DanceSpeak

Latest Episodes:

43 Adrian 'DJ DUBZ' Wiltshire - The Brilliant Mind Of A Creative Producer On Perseverance, Versatility, the AmountBoyz, And... Bowling Philosophy Mar 20, 2017

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Episode 43 of DanceSpeak brings you the the intriguing renaissance man: Adrian "DJ DUBZ" Wiltshire. I met Adrian around 15 years ago, taking his Hip-Hop class in New York City. Since then, he has gone on to dance/choreograph/assist/DJ with such artists/on films including Dreamgirls, Stomp The Yard, Ariana Grande, Fergie, Straight Outta Compton, and way way more. What hyped me up the most about sitting down with Adrian, is that not only does he wear so many hats, but with each aspect of his career, he achieves EXCELLENCE. For instance, within less than 3 years of becoming a DJ, he became tour DJ for Ariana Grande. You just can't beat that. Adrian walks me through his process as he went from dancer to choreographer, and worked his way into the DJ world, with a major overlap occurring in his dance life. He also goes in depth as to what had him start booking consistently as a dancer, what he recommends nowadays for dancers (particular the guys out there), fatherhood, his love for bowling, what a 'day in the life' looks like, and... well... way way more! I highly recommend this to anyone who wants to get to the top of their field, to anyone whom wears multiple hats in their profession, to my entrepreneurs out there, and to my folks whom like getting motivated around building what they want in their lives!

42 Brandon 'BShaw' Shaw - From The Boys And Girls Club To Dancing For Chris Brown, An Episode Dedicated To Getting Bitten By The Dance Bug Mar 06, 2017

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Episode 42 of DanceSpeak with BShaw takes you on a journey of the many inspirations that lead to a successful career in the highly competitive dance world. Brandon is a prime example of knowing his field, as he walks me through the moment he knew he wanted to pursue dance and how he learned (and continues to learn) from those whom he respects the most. Coincidentally, as this is episode 42, Brandon unintentionally gave around 42 shout outs (yes I counted) throughout the episode to his predecessors, peers, and up-and-coming movers. To all those whom love and admire dance, this interview will touch your heart and awaken your mind. We speak about getting on tour with Chris Brown when he was a new artist, to things Brandon openly shares he wish he would have listened to in his early 20's. We then go into the way that Brandon trained himself to being a professional with a one year goal after dropping out of college. From beautiful acknowledgements that will give you a list of people to research, to what is next for Brandon, this episode paints a beautiful portrait on how dance can hold many different positions in a single career.

41 Bonus Clips from: Derrell Bullock, Aisha Francis, Nellie Bethel, and Phlex Feb 27, 2017

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For Episode 41 of DanceSpeak, we have taken some of our favorite never-heard-before clips from a variety of guests to create an insightful and hilarious DanceSpeak sampler platter. From professional tips for class, to a discussion on spirit animals, you can be sure to expect the unexpected on this one!

40 Brittany Perry-Russell - Playing By Her Own Rules... Agents, Family, Faith, Multi-Booking, Industry Vet Feb 20, 2017

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Episode 40 delivers you with the powerful, incredibly humble, Brittany Perry-Russell (Chris Brown, P. Diddy, Lil' Wayne, Ciara, Honey 2, JLO and more). With years on years booking the most prestigious dance jobs in the commercial dance world (and acting world as well), Brittany opens up on her life as mentor, actress, model, role-model, dancer, and... well, we will let her other hats come as a surprise in the episode. Brittany speaks passionately about starting her professional dance training later than her peers, and the obstacles she overcame as she worked unbelievably hard to become a sought after dancer. Highlights of this episode include, but are not limited to, Brittany's advice for new dancers booking their first jobs, maintaining a balanced relationship with her multiple agents, how to respectfully speak up on a job, the creation of Black Girl Magic, what a typical day in her life is like, and more!!! This episode delivers on a wealth of information for dancers and actors, and will give you a look at the bigger picture beyond career.

39 Clifford McGhee - 100 percent Cliff. Grown Folks Conversation... Diving Into The Taboo Topics... sTOURies, Audition Magic and More... Feb 13, 2017

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Cliff McGhee (dance credits including: Usher, Ginuwine, You Got Served, Beyonce and more…) is a powerful man who delivers a jaw-dropping interview from the heart in Episode 39 of DanceSpeak. This is one of the more explicit interviews I have had so far, and must tell you…this is not for delicate ears. But for those whom are ready, this will be one of the most enriching and eye-opening conversations in the recorded dance world, and I mean what I say. Cliff communicates with strength, soul, emotion, and has a wealth of experience that he generously pulls from. We somehow managed to get through a dynamic and thorough list of topics including what had Cliff, as a short dancer, booking top jobs throughout his dance career, audition inspiration that will shake your world, tour stories, stage woes, advice from Ne-yo and Ginuwine, what most people don’t know about Beyonce, fatherhood, his successful transition into acting, and more. Enjoy, enjoy, your welcome, and enjoy!

38 Richard Kielar - Dance Producer, Artistic Adviser, And Long-time Dance Connoisseur Shares On His Journey To Creating Unforgettable Stage Shows Feb 06, 2017

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Episode 38 of DanceSpeak will take you to a whole different niche in the dance world as you meet Richard Keilar, Ballet and Dance Producer, Artistic Adviser, and Fundraising Consultant. Richard, who's experience in the arts world began with singing, fell in love with dance while at a technical college. Richard shares about his experiences watching everything from avant-garde downtown New York dance shows to the Royal Ballet and the choreographers whom inspire him most. This episode is excellent for those whom love live shows and especially for those whom want to create dance for the stage. Richard goes in depth on how aspiring dancers can develop themselves from the moment they chose dance as a possible career. We go into conversation about the blurred lines of what contemporary dance is, whether Hip-Hop can be used to express the classics, what exactly it is that Richard does in his professional life, and an overall beautiful retrospective of ballet, modern, and contemporary dance over the years. Grab your notepads, as we mention a lot of influential artists you will want to learn more about, and get ready to learn something new!

37 Kachi and Gordon - Hanging With The New Generation, A Snapshot Of What It's Like To Be 22 In The Dance Industry Jan 30, 2017

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Episode 37 gives you a refreshing shift in viewpoint as I sit down with Gordon and Kachi, a couple of very talented professional dancers... whom are a couple... and are appropriately 22 years old. In many of the previous episodes, the topic of this 'upcoming generation' is brought up, as they have the strongest social media presence and also are met with criticism. This episode, 'goes there.' We speak about what it's like to be on the receiving end of critiques and how they want to support all the generations of dancers. For those whom might what to know how to connect with this generation of dancers, this episode will be very informative. Topics that we explore include (but are not limited to) how Gordon and Kachi each got their foot in the door, challenges that might arise with success, the cathartic quality of dance, being a dance couple, and a heated debate on Hip-Hop! Open up your minds and ears, this episode delivers on unabashed REAL TALK.

36 Erin Marino - How Aspiring Dancers Can Prepare For the Industry, Connecting Generations, and Creating The Debbie Reynolds Scholarship Program Jan 23, 2017

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Episode 36 of DanceSpeak introduces you to Erin Marino, founder of the Debbie Reynold's Scholarship Program, professional dancer, and choreographer. Erin discusses her path that spans entrepreneurship, giving back to the world world, and working in the dance industry. We find out what prepared Erin to create a program, as well as what got her 'foot in the door' at the world renowned Debbie Reynold's Studio. This opens up a greater discussion for dance teachers who want to connect to their dream studios and the idea of a greater purpose. Erin speaks on the legacy of Debbie Reynolds as a performer, powerful woman, and business owner. One of my favorite aspects of this interview is diving into how the pre-professional and professional dancer can train for their dream career and how to not get attached to short-term roadblocks. Enjoy the education, heart, and soul of this episode!

35 Anthony 'Kanec' Carr - A Modern Day Fred Astaire, Gregory Hines... On Taking Care Of Your Body, Creativity On A Budget, And Lessons From Tour Jan 16, 2017

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Welcome to Episode 35 of DanceSpeak with Anthony ‘Kanec’ Carr. With credits including Missy Elliott, Usher, Chris Brown, and TLC, you might not know that Anthony was originally groomed to be a professional ballet dancer. Anthony shares about how he found hip-hop and his choice to pursue the commercial side of the dance industry. With his well-rounded background, we dive into his inspirations and aspirations, what he has learned from the greats, and how he recommends that dancers take care of their bodies for longevity. Other topics we explore are choreography retention on demanding jobs, what Anthony learned while working around an injury on tour, how to stay active in producing content, and more! Get ready to take notes, learn, grow, and be sure to subscribe!

34 Carmit Bachar - Transitioning Between Dancing And Singing... On Family, Touring, And Wearing Different Hats In Entertainment Jan 09, 2017

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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.

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