DANCE +
The dance podcast where movers and shakers like you get the information and inspiration you need to navigate your creative career with clarity and confidence. Master mover, Dana Wilson, taps into 20 years of industry experience, and talks to some of the best in the entertainment biz, who have been there and done that so that you don’t have to… do it alone.
276. DANCE + FANTASY NIGHT
This is DANCE + Fantasy Night
Coming to you LIVEish from CLI Conservatory, with a story I NEED to tell you while it’s still fresh in my mind. It's a tribute to my acting teacher Gary Imhoff, whose class taught me that losing can be winning, and that the greatest gift we can give is to support each other in the pursuit of our wildest dreams.
We explore:
How Gary's class and this once-a-year tradition rewired my relationship to failure and gave me the confidence to finally cal...275.5. DANCE + NICK DRAGO
This is DANCE + Nick Drago
Nick Drago holds the honor of being this podcast's very first guest — Episode 0.5, the audition episode, back when I wasn't even sure this whole thing would work. A dancer, writer, and producer with 20+ years in the industry (think La La Land, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Glee, Dancing with the Stars, and about a hundred more), Nick is a walking case study in "just do stuff," imposter syndrome be damned. We sat down to talk about banter as a survival skill, the many different ways to "make the sausage," and why sometimes yo...
275.DANCE + MARIE SPIELDENNER
Marie Spieldenner is a self-proclaimed “substitue that stays”. She's assisted and/ or danced for todays biggest artists/ directors/ campaigns and she is a brilliant example of how supporting others can fuel support of yourself. We sat down to talk about support systems, psychology, and all about the gig that made her unshakable on set (spoiler, it’s almost certainly not the gig you think it is).
We explore:
What it took to save a shot with a 40-person cast at 6 am The reward system of the entertainment industry The b...274. DANCE + THE SEAWEED SISTERS LIVE Q&A
This is DANCE + WEED OH NO! The live Q&A
Most companies build a show. The Seaweed Sisters built a whole world — a language, a color-coded family, a cloud that pops out babies — and then invited an audience into their room to ask about it. Jillian Meyers, Megan Lawson and myself were joined by our Executive Producer, live at the LA Theater Center on the closing weekend of Weed Oh No! for an open Q&A with the very audience that just watched them do it — thirteen years of Blue, Pink, and Green distilled into 8...
273. DANCE + ALAIN HURRIKANE
This is DANCE + Hurrikane
Most dancers battle to win. Alain aka “Hurrikane” Lauture battles because he is in love— deeply in love— with the music, with dance, and with the practice of acceptance. Listen in on his journey from being a kid from Port-au-Prince who only danced alone, to sharing stages with Madonna, MTV, Samsung, and winning battles like Juste Debout, Hip Hop Internationals, and Summer Dance Forever. Hurrikane joined me this week to talk about stillness as dialogue, how Maya Angelou changed his mind about judgement, and why he is NOT Locking…
W...
272. DANCE + DANIEL “CLOUD” CAMPOS: Breathing Life Into Your Work
This is DANCE + DANIEL “CLOUD” CAMPOS
Most people find one creative medium and stay. Cloud Campos found dance — then learned stop-motion, animation, PLUS directing because he refused to let a story outrun his tools. He joined me this week to talk about premiering unreleased work at CLOUDFEST, real budgets, and the dog slide that had an entire room convinced it was rotoscoped.
Spoiler: it wasn't. It was muscle memory.
We explore:
The festival Cloud built himself and WHY Why freestyle dance is the...271. DANCE + REBRANDING: Know When to Pivot
This is DANCE + REBRANDING.
This episode is a masterclass in when and HOW to pivot using our very own podcast as the case study. I'm telling you why, why NOW, and HOW I moved from “Words That Move Me” to DANCE +
Here’s what you can expect from our pivot:
Same great content, new name, logo, iconography, and then some!
Spoiler: Rebrands are as much MIND MANAGEMENT as they are BRAND MANAGEMENT. Pivots aren’t just about new directions; they are an exercise in negotiating where you put your weight. They're a conversat...
270. Bret Easterling: In J.O.D. We Trust
Bret Easterling has spent his entire life (even pre-birth!) dancing, and his entire career building worlds on stage, on screen, and inside the communities that make dance possible. A producer, Juilliard-trained and award winning choreographer, former Batsheva performer, founder of LGBTQ+ nonprofit BEMOVING, and one half of the creative duo EICHTERLING, Bret joined me this week to talk about what it actually takes to make a dance film, why the logistics always threaten to swallow the artistry, and what happens when you let something be easy.
We explore:
Bret’s new fi...269: Tali: Representation, Range, and the Right Job for You
Tali has spent 20+ years at every level of the dance world, with credits ranging from Rihanna and P!nk to the West End production of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. She joined me this week to talk about what it really means to advocate for choreographers, why freestyle is one of the most advanced skills in the room, and how a single conversation got one of her clients double the offer.
Spoiler: Productions will lowball until someone teaches them not to. Tali's decided that's part of her job...
268.Karen Chuang: Follow the Spark
Karen Chuang is a dancer, teacher, and choreographer based in Los Angeles who has toured with Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, Nicki Minaj, Kanye West, taught across nine countries, and built a career that moves fluidly between the commercial and contemporary dance worlds.
Spoiler: Excellence alone won't get you (and *keep* you) the gig!
We explore:
The Jack Johnson T-shirt moment. A moment when the most important lesson of your career arrives in a phone call you never expected.
“Wherever you go, there yo...
267. Jackie Sleight: Your Favorite Dance Teachers’ Favorite Dance Teacher
Jackie Sleight is a choreographer, founder of LA Dance Magic, and founder and co-director of LA Jazz Company, and an example of what happens when a woman decides NOT TO STOP!
Spoiler: Your favorite dance teachers’ favorite dance teacher didn't get there by playing it safe.
We explore:
Nine recessions and still standing. Why Jackie believes that choosing to do something else isn't failure; it's moving forward, and what it actually takes to stay in the dance industry through every economic wave that tries to knock you ou...266. WEED OH NO! The Making of The Seaweed Sisters’ first LIVE SHOW!
WEED OH NO! The Seaweed Sisters' first-ever live show, premiering this June at the Los Angeles Theater Center with @latinotheaterco. TICKETS ARE ON SALE HERE
This week, special guest host Emily Wanserski — executive producer of the show — brings @TheSeaweedSisters together to pull back the curtain on how it all gets made. What the show actually is, what it feels like, and what you can expect when you walk into their bubble.
We explore:
What WEED OH NO! actually is: A magical show-and-tell. A talent show. Weeds...265.Marissa Labog: The Art of Hitting the Ground
This is my episode on what happens when someone makes falling off buildings look like an art form.
Marissa Labog is a dancer, stunt performer, filmmaker, and mom, and she joined me this week to talk about something I didn't expect: how stunts and dance are actually the same conversation, just with better padding.
Spoiler: the scariest part of doing something dangerous isn't the danger. It's skipping a step.
We explore:
The stunt that had no rehearsal. What happened when Marissa landed in...264. The Feeling That Feels Like the End
This is my episode on the pattern that lives between your worst feeling and your best one.
I'm going solo this week to talk about something I discovered mid-move — four steps up a staircase, a king-size mattress, and a full emotional spiral that somehow led to one of my favorite realizations yet.
Spoiler: your worst feeling isn't the end. It's actually the beginning.
We explore:
The mattress that broke me (and then didn't). What happened when Riley and I couldn't muscle a king-size ma...263. Jamal Sims & Will Bell: Titles and Credit for Choreography Teams
This is my episode on Credits, Collaboration, and the Industry Conversations We've Been Waiting to Have
I sit down with choreographer Jamal Sims and associate choreographer Will Bell to talk about what it actually looks like when the dance industry takes care of its own — and what happens when it doesn't.
Spoiler: the best collaborations aren't built on titles. They're built on trust.
We explore:
The meet-cute that almost didn't happen. How juggling Beauty and the Beast and Encanto at the Hollywood Bowl si...262. Offset Med: The Collaborative Approach to Getting Better
This is my episode on Healing, Collaboration, and the Care You Didn't Know You Were Missing
In this episode, I sit down with the team at Offset Med, the referral-only practice that's quietly taking care of some of the hardest-working bodies in the industry, to talk about what it actually looks like when healthcare meets you where you are.
Spoiler: the best care isn't a diagnosis. It's a discovery process.
We explore:
Activity-based care vs. cookie-cutter treatment. Why your ankle sprain and your friend's ankle sprain are not the same injury and...261. The Confidence Episode
This is my episode on Confidence and what’s keeping you from feeling it!
In this solo episode, Dana (movement director, artist developer, and your unofficial confidence coach) breaks down the one thing her students, pop stars, and actors keep asking for, and why they've been thinking about it all wrong.
Spoiler: confidence isn't a skill you build. It's a feeling you're willing to have.
We explore:
Task-based confidence vs. self-confidence. Why the version of confidence most of us are chasing is actually th...260. Paul Turner: Reality (TV) is My Life
This is Paul Turner on Feedback, Family, and Finding Your People in Unfamiliar Territory
In this episode, Performer, Reality Star, “Production Fairy” and Producer, Paul Turner, shares his perspective on compassion, improvisation, and building creative community in spaces that demand instant connection. From competing on Survivor Europe with two weeks' notice and a rainbow tank top to launching Where's My Phone Productions, Paul reveals what it means to give feedback that builds people up instead of breaking them down. We explore:
Criticism with compassion over criticism with a period. How stern feed...259. Celebrating FIVE years of WTMM!
Celebrate FIVE years of Words That Move Me with Producer & Host, Dana Wilson, joined by Executive Assistant & Editor Riley Higgins!
This episode is a wild ride including:
Friends drinking adult hot cocoa A trip down memory lane of the last five years of the podcast! How we handled grit vs grace this year Our essential travel items PLUS a story that will have your heart beating out of your chest!
Thank you listener/viewer for FIVE WHOLE YEARS! We couldn’t do it without you. Here’s to five more!
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258. When Are You The Most Yourself? Our 2025 Question of the Year!
257. Sienna Lyons: Strength,Sensuality, Specialization
This is Sienna Lyons on Sensuality, Specialization, and the Strength to Sustain
In this episode, Choreographer, Educator, and Dancer Sienna Lyons shares her perspective on power, versatility, and longevity in an industry that often demands everything at once. From backup dancing for JLo and Taylor Swift to choreographing for Gwen Stefani and The Masked Singer, Sienna reveals what it means to command attention without giving everything away. We explore:
The art of the tease over the reveal. Why she gravitates toward the "don't look at me, but lo...
256. Tracy Phillips: Humility, Hollywood, and The Roosevelt Hotel
255. Notes on Leadership for Leaders with Dr. Arnel Calvario Ripkens
This is Dr. Arnel Calvario Ripkens on conscious leadership, cultural stewardship, and the dance program that says “yes” when others say “no”.
In this episode, dancer, leader, and Doctor of Occupational Therapy Arnel Calvario Ripkens shares three decades of wisdom on building community, honoring roots, and creating space for everybody. We explore:
The antidote to lonely leadership. Why "you're not alone" is the first thing every leader needs to hear, the power of reciprocal mentorship relationships, and how mission statements become your compass when organizations grow and evolve. Conscious cultural...254. Will Johnston: Originality, Influence and the Proofread Process
This is Will Johnston on new projects, originality, and the moment in a lunge that changed everything.
In this episode, choreographer and director Will Johnston discusses his creative process, artistic influence, and the evolution of his work, from competitive dance beginnings to directing music videos for major artists. We explore:
The choreography of numbness through cathartic movement. How his film "Pepper" explores over-consumption and paralysis, when the body holds chaos and vibration even when it can't move, and what happens to our vessels when the stimulation stops. Originality, influence, and the proofread process. Whether truly original...253. Coming Full Circle with Keone Madrid & The Full Circle Boys
This is The Full Circle Boys & Keone Madrid on evolution, trust, and what becomes possible when creative roles shift.
In this episode, The Full Circle Boys and choreographer Keone Madrid discuss their collaboration journey—from DIY beginnings to finding their distinct lanes. We explore:
The sonic vision of a modern American boy band. How their creative sessions revealed a sound and aesthetic that broke from traditional boy band templates. The power of role clarity and creative trust. How the group transitioned from being hands-on choreographers juggling multiple responsibilities to focusing on music while trusting Keone completely. Cr...252. WHEN, Not IF Injury Happens: Lessons in Resistance
This is an episode on injury, resistance, and the thoughts that become available after you stop fighting what is.
In this episode, Dana shares her first-ever back injury at 39 and the 4 key lessons that came with it. We explore:
The non-negotiable truth about injury. Why pretending you're not hurt serves no one, no job is worth pushing through real pain, and "if" you'll get injured is actually "when", even if you shop exclusively at Whole Foods and still manage to scrape your knee in Crocs Separating physical pain from emotional shame. How we compound very real...251. Mel Mah: Dance as Energy, Not Identity
This is Mel Mah on intuition, container-shifting, and letting dance lead you to your voice.
In this episode, Mel Mah, writer, director, producer, former professional dancer, and internationally renowned yoga teacher, shares her journey from dancing for icons like Janet Jackson to directing her first feature film. We explore:
The art of creative incubation. Why Mel treats her work like birthing a child, protecting ideas in their vulnerable early stages, and the deep meditation required to step back from your own material and see it objectively, especially when you're both writer and director Dance as energy...250. The Business Transition of Monsters of Hip-Hop
This is Andy Funk and Jeremy Keeton on legacy, transition, and the next chapter for Monsters of Hip Hop.
In this episode, Andy Funk, founder of Monsters of Hip Hop, and Jeremy Keeton, founder of Adreneline, sit down to discuss one of dance education's most significant transitions. As Andy passes the torch of his iconic brand to Jeremy, they explore:
The catalysts for major life transitions. How the loss of Andy's father prompted deep reflection on priorities, family, and the desire to explore new challenges beyond what he and his team have built over the years ...249. Brinn Nicole: Heels and Motherhood as Pathways to Empowerment
This is Brinn Nicole on evolution, authenticity, and redefining success in dance.
In this episode, professional choreographer and Heels dance instructor Brinn Nicole—creator of the Pumpfidence—opens up about the profound shift from industry ambition to inner transformation. Brinn, whose work treats Heels dance as a pathway to emotional development and empowerment, explores:
The evolution of artistic drive—how her focus transitioned from "racking up credits" and booking tours to tapping into her feelings, being a working mom, and witnessing the freedom her work brings to others Building sustainable creative careers—the strategic pivot that led her...248. Moncell Durden: 2.5 Million Years of Dance
This is Moncell Durden on dance education, culture, appropriation, and activism.
In this episode, renowned dance educator and ethnographer Moncell Durden, professor of dance for 22 years and founder of INTANGIBLE ROOTS, is back on the podcast and challenges fundamental assumptions about dance history and pedagogy. Moncell, whose groundbreaking documentary "Everything Remains Raw" was featured at international film festivals and whose work spans from Mop Top Crew to academic institutions, explores:
The house music revolution—why there are no "steps" in authentic house dance, how hip-hop dancers appropriated and codified a free-form club culture that was never mea...247. The Reel Response: Parents of IG Speak Their Truth
246. Will Loftis: Creativity as an Act of Service
This is Will Loftis on creativity as an act of service, finding your personal "in," and the Adele approach to sustainable artistry!
In this episode, visionary choreographer and creative director Will Loftis—fresh off his Hollywood Music Video Award nomination for Ariana Grande's "Yes, And?" and his work on the iconic Wicked films—shares wisdom from the biggest stages in entertainment. Will, whose movement has brought life to everything from Met Gala performances to major film musicals, explores:
The personal "in" philosophy—how working with director John Chu on Wicked taught him that every project demands findin...245. Taya Lee: Game Changer
This is Taya Lee on assistant choreography, the clarity of movement, and learning while earning in the dance industry!
In this episode, professional dancer and choreographer Taya Lee takes us from her San Diego roots to assisting on Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter Tour and dancing with Doechii. Taya, whose credits span MTV Movie & TV Awards performances to standing in for Missy Elliott, explores:
The evolution of assistant choreography—how stepping into rooms with legends like Tyrik Patterson means being ready when "choreographer" in your title suddenly demands you create those crucial 8 counts, and learning that every cre...244. Kid David: Beliefs, Breaking, and Broadcasting
Kid David on breaking, terrifying tour stories, his Emmy-winning broadcast coverage of the Olympics, and finding freedom through mastery!
In this episode, professional B-boy and breaking commentator Kid David (David Shreibman) takes us from the streets where he discovered breaking to the biggest stage in sports—the 2024 Paris Olympics. The Emmy-winning commentator, whose credits span the Step Up film series to NBC's Olympic coverage, explores:
The art of "forgetting" your technique—how spending decades mastering footwork, glides, and freezes is ultimately about trusting your body so completely that you can stop thinking and start truly listening, crea...243. Dance Your Mission Statement with Kai Martinez
Kai Martinez on marketing, empowering women through choreography, jealousy, Anderson. Paak, and all things Encanto!
In this episode, accomplished dancer and choreographer Kai Martinez shares her journey from passionate performer to industry innovator, revealing how clarity of purpose transforms both artistry and career trajectory. The Latina powerhouse, whose credits span from Christina Aguilera and Kendrick Lamar to Disney's Oscar-winning Encanto, explores:
"tuning into your frequency"—discovering what you stand for as an artist and how that clarity naturally aligns you with the right projects, from empowering women through movement to championing underserved communities and sharing diverse cu...242. The Power of Adaptability: Comfort Fedoke's Journey Through Dance
Comfort Fedoke on Emotional Choreography, Collaborative Art-Making, and the Power of Adaptability
In this episode, Emmy Award-winning dancer, choreographer, and multi-hyphenate artist Comfort Fedoke opens up about her innovative approach to movement as emotional language and the art of authentic collaboration. The Nigerian-American performer, known for her journey from So You Think You Can Dance contestant to All-Star to judge, reveals:
Her groundbreaking new show "A/VOID"—a double entendre exploring the emotions we avoid and the void they create, developed with creative partner Zoe Rappaport and set within the immersive light-and-sound installation Chromasonic Field in do...241. Defying Gravity: Zoey Anderson on Dance, Magic & Training
Zoey Anderson on Becoming Undeniable Talent, Defying Gravity, and Finding Your Artistic Home
In this episode, Parsons Dance Company principal Zoey Anderson shares her remarkable journey from summer intensive discovery to becoming one of contemporary dance's most captivating performers. A 10-year company veteran, Clive Barnes Award winner, and Bessie Award nominee reveals:
Her serendipitous path into Parsons Dance—how being spotted at Marymount's summer intensive led to an immediate company placement when the stars aligned and a dancer departed Dana’s philosophy on developing "undeniable, untouchable talent" over focusing on industry mechanics—why she believes pre-professional dancer...240.Lisa "L-Boogie" Bauford: Be Good Do Good
From Basketball Dreams to Dance Floors: Lisa "L-Boogie" Bauford's Journey of Art, Family, and Finding Light in Darkness
Meet Lisa "L-Boogie" Bauford - a professional dancer, creative entrepreneur, and the heart behind Blame Boogie LLC. In this inspiring conversation, Lisa opens up about her incredible journey from childhood basketball dreams to becoming a world-traveling dancer and emcee.
What You'll Discover:
Family DNA of Dance - How Lisa's love for movement began at age 3-4 in a juke joint, with party lights flashing and grown folks cheering her on
...
239. A New Image: Sydney Mesher Transforms Dance & Disability
Sydney Mesher on Disability Representation, Kicking Down Barriers, and Changing the Entertainment Industry
In this episode, trailblazing performer Sydney Mesher shares her journey as the first visibly disabled Radio City Rockette and her mission to transform representation in entertainment. Born without her left hand, Sydney reveals:
Her transformative experience making history with the Radio City Rockettes and performing on iconic stages The often overlooked reality of navigating dance training and professional choreography with a disability, including the mental gymnastics of constantly adapting instructions and movement on the spot while never wanting to disrupt the creative process ...238. How Do Dancers Make Money?
The Business of Dance: Revealing the 3 Paths to Income for Professional Dancers. This episode pulls back the curtain on the financial realities of dance careers through a fascinating analysis of booking patterns and relationship-building. Discover the surprising statistics that show how much work Dana has booked from established relationships rather than auditions. Learn why unpaid passion projects often fuel paid opportunities, and explore the universal value-creation formula that applies to dancers and entrepreneurs alike.
This episode will help you:
Understand the three primary ways dancers secure paying work See the crucial connection between unpaid artistic projects...