This is Mel Mah on intuition, container-shifting, and letting dance lead you to your voice.

In this episode, Mel Mah, writer, director, producer, former professional dancer, and internationally renowned yoga teacher, shares her journey from dancing for icons like Janet Jackson to directing her first feature film. We explore:

• The art of creative incubation. Why Mel treats her work like birthing a child, protecting ideas in their vulnerable early stages, and the deep meditation required to step back from your own material and see it objectively, especially when you're both writer and director

• Dance as energy, not identity. How Mel discovered that rhythm, emotional expression, and storytelling don't disappear when you leave the stage, they simply find new containers. Why she never really left dance; it just transitioned with her into teaching, directing, and writing

• The unexpected gift of rejection. How not booking tours early in her LA years created space for something else: teaching yoga at Millennium's loft on Sunday mornings to five or six people, discovering her voice, and recognizing a calling that dance alone couldn't fulfill

This conversation reveals what happens when we stop defining ourselves by what we do and start recognizing the essence that flows through everything we do. Whether you're navigating your own transition out of performing, searching for ways to use your voice, or learning to trust divine timing when doors don't open, Mel's journey offers a masterclass in how dancers inherently understand transformation; we just have to trust the choreography.

Watch the full episode here.

Show Notes:

Listen to our Parents Roundtable

Listen to Kat’s episode

Listen to Mimi’s episode

Listen to the Seaweed Sisters Episode

For more DANA

For coaching with me, join the WTMM COMMUNITY

To donate to WTMM through our Fiscal Sponsor, THE DANCE RESOURCE CENTER

To shop for GOODIES & SERVIES

Watch and Subscribe on YOUTUBE

Stay connected with us on IG and TikTok

This is Andy Funk and Jeremy Keeton on legacy, transition, and the next chapter for Monsters of Hip Hop.

In this episode, Andy Funk, founder of Monsters of Hip Hop, and Jeremy Keeton, founder of Adreneline, sit down to discuss one of dance education's most significant transitions. As Andy passes the torch of his iconic brand to Jeremy, they explore:

• The catalysts for major life transitions. How the loss of Andy's father prompted deep reflection on priorities, family, and the desire to explore new challenges beyond what he and his team have built over the years

• Intentional legacy planning. Why preserving the integrity, uniqueness, and essence of Monsters of Hip Hop mattered more than any other consideration, and how their relationship through the Dance Educators Collective made Jeremy the natural choice for stewardship

• Leading through action in times of change. Jeremy's commitment to honoring the foundation of Monsters, learning from the existing faculty and community, and showing up with actions rather than words as he navigates this responsibility

This conversation reveals what thoughtful leadership transitions look like in the dance industry, rooted in relationships, respect for community, and a shared understanding that some legacies are too important to leave to chance. Whether you're building something you hope will outlast you, considering your next chapter, or learning to steward what others have created, this episode offers a masterclass in how dancers naturally understand the art of transition.

Watch the full episode on YouTube.

Show Notes:

For more DANA

For coaching with me, join the WTMM COMMUNITY

To donate to WTMM through our Fiscal Sponsor, THE DANCE RESOURCE CENTER

To shop for GOODIES & SERVIES

Watch and Subscribe on YOUTUBE

Stay connected with us on IG and TikTok

This is Brinn Nicole on evolution, authenticity, and redefining success in dance.

In this episode, professional choreographer and Heels dance instructor Brinn Nicole—creator of the Pumpfidence—opens up about the profound shift from industry ambition to inner transformation. Brinn, whose work treats Heels dance as a pathway to emotional development and empowerment, explores:

• The evolution of artistic drive—how her focus transitioned from "racking up credits" and booking tours to tapping into her feelings, being a working mom, and witnessing the freedom her work brings to others

• Building sustainable creative careers—the strategic pivot that led her to develop teacher training programs and franchise her assistants as Pumpfidence instructors, creating passive income streams that allow artistic freedom while honoring the recovering from labor.

• The branding evolution of Heels dance—from the pioneering work of teachers before her creating individual brands to the eventual umbrella term "heels" that unified the genre, and how she navigates positioning her "Pump" style within this landscape

Brinn Nicole represents a new generation of dance educators who prioritize authentic self-expression and sustainable business practices over traditional industry validation. Whether you're questioning conventional definitions of success, building a teaching-based creative career, or exploring dance as a tool for personal transformation, this conversation offers essential insights into creating meaningful impact while staying true to your evolving artistic vision.

Watch the full episode here.

Show Notes:

Connect with Brinn on IG

For more DANA

For coaching with me, join the WTMM COMMUNITY

To donate to WTMM through our Fiscal Sponsor, THE DANCE RESOURCE CENTER

To shop for GOODIES & SERVIES

Watch and Subscribe on YOUTUBE

Stay connected with us on IG and TikTok

This is Moncell Durden on dance education, culture, appropriation, and activism.

In this episode, renowned dance educator and ethnographer Moncell Durden, professor of dance for 22 years and founder of INTANGIBLE ROOTS, is back on the podcast and challenges fundamental assumptions about dance history and pedagogy. Moncell, whose groundbreaking documentary "Everything Remains Raw" was featured at international film festivals and whose work spans from Mop Top Crew to academic institutions, explores:

• The house music revolution—why there are no "steps" in authentic house dance, how hip-hop dancers appropriated and codified a free-form club culture that was never meant to be systematized, and why you don't need to learn New York's claimed vocabulary to truly dance to house music

• Musicality versus moving musically—the crucial distinction between dancers who reflect sound and true musicianship, and how understanding harmony, melody, and tone color transforms dancers into musical collaborators rather than mere interpreters

• Dismantling ballet supremacy—why a 600-year-old European form cannot claim to be the "beginning of everything" when dance traces back 2.5 million years to the Paleolithic era, and the importance of understanding any dance form within its proper cultural and social parameters

Moncell Durden represents the cutting edge of decolonized dance scholarship and the preservation of Afro-Diasporic movement traditions. Whether you're questioning Eurocentric dance hierarchies, seeking authentic approaches to cultural dance forms, or exploring the intersection of embodied history and contemporary pedagogy, this conversation offers essential insights into reclaiming dance's true global heritage.

Watch the full episode here.

Show Notes:

Connect with Moncell on IG

Listen to Moncell’s 1st episode with WTMM

Watch Everything Remains Raw

Watch Check Your Body at The Door

Take Moncell’s Intangible Roots Course

Read the USC article

Listen to Chloe’s episode

For more DANA

For coaching with me, join the WTMM COMMUNITY

To donate to WTMM through our Fiscal Sponsor, THE DANCE RESOURCE CENTER

To shop for GOODIES & SERVIES

Watch and Subscribe on YOUTUBE

This is Will Loftis on creativity as an act of service, finding your personal "in," and the Adele approach to sustainable artistry!

In this episode, visionary choreographer and creative director Will Loftis—fresh off his Hollywood Music Video Award nomination for Ariana Grande's "Yes, And?" and his work on the iconic Wicked films—shares wisdom from the biggest stages in entertainment. Will, whose movement has brought life to everything from Met Gala performances to major film musicals, explores:

• The personal "in" philosophy—how working with director John Chu on Wicked taught him that every project demands finding your authentic connection point, why saying no becomes easier when you can't find that spark, and the difference between taking work because you can versus taking work because you must

• The Adele model of artistry—embracing cycles of intense creative output followed by intentional retreat, why "you can miss me" creates space for deeper work, and how thinking about desired lifestyle rather than just career goals shapes better creative decisions

• Creativity as pure service—his revelation that at its truest form, creative work channels something bigger than individual ego, how this perspective removes the pressure of ownership over outcomes, and why remembering "it's never really your thing" liberates artists from perfectionist paralysis

Will Loftis represents the intersection of commercial success and artistic integrity in today's entertainment landscape. Whether you're navigating creative career choices, seeking sustainable approaches to high-pressure industries, or exploring the spiritual dimensions of artistic collaboration, this conversation offers profound insights into building a meaningful creative life while working at the highest levels.

Watch the full episode here.

Show Notes:

Connect with Will on IG

Listen to Mandy’s episode

Listen to Jillian’s episode

Listen to Tyce’s episode

Listen to Comfort’s episode

Listen to the In The Heights episode

Listen to Marty’s episode

Listen to the Seaweed Sisters episode

Watch "Rather Important" by The Seaweed Sisters

Watch “Yes, And”

Watch “Cold Hearted Snake”

This is Taya Lee on assistant choreography, the clarity of movement, and learning while earning in the dance industry!

In this episode, professional dancer and choreographer Taya Lee takes us from her San Diego roots to assisting on Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter Tour and dancing with Doechii. Taya, whose credits span MTV Movie & TV Awards performances to standing in for Missy Elliott, explores:

• The evolution of assistant choreography—how stepping into rooms with legends like Tyrik Patterson means being ready when "choreographer" in your title suddenly demands you create those crucial 8 counts, and learning that every creative partnership requires different skills, from demonstration to invention

• Movement as language—why dancing "like water" isn't enough if you're unclear, and her revelation that fluid movement without punctuation creates run-on sentences that leave both performer and audience breathless

• The myth of complete preparation—discovering that the industry teaches you while paying you, breaking down the assumption that you need to know everything before stepping into professional spaces, and finding freedom in learning through doing rather than studying from the sidelines

Taya Lee represents the new generation of dance artists championing work that amplifies Black womxn experiences. Whether you're interested in the behind-the-scenes reality of major tours, the philosophy of clear movement communication, or navigating creative careers where expertise develops through practice, this conversation offers profound insights into growing as an artist while staying true to your values.

Watch the full episode here.

Show Notes:

Connect with Taya on IG

Listen to How Do Dancers Make Money

For more DANA

For coaching with me, join the WTMM COMMUNITY

To donate to WTMM through our Fiscal Sponsor, THE DANCE RESOURCE CENTER

To shop for GOODIES & SERVIES

Watch and Subscribe on YOUTUBE

Stay connected with us on IG and TikTok

Kid David on breaking, terrifying tour stories, his Emmy-winning broadcast coverage of the Olympics, and finding freedom through mastery!

In this episode, professional B-boy and breaking commentator Kid David (David Shreibman) takes us from the streets where he discovered breaking to the biggest stage in sports—the 2024 Paris Olympics. The Emmy-winning commentator, whose credits span the Step Up film series to NBC's Olympic coverage, explores:

• The art of "forgetting" your technique—how spending decades mastering footwork, glides, and freezes is ultimately about trusting your body so completely that you can stop thinking and start truly listening, creating those magical moments where raw authenticity emerges through pure reaction

• Surviving Hollywood's disposable dancer culture—from literally almost dying in a malfunctioning stage lift during a major tour, to learning the harsh reality that performers are often seen as replaceable line items

• Breaking down breaking for the world—the intense preparation behind NBC's Olympic commentary.

Kid David embodies the evolution of breaking from underground culture to mainstream recognition. Whether you're interested in the intersection of street culture and elite competition, surviving creative industries that undervalue artists, or learning how mastery creates space for genuine expression, this conversation offers powerful insights into staying true to your craft while navigating its commercial possibilities.

Watch the full episode here.

Show Notes:

Connect with Kid David on IG

Read The Believing Brain by Michael Shermer

Listen to our episode with Marty

Read the Art of Learning by Joshua Waitzkin

Listen to our episode with Randi

Listen to the episode with Alison

For more DANA

For coaching with me, join the WTMM COMMUNITY

To donate to WTMM through our Fiscal Sponsor, THE DANCE RESOURCE CENTER