares some of her favorite takeaways from touring with Janet Jackson for over a year (again, be

Welcome to episode 87 of DanceSpeak with Devin Solomon and Jimmy Weeden. Both originally from Indiana, these two friends bring a sense of calm in their demeanor, with a work ethic that is undeniable. I believe that this episode fulfills on the podcast's intention to have listeners feel closer to the guests they listen to and hopefully more connected to the sometimes-enigmatic dance world. Devin and Jimmy discuss their experience of moving away from their hometowns and the cultural differences they noticed. We geek out on the dance styles of the Midwest, pay homage to YouTube and the doors it opened for them, discuss teaching as a passion that is also becoming a trend... We talk about what drives these talented men, their strengths, their weakness, making lemons out of lemonade (hayy), and their biggest lessons on 2018.

Welcome to episode 86 of DanceSpeak with Lauren Ritchie, the host and creator of the Dance Podcast. There is a relatively small number of dance podcast-ers out there, so I was not only geeked to 'meet' Lauren, but dumbfounded to find her to be such a passionate dance educator, with a background in fitness (like me) AND a major care for self-development (like me!). This interview will take you through a deep-dive on how to be a continuously growing dance educator, leader, and/or student in the dance world (and even outside if you apply it to other disciplines). We span topics from how to powerfully deal with unrest in the community, to discussing the concept of 'tribal shaming', and how to choose the right programs to 'grow' your knowledge and self. Of course, I made sure to ask Lauren about her experiences as a dance podcast host, as well as lessons she has learned in this field. We touch on some genuine topics including, an exploration of how staring the mirror for so long (as dancers) can impact the way we

Episode 85 with Tim Milgram (T.Milly Creative) takes you on the journey with one of the most impactful creators behind some of the most popular dance content on your computer, phone, and TV screens. (Yes, I know this is a super bold/blanket statement, but it's true... look up Tim's work). In this episode we cover - Tim quitting his computer programing career to pursue dance - Tim’s transition from dancing professionally to filming - Advice on choosing between dance and other passions - Being from another country and moving around - What Tim finds the most exceptional dancers have in common - What it’s like working for Tim - Growing his brand and from an individual into a company - Tim’s secret dream - How he developed his craft in filming dance - Perspective on what it’s like to be the director on a job - How Tim balances out professional life with personal - The basic film knowledge Tim thinks all dancers should have for social media - How Tim goes about combining the classroom experience with in-studio fili

Episode 84 of DanceSpeak proudly presents a re-release of our 2016 interview with Chuck Maldonado. In this episode, you'll find Chuck Maldonado celebrating his 20th anniversary as a professional in the dance industry. Carrying a resume of over 28 feature films and work on hundreds of television shows, Chuck is clearly someone we can learn a lot from. One of the first jaw-dropping facts I learned in my interview with Chuck, is that he began his career as a professional dancer at 29. With a strong sense of purpose, and unbeatable work ethic, Chuck shares what it took to train himself to the level of his peers and make his dreams tangible. Some of the highlights of this episode include: what has changed in Los Angeles' dance industry in the last 15 years, tips on networking, how Chuck chooses his assistants, a choreographer's perspective on hiring friends, thoughts on having a back-up plan, advice for choreographers and dancers booking work in the industry, recommendations on how a dancer should prepare before m

Welcome to episode 83 of the DanceSpeak podcast where we give you a POWERFUL DanceByte from our 2016 episode with Chuck Maldonado. In this conversation, Chuck shares his jaw-dropping testimony on how his dance career found him in the most unexpected of ways. For more of Chuck's story, check out the full interview re-released as episode 84.

You might know the guest for episode 82, Liana Blackburn, through her body language class, her daily dancer diet Instagram page, or from her abundant resume (credits include Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, Selena Gomez, Glee and more). Regardless of which avenue in Liana's career inspires you most, it is clear in each facet of her life that she cares to empower others and is stopped at nothing in her pursuits. Topics that we explore include: Liana's mindset around goals - Who inspires and has influenced Liana - Intention vs. attention - The approach that transformed Liana’s creative process - The magic of taking an acting class as a dancer - The story behind her sought after body-language class - Building a class from scratch - Brainstorm: How can the health enthusiasts of the dance world unite? - The role nutrition plays in Liana's life and some tips - Where she draws work boundaries and what she’s focused on now - And an in-depth conversation around shifting one's relationship to make-up. Enjoy, and thank you fo

Galen Hooks has a resume and accolades that could make you gasp, pass out, wake up, review, and pass out again. To name a few artists Galen has worked with Janet Jackson, Justin Bieber, Usher, Ne-Yo, on LXD (League of Extraordinary Gentlemen), Dream Girls... Galen has advocated for dancers rights through her 10 years on the Dancers Alliance board and, oh yeah, she has a law degree. Beyond being a unicorn of many talents and super-hero focus, she is a person (a person-unicorn). Galen warmly opens up on many topics including: the boundaries she draws with social media, tips of being sexy with your headshots (if you're going there) without overdoing it or being underwhelming, her recent injury, how she manages wearing so many hats, decision-making, thoughts on burnout and her own experience with ups and downs, who she looks up to, finding love, what being a true professional looks like, her progression from having empty classes to packing them out, and... well... more! Thank you for listening and ENJOY :)

Welcome to episode 80 of DanceSpeak with Christina Shipp, CEO of Accelerated Artist. In this segment we focus on how to powerfully be YOU while thriving in your business/success as an artist. (Also...Christina is really fun to listen to, period... regardless of what you do, she's just that kind of gem). Topics that we cover (some of them, at least) are: GETTING UNSTUCK when you feel you've been taking all of the steps to thrive in your career, figuring out your 'look', how to get back to YOUR essence, self-care, what to do if you have a chip on your shoulder, the benefit of choosing and failing, wearing one hat vs. wearing many hats, how to powerfully show up at an audition when you are told to “show up as you” and you still want to stick out, how to be honest with where are you emotionally, and more. Listen, enjoy, and let us know what you think!

Episode 79 with Gigi Torres is HERE, woot woot, and ready to give you a deep and guided look into how Gigi built her career as a world-renowned teacher, choreographer and community builder. What I found so fulfilling in my interview with Gigi was the core story of how a determined person in the dance world can make their own lane. Some of the highlights of the episode include: how Gigi manages her projects and continues to build, branding advice, the conversation around BURNOUT (how it happened to Gigi, what she learned, and recommendations), the inspiration around Gigi's intensive and events, how Gigi developed and continues to develop her business savvy, recommendations for teachers looking to get more work, what Gigi has observed as a difference between those who last for the long haul in the dance world and those who do not and well... more. Thank you for listening and ENJOY!

Welcome to DanceSpeak episode 78 with Mykell Wilson (Justin Bieber, Prince, Gnarles Barkley). I feel that this episode can really serve as motivation to a person in any given field, and feel so lucky that the dance world has so much of him. As a dancer, choreographer, public speaker, singer, teacher, and author, Mykell’s talent, tenacity, and grit, shows what an epic work ethic looks like and what it can do. Some of the topics we cover include: what lead Mykell into teaching, how Mykell transitioned into dance and experienced success in a relatively short period of time (note: pay attention to how Mykell approached his career change), owing your purpose and how hard to push, starting a professional dance career at age 23.5, what Mykell has observed about some of his awesome and successful peers, how Mykell’s book came to be, and more. Thanks for listening!