Words That Move Me with Dana Wilson

This is DANCE + REBRANDING. This episode is a masterclass in when and HOW to pivot using our very own podcast as the case study. I'm telling you why, why NOW, and HOW I moved from “Words That Move Me” to DANCE + Here’s what you can expect from our pivot: Same great content, new name, logo, iconography, and then some! Spoiler: Rebrands are as much MIND MANAGEMENT as they are BRAND MANAGEMENT. Pivots aren’t just about new directions; they are an exercise in negotiating where you put your weight. They're a conversation with self (inward) and a statement of self (outward) that can expose a TON of unwanted feelings. Get ready for all the juicy details: The moment I KNEW beyond a doubt that I needed to change the name of the podcast. How Toni Basil influenced the new title. Why I decided to SHIFT, not STOP. 271 episodes in. We're just getting (re)started. Watch the full episode on YouTube. Show Notes: Hire Bree Reetz for your Brand Design! Listen to DANCE + Will Loftis Listen to DANCE + Toni Basil For more DANA For coaching with me, join the WTMM COMMUNITY 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 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 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 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

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