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Dance Your Life

Dance Your Life

Joanna Vargas

Do people think you’re crazy because you want to be a dancer and drop the 9-5? We get it! Listen in as we teach you how to take your love for dance and turn it into a career. Welcome to the Dance Your Life podcast by Maxt Out Dance Competition with your host Joanna Vargas. Every week Joanna will bring you intimate interviews with the most successful and open dancers, choreographers and directors in the dance industry. The Dance Your Life podcast will help you and your dance career. Whether you want to dance professionally on tour, choreograph for camera or create your own dance crew, we have the information for you. Joanna has been involved in the dance world her whole life. She owned and sold a successful dance studio and has created one of the biggest dance competitions for the last 20 years. This podcast will give you tips and advice to work towards your dream job in the entertainment and dance industry. Every episode has information and answers to your questions about your dance career. If you’re looking for the answers, we got you! Are you excited? We are. Let’s do this!
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Top 10 Dance Your Life Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Dance Your Life episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Dance Your Life for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Dance Your Life episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

Dance Your Life - From street performer to top choreographer with Marie Poppins

From street performer to top choreographer with Marie Poppins

Dance Your Life

play

08/03/20 • 37 min

Marie shares her story on how she lived through a short time frame with her Visa in the U.S as a street performer to booking her first paid dance gig. This episode will truly give you chills of excitement.

In this episode you will learn about:

  • Having a short time frame to book a dance job with an almost expired Visa in L.A.
  • How being a street performer in Chicago taught her to be a great dancer.
  • Why she almost gave up on her dance career living in L.A to booking her first dance paid gig.
  • Overcoming tough times while moving to multiple locations to find her true calling in dance.
  • Why building relationships in the dance world without burning your bridges can create more happiness.

Show Notes:

Marie Poppins works professionally in the entertainment industry as a dancer, teacher & choreographer. Marie is an expert in the popping dance style.

Marie shares her story on how she lived through a short time frame with her Visa in the U.S as a street performer to booking her first paid dance gig. This episode will truly give you chills of excitement.

Question Highlights:

  • How did you get into dance and how old were you?
  • What’s your all time favorite dance career memory? Good or bad.
  • What do you do to help you get through tough times in life? How did you overcome them?
  • What’s in the works right now? Are you working on any major projects?
  • How do you feel about the dance world now vs the dance world 20 years ago?
  • What is a tip you have to give to the dancers that want to be exposed?

About Marie Poppins:

Marie Bonnevay, stage name Marie Poppins is a French Professional Dancer, currently living in Los Angeles. She started dancing in France and followed her training in Chicago with Stick and Move Dance crew, and then with Culture Shock Los Angeles.

She learned different styles of dance and decided to focus on Popping. She is now steadily making a name for herself in the Hip-Hop circuit, winning battle after battle, including: BBOY SUMMIT 2010- LA, HIP HOP INTERNATIONAL 2009- Las Vegas, FINALIST FREESTYLE SESSION 2010 – LA, HIPOPSESSION 2010 – FRANCE, FINALIST SDK - UK, BATTLE VISION 2010- FRANCE, and JUST 4 LADIES – France.

Marie Poppins has worked with artists such as Justin Bieber, Busta Rhymes, Dj Tiesto, Rita Ora, KRS One, Snoop Doggy Dogg, Common, Ludacris, Ray J, and Cascada. She judged Hip-Hop International Mexico, Brazil, UK, Ireland, Madrid, and Russia.

She was recently casted for the new dance movie STREETDANCE 3D choreographed by Rich and Tone Talauega. You can see Marie Poppins on TV in the last Superbowl Budweiser Commercial “Eternal Optimism” and in the I ROBOT vaccuum Commercial choreographed by Shotyme. Marie Poppins’ workshop is about sharing her knowledge in Popping, Tutting, and Animation that she learned and developed in Los Angeles.

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Dance Your Life - What did you learn and unlearn this year with Joanna and Salome

What did you learn and unlearn this year with Joanna and Salome

Dance Your Life

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04/13/21 • 35 min

Salome and Joanna go all in and talk about their top Dance Your Life guest interviews and their takeaways from their experiences with 100+ dancers. Join us in this conversation as it’s their last episode for this podcast.

They will be putting a pause on this wonderful adventure. It’s not a “goodbye”, it’s a “see you again soon!”

In this episode you will learn about:

  • How can you be willing to continuously grow throughout life.
  • What are some of the things you can unlearn to create more.
  • How can a conversation be an energetic invitation?
  • What are some ways you can create gifts in a tough situation.
  • How being open minded can help you become less stressful.

There is so much consciousness from this episode. Every guest that they interviewed was special in their own way.

MaxtOutDance REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!

We listened...and we are bringing YOU the 20th Anniversary MAXT OUT DANCE COMPETITION this fall. We are creating a safe and well thought out dance event for you this November. We will have more details on our venue soon.

Don't have a team now since the pandemic? . . . all good! We have our CHOR(eographers) division and you can show your project to other dancers.

Go to MAXTOUTDANCE and register your team!

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure and give us a five star rating and leave us a review on iTunes, Podcast Addict, Podchaser and Castbox.

Text: ANNIVERSARY to (323) 524-9857 to view our WATCH PARTY for our 20th Anniversary Maxt Out Dance Competition online!

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Dance Your Life - Creating better choreography by traveling with Dominique Pompa

Creating better choreography by traveling with Dominique Pompa

Dance Your Life

play

02/23/21 • 36 min

Dom talks about the ability that everyone has to create the best version of yourself as a performer and person.

In this episode you will learn about:

  • What it’s like to really create a safe space for yourself as a dancer.
  • How to maintain your unique artistry.
  • If you’ve never freestyled, how you can start to let go.
  • Adapting to other cultures when traveling.
  • Reinventing and expanding your creativity.

Favorite Quote: “If you’re on time you’re late. If you’re early, you’re on time.”

Dom has a lively, and caring personality. She has always been the person in which people feel comfortable talking about their inner thoughts.

About Dominique:

Dominique is a Los Angeles native and creative who is heavily rooted in both the dance community and industry. She’s a dancer, choreographer and instructor. Dominique also acts and she photographs/films and produces.

Her art fuses the culture of storytelling while advocating the inner depths of what creative expression is and the wonders it can do. She's trained in Choreography, Contemporary, Hiphop, House, New Style Hustle, Locking, Improv, Afro Diaspora, Jazz Funk and Modern. On her down time she talks about life and takes care of her plantitas. Her life's m.o. is to be what she wishes she had when she was younger and to just do the thang!

Follow Dominique:

Text: ANNIVERSARY to (323) 524-9857 to view our WATCH PARTY for our 20th Anniversary Maxt Out Dance Competition online!

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Dance Your Life - Dance decade differences with Jordan Julian

Dance decade differences with Jordan Julian

Dance Your Life

play

02/02/21 • 46 min

Remember Breed, TM, Miguel Zarate, all the other dance teams and choreographers in the early 2000’s? Jordan and Salome have some good throwback conversations about how dance used to be 15+ years ago. You’ll also get behind the scenes of Disneyland’s Mickey and the Magical Map show. Who doesn’t love a good Disney inside look?!

In this episode you will learn about:

  • A different type of inspiration to start dancing.
  • The process of Disney auditions and getting ready to debut a show.
  • Learning to take on other talents for a gig that would last for years.
  • The shift that dance has taken and how dancers are creating a different community.
  • How dance competitions looked 15+ years ago.

Favorite Quote: “I'm gonna do today what others won’t, so I can do tomorrow what others can’t.”

Jordan loves teaching and he has seen a difference throughout the years from the dance community.

About Jordan:

Jordan started dancing at the Honolulu Dance Studio in 2002 studying Jazz, Ballet, Contemporary, Hip Hop, and Breakdancing. Became a member with the New Hope Christian Fellowship Dance team and performed with artists such as Plus One, Jodi McBrayer, The Katinas, and Nicole C. Mullen. After high school, moving to California to further his dance career with The Young Americans College/Outreach Tour group. Touring all over the United States and abroad in Europe teaching Singing, Dancing, and Acting thru the Young Americans Music Outreach Program.

Soon after college he started performing for the Disney Company in the shows elecTRONica and Mickey and The Magical Map. He has also performed with several dance crews in Southern California such as, Natural St8, Reality Check, Mix'd Elements, Colabor8, in competitions such as WOD, HHI, Maxt Out, and Vibe.

Follow Jordan:

Text: ANNIVERSARY to (323) 524-9857 to view our WATCH PARTY for our 20th Anniversary Maxt Out Dance Competition online!

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Dance Your Life - What you can accomplish by taking every dance experience as useful tools with Allyssa Sniff

What you can accomplish by taking every dance experience as useful tools with Allyssa Sniff

Dance Your Life

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01/12/21 • 40 min

In this episode Joanna Vargas interviews Allyssa Sniff. Allyssa brings out the lessons that were taught while she was a performer at Six Flags and what her experience was running back and forth from one audition to another in different cities. Listen in as you will hear a different perspective from a dancer that moved to L.A not too long ago to pursue her dreams.

In this episode you will learn about:

  • Bringing out your tools and sharpening your tools that need more work.
  • Having a consistent dance job at a theme park that gives you lessons and teaches you more about performance.
  • Giving energy instead of all your tricks at an audition.
  • Booking a show and having to constantly learn different tracks for understudies.
  • Having a great dance job then COVID hits and how you continue to train and start your own business.

Favorite Quote: “You can become what you want to be by remaining what you are.”

Allyssa talks about upgrading yourself to your next level and continuing to challenge yourself to keep improving and growing.

About Allyssa:

Allyssa Sniff is a dancer, choreographer, and artist living between LA and Las Vegas. Her passion for creating in all forms fuels her on-the-go lifestyle and keeps her ready for whatever adventure tomorrow brings. Dance/choreography credits: Disney, High School Musical, Geico, ESPN, Tyga, Busta Rhymes, Iggy Azalea, Keke Palmer, Chrisette Michele. Graphic/Artwork for Cherry Boom Boom, Toni Braxton, Soul Train Music Awards.

Follow Allyssa:

Text: ANNIVERSARY to (323) 524-9857 to view our WATCH PARTY for our 20th Anniversary Maxt Out Dance Competition online!

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Dance Your Life - Getting rejected to becoming a dance teacher with Essence Florie

Getting rejected to becoming a dance teacher with Essence Florie

Dance Your Life

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01/05/21 • 38 min

Essence talks about being rejected from a dance company and how she moved forward to being a dancer that gets noticed because of her performance and as a great dance teacher.

In this episode you will learn about:

  • Taking advantage of all the dance classes and workshops to gain more training and get to where you want to be as a dancer.
  • Going all the way to pursue teaching in dance by always practicing and learning from others.
  • How being a dance teacher that has the passion for helping is important to truly make a difference with students.
  • Teaching young dancers causes a huge influence for the future of dance.
  • Tips to make dance videos for your projects.

Favorite Quote: “The end will justify the pain it took to get us there.”

Essence is a great performer who has worked her butt off to get to where she’s at. She talks about topics all dancers can relate to.

About Essence:

Essence Florie Jasperse is a professional teacher, dancer, and choreographer from Thousand Oaks, California. Essence graduated from California Lutheran University (CLU) in 2014 with a bachelor's degree in Exercise Science and Sports Medicine. With a strong passion for teaching dance, Essence decided to pursue a career in education. In 2015, she obtained her teaching credential in Physical Education from CLU, followed by a Master's degree in Education, with an emphasis on Teacher Leadership.

Essence has extensive training in multiple styles of dance including ballet, jazz, contemporary, hip hop, and heels, and has been teaching dance for 14 years. Additionally, she has trained and choreographed for many promising dancers and upcoming recording artists in the Los Angeles area, including Evan Craft, Djoir Jordan, and Juliet Piper.

Essence has performed and choreographed for a number of artists around the world including the Ciclovida Tour with Evan Craft in South America and the Name On It Tour with Djoir Jordan in the Middle East. Currently, she is dancing for The Hubbard Collective by Irishia Hubbard and The Vixens by David Slaney. Finally, Essence is passionate about helping dancers meet their goals and fulfill their greatest potential both in dance and in life off the dance floor.

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Dance Your Life - How you can gain worth and respect in your line of work with Knicole

How you can gain worth and respect in your line of work with Knicole

Dance Your Life

play

10/05/20 • 52 min

In this episode Joanna Vargas interviews Knicole Haggins. Listen in as Joanna and K talk about previous dance experiences. K gives you different stories that happened behind the scenes from tours with different “A List” pop artists.

In this episode you will learn about:

  • How your journey can change from one day to another.
  • What kind of sacrifices you might make to pursue your dance goals.
  • The importance of committing 100% to all your dance gigs regardless of how big or small.
  • How being social with your dance mates on tour can make a great impact on stage.
  • What kind of changes we can make towards a more educated dance community regarding current events.

Quote: “My ship is coming in even if I have to tug it myself.”

K gives you an inside look on what happens off the big stage as a dancer for concerts. She also talks about her band and how different it is performing with her band vs as a dancer.

Question Highlights:

  • What inspired you to start dancing?
  • What was one memorable dance experience on tour?
  • Tell us about your band. What projects are you working on?
  • What can you do to keep your dance job consistently?
  • With BLM going on, what are your perspectives on how dancers can educate themselves?

About “K”Nicole:

"K"nicole is a Cali native Angeleno. She is a veteran and ambassador of both community and entertainment industry, a versatile performer, who has worked on many platforms such as world tours, award shows, TV & film, theater, commercials, music videos, and much more. She has worked with musical legends including Chris Brown, Ariana Grande, Lady Gaga, Prince, and Usher just to name a few and recent shows such as The VMAs, Penny Dreadful, The Masked Singer, The Latin Grammys, GLEE, and several others! Knicole studied dance at many studios and attended Fullerton college. Her home team in the community is Team Millennia, and she has also been an artistic director for Boogiezone Breed.

Having spent years on many screens and stages, her purpose in life is to help people feel and connect to the positive nostalgia and theatrics of the entertainment industry. Knicole has traveled the world performing, choreographing, and teaching, and also works as a talent consultant, helping to advise careers and develop artists. Her specialties as a teacher include expanding movement range, helping students to find authentic feeling and performance, understanding musicality, and conditioning the body to execute with strength. She is also a singer songwriter as well, performing throughout California with her band, she is also known as Alice King. Relentlessly pursuing big dreams, Knicole aka Alice has known that her mission is to spread more love and happiness through the art of music & dance; thru movement & sound. May you live yours!

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Dance Your Life - The importance of leadership in dance with Arnel Calvario

The importance of leadership in dance with Arnel Calvario

Dance Your Life

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08/27/20 • 50 min

Arnel Calvario shares his knowledge of leadership in the dance community in this episode. Learn why the dance community needs more leaders and educators. Arnel explains the importance of excellent leadership and what it takes to become a good mentor.

In this episode you will learn about:

  • What led Arnel to create Kaba Modern.
  • How going to school, majoring and getting a doctorate at USC inspired him to create more in the dance community.
  • The leadership summits in which dance leaders around the world have been a part of.
  • What it takes to master your leadership skills to help your dancers grow.
  • The differences in the dance community from the early 2000’s vs now.

Show Notes:

Arnel Carvario has been a part of the dance community and industry for a long time. He created Kaba Modern, which is still well known in the dance world. Arnel has been managing well known dance crews and created a business out of it. Other than managing dance crews, his main focus has become to empower dance leaders to recreate by having leadership workshops online. Arnel’s lane of education is teaching roots before branches.

Question Highlights:

  • You’re a doctor of occupational therapy, tell us more about it? What motivated you to focus on that?
  • What’s your favorite part about being a leadership coach?
  • What do you do to help you get through tough times in life? How did you overcome them?
  • What do you hope for the dance world involving social justice regarding the current events? Any changes? What changes?
  • What are some podcasts or books that you recommend?

About Arnel:

Believing in using his talents & resources to promote community outreach,

“respect for all people,” artistic expression, and education, Dr. Arnel Calvario has

dedicated himself to the CA dance scene since his college days. In 1992, he founded

UC Irvine’s own Kaba Modern.

In 1998, he joined Culture Shock® Los Angeles. In 2002, Arnel also founded KM Legacy as part of celebrating Kaba Modern’s 10 year anniversary. He managed Kaba Modern, Fanny Pak, the Beat Freaks, & Kinjaz and provided consultation services to Quest Crew and Poreotics during their runs on MTV’s hit show America’s Best Dance Crew. Arnel also helped manage Kinjaz during their 2017 run on NBC’s World of Dance. He currently serves as an advisor for Kaba Modern, as the Board President of Culture Shock International Foundation, and as an active member of the Kinjaz. Arnel has also been featured as a guest writer for the L.A. Times as a critic for America’s Best Dance Crew Season 5, served as co-coordinator for the annual Hip Hop International World Battles for the past 10 years, is the US elite judge for the annual Hip Hop International World Championships, and is a contributing author for the book, EMPIRE of FUNK which was released January 2014.

Arnel launched his “Dance Therapy Program for Children with Special Needs” in April 2014 in collaboration with Culture Shock LA & the DEA. This is a grant-funded, after-school program that serves 1 st , 2 nd , & 3 rd graders enrolled in special day class programs in the Long Beach Unified school district. His hope is to continue to combine occupational therapy techniques with dance art to serve more children with special needs in collaboration with Culture Shock LA and one day extend this program into a summer dance therapy camp. Arnel is also one of the leaders working to expand outreach program development for Kinjaz through their clothing line Kin Aesthetik and also their newly opened space, Kinjaz Komplex. Within the past year, he has been a guest lecturer at UC Irvine, USC, Grossmont College, Cal State Fullerton, and UCLA. He also continues to teach his ROOTS B4 BRANCHES dance workshop and LEADERSHIP TOOLS for the DANCE LEADER workshops, judge dance competitions, and participate in program development internationally today. He does all this while continuing to work full-time as a Doctor of Occupational Therapy for Long Beach Unified School District Related Services.

Book Recommendations:

  • Can't Stop Won't Stop by JEFF CHANG
  • Becoming by MICHELLE OBAMA
  • America is in the Heart - CARLOS BULOSAN
  • The Dangerous Art of Blending In - ANGELO SURMELIS
  • In Her Purpose - 40 Principles of Asian Women Redefining Success in their Own Terms - ROSE BUADO & JENNIFER REDONDO-MARQUEZ
  • Book of Awakenings by MARK NEPO

Follow Arnel:

  • Instagram ( link to: www.instagram.com/arnelcalvario )
  • https://youtu.be/43QCBwZRftk
  • https://youtu.be/sjgJBlN3pHI?list=PL767E0D35A1D92BA0
  • https://youtu.be/vm3eGZqihsE?list=PL3E02926EC33D6F42
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Dance Your Life - #BreakingTheStereotype with Amanda LaCount

#BreakingTheStereotype with Amanda LaCount

Dance Your Life

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08/07/20 • 46 min

In this episode you will learn how Amanda thrived in becoming an inspiration for all types of dancers around the world. You will be inspired by this young artist and how she is BREAKING THE DANCE STEREOTYPE.

In this episode you will learn about:

  • What it’s like to have her mom as her dance manager (Momager)
  • Building relationships in the dance community and how the way you treat people goes along way.
  • How to get to work with the artists of your dreams.
  • Moving from Colorado to start a dance life in “harsh” L.A and striving as a teen dancer.
  • Continually being rejected because of not having the body type that was expected from a professional dancer.

Show Notes:

Amanda has her own movement #breakingthestereotype that promotes body positivity and the knowing that any "body" can be a dancer. Amanda's passion is dance, but her goal is to inspire others to follow their dreams.

In this episode you will learn how Amanda thrived in becoming an inspiration for all types of dancers around the world. You will be inspired by this young artist.

Question Highlights:

  • What are your strengths and weaknesses?
  • Tell us about your brand #breakingthestereotype?
  • What do you hope for the dance world in the next 10 years? Any changes? What changes?
  • What expectations do you have for yourself in the next 5 years?
  • What is a tip you have to give to the dancers that want to be exposed?

About Amanda:

Amanda LaCount is a well known hip hop dancer, actress, choreographer, singer, model and influencer. She has been dancing since she was 2 years old. In 2015 she moved from Colorado to Los Angeles to follow her dream of becoming a professional dancer and actress.

Some of Amanda’s most notable performances include dancing with Meghan Trainor on RDMA, dancing on The Ellen Show with Keala Settle from "The Greatest Showman", dancing with Disney's "Descendants 2" Cast on DWTS, dancing on 2 Episodes of The Voice, dancing in Katy Perry's "Swish Swish" music video feat. Nicki Minaj, performing at Coachella with Lizzo, performing in Rihanna's Savage X Fenty Show at NYFW, and performing as Alana (one of Ariel's sisters) in ABC's "The Little Mermaid Live".Most recently Amanda danced in Lady Gaga's "Stupid Love" music video.

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Dance Your Life - What it’s like to dance and get a Bachelors and Masters with Liezel Marie

What it’s like to dance and get a Bachelors and Masters with Liezel Marie

Dance Your Life

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02/16/21 • 34 min

Liezel made some sacrifices in dance to get her Bachelors and Masters to later on create more opportunities for herself and other dancers in the dance community.

In this episode you will learn about:

  • What you can do by sacrificing something you love so much.
  • Having a plan to create the most out of your passion and career.
  • Finding the right training for yourself because not everyone trains the same.
  • Creating an outlet through dance to help dancers in the dance community.
  • The different stories that lead to the same passions you might have.

Favorite Quote: “Our journey is greater than the destination”

Liezel has a podcast called ART. ESSENTIAL OR NOT? She created this podcast to listen to all sorts of stories from different artists.

About Liezel:

Liezel Marie is a Choreographer, Director and Dancer based in Los Angeles represented by Go2Talent Agency. Having a Bachelors in Kinesiology and Masters in Education, she currently teaches Hip Hop, Hip Hop History, Dance Appreciation and Modern Dance at Cal State Northridge and Glendale Community College.

A lot of her work has been featured in Universal Studios Hollywood, Disney 23 Convention, Staples Center, WNBA Los Angeles Sparks, NBA Los Angeles Clippers, Harlem Globetrotters, Carnival Cruise Lines, World of Dance, and Nike. She has also been a part of amazing dance companies and crews such as Project LaVaude, The Recipe Company, Zulu Dance Foundation, and Antics.

Follow Liezel:

Text: ANNIVERSARY to (323) 524-9857 to view our WATCH PARTY for our 20th Anniversary Maxt Out Dance Competition online!

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FAQ

How many episodes does Dance Your Life have?

Dance Your Life currently has 53 episodes available.

What topics does Dance Your Life cover?

The podcast is about Lgbt, Los Angeles, Netflix, Brand, Podcasters, Urban, Happiness, Movement, Artist, Film, Hip-Hop, Entrepreneur, Inclusion, How, Craft, Bad, Entrepreneurship, Women, Podcaster, Happy, Public Relations, Creative, Mindset, Influencer, Podcasting, Progressive, Passion, Abc, Podcast, Podcasts, Nbc, Inspiration, Consciousness, Hip Hop, Female, Jazz, Arts, Business, Industry, Manager, Diversity, Animation, Cbs, Tips, Movie, Dance, Broadway, Commercial, Confidence and Performing Arts.

What is the most popular episode on Dance Your Life?

The episode title 'What it takes for you to become a well rounded dancer with Tori Farias' is the most popular.

What is the average episode length on Dance Your Life?

The average episode length on Dance Your Life is 42 minutes.

How often are episodes of Dance Your Life released?

Episodes of Dance Your Life are typically released every 4 days.

When was the first episode of Dance Your Life?

The first episode of Dance Your Life was released on Aug 3, 2020.

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