TALK RADIO FOR SMART DANCERS with Laurie Johnson

Melanie LaPatin is a United States Professional Ballroom Dance Champion and world-renowned choreographer, best known for her choreography work on Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance" and ABC's "Dancing With the Stars." Originally from Brooklyn, New York, LaPatin formed a professional partnership with Tony Meredith. Together they traveled the world, competing, coaching, performing, lecturing, choreographing, and represented the United States in twelve Professional World Latin-American Dance Championships, winning over 100 championship titles. LaPatin eventually moved to back to New York to coach and open a Latin and Ballroom dance studio, Dance Times Square. LaPatin represented the US in the World Latin American Dance Championships and has taken home over 100 championship titles. LaPatin is in high demand as a coach of top dancers around the world and as a choreographer for actors in film, television and Broadway. As a dance coach and choreographer, LaPatin has worked with some of the most renowned film and television personalities.  She also appeared in and choreographed the movie Leading Ladies, playing the leading role.  Connect with Laurie Johnson: facebookinstagramtwitter website

Connect with me: LaurieJohnson.com  Facebook  Twitter  LinkedIn  Instagram  Medium

She does not have a natural sense of confidence, but her steady foundation and ability to tactfully say, NO, landed Chelsie Hightower at the top of her game on #DWTS. This fan fav from #SYTYCD, shares details about how to gain self worth, and what it means when a late night text from a man she’d just met says, “I HAVE A PROPOSITION FOR YOU.”  Chelsie says, “They’ll treat you the way you treat yourself.” #Life101 #asklaurie #talkradioforsmartdancers #talkradio4smartdancers please subscribe to my newsletter facebookinstagram

Sherry Zunker is the founder of BeMoved®, a dance fitness program for people of all movement abilities, director of “Chicago the Musical” for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and co-artistic director emerita of River North Chicago Dance Company.  As director and choreographer, her work covers concert dance, musical theater, corporate entertainment, television, video and film. Her teaching career spans 30 years and is as diverse as the works she has created. Zunker has set works on the Joffrey Ballet and Giordano Dance Chicago. She danced with Chicago Repertory Dance Ensemble, was a principal dancer with Giordano Dance Chicago, performed as a soloist in “Bob Fosse’s Dancin',” and with Tony Award-winning choreographer Ann Reinking. Films include “The Blues Brothers” and “A League of Their Own.”

Kevin Stea, a well-known dancers in the industry for  over 20 years has worked as choreographer, model, director, actor and host.  He has worked with some of the world’s top musical artists, directors, photographers and designers.  Kevin was associate choreographer, dance captain and dancer on Madonna’s legendary Blonde Ambition World Tour, from which the movie “Madonna:Truth or Dare” was made, and the video for “Vogue”.   He performed in Madonna’s unforgettable Edwardian appearance on the MTV Music Video Awards, and won Star Search with the Dance Grand Champions ‘New World’. Soon after, he was working with Gloria Estefan, Prince and as associate choreographer and dancer for Michael Jackson.  After performing in movies like Sister Act 2, Showgirls, Newsies and The Birdcage, he toured Japan with Japanese artist Seiko Matsuda, as her dance partner and singer. He then moved to Italy to sing, dance, act and judge on a variety show, Buona Domenica.  After signing a recording deal, he toured with Ricky Martin, promoting “La Vida Loca”.  Kevin appeared in more than 50 commercials, including 13 for the Gap and Old Navy, most famously in Khaki-a-go-go. He also appeared in 14 Pepsi commercials, along with Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Beyonce and Britney Spears

Internationally renowned teacher, performer, and choreographer, Alan has been dancing most of his life. Currently on staff at the famous STEPS studio on Broadway, Alan teachers tap and jazz (theatre dance). Alan has also been on faculty at Broadway Dance Center, The School of Ballet and Theatre Dance, The Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, and the Phil Black Studio. He teaches for Dance Masters of America, Dance Educators of America, New York City Dance Alliance; internationally with the Commonwealth Society of Teachers of Dance (Australia), International Groupe des 8 (France), IDTA (South Africa), the Belgian Ministry of Culture, and gives master class workshops in Japan, Brazil, Israel, Finland, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy. As a performer, Alan has performed lead roles in A CHORUS LINE, WEST SIDE STORY, THE TAP DANCE KID, SOPHISTICATED LADIES, SINGING IN THE RAIN, and MY ONE AND ONLY. Alan's choreography has been enjoyed by audiences around the world.  Alan's life changed dramatically in 1999, which he was almost killed in a MVA. Since waking up for a short coma he's had to relearn to walk, talk and generally take care of himself. Over the past 16 years he's had over 30 surgeries which have allowed him to return to his career teaching and choreographing around the world.

Barry has conceived, directed, and coordinated the technical production of world tours for such artists as: Usher, Mariah Carey, Rihanna, Miguel, John Fogerty, Ciara, and the cat Dolls. He has also served as a creative and technical director for TV performances with Trey Songz, Justin Bieber, P Diddy, Usher, Rihanna, and Blake Shelton on the Grammys, American Music Awards, the VMA's, Billboard Awards, BET Awards, and CMA's. In addition Barry has lent his talents to the top reality competition series: So You Think You Can Dance, X Factor, Britain's Got Talent, and Dancing With The Stars. Barry worked with John Legend, Robin Thicke, Kelly Clarkson and Jennifer Nettles on the series Duets producing multiple staged performances. He also directed the arena tour Nuclear Cowboyz, featuring high flying freestyle motocross riders, stilt walkers, fire, and parkour performers in an elaborate spectacle show for Feld Entertainment. The Superbowl Halftime Show, the Academy Awards, theme park and cruise ship shows are also among Barry's prestigious credits in dealing with global large-scale productions.   Barry directs the vital elements of production from concept to stage, lighting, and screen content design, along with wardrobe, music and special effects. visit, connect, post, stare, gawk, laugh at: facebook lauriejohnson.com twitter instagram

Jamal story is an advocate for arts education & serves on the SAG-AFTRA New York Board and co-chairs the National Committee for Dance. With two degrees from Southern Methodist University, Jamal has danced with Donald Byrd/theGroup, Madonna's 2001 Drowned World Tour, Complexions, and (as an aerialist and dancer) Cher's Living Proof: The Farewell Tour. He performed on Broadway in the original casts of both The Color Purple and Motown: the Musical. He is currently a dancer on Cher’s Dressed to Kill Tour. As an author, his second book, Toss in the Ether, is a dance novel available at jamalstory.com/tossthestory in paperback and e-book. Jamal has also served as professor ad interim at the University of Missouri, Kansas City and taught on LA Dance Magic with Jackie Sleight.

Kathryn McCormick first arrived in Los Angeles in 2008. Soon after arriving she was first cast as a dancer in the feature film remake of FAME and soon appeared as the female lead in STEP UP REVOLUTION and DANCE-OFF. Kathryn is also known for her work on SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE, on which she has appeared as both a contestant and returning all-star. She has performed as a guest on DANCING WITH THE STARS. She is a member of "Still Motion," Stacey Tookey's performance company, and "Moment One" founded by Teddy Forance and Jon Arpino. Kathryn has continuously done multiple performances with the Academy Awards, as well as performing in the 65th Annual Emmy Awards and the Kid's Choice Awards. She has been featured in Christina Perri's music video "Jar of Hearts," Vienne "She Breaks," Timbaland/Neyo "Hands in the Air," John Torres "Oceans," and most recently Muse "Dead Inside." She has performed in commercials and industrials. Recently, Kathryn was a guest start on CSI: Las Vegas (CBS). She is a principal performer in TED 2, and has many other projects in the works.

Marguerite Derricks is one of dance's most recognized and respected choreographers. She is the first and only choreographer to have received 3 consecutive Emmy Awards for Outstanding Choreography, & is also the recipient of 5 MTV Movie Awwards for Best Dance Sequence. Marguerite is the choreographer for SHOWSTOPPERS in Las Vegas. She choreographed HEATHERS THE MUSICAL, and the Broadway production of WONDERLAND. Other credits include THE MINDY PROJECT, BEHIND THE CANDELABRA, Disney's FROZEN featurette, & HBO's hit series TRUE BLOOD. In film, Marguerite has choreographed some of the most popular movies of the last 20 years - SHOWGIRLS, STRIPTEASE, AUSTIN POWERS, CHARLIE'S ANGELS, TROPIC THUNDER, MR. & MRS. SMITH, LITTLE MS SUNSHINE, NO STRINGS ATTACHED, SPIDER MAN 3, & THE CAMPAIGN. Marguerite has choreographed for numerous awards shows including The Oscars (with Hugh Jackman), the Emmys, MTV Movie Awards, Teen Choice, and VH1 Vogue Fashion Awards. Her television credits include BUNHEADS, VEGAS, CSI: MIAMI, THE UNITED STATES OF TARA, 3RD ROCK FROM THE SUN, WILL & GRACE, and DANCING WITH THE STARS. She has also worked with musical artists Lenny Kravitz and Adele, as well as many commericals.

He is turned off by those who don’t show respect for elders. "I'm there to audition, not teach etiquette." Listen to Michael Blake talk about auditioning pet peeves, booty shorts, making your dreams bigger than competition, tricks vs. artistry, performing into his 50's post hip replacement, and why "competition is not professional dancing."   Michael Blake is the director for the Jazz and Contemporary Program for Joffrey Ballet School. He is an internationally-recognized dancer, actor, teacher, choreographer and writer who has taught at Purchase, Marymount Manhattan, Mason Gross School of the Arts, the Limon Institution and private studios in Japan and Europe for more than two decades. His is director of the renowned Joffrey Ballet School's Jazz and Contemporary Program in NYC. “I describe my teaching as being more than the transmission of movement; instead it is about teaching students how to reach their potential as people and as dance professionals.” lauriejohnson.comfacebookinstagramtwitter

Eliana Girard started dancing with the John Mullen's Performing Arts Studio, Bak Middle School of the Arts and Dreyfoos High School of the Arts. She attended the American Ballet Theater and Joffrey Ballet's summer program two consecutive years.  She attended the Alvin Ailey School on a full scholarship. Eliana's professional career started with the Cirque du Soleil "Viva Elvis!" show. She was the Season 9 #SYTYCD winner, performed in Diva's Live on VH1, Nas's New Years Eve Radio City Show, and has been touring with Taylor Swift - the Red Tour.  She has performed on multiple awwards shows such as AMA, Billboard, Emmy, Grammy, and CMT.  She hopes to spread the passion of dance and to never stop learning.

On this episode we talk about BBQ with Britney Spears & her dad, how much dancers make,  what offends him on Instagram, and why taking a business class is good for someone who needs a PLAN B. He offers his email to anyone who has questions or wants to contact him. He has set out to prove those ppl wrong who say, "dance won’t always be there, you cant make a career out of dance, or you need plan b."  Connect with me: LaurieJohnson.com  Facebook  Twitter  LinkedIn  Instagram  Medium

he's a hungry entrepreneur

Clarice Ordaz answers questions from dancers on Instagram, and talks candidly about dealing with the "haters" who tweeted nasty things about her during her #sytycd, season 8 appearance.  Clarice trained at West Coast School of the Arts in Orange and was a contestant of “So You Think You Can Dance” season 8, making it to the top 10. She has danced on episodes of “Blunt Talk”, “Shake It Up”, “The X Factor ” season 2 and in a special flash mob for the season premiere of “Hell’s Kitchen” season 11. Clarice has worked with Ariana Grande and Olivia Holt in the Lythgoe Family Production of “A Snow White Christmas” and “Sleeping Beauty and Her Winter Knight”. She has also performed on BET Awards with Trey Songz, ALMA Awards, Grammys, Brit Awards, CMT Awards, Billboard Awards, and  performed in the Summertime Ball in London. In 2013, she was selected to be 1 of 6 girls on Taylor Swift’s RED World Tour.

Your dance career really gets started when you bouce back from being knocked down a few times.  Stacey Tookey is a multitalented, director, choreographer and dancer who has worked with Celine Dion, Bette Midler, Justin Timberlake, and Michael Buble. She performed with Mia Michaels' dance company R.A.W., New York's Parsons Dance Project, Ballet British Columbia, ChuThis and the Houston Grand Opera's Carmen. Assistant choreographer for Broadway's A Few Good Men Dancin' and original cast member for the entire five-year run of Celine Dion's record-breaking show A New Day at Caesar's Palace.  She has received three Emmy nominations for her work on #SYTYCD, and she choreographs for Dancing With the Stars. Her dance company, Still Motion debuted in June 2014 to sold out audiences.  Stacey is board member of Nigel Lithgoe's Dizzy Feet Foundation.  lauriejohnson.comfacebooktwitterinstagram

JESSICA CHEN, Artistic Director of J CHEN PROJECT, is an inspirational speaker, international teacher and a social entrepreneur. She has taught master classes, workshops and seminars across the globe including Semester at Sea, Yale University, Boston University, Mt. Holyoke, University of California Santa Barbara and Orange County School of the Arts. Her work has been featured world wide including the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai and the Amnesty International Arts Festival in Washington D.C. Chen’s choreography has been presented at New York Live Arts Studio Series, Brooklyn Museum of Art, HERE Arts Center, Ars Nova and has received support from organizations including Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Fund for Creative Communities, New York University Asian Pacific American Institute and Asian American Arts Alliance.  Recent educational projects include the launch of her summer dance intensive the Mentorship Program in NYC for aspiring dancers. Commissioned by Dixon Place over the past two years, she curated “TRANSLATE (the voices of dance)” a festival for emerging choreographers.

At 18, and still a student in the Houston Ballet Academy, Brian Enos was invited to create his first work for The Houston Ballet. He has since gone on to create works for companies such as Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Ballet Met, Nashville Ballet, Grand Rapids Ballet, and Dance Works Chicago. Named "Best up and coming choreographer," by the Houston Press, Brian was also a winner of the annual Hubbard Street 2 International Choreographic Competition. As a dancer, he spent several years performing with The Houston Ballet before embarking on an eight year career as a dancer and choreographer with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. My name is Laurie Johnson. @laurietalks everywhere.  Connect with me: LaurieJohnson.com  Facebook  Twitter  Instagram  Medium

Sean Chessman is internationally renowned and has worked with some of the world's top entertainers, including Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Vanessa Williams, Carmen Electra, Tina Turner, Queen Latifah, and Britney Spears. Most recently Sean was one of the producers, creative directors and choreographers for Andrew Lloyd Webber's search for a Dorothy on the TV show Over The Rainbow (airing in Canada). Choreographer and Head Judge on the reality show/dance competition Dirty Dancing: Time of Your Life. One of the only choreographers to have judged and choreographed for #SYTYCD in the USA, Canada and UK. Choreographer and Mentor for the T4 show Musicool. Sean studied at the Alvin Ailey Dance Center in New York. He toured with Janet Jackson as a choreographer and dancer. He subsequently choreographed the Diamonds and Pearls tour for Prince, as well as tours for Faith Hill, No Angels, and is currently working on ad campaigns for Nike and Bacardi. Sean appeared in and choreographed for the movie The Bodyguard. Television works include Guys Next Door, Soul Train Awards and Janet Jackson's Saturday Night Live performance. My name is Laurie Johnson. I love talking to people. Can you tell?  Connect with me: LaurieJohnson.com  Facebook  Twitter  LinkedIn  Instagram  Medium

Over the past 33 years, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company has shaped the evolution of contemporary dance through the creation of over 140 works. Founded as a multicultural dance company, it is today recognized as one of the most innovative and powerful forces in the modern dance world. Company performed worldwide in over 200 cities and in 30 countries on every major continent. AWARDS: MacArthur “Genius” Award, honorary doctorates from Art Institute of Chicago, Bard College, Columbia College, the Juilliard School, Swarthmore College, Yale University & Distinguished Alumni Award from SUNY Binghamton. Tony Awards for Best Choreography for Spring Awakening & Fela. Named Eileen Harris Norton Fellow, inducted into the National Museum of Dance, Received Kennedy Center Honors & The National Medal of Arts. Mr. Jones also received The Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize, one of the richest prizes in the arts, given annually for outstanding contribution to the beauty of the world and to mankind’s enjoyment and understanding of life. My name is Laurie Johnson. I love talking to people. Can you tell?  Connect with me: LaurieJohnson.com  Facebook  Twitter  LinkedIn  Instagram  Medium