Hey, Dancer!

Geoffrey Holder was a true Renaissance man.

An iconic actor — the face of 7 Up, a Bond villain, Punjab in Annie.

An award-winning painter, director, designer, poet. The list goes on.

But at the root of it all… was dance.

It started in Trinidad, imitating his older brother Boscoe, moving to the rhythm of drums and dreams.

He caught the eye of Agnes de Mille, stormed into New York like he belonged there, and built creative partnerships that would last a lifetime — with Carmen de Lavallade, with Alvin Ailey.

It all moved fast.

At one point, The Wiz slipped through his fingers. But when the call came again — he took the reins and left Broadway changed.

And even when the world saw the icon, the star, the voice… DANCE stayed at the center of everything.

Right up to the final breath.

This is the dancer behind the icon.

This is Geoffrey Holder's Rest of the Story.

Check out my ⁠⁠Return to Dance docuseries!⁠⁠

Support my Instagram — where I post daily dance inspo, insights and fun! ⁠⁠@backtogreat⁠

What happens when someone asks for your combo footage… while dance class is still happening? What if your outfit throws you off before the first count of eight? And what do you do when the studio starts filming everything — even your warm-up?

In this storytime-style episode, I'm sharing a few recent class moments that threw me off my game — and what they taught me about distraction, boundaries, and the power of processing.

If you've ever felt off in class, this one's for you — with a few lessons along the way that might just help you find your footing faster.

Check out my ⁠⁠Return to Dance docuseries!⁠⁠

Why Dances Class Combos Don't Travel Anymore (podcast ep referenced in this show)

Support my Instagram — where I post daily dance inspo, insights and fun! ⁠⁠@backtogreat⁠

For a time, Bobby Banas was everywhere.

West Side Story. Mary Poppins. Bye Bye Birdie. One of the most prolific dancers on film — though you may not have known his name.

That changed when a 1964 TV clip of him performing "The Nitty Gritty" suddenly went viral decades later. The internet wanted to know: Who is this dancer!?

In this episode of The Rest of the Story (Hey, Dancer! podcast), we trace Bobby Banas's journey from small-town beginnings to Broadway, from uncredited film roles to one unforgettable moment on The Judy Garland Show. We look at the discipline, luck, and sheer force of personality that helped him carve out a lasting place in dance history.

This is the story of a dancer who spent decades in the background… until the world finally caught up.

Check out my ⁠⁠Return to Dance docuseries!⁠⁠

Support my Instagram — where I post daily dance inspo, insights and fun! ⁠⁠@backtogreat⁠

Is acro really a legit style of dance? Or just gymnastics with music?

In this episode of Hey, Dancer!, I dive into the roots of acro dance, its rise in competitions and studio culture, and why — despite its popularity — some major dance institutions still don't recognize it as a core genre. I also explore why I respect acro, even love it… but still can't quite call it home.

Whether you're team "It's a style!" or side-eyeing the flips in lyrical solos, this one's for you.

Previous acro episode: Acro in Dance: Then vs Now (and My Suprising History)

Check out my ⁠Return to Dance docuseries!⁠

Support my Instagram — where I post daily dance inspo, insights and fun! ⁠@backtogreat

Vera-Ellen could do it all — tap, pointe, jazz, acrobatics, adagio — and made it look effortless.

For a time, she was one of the most celebrated dancers in Hollywood, starring alongside Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, Donald O'Connor, and Danny Kaye. But today, she's largely forgotten.

In this episode of The Rest of the Story (Hey, Dancer! podcast), we trace her extraordinary rise — from a shy, bookish child in Ohio to a bona fide movie musical star. We dig into the training that shaped her, the roles that defined her, and the discipline that never wavered — even after the spotlight faded.

And yes — we'll also address the rumors. The ones that have unfairly overshadowed her legacy.

This is the dance story Hollywood never quite knew how to tell. Until now.

Watch this episode on YouTube for full appreciation of Vera-Ellen's mad skills!

Check out my ⁠Return to Dance docuseries!⁠

Support my Instagram — where I post daily dance inspo, insights and fun! ⁠@backtogreat

What happens when a dance teacher tears apart your technique — and you're pretty sure they're wrong?

In this episode, I'm sharing a raw, unfiltered story from my return-to-dance journey that I've never told before — one that didn't make it into my docuseries, but definitely left a mark. It's about self-trust, feedback that doesn't land, and the moment everything shifted.

Oh — and I've got a bonus NEW dance story involving a mirror, a tripod, and one (obnoxious) dancer's shockingly bold move that you truly have to hear to believe. It really happened!

Check out my Dance Class Etiquette ep (referenced in the pod)!

Check out my ⁠Return to Dance docuseries!⁠

Support my Instagram — where I post daily dance inspo, insights and fun! ⁠@backtogreat

Hermes Pan helped define Hollywood's Golden Age of dance — but his name is rarely mentioned.

Fred Astaire called him his "idea man." He choreographed 89 films, shaped the careers of legends, and stood just off camera while history was made.

In this episode of The Rest of the Story on Hey, Dancer!, we trace the remarkable rise of Pan — from a small town start to becoming the most prolific choreographer in film history.

His legacy is everywhere.

But his story? It's time you heard it.

Check out my ⁠Return to Dance docuseries!⁠

Support my Instagram — where I post daily dance inspo, insights and fun! ⁠@backtogreat

In this episode of Hey, Dancer!, we dive into the science behind how dance transforms your brain — literally.

From reducing dementia risk to growing the hippocampus, boosting memory, sharpening focus, and improving decision-making, every eight-count is working overtime for your mental fitness. Backed by peer-reviewed studies (don't worry, I translated the science), this is your brain on dance.

Whether you're dancing weekly or just getting back into it, this episode will make you prouder than ever to move and groove, baby!

Check out my ⁠Return to Dance docuseries!⁠

Support my Instagram — where I post daily dance inspo, insights and fun! ⁠@backtogreat

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Studies referenced in the show in the order they appear:

1. Verghese et al., 2003, "Leisure Activities and the Risk of Dementia in the Elderly" (New England Journal of Medicine).
2. Predovan et al., 2017, "Effects of Dance on Cognitive Function in Older Adults: A Pilot Study" (Journal of Aging Research).
3. Rehfeld et al., 2017, "Dancing or Fitness Sport? The Effects of Two Training Programs on Hippocampal Plasticity and Balance Abilities in Healthy Seniors" (Frontiers in Human Neuroscience).
4. Kattenstroth et al., 2013, "Six Months of Dance Intervention Enhances Postural, Sensorimotor, and Cognitive Performance in Elderly Without Affecting Cardio-Respiratory Functions" (Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience).
5. Burzynska et al., 2017, "White Matter Integrity Declined Over 6-Months, but Dance Intervention Improved Integrity of the Fornix of Older Adults" (NeuroImage).
6. Müller et al., 2017, "A Randomized Controlled Trial on the Effects of Dance on Brain Structure and Function" (Frontiers in Human Neuroscience).
7. Wu et al., 2021, "Effects of Dance on Cognitive Function in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis" (BMC Geriatrics).
8. Predovan et al., 2017, "Effects of Dance on Cognitive Function in Older Adults: A Pilot Study" (Journal of Aging Research) – repeated for focus.
9. Karpati et al., 2019, "Superior Visuospatial and Temporal Processing in Dancers and Musicians" (BMC Neuroscience).

Dance class isn't just about trying to nail the combo and perfecting your technique. It's also about how we treat each other while we're in the room. In this episode, I'm talking all things dance class etiquette: the stuff we don't always say out loud, but definitely notice.

From where you stand to when (and if) you film — this one's full of small things that make a big difference.

No shame, just real talk about how to be a more thoughtful and considerate dancer — for your teacher, your classmates, and yourself.

Check out my ⁠Return to Dance docuseries!⁠

Support my Instagram — where I post daily dance inspo, insights and fun! ⁠@backtogreat

Debbie Allen was told she didn't have the right body for ballet — and faced rejection because of her race, navigating obstacles most couldn't imagine.

But with her mother's fierce determination, she danced her way out of exclusion and into history.

From starring in Fame and directing A Different World to earning a Tony nomination for West Side Story and leaving her mark on Grey's Anatomy, Allen has redefined what's possible in the arts.

This episode traces her path from Texas to Broadway to global influence, revealing how she shattered barriers, mentored generations, and helped shape the dance world as we know it.

You may think you know her story — but do you know the rest of the story?

Check out my ⁠Return to Dance docuseries!⁠

Support my Instagram — where I post daily dance inspo, insights and fun! ⁠@backtogreat