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A fun talk with our friend and dance educator, Lindsey Bracco!

Lindsey Bracco resides in Pittsburgh, PA after 14 years in New York as a professional dancer, actor, masterclass instructor and casting associate. Lindsey performed in numerous Musical Theater shows touring the US. Credits include; Mame, In The Heights, Damn Yankees, Wedding Singer, Man of LaMancha, Mary Poppins, Singin’ in the Rain, Footloose, Legally Blonde, Nice Work If You Can Get It, Curtains, The Producers, Beauty and the Beast, 42nd Street, White Christmas, Guys and Dolls, Joseph ... Dreamcoat, Hello, Dolly!, Seussical, Cabaret and Spamalot. In addition, she was a featured dancer in the FreeForm Original Movie Musical, ``Lovestruck, The Musical.`` Lindsey is a featured faculty member of THRIVE Dance Experience. She is a proud member of Actors’ Equity and graduated from Point Park University with BFA in Dance.

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This week, we speak with Kelsey Nelson!

Kelsey has over 25 years of dance experience ranging from major motion pictures to teaching students all across North America, judging for several prestigious dance competitions within the United States, and creating her own conditioning program for dancers. She received her Bachelor of Science in Dance Management from Oklahoma City University.

​Some of Kelsey's professional performing credits include working with choreographers like Fatima Robinson on Anchorman II: The Legend Continues (major motion picture), Mia Michaels on Rock of Ages (major motion picture),  Disney's Million Dollar Arm (major motion picture), HSN, Royal Caribbean International, Feld Entertainment/Feld Motor Sports, Cirque Productions, Universal Orlando, Busch Gardens, Hardrive Inc., Event Show Productions, D Squared Productions, Cirque USA, and many more.

​Along with performing, Kelsey has a passion for providing quality instruction and choreography. She has had the opportunity to continually develop both her teaching and choreography portfolio by working with St. John's University, Wake Forest University, McKendree University, University of South Florida, New Bern High School (NC), Father Lopez High School (FL), Barron Collier High School (FL), Oviedo High School (FL), Victoria's School of Dance, USA Ambassador Pageant, Cirque USA, BookAFlashMob.com, Universal Dance Association and many studios located within the United States and Canada. Kelsey has been honored to be a Master Instructor for National Dance Alliance, Universal Dance Association and Dance Team Union in the past few years.

​You can find Kelsey on the judging panel of several different national competitions and as a member of Impact Dance Adjudicators. She has had the honor of judging several different National Finals for Universal Dance Association and USASF. She is always working to provide the most beneficial and valuable critiques possible to help both students and teachers alike grow and develop. Her passion for dance spreads wide and far and is always looking for new ways to continue to expand her wings in the entertainment and education industry.

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Thank you for listening Jam Fam! Make sure you follow us across social media and don't forget to like and subscribe anywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts!

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Our guest this week is Matthew Shaffer!

You may already know author, director, and performer Matthew Shaffer from his television work on the top Netflix original series Wet Hot American Summer, or from his notable advice on Dance Moms, or perhaps you recognize him from his short-lived role as a Pottery Barn sales associate.

​Matthew’s debut book So You Want To Be A Dancer launched as an Amazon #1 New Release in Performing Arts and continues to dominate the charts. His second book, Dancing Out of the Closet––a collection of creative nonfiction essays––is “One of the most delightful and insightful reads in the last few years . . . “ –CNN contributor Dr. Paul Hokemeyer

​After attending the prestigious Orange County School of the Arts, Matthew continued his professional career as a principal dancer for the world-renowned company Giordano Dance Chicago. Highlighted credits include: Cold Case, Jackass Number Two, The Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall, Hansel & Gretel at The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Earth to America with Jason Alexander, Broadway Cares with Rosie O’Donnell, Disney's Kickin’ It and Bunheads, he appears along side Adam Levine on Broad City, and on the hit show Crazy Ex Girlfriend.

​In 2010, Matthew co-founded A Group Production, which collaborated on over 40 projects between Broadway, Film, and Television.

As a choreographer, Shaffer’s work has been performed by A-Lister’s like Ben Stiller, Rachel Platten (Fight Song), Megan Mullally, Armie Hammer, and Rebel Wilson.

​For the past 20 years, Matthew has worked as a dance educator at leading performing arts conservatories and conventions across the United States and Europe, which include Broadway Dance Center and Giordano Dance Center. In his relentless crusade for creative evolution, Matthew is presently pursuing his MFA in writing and directing at Wilson College, and is currently an adjunct teacher at Hussian College; In Studio, Los Angeles.

​If you insist on knowing more, Shaffer encourages you to Google him, and make sure to follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook: @funnyshaffer for guaranteed laughter, practical advice, and up-to-date information

We so enjoyed talking with Matthew all things entertainment, and we hope you enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed doing it!

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We are excited to bring you our next episode featuring Adam Cates!

Adam Cates has built a career as a theatre artist working as a choreographer, director, performer, educator and writer. He created choreography for a new production of Puccini’s La Boheme at The Santa Fe Opera and provided choreography for the American premiere of the Olivier-winning play Jeeves Wooster in Perfect Nonsense at Hartford Stage for UK director Sean Foley. He collaborated with Larry Grossman, Andrew Lippa, director Kaitlin Hopkins, and Peanuts Worldwide to create The World According to Snoopy as both the choreographer and co-book writer.

In New York, Adam’s work has been performed at Lincoln Center, The Juilliard Opera, and the New York Musical Festival off-Broadway. Adam is on the faculty of Pace University and wrote the guidebook for young professionals: The Business of Show. Adam has choreographed musicals and opera for Arkansas Rep, Music Theatre Wichita, Gulfshore Playhouse, Theatre Under the Stars, Theatre Aspen, Anchorage Opera, Memphis Playhouse on the Square, Pacific Conservatory Theatre, Bard Music Festival, New London Barn Playhouse, and commercial work in Reno/Lake Tahoe, Atlantic City, Las Vegas, Orlando, Walt Disney World, and Barcelona. He choreographed and appeared on the TV series Chicas de Viaje in Argentina, and associate choreographed episodes of 90210 (CW Network) and Live from Lincoln Center (PBS). On Broadway, Adam was the associate choreographer of the musical Anastasia by Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty and Terrence McNally. He also associate- choreographed the Tony-winning “Best Musical” A Gentleman’s Guide to Love Murder (also the First and Second national tours), and was an assistant to Kathleen Marshall on the Tony-winning revival of Anything Goes starring Sutton Foster and Joel Grey. He assisted and was the dance captain for Tommy Tune’s Doctor Dolittle national tour.

Our conversation with Adam was inspiring, authentic and informative.  We hope you enjoy this weeks episode!

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Another incredible episode full of energy, conversation, and shared knowledge.  We can't thank Hector Flores enough for sharing his time with us and bringing his stories to our show.

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Hector Flores Instagram: @itshecky

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This week we had the chance to chat with Miss Sheila Barker.  Sheila is an educator, choreographer, master teacher and a distinctive force of energy in the dance industry. She radiates passion, not only during her classes, but throughout her life. Sheila's influence on the world of Jazz dance through her mentorship of professionals and young artists alike has created a renowned legacy.

Sheila gives us a kick ball change, tons of advice, and not only drops the jewels but her wig too! Our conversation was full of love and laughter and we hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed recording this episode.

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Follow Sheila Barker on Instagram: @shishibarker

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On today's episode. Michelle talks to Joe about dance, why he teaches and what dance has done for him.  Plus a few fun moments in between.  We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we loved doing it.

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Thank you for listening Jam Fam! Make sure you follow us across social media and don't forget to like and subscribe anywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts!

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On today's episode, Host Joe Nickel takes to the microphone to find out about his fellow Host, Michelle Tolson.  Stories about being a Rockette,  competing at Miss America and how dance has changed her life fill this show and we hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed taping it.

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Thank you for listening Jam Fam! Make sure you follow us across social media and don't forget to like and subscribe anywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts!

Facebook: JAM Joe and Michelle's Dance Podcast
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Twitter: @jamdancepodcast
Email: [email protected]