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!

Twitter: twitter.com/christinashipp
Instagram: instagram.com/rockandrollromantic
Website: christinashipp.com
YouTube: youtube.com/TheChristinaShipp
IMDb: www.imdb.com/ChristinaShipp
Accelerated Artist: acceleratedartist.com

​Episode 79 with Gigi Torres is HERE and, woot woot, 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!

Twitter: twitter.com/geegtorres
Instagram: instagram.com/geegtorres
Website: gigitorres.com
EstablishYourEmpire: establishyourempire.com
YouTube: youtube.com/gigitorres
Facebook: facebook.com/officialgigitorres
TheMovementAgency: movement-agency.com/gigi-torres

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 explore 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), owning 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!

Twitter: twitter.com/MightyMykell
Instagram: instagram.com/mightymykell
Website: mightymykell.com
YouTube: youtube.com/saekell

Welcome to Episode 77 where we explore what the term 'Masterclass' means and how it can be utilized in the teaching world. I took an unorthodox approach and interviewed piano expert and world-renowned teacher/professor Edna Golandsky on this topic. With over 50 years of teaching experience under her belt, a degree from Julliard, and as founder of the Golandsky Institute, I saw the opportunity to gain a non-biased (in terms of dance) and interesting perspective.
I was inspired to dedicate a shorter but full episode to this topic, as the question of "what is a masterclass" and "who is rightfully one to teach it" comes up abundantly both on the podcast as well as in conversations in and around the dance community. I approach this with curiosity, as well as an understanding that there may not be a single answer, as much as a holistic approach to the various tiers and styles of teaching.

Twitter: twitter.com/ednagolandsky
YouTube: youtube.com/TaubmanGolandsky
Website: ednagolandsky.com
GolandskyInstitute: golandskyinstitute.org
Wikipedia: wikipedia.orgEdna_Golandsky
Facebook: facebook.com/edna.golandsky

Welcome to episode 76 of the DanceSpeak podcast with Viktor Manoel. This episode brings you a little closer to Viktor, a very important dancer in BOTH the underground scene as well as the commercial dance world. Do I start with his connection to David Bowie or being on the first Star Search, or that he's the last left person standing from the 1st generation of dancers who started a dance style/form of expression that has spread across the globe or that he has dedicated a part of his life to raising money for charity... OR... that Viktor can break down what whacking and punking is SO WELL that by listening to this, you might become a better dancer? From the projects to Star Search.
​From starting technical dance at the age of 20 to touring with David Bowie. From Mexico to Los Angeles. Please enjoy this episode with the incomparable Viktor Manoel.
Be sure to check out our 'DanceSpeak' YouTube Channel to see this in video format!

Twitter: https://twitter.com/viktormanoel
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/viktormanoel
​Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viktor_Manoel
​IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0543527/

Welcome to episode 75 of the DanceSpeak podcast! This is where I give away the keys that played a vital part in my opportunities to work for Prince, having this very podcast right here that you are listening to, work for the WNBA, and the projects that I continue to churn out and enjoy working on.
I cringed while writing the title, as I don't want it to sound like a gimmick, but really... This episode provides 10 steps to choose from, mix and match, and do without waiting to move what you want in your life and career. Something that comes up in the industry both on and off of the podcast is the topic of networking. I've heard many people speak about how much they dislike it, while others see it as a job, and I, personally, see it as access to opening doors while being yourself an fulfilling on the basic need to connect with others.
In this episode I cover 10 steps from what I have found works best in networking. These are easy steps that can be fun and elevate you in both your career as well as personal life. I have given these ideas in the past with very positive feedback and they have furthered me in my own process.

Listen, take notes, enjoy, and I dare you to take on your favorite right now and let us know how it goes!!(www.Facebook.com/dancespeakpodcast, dancespeakpodcast@gmail.com)

Welcome to episode 74 of DanceSpeak with Fresh Redding!! (Credits Include: Kendrick Lamar, Pharell, Justin Bieber, Will.I.Am, Busta Rhymes, America's Best Dance Crew, Nike, DWTS, Kia and more...) Fresh has proven himself to be an accomplished dancer, choreographer, and a true entrepreneur. With a clothing brand, event company, and management company, Fresh epitomizes what it can look like to do it all and be an artist.

Topics we explore include: What Fresh has learned from working with Kendrick Lamar, giving yourself a 'grace' period while preparing for a career in entertainment (and learning as much as possible in the process), when to work without monetary compensation, the many hats he wears and how he does it all, the significance of leaving his home environment to go to college, dealing with the loss of peers, branding for himself and others, his first experience working for Will.I.Am, what motivates Fresh, and much much more!  We also have a segment where I ask fresh to give impromptu coaching to one of our team members in the room and it is AWESOME!

Instagram: instagram.com/freshredding/
Twitter: twitter.com/freshredding
YouTube: youtube.com/Tfreshestkid
TFK Instagram: instagram.com/tfreshestkid

Welcome to episode 73 of the DanceSpeak podcast with Derrell Bullock, Lee Daniel, Sienna Lyons, and Donyelle Denise. 

I’d like to start with how much I look up to this group of individuals. They have been in the dance world for a long long time working hard on their craft and each one is an exceptional teacher as well.

This is a snapshot of where we were at this time: the end of 2017 and our thoughts and experiences from then.

The information from this interview has already positively impacted me making a difference for me in pursuing my dreams and how I go about my journey AND one of the main intentions of the podcast is to share share share so that you can have that as well. It’s really a beautiful episode with lots of gems.

We cover topics that include:
 - Sienna’s thoughts after first time teaching in Europe and traveling as a couple with Lee
 - Choosing to leave LA for a period of time while building momentum to travel and teach
 - What to do when you start feeling stale in your creative process
 - Donyelle speaks openly about going through cancer, and powerfully reinventing herself
 - Lee talks about his experience being injured last year 
 - The conversation of support revisited 
 - Delightful stories and tidbits from their journeys 

Again, I’d like to give a special thank you to our guest for opening up and keeping it so real, letting others get  connected, gain knowledge and get inspired from your journeys.

Sarah Elgart is a choreographer, director, and producer who’s scope of work and ability will blow your mind. To give you a taste: Sarah has created sight specific work in locations including LAX and LACMA, directed (yes, DIRECTED) the Mickey Mouse Club in the days of Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake, choreographed everything from the circus in Japan to Star Trek, writes a bi-weekly published column on dance, and is an creative who comes from a family of artists.

Topics we explore include: 
 - Why Sarah creates sight specific work
 - The directors whom have inspired her
 - How Sarah developed her skill set to become a director 
 - What young Britney Spears was like
 - How Sarah has become bi-coastal between LA and NYC
 - Working with architecture
 - Words of advice around being a woman while having a growing family and booming career 
 - Choreographing for a circus in Tokyo with 2 young children
 - Sarah’s views on the current dance boom

Consider this episode class and Sarah is the teacher. The ways in which she views things alone is something that one could take notes on. Enjoy!

Website: sarahelgart.com/home
Twitter: twitter.com/sarahelgart
Instagram: instagram.com/arrogantelbow
Vimeo: vimeo.com/sarahelgart
Facebook: facebook.com/ArrogantElbow
IMDb: imdb.com/sarahelgart

What do Justin Bieber, Beyoncé, Paula Abdul, Missy Elliott, Chris Brown, Omarion, You Got Served and Christmas trees have in common? Michael Vargas. They have Michael Vargas common. Before even sitting down to formally start the interview, Michael was sharing unbelievable stories that had me transported to wherever and whenever they took place.

In this episode we hop around, as Michael shares openly, freely, and generously with jaw-dropping accounts that could each stand alone as their own individual episodes.  Some of the things that Michael shares about includes:
 - How the *%&^ he went from dancing on tour to stage and tour managing
​ - What is was like as ASM for Beyoncé's FORMATION TOUR and what she was like in production meetings
 - Dancing with Justin Bieber when he went from being a relatively new artist to packing out stadiums
 - Going from being a b-boy to learning how to execute choreography
 - Why we love Paula Abdul and what she is like to work with
 - Meeting ROYALTY 
 - Choosing to move back home after spending 14 years in Los Angeles
 - What it was like touring with Chris Brown twice with different choreographers
 - Financial advice for artists
 - Why he is forever known as "XMAS Tree Mike"
 - Dealing with rejection
 - The theme of overcoming major adversity and how it ultimately provided for major openings in his life

This episode is packed with so many years and so many topics, it just doesn't make sense AND you will be able to enjoy being brought into Michael's beautiful world.  

Twitter: twitter.com/Michael_Vargas
Instagram: instagram.com/xmastreemike
YouTube: youtube.com/xmastreemike
Facebook: facebook.com/XMASTREEMIKE
IMDb: imdb.com/MichaelVargas