DANCE +

Dana Wilson hosts Alison Faulk on the Words That Move Me Podcast this week! Alison has done it all from dancing with some of the biggest pop stars (Pink, Madonna, Britney Spears, and more), to creating a strip empire with Magic Mike the Film and Magic Mike Live. Alison took some time out of her busy schedule to geek out on dance, talk about what makes something sexy, and she gives us her secret to...

Dana Wilson hosts award-winning choreographer/ director team Keone & Mari Madrid on the Words That Move Me Podcast this week! Their new feature, “Space & Time” @spaceandtimefilm, is centered around grief so be prepared to feel all the feels and have your notes ready for all the juicy (and very smart) details of their creative process. Stick around till the end for a cameo by Wrist Roll the...

Finally! This week, Dana Wilson reacts to 6 of the funkiest dance videos from across the internet, including one from her deeply funky dance hero, Yoshie. We have talked about making this video for a while now, and it was worth the wait! Please enjoy Dana’s various facial contortions and involuntary outbursts.  Watch the full video here.   Show Notes: Here are all the videos from this episode: G-S...

Dana Wilson hosts Kat Burns on the Words That Move Me Podcast this week! This is Kat’s third time stepping into the WTMM hot seat, and we are not sure you’re ready for how smart, genuine, and FUNNY Kat is. Between laughs, you’ll catch them in conversation about The Choreographer’s Guild (which Kat is president of), self-tape pet peeves, some of Kat’s personal goals, and a fantastic question from a...

Dana Wilson hosts Rotem Alima on the Words That Move Me Podcast this week! Rotem is an Academy Award-winning Producer featured in Forbes 30 under 30 in 2016. This episode gives you the script for saying yes to your dreams when others tell you no. Get ready to be mesmerized by Rotem’s determination and roller coaster ride of making her dreams come true. Fill up your motivation cup and enjoy listeni...

Dana Wilson hosts Alexander Chung on the Words That Move Me Podcast this week! Alex has 500k YouTube subscribers and even more jokes. In this episode, we talk about what creativity is to us and how we create work and a sense of community. We also dig into the mentorship programs that have taken the dance community by storm. Find out why Alex runs his the way that he does and what Dana thinks about...

If you think artists (like choreographers and dancers) will be the last to be affected (read: taken out) by AI, this episode is for you. Thanks to my work with the Choreographers Guild, I am learning a lot about artificial intelligence and what it means for dancers and choreographers. This week, I’m sharing (almost) everything I’ve learned so the dance community can have an empowered voice in the...

Dana Wilson co-hosts the Words That Move Me Podcast with Ava J. Bernstine-Mitchell this week! They cross-interview each other in celebration of 200 EPISODES OF WTMM! We go way back to  #JustinTimberlake’s Future Love Sex Show world tour; we talk tips for women interested in working in Television/ Film and the role of “being likable,” we talk about being a guest in Hip Hop culture, and we gush abou...

Dana Wilson hosts Marlee Hightower on the Words That Move Me Podcast this week! During her quick trip to LA, Marlee sat in the “hot seat” to talk about hip hop, social media, Motiv Dance, training/ teaching, and what she believes makes the mark of a good class! We also dig into the role of honesty and persistence and how her rebellion in dance has led her to where she is today. Watch this full epi...

This week, Dana Wilson hosts Yoe Apolinario on the Words That Move Me Podcast! They talk about Yoe’s new book “So You Want to Move to LA?” and some surprising stories that connect them (including finding out they were let go from a job on Instagram… #OUCH). Listen in on Yoe’s experience dancing with Usher, the transition from competition studio to Los Angeles, and a good old-fashioned game of fu*k...

This week, Dana Wilson hosts Rhapsody James on the Words That Move Me Podcast! Rhapsody is one of the most mentioned people on #WTMM because of Dana’s legendary mime audition story. Hear about it from Rhap’s POV and get the scoop on how they both get the most out of themselves and the people they work with!  This episode has a high dynamic range, from light and laughter to the depths of creative d...

This week, Dana Wilson hosts Galen Hooks on the Words That Move Me Podcast! This episode is like having a chat with your hero and your best friend all at once! We talk about Galen’s awesome new On Demand lessons and how they’re different from training in person. We dive deep into metrology and where Galen stands on how choreographers are organizing! AND we introduce a new tool for communicating yo...

We’re more than halfway into January; how are your New Year’s resolutions??? I’m not antagonizing you. I’m WITH YOU! I’ve fumbled and recovered more times than I can count, but guess what? I’m not mad at myself! I feel FLOW. I feel compassion. I feel a forward momentum that is sustainable, and I’m here to help you find it, too. This episode dives into resolutions, goals, and the one actionable ste...

Executive Assistant and Editor Riley Higgins joins Dana Wilson on the Words That Move Me Podcast to wrap up the 2023 season! Celebrity crushes will be named, favorite music videos will be recounted, some loving body talk will be talked, and plenty of laughs will be shared (at the appropriate time)! Watch this episode HERE Show Notes: Listen to ALL of our 2023 episodes here Watch our newest 2023 ep...

This episode is a grab bag full of solid gold as we ask every single guest from 2023 for one bad habit they want to kick… And why! Watch this episode here. Show Notes: Listen to ALL of our 2023 episodes here Watch our newest 2023 episodes here For more DANA For coaching with me, join the WTMM COMMUNITY  To donate to WTMM through our Fiscal Sponsor, THE DANCE RESOURCE CENTER To shop for GOODIES &am...

Dana Wilson hosts Robert Green this week on the Words That Move Me Podcast! You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you’ll want to make stuff because Dana and Robert talk about how #FEELINGS fuel our art and lives. In this episode, Robert gets very emotional in sharing about a recent car accident and the details of how his mother’s sacrifices shaped his life. Feelings have carried Robert through his career...

Dana Wilson hosts Max Pham this week on the Words That Move Me Podcast! Max has been climbing the dance industry ladder, stopping off to dance on tour with Ariana Grande and Justin Timberlake and to choreograph in Netflix’s Dance 100. Max and her talk about life after the high-up and glorious moments and what it looks like to climb back down that ladder.   Watch this episode HERE   Show Notes: Con...

Dana Wilson hosts Randi Freitas this week on the Words That Move Me Podcast! This conversation *flows* from Breaking at the Olympics, the range of the queer experience, and approaching uncomfortable conversations about identity on set. Randi, you are truly one of a kind, and she will gladly lend you a tampon any day of the week/month. Watch this episode HERE. Show Notes: Take class with Randi at M...

Building and maintaining healthy relationships is a critical component of longevity and fulfillment in the entertainment industry. In this episode, I share my favorite tool for tending to challenging relationships (including the one you have with yourself). Whether you are on set, on stage, or on the street, this tool will restore your capacity to love yourself and others. Take the empowered posit...

Dana Wilson hosts Lyric Cruz this week on the Words That Move Me Podcast! All you need to know about Lyrik is that he’s a proud Puerto Rican who shines brighter than the sun!… They also talk about his very atypical experience growing up in Chicago, breaking cycles of body shaming, dance activism with the Choreographers Guild, and the importance of mentorship. So, settle in and enjoy the cup of ene...

Dana Wilson hosts Tobias Ellehammer this week on the Words That Move Me Podcast! Join us as we dig into Tobias’s creative path and process, from breaking in Denmark to breaking boundaries in Los Angeles and beyond.  Tobias’s body of work is singular and spectacular. His choreography is built to leave your jaw (and possibly your body) on the floor. His mind is built to tell stories. His spirit is b...

Dana Wilson hosts Zuce Morales this week on the Words That Move Me Podcast! Zuce (a Locker, Whacker, and Popper and beyond) talks about the meaning of funk and what it was like to win her first Red Bull Dance Your Style battle. We also dig into what it means to be an immigrant woman leading the street dance community in Los Angeles. Get ready for the funk, the whole funk, and nothing but the funk....

Dana Wilson hosts Codie Wiggins this week on the Words That Move Me Podcast! These stories about dancers booking world tours with A-List pop stars will make your jaw drop (and inspire you to get out there and book you one!). We also dish on equitable rates for dancers, and who is a better dancer, Justin Timberlake or Usher? Watch this episode on YouTube. Show Notes: Connect with Codie Wiggins on I...

We couldn’t start the season off stronger than with long-time frientor (friend + mentor) and choreographer extraordinaire Marty Kudelka. I’ve been learning from Marty since I was 16 years old and I am so thrilled that I get to continue to learn from him. If you’re a geek about dance, if you love to laugh, and if you love digging up the past, this episode is for you. Show Notes: Listen to Marty’s f...

Hello, and welcome BACK to Words That Move Me! We’ve been on “break” and working to create a video component for the podcast! Why? Because dancers and choreographers deserve a voice, AND they deserve to be seen! I am committed to sharing the mic and shining light on my community on and off the podcast, but I am especially proud of what we have built here, and I am THRILLED to get to share it all w...