Comfort Fedoke on Emotional Choreography, Collaborative Art-Making, and the Power of Adaptability

In this episode, Emmy Award-winning dancer, choreographer, and multi-hyphenate artist Comfort Fedoke opens up about her innovative approach to movement as emotional language and the art of authentic collaboration. The Nigerian-American performer, known for her journey from So You Think You Can Dance contestant to All-Star to judge, reveals:

• Her groundbreaking new show "A/VOID"—a double entendre exploring the emotions we avoid and the void they create, developed with creative partner Zoe Rappaport and set within the immersive light-and-sound installation Chromasonic Field in downtown LA

• The magic of synesthetic performance—how she's creating work where "color becomes audible and sound becomes visible," using all the senses to help audiences viscerally understand what they're feeling through movement

• Her collaborative choreographic process—the late-night living room sessions that led to the Ozdust Ballroom Scene in Wicked, where authentic movement language emerges through freestyle experimentation, building "like a puzzle" until the soul speaks louder than technique

• The biggest lesson from her So You Think You Can Dance journey: learning to be adaptable and understanding her role as a muse and influential collaborator, discovering how to elevate choreographers while maintaining lasting artistic relationships

As a performer who has shared stages with H.E.R., John Legend, Harry Styles, Taylor Swift, and countless other A-list artists, while also working as a commentator for Red Bull TV and judge on Nigeria's Maltina Dance All, Comfort embodies the evolution of dance as storytelling. From splitting time between London (where she's associate choreographer on "Wicked" and the West End's "Cabaret") and LA, she's creating work that transforms spaces and challenges audiences to feel more deeply. Whether you're interested in the intersection of technology and movement, the business of being a creative collaborator, or simply want to understand how dance can make the invisible visible, this conversation offers profound insights into making art that moves both bodies and souls.

Watch the full episode here.

Show Notes:

Connect with Comfort on IG

Get Tickets to Comfort’s show

Donate to A/VOID

Watch “Try A Little Tenderness” from SYTYCD

Listen to our episode with the In The Heights Team

Watch the full Ozdust Ballroom Scene

For more DANA

For coaching with me, join the WTMM COMMUNITY

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

Zoey Anderson on Becoming Undeniable Talent, Defying Gravity, and Finding Your Artistic Home

In this episode, Parsons Dance Company principal Zoey Anderson shares her remarkable journey from summer intensive discovery to becoming one of contemporary dance's most captivating performers. A 10-year company veteran, Clive Barnes Award winner, and Bessie Award nominee reveals:

• Her serendipitous path into Parsons Dance—how being spotted at Marymount's summer intensive led to an immediate company placement when the stars aligned and a dancer departed

• Dana’s philosophy on developing "undeniable, untouchable talent" over focusing on industry mechanics—why she believes pre-professional dancers should redirect energy from questions about hair color and tattoos to becoming the artist companies can't live without

• The mesmerizing solo "Caught"—a gravity-defying illusion performed in strobe lighting that creates the impossible: a body suspended in space for five minutes, executing over 112 jumps while appearing to never touch the ground

• Operating at extremes: her all-or-nothing approach to energy management, planning for both 100% intensity and complete restoration through 13-15 hour sleep cycles

As a performer who has graced stages from Broadway's "On The Town" opening night gala to the Academy Award-winning film "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," and competed as a National Champion in Ballroom Smooth dancing, Zoey embodies the athletic artistry and infectious joy that defines contemporary dance. Whether you're an aspiring dancer seeking your artistic home or anyone fascinated by the intersection of illusion and movement, this conversation offers both practical wisdom and pure magic for understanding what it means to become irreplaceable in your craft.

Watch the full episode here.

Show Notes:

Connect with Zoey on Instagram

Watch a Parsons Dance performance

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

From Basketball Dreams to Dance Floors: Lisa "L-Boogie" Bauford's Journey of Art, Family, and Finding Light in Darkness

Meet Lisa "L-Boogie" Bauford - a professional dancer, creative entrepreneur, and the heart behind Blame Boogie LLC. In this inspiring conversation, Lisa opens up about her incredible journey from childhood basketball dreams to becoming a world-traveling dancer and emcee.

What You'll Discover:

Family DNA of Dance - How Lisa's love for movement began at age 3-4 in a juke joint, with party lights flashing and grown folks cheering her on

The Pivot - Why her first love of basketball led her to an even greater passion for dance and the stage

Chronicles of Tour Life - Stories from her global dance career and how travel experiences influenced her unique clothing designs

Survivalist to Artist - The courageous leap from financial security to chasing dreams, and how her community rallied to support her audition journey

The Philosophy That Drives Everything:

"People will forget what you did, people will forget what you said, but people will never forget how you made them feel." - Maya Angelou (tattooed on Lisa's body and embedded in her soul)

Plus Some Real Talk:

Ever wonder about those pre-performance jitters? Lisa gets hilariously honest about the universal performer experience of suddenly needing to pee right before showtime.

Watch the full episode here.

Show Notes:

Connect with Lisa on IG

Listen to the Seaweed Sisters episode

Listen to Shaun’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

Stay connected with us on IG and TikTok