DanceSpeak

For Episode 34 of DanceSpeak we take you into the world of Carmit Bachar. You might remember her as the red-head from the original line-up of the Pussycat Dolls, or from dancing with artists such as Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Aaliyah, Beyonce, and Gwen Stefani (to name a few). What I will forever associate Carmit with is her sweet nature and undeniable drive. We discuss Carmit's transition from back-up dancer to being in the forefront in a major pop group. We get into Carmit's earlier years in gymnastics and the theme of self-care while being in an active field. Carmit shares on being a mother, finding love while on tour, the differences between being in the spot light as a dancer versus being a singer, and loads of advice for the upcoming generation. With a new single coming out, a dance web-series premiering, and working with other dancers and singers, Carmit's interview is guaranteed to motivate and inspire.

It is only appropriate that we kick off the new year with Brazil. You might know him from his record-breaking videos with Willdabeast, his work as a Motivational Speaker with Burn the Boats, his title as Co-Founder and Director at Buildabeast... OR... his resume with artists such as P.Diddy, Tyrese and Tyga. Impressed yet? I am. I mean, he did break into the entertainment industry at the age of 14 and has been unstoppable from what seems like day 1. In episode 33 of DanceSpeak, Brazil shares with us his influences, efficient ways of developing yourself and keys to moving forward towards you goals. He gives both broad and specific advice in getting where you want in life and strategically investing in your path. Some of my favorite highlights are when Brazil shares on how he puts himself in the right state to be productive, his view on going over the 'fundamentals,' how he booked a tour with Tyga within his first month of living in Los Angeles, and his overall view on work-life balance and how to set yourself up powerfully for the upcoming year. Grab a pen, take your notes, and be ready to grow!

Episode 32 of DanceSpeak takes us to part-two of the epic interview with Phlex. We go through topics that break the dance bubble and take us into being an entrepreneur, what manifesting one's dreams looks like, and the overall importance of timing. Phlex shares what started his annual Phlextravangza event and how he has continuously grown the celebration, packing out venues, bringing people together, and getting notice from the hottest celebrity coverage outlets in Los Angeles. Hearing about the work ethic behind Phlextravaganza paints a larger picture as to what has had Phlex succeed in his career, and sets the stage for the level of commitment that it took to become a choreographer on the Circus Tour for Britney Spears. Other topics include Phlex's creative process, how to stick out at an audition, getting top choreographers to look at your work, and more!

DanceSpeak Episode 31 gives a rare look into how narrow opportunity and not fitting in can ultimately cultivate an unstoppable spirited figure in the entertainment industry. Alan Kirk, also known as Phlex, has credits including Beyonce, Britney Spears, The Dream, Rihanna, and work that has been featured on America's Best Dance Crew, SYTYCD, and on stages across the globe. Phlex is the ultimate self-starter and it soon becomes clear that his level of hard-work is difficult, if not impossible to match. Phlex began as a child who taught himself dance and started his own crew so that him and his friends had an outlet to do what they loved. A few years later he auditioned and was accepted to an agency in St. Loius. Years later, after packing himself and his belongings into a car, he auditioned and broke into the world of television by appearing as a contestant on the Wade Robson Dance Project. Phlex openly shares about the successes and disappointments he experienced as he moved his career to Hollywood. We begin gaining insight on what key elements are nurtured in Phlex's successful peer group. We also receive a cautionary tale of what can happen when one falls into a darker path that some dancers may have been warned about. Ultimately, Part I of the Phlex interview will inspire you and move you to your core while providing important knowledge on creating your own path and succeeding in the dance world.

Episode 30 of DanceSpeak gives you an up close look at the effortlessly cool Lindsey Blaufarb, whom you might know from the creative duo Lindsey B. and Craig or the famous Beat Freaks crew. It probably says a lot that Lindsey moved herself as teen, to Los Angeles, to finish up her High School bringing while beginning to pursue her career in dance. Lindsey talks about what it was like training day in and day out as a dancer, while eating cereal for every meal, and taking on side jobs to support herself. This clearly paid off, as she toured as a dancer for nearly a decade as a dancer and was in dancer classic "You Got Served." Now, Lindsey speaks from the perspective of an accomplished choreographer (credits include Cee-lo, Nicki Minaj, Avril Lavigne, multiple major commercial campaigns and more). She gives excellent insight on getting mentorship at any point in your career, and the direction she and Craig Hollaman are going in next as a creatives. Listen, enjoy, take notes, and cheers to accomplishing success in the dance world!

In Episode 29 of DanceSpeak, you will meet Riquel Olander, who came to Los Angeles with a dream, and conquered her lane of the industry without ever being booked through an agent. Riquel and I talk about what worked for her as a dancer who relocated from Idaho to become a professional in one of the most competitive fields around (dance, of course). Riquel shares about being a part of the We Are Heroes dance crew, which won season 4 of America's Best Dance Crew. We learn about her ascent from being a life guard who sometimes had to call out of auditions, to holding the record of appearing on ABDC for five seasons. What intrigues me the most about Riquel, is how she has confidently maintains a thriving career in dance, while working a full-time job and maintaining a balance. This episode gives you a delicious dose of hustle inspiration, confidence in your path, and how to stay on top of your career.

Straight out of Queens, Sho-Tyme knows Hip-Hop. Yes, his credits are impressive (Aaliyah, P.Diddy, Mary J. Blige, Busta Rhymes, Gwen Stefani, Jay Z, Shakira, J Lo, and way more...) but to us, the ultimate gem here is that Sho-Tyme grew up when Hip-Hop was being being formed into a culture. In Episode 28 of DanceSpeak, we get into Sho-Tyme's journey starting from dancing all over the city to the opportunity that introduced him to dancing as a career. Sho-Tyme shares on the history of Hip-Hop, giving access to understanding the depths of dances that we know today. I get to ask him about differences from the 90's and today with professional dancers. Then we dive into where hip-hop is today and get food for thought on what is required of dancers and even what might call the darker side of the industry. With stories from working with P.Diddy, Gwen Stefani, and Busta Rhymes, to Sho-Tyme's many examples of standing for something, this episode is going to deepen your knowledge of Hip-Hop and give an honest no-holds barred perspective on the dance industry.

Episode 27 of DanceSpeak introduces you to our youngest guest yet: Taylor Jade, a professional dancer and mogul-in-the-making. What caught my eye about Taylor, in addition to her maturity and poise, is that she has managed to build her own on-line platform where she teaches dance classes and is connecting students in different locations to what she can specifically offer as a professional dancer and teacher in L.A. All the while, going to auditions, dancing in various shows, and creating her own pieces for industry showcases around Los Angeles. Taylor shares on her year-long experience as personal assistant to Willdabeast, thoughts on creating passive income as a dancer (this is gold to me), how she balances going to auditions and maintaining her business, what the current audition scene is like, her thoughts on social media and filming in class, and what has driven her to create so much at her age. I can attest to the high level of knowledge that Taylor so eloquently communicates and know that there is a lot we can all learn out of this episode of 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-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 moving to L.A. for dance, tips on head shots, Chuck's new dance convention, and more. Enjoy this episode, and I recommend taking notes!

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 great in store for him. In this week's episode we go through the steps that it took for Michael to build his career, challenges he faced, and what it was like being on the road pursuing his dreams. Find out what Michael does to consistently work as a dancer, what he learned from his background in sports, and the recommendations that this seasoned dancer, choreographer, and teacher has for up and coming dancers. This episode will be sure to motivate, inspire, and shed light on the elusive career of a successful performer.