DanceSpeak

Episode 26 of DanceSpeak proudly presents an interview with the highly respected, Chuck Maldonado. Celebrating his 20th anniversary as a professional in the dance industry, Chuck has a completely unexpected story, that will for sure inspire. 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-dr...

We have made it to DanceSpeak's 25th episode, and I am proud to have Michael Silas as our guest for this milestone. Known for his 5 years dancing with Lady Gaga, Michael was born in Germany and moved to Texas in his earlier years, where he began his career in dance. In his teen years, he discovered his inner dancer in the most unexpected way, and from there, it was clear that destiny had something...

In Episode 23 of DanceSpeak, you will meet choreographer and mega teacher, Antoine Troupe. Quickly, one learns that Antoine goes beyond the dance realm and is not-so-secretly a motivational force. But what is the path that lead to the Antoine, the leader, the social media maven, being the person we recognize him as today? Our conversation sheds light on his journey from the Bay Area, through reali...

From the underground battle world, to member of the acclaimed Beat Freaks, Randi's force and skill level as a dancer is undeniable. In Episode 22 of DanceSpeak we talk training, entering the industry, and leaving a positive impact on the scene. Randi speaks on The Dance Fight, a beloved dance event that she co-created in Los Angeles, what it took for her to transition into professionally dancing,...

DanceSpeak Episode 21 is a game-changer because at last, we begin to unlock the world of the Agent. Within the professional dance world, agencies and their agents bridge a gap between dancer and opportunity. While people have many thoughts and ideas as to what the agent does and is supposed to do, the reality can grateful differ. Andrew Jacobs spent 11 years total (2004-2015) at the reputable, wor...

At the pinnacle of pop's reemergence, with artists such as Britney Spears and Chrstina Aguilera at the forefront, there were a select few dancers who traveled the world on their major tours, and at front/center, was Leo Moctezuma. DanceSpeak's 20th episode gives us an intimate look at Leo, the ultimate dancer, whom began his career in his teens with artists such as Ricky Martin. Leo continued his...

Craig Hollaman, of the duo Lindsey B. And Craig H., may claim to be boring, but really he is one of the most humble and coolest dudes around town. You might recognize his and Lindsey's work as choreographers with artists such as Cee-Lo, Justin Bieber, John Legend, Usher, or on T.V. shows such as Face Off, X-Factor, and 2 Broke Girls, or with brands such as Nissan, Evian, and Apple... you get the i...

In part II of the interview with Manwé, we get more in-depth with on-the-job experiences. You almost feel like you are in the room with Michael Jackson when Manwé speaks on his experiences rehearsing with the legend himself. We get awesome insights on Lady Gaga before she became the famous star we know her as today. Manwé speaks on falling in love in the midst of his career, and is unafraid to spe...

In Episode 17 of DanceSpeak, we get the unique story of Manwé, who quite appropriately, was born (or at least the water broke) while his mother was teaching a ballet class. As Manwé describes his early intensive training that he attributes must of his dance success to, we also learn fun facts such as... that there is a day in the Bay Area that is Manwé Sauls-Addison day, that he his is white water...

Tia Rivera is an entrepreneur, motivator, dancer with credits that would make your jaw drop, recently choreographed for VH1's Hip Hop Honors and she JUST turned 26. In this episode of DanceSpeak, we learn what it means to work SMART in the dance industry. Tia breaks down her daily routines, goal setting, and we get a look at her process that leads to success in the highly competative dance world....

Jojo Diggs is a world-renowned teacher and freestyle dancer. With a focus on House Dance, she has traveled across the continents sharing her art and gift of moving others. Putting her passion to contribute to others over 'looking good,' Jojo gives us a boldly honest look at her path in the dance world. Once dance found Jojo in Virginia, her love for movement carried her across the country, eventua...

Meet Emeroy Bernardo. He owns his own social media marketing company, has a family, and to top it off, is a B-boy/Locker who travels doing what he loves. Oh, and of course, he also worked a 9-5 in his 'previous life.' Today Emeroy is here to sharer his expertise on social media, as it has become a major tool for dancers, teachers, and choreographers. With different platforms available and the worl...

Not only will Eden Shabtai's credits make your jaw drop, but her resilience and journey to a consistent dream-worthy career in the dance industry proves that one does not need to sacrifice their values to 'make it' in entertainment. Eden shares the unbelieveable story of her beginning in dance and the work ethic that lead to choreographing for artists such as Chris Brown. For professional dancers,...

Truth be told, there is no one title that can do justice to Episode 12 of DanceSpeak with Aisha Francis. As a teacher/movement coach/choreographer who has a jaw-dropping resume that she started as a dancer, Aisha walks us through her journey through the ever-evolving dance industry. Some of the topics we go over are: performance over perfection, working your brand around your target jobs, how Aish...

This episode of DanceSpeak 'goes there' with a no holds barred conversation on the dance world. Jay Chris has accomplished a lot as a high-level dancer and leader of his own dance company. It is a treat to get his thoughts on the gambit of what dancers out here are talking about in our daily lives. Keep in mind, opinions are what we are providing here, opening up the conversation on topics such as...

Nellie delivers a very honest and vulnerable interview on her story, giving you insight on the perserverance that it takes to be a working dancer who stays true to herself. She speaks about pushing through personal circumstances to maker her dream career happen and all the "Noes" that lead to the "Yes" of her dancing on stage in Jennifer Lopez's Vegas Residency. We discuss femininity, freestyle cu...

Derrell Bullock, the dancer, teacher, choreographer, gives us the story of his journey (thus far) from quitting his 9-5 and the process it took to become a working dancer. This interview gets into the persistence that Derrell put into his career and importance that building professional relationships over time has had on his success.

Kaity Martinez chose her path as a professional dancer at 21 and has never looked back. In this episode of DanceSpeak, some of the topics we cover are how Kaity strategized her dance training to prepare for her professional goals, how she developed her signature look, and staying grounded in the hectic and demanding world of dance auditions. This episode combines branding and marketing with real l...

Tyrone 'The Bone' Proctor claimed his career on Soul Train after flying from Philly to LA with a declaration that he would make it. This episode of DanceSpeak takes a look at one of the most prominent Soul Train dancers and what happened behind the scenes of this iconic show. Find out how Tyrone defines Waackin and the social climate that influenced the movement and the dancers of the time. Tyrone...

Ever wonder what it is like to be on the creative team for Usher? Or how a dancer stays at peak performance condition and ready to book a 90 minute show? The difference between dancing/creating for an artist versus film? Codie Wiggins (Usher, Beyonce, "Get On Up," "Pitch Perfect 2," Jason Derulo, Chris Brown, and more...) has been building his epic career since being 'discovered' as a teenager in...

In this second part of the Ade Chike interview, we get a very honest and sobering look at the reality that many dancers face with negotiating contracts for their jobs. From transitioning out of the SYTYCD limelight to the world of FELA, Ade generously shares some of his most difficult insustry moments and the performance that almost cost him his Broadway debut. Learn how Ade stays ready for major...

Imagine being a working dancer without auditioning... while running a thriving business, traveling the world, and being an involved mother and wife. Sounds too good to be true? In this week's episode of DanceSpeak, I sit down with Ebonee Arielle (founder of Show Off Dance, America's Best Dance Crew Alum, and more...), who has managed all of the above, and we find out what has taken to all work out...

In this episode of DanceSpeak, So You Think You Can Dance alum, Ade Chike Torbert, shares the stories before, in between, and behind the string of success he has experienced over the years. Adechike begins painting a powerful picture of the difficult early lessons that molded his unstoppable work ethic, and all of the times he persevered through unimaginable circumstances. The interview I had with...

The transition from dancing to acting is one that many people in our industry dream of. From spending years in the dance industry to having lead supporting roles in multiple Spike Lee projects, Michelle Mitchenor has gone from successful dancer to actress in a relatively short period of time. In her interview, we begin to delve into Michelle's experience spanning different genres of entertainment...

For many people, pursuing dance as a profession is considered taboo. He/she might be a rare breed, but the dancer who is consistently working TOP jobs DOES exist, and we having one right here: Tre Holloway. In this podcast, we tap into what has had Tre working consistently in the commercial dance industry for the last 10 years.