Words That Move Me with Dana Wilson

WEED OH NO! The Seaweed Sisters' first-ever live show, premiering this June at the Los Angeles Theater Center with @latinotheaterco. TICKETS ARE ON SALE HERE This week, special guest host Emily Wanserski — executive producer of the show — brings @TheSeaweedSisters together to pull back the curtain on how it all gets made. What the show actually is, what it feels like, and what you can expect when you walk into their bubble. We explore: What WEED OH NO! actually is: A magical show-and-tell. A talent show. Weeds popping up in the world, except now you get to step inside one of their spaces. Expect the unexpected, and expect to be surprised by where you're sitting. How it gets made when there are no rules. No client, no single, no existing material. Just the Seaweeds and a whooolllee lot of silliness (and heart). What makes this moment different. Why everything the Seaweed Sisters have made in the last 12 years has been building toward this, and why a first time only happens once. This episode is for anyone who wants to know what's waiting for them downtown this June before they walk through the door. Because the Seaweed Sisters are inviting you into their bubble for the first time. And they won't ever have a first time again. Watch the episode here. Show Notes: Buy tickets to see WEED OH NO! June 5-14 Watch “Still Got It” Watch “Racks” Watch “Night at the Seater” Connect with the Seaweed Sisters on IG Connect with Emily on IG Listen to our first episode with The Seaweed Sisters Listen to our episode with Meg Listen to our episode with Jillian Listen to our episode with Taylor Learn more about the Center for Provocative Thought Book space at Elements Dance Space Learn more about our Production Manager, Tatum 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 my episode on what happens when someone makes falling off buildings look like an art form. Marissa Labog is a dancer, stunt performer, filmmaker, and mom, and she joined me this week to talk about something I didn't expect: how stunts and dance are actually the same conversation, just with better padding. Spoiler: the scariest part of doing something dangerous isn't the danger. It's skipping a step. We explore: The stunt that had no rehearsal. What happened when Marissa landed in Mexico City with no prep, a third-story window, and a drainpipe, and why not having time to think might have been the whole point. Back to basics as a superpower. The day a group of veteran stunt performers all froze at once, and the simple method they used to get each other moving again. (Spoiler: it works for everything, not just stunts.) Building your own path vs. following someone else's. Why Marissa started UP Productions, what she wants female action heroes to look like, and her response to the guy at the Q&A who said he hated her movie. This episode is for anyone who has ever stood at the edge of something terrifying and wondered if they were built for it. Because if Marissa has taught me anything, it's that courage isn't the absence of fear. It's the evidence you've been collecting all along. So, are you okay hitting the ground? Show Notes: Connect with Marissa on IG Follow Upproductionz on IG Subscribe to Upproductionz on Vimeo Watch “When Kids Grow Up” Listen to our Parents episode Listen to our episode with Toni Listen to our episode with Samo 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 my episode on the pattern that lives between your worst feeling and your best one. I'm going solo this week to talk about something I discovered mid-move — four steps up a staircase, a king-size mattress, and a full emotional spiral that somehow led to one of my favorite realizations yet. Spoiler: your worst feeling isn't the end. It's actually the beginning. We explore: The mattress that broke me (and then didn't). What happened when Riley and I couldn't muscle a king-size mattress up 17 stairs, why my brain immediately jumped to men and women going to war with weapons, and what that says about how fast our minds can catastrophize from one moment of feeling incapable. Incapable → Learning → Offering. The three-part pattern I didn't know I had — and why recognizing it changed how I relate to my hardest feelings. When you know what's on the other side, the beginning doesn't feel quite as terminal. This episode is for anyone who has ever felt incapable and taken it as a verdict instead of a starting point. Because feeling like you can't do something isn't a life sentence. It's the first step in a cycle that ends with you handing someone an opportunity they didn't see coming. So, what's the feeling that feels like your end? Watch the full episode here. 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 my episode on Credits, Collaboration, and the Industry Conversations We've Been Waiting to Have I sit down with choreographer Jamal Sims and associate choreographer Will Bell to talk about what it actually looks like when the dance industry takes care of its own — and what happens when it doesn't. Spoiler: the best collaborations aren't built on titles. They're built on trust. We explore: The meet-cute that almost didn't happen. How juggling Beauty and the Beast and Encanto at the Hollywood Bowl simultaneously led Jamal to one phone call, one name, and a partnership that just worked, and what that says about the power of the right person in the room. Assistant choreographer ≠ personal assistant of the choreographer. Why the industry still confuses the two, what it cost Will when someone called him "difficult" for knowing his own job description, and why having a choreographer's handbook on standby might not be the worst idea. The credit problem nobody wants to talk about. How the line between assistant and associate can define someone's entire career trajectory, and why giving people their proper title isn't just courtesy, it's how they get their next job. This episode is for every dancer, choreographer, and creative who has ever done the work and watched someone else get the credit. Because being an assistant isn't a life sentence. And “Associate” isn't just a title. So, are you willing to advocate for the people in your room? Watch the full episode here. Show Notes: Connect with Jamal on IG Connect with Will on IG Watch Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies Watch the Beauty & The Beast: The 30th Anniversary Special Watch the Encanto Live at the Hollywood Bowl Read the Choreographers Guild Handbook Listen to our episode with Julie Listen to our In The Heights Episode Listen to our episode with Kai 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 my episode on Healing, Collaboration, and the Care You Didn't Know You Were Missing In this episode, I sit down with the team at Offset Med, the referral-only practice that's quietly taking care of some of the hardest-working bodies in the industry, to talk about what it actually looks like when healthcare meets you where you are. Spoiler: the best care isn't a diagnosis. It's a discovery process. We explore: This episode is for every dancer, performer, and human who has ever walked out of a provider's office feeling like a diagnosis instead of a person. Because you're not going to get fixed in one session. And that's okay. So, are you willing to trust the journey? Watch the full episode here! Show Notes: Connect with Offset Med 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 my episode on Confidence and what’s keeping you from feeling it! In this solo episode, Dana (movement director, artist developer, and your unofficial confidence coach) breaks down the one thing her students, pop stars, and actors keep asking for, and why they've been thinking about it all wrong. Spoiler: confidence isn't a skill you build. It's a feeling you're willing to have. We explore: Task-based confidence vs. self-confidence. Why the version of confidence most of us are chasing is actually the smallest slice of the pie, and what the rest of the grocery store looks like when you finally walk in. The milk metaphor that started it all. From shaking toddler hands to one-handed, foot-on-the-door pouring, and why crying over spilled milk is actually the origin story of every performer who's ever said, "I just need more confidence." Willingness as the real currency. How walking into a room of 500 phenomenal dancers with zero world tour credits on your resume can still look like you've done it before, and the single mindset shift that makes that possible. This episode is the one her student asked for, the one she thought she'd already made, and the one that might permanently change the way you think about what it means to be unflappable. So, are you willing to feel your least favorite feeling? Watch the full episode here. 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 Paul Turner on Feedback, Family, and Finding Your People in Unfamiliar Territory In this episode, Performer, Reality Star, “Production Fairy” and Producer, Paul Turner, shares his perspective on compassion, improvisation, and building creative community in spaces that demand instant connection. From competing on Survivor Europe with two weeks' notice and a rainbow tank top to launching Where's My Phone Productions, Paul reveals what it means to give feedback that builds people up instead of breaking them down. We explore: Criticism with compassion over criticism with a period. How stern feedback creates a full stop that erases all the good someone just did, and what it means to remember performers are on hour nine of day 65 before you open your mouth. The journey from being on reality TV to making it! The found family that comes from it and how Paul developed an improvisational nature. From purple-haired Alaskan dancers to production company founders. The origin story of Where's My Phone Productions (yes, it's named after a very drunk Vegas photo), why partnering with choreographer Brittany Riddle to tell stories about people who don't fit the Alaska stereotype matters, and what happens when they capture those lightning-in-a-bottle moments of forced intimacy and creative survival. This conversation reveals what happens when you lead with empathy instead of authority, when you say yes to opportunities that scare you (even if you don't speak the language), and when you realize the most interesting stories come from the people who never quite fit the expected mold. Watch the full episode here. Show Notes: Connect with Paul 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

Celebrate FIVE years of Words That Move Me with Producer & Host, Dana Wilson, joined by Executive Assistant & Editor Riley Higgins! This episode is a wild ride including: Thank you listener/viewer for FIVE WHOLE YEARS! We couldn’t do it without you. Here’s to five more! Watch the full episode here. 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 Sienna Lyons on Sensuality, Specialization, and the Strength to Sustain In this episode, Choreographer, Educator, and Dancer Sienna Lyons shares her perspective on power, versatility, and longevity in an industry that often demands everything at once. From backup dancing for JLo and Taylor Swift to choreographing for Gwen Stefani and The Masked Singer, Sienna reveals what it means to command attention without giving everything away. We explore: The art of the tease over the reveal. Why she gravitates toward the "don't look at me, but look at me" approach to sensuality, how different opacities of sexy—from the subtle smirk to what she calls "the yeast infection"—shape character choices, and what it means to keep certain elements as a privilege rather than a given. The generalist advantage in a specialist world. How training in everything from tap to commercial hip hop since age three became her secret weapon, why being fluent in both technical and commercial languages opens doors across choreographic camps, and the radical notion that "of course" having multiple skill sets works in your favor. Prehab over rehab at 36. The lightbulb moment when she realized PT isn't just for when you're hurting, why consistency matters more than intensity as the body ages, and what happens when you're still in great shape but gravity and years of abnormal physicality start sending reminders. This conversation reveals what happens when you refuse to perform easiness as a character trait, when you embrace being many things instead of one singular thing, and when you learn that maintaining your instrument is just as important as mastering your craft. Watch the full episode here. Show Notes: Connect with Sienna on IG Listen to Tony’s episode Listen to Dominique’s episode Listed to Jillian’s episode Listen to Slay’s episode Listen to Mimi’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

This is Dr. Arnel Calvario Ripkens on conscious leadership, cultural stewardship, and the dance program that says “yes” when others say “no”. In this episode, dancer, leader, and Doctor of Occupational Therapy Arnel Calvario Ripkens shares three decades of wisdom on building community, honoring roots, and creating space for everybody. We explore: The antidote to lonely leadership. Why "you're not alone" is the first thing every leader needs to hear, the power of reciprocal mentorship relationships, and how mission statements become your compass when organizations grow and evolve. Conscious cultural participation. What it means to be a guest in black-created art forms, how Culture Shock LA showed up for the communities whose culture shaped their choreography, and why knowledge of where dance comes from strengthens the power of what we do. Awesome Shock and neurodivergent dancers. The parents who shared that studios turned their kids away, the grant-funded after-school program that became a full dance troupe, and how 27 dancers ages 6 to 28 proved that diversity includes neurodiversity. Plus, more insights on being the best leader you can be! This conversation reveals what happens when you lead with a mission first, when you honor the heritage of the art forms you practice, and when you create programs that affirm every dancer—especially those who've been told they learn differently. Watch the full episode here. Show Notes: Connect with Arnel Listen to our first episode with Arnel Arnel’s Leadership Tools for the Dance Leader Learn more about Culture Shock LA 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 Will Johnston on new projects, originality, and the moment in a lunge that changed everything. In this episode, choreographer and director Will Johnston discusses his creative process, artistic influence, and the evolution of his work, from competitive dance beginnings to directing music videos for major artists. We explore: The choreography of numbness through cathartic movement. How his film "Pepper" explores over-consumption and paralysis, when the body holds chaos and vibration even when it can't move, and what happens to our vessels when the stimulation stops. Originality, influence, and the proofread process. Whether truly original thoughts exist, how dancers physicalize and remanifest what they see, and the idea of adding a "proofreading" step to creative work The lunge that sparked everything. That pivotal seventh-grade moment when recreation became serious, when "I should work hard" became a defining thought, and how weight-bearing holds can catalyze life-changing realizations. Plus, insights on evolving from dancer to director, working with DPs, and bringing technical precision to artistic vision. This conversation reveals what emerges when we examine our influences honestly, when we create space between inspiration and imitation, and when a single moment of clarity in class becomes the foundation for a global career. Watch the full episode here. Show Notes: Connect with Will on IG Watch “Pepper” 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 The Full Circle Boys & Keone Madrid on evolution, trust, and what becomes possible when creative roles shift. In this episode, The Full Circle Boys and choreographer Keone Madrid discuss their collaboration journey—from DIY beginnings to finding their distinct lanes. We explore: The sonic vision of a modern American boy band. How their creative sessions revealed a sound and aesthetic that broke from traditional boy band templates. The power of role clarity and creative trust. How the group transitioned from being hands-on choreographers juggling multiple responsibilities to focusing on music while trusting Keone completely. Creating beyond algorithms and benchmarks. What it means to navigate engagement metrics and content benchmarks (three seconds, six seconds, fifteen) while staying true to what speaks to you. Plus, some big laughs and a brand new 8 count! This conversation reveals what's possible when collaborators find their zones of genius, when trust replaces the need to control everything, and when the work itself becomes more important than perfecting your response to praise. Watch the full episode here. Show Notes: Connect with the Full Circle Boys on IG Connect with Keone on IG Watch all the latest FCB Music Videos Listen to their new EP “Plié” 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 an episode on injury, resistance, and the thoughts that become available after you stop fighting what is. In this episode, Dana shares her first-ever back injury at 39 and the 4 key lessons that came with it. We explore: The non-negotiable truth about injury. Why pretending you're not hurt serves no one, no job is worth pushing through real pain, and "if" you'll get injured is actually "when", even if you shop exclusively at Whole Foods and still manage to scrape your knee in Crocs Separating physical pain from emotional shame. How we compound very real injury-related pain with unnecessary embarrassment, why you're not stupid for thinking you could move the couch without warming up (you're human), and the essential practice of telling people you're healing without kicking yourself while you're down The egg white layer of resistance. What happens when you actually sit with unwanted thoughts like, "I can't be injured right now" instead of bypassing them, how that paper-thin friction softens into acceptance when you give it airtime, and the thoughts that become available on the other side: "I'm 100% exactly when I need to be, and I can handle what's in front of me with this body, exactly as it is." This conversation reveals what's possible when we stop resisting our human limitations and start recognizing that our bodies don't always cooperate with our timelines—and that's not a character flaw. Whether you're currently injured, recovering, or inevitably will be someday, Dana's experience offers a framework for meeting pain without adding suffering, and finding agency even when your body has other plans. Watch the full episode here. 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 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