Interview Date: September 13, 2026 EPISODE SUMMARY Vancouver-born dancer, choreographer, and teacher Travis Lim joins Menina Fortunato to share his journey from childhood competitions and Michael Jackson-inspired solos to UCLA and professional dance work in Los Angeles. With credits including Lisa of BLACKPINK and Hollywood Arts, Travis offers an honest look at the artistic growth, relationships, and practical skills involved in building a career beyond the competition stage. Travis reflects on the value of his UCLA dance education while explaining what it did not teach him about the business of working professionally. He discusses his family’s investment of approximately $400,000 CAD and the difference between developing as an artist and preparing to earn a living. The conversation also explores how he uses AI in his creative work, moves through perfectionism and comparison, and approaches projects with curiosity and a willingness to keep learning. During the dancer Q&A, Travis shares his perspective on networking, direct bookings, choosing an agency, communicating with agents, and showing up confidently in auditions. He also discusses developing an individual style, making choices about competition and professional work, and finding time to recover. This episode is perfect for aspiring professional dancers, dance parents weighing college options, and competition dancers ready to understand what comes next. SHOW NOTES (00:51) – Introducing Travis Lim and his journey into professional dance(03:44) – Childhood training, early competitions, and Michael Jackson’s influence(07:29) – Moving to Los Angeles and choosing UCLA for dance(13:43) – What his dance degree did not teach about the industry(17:48) – Reflecting on a $400,000 CAD education investment(22:01) – Using AI to support creative work and organize ideas(28:46) – Working through perfectionism, comparison, and hesitation to create(34:36) – Dancing with Lisa of BLACKPINK and learning from her professionalism(36:28) – Behind the scenes of A Week Away and Hollywood Arts(42:49) – Why networking and relationships matter for direct bookings(45:59) – Choosing MSA and building communication with your agents(50:49) – Standing out in auditions with confidence and personal strengths(52:50) – Developing your own style while learning from other dancers(59:24) – Weighing competition dance against a growing professional career(62:36) – Recovery, downtime, and maintaining a life outside dance ABOUT TRAVIS LIM Travis Lim is a professional dancer, choreographer, artist, and teacher from Vancouver, Canada, based in Los Angeles. He began as a competitive dancer and freestyler, earning international recognition through the competition circuit and appearances on NBC’s World of Dance and Canada’s Got Talent. He moved to Los Angeles to attend UCLA, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Dance before continuing to build his professional career. His film and television experience includes Hollywood Arts, A Week Away: The Series, and Lego Friends: The Musical with Kenny Ortega. Travis has also danced with artists including Lisa of BLACKPINK, Victoria Justice, Machine Gun Kelly, DPR IAN, Paris Hilton, and AJ McLean. Alongside his professional work, he teaches and shares his approach to training, choreography, and artistic development. Drawing on his background in freestyle, crew training, and choreography, he encourages dancers to develop their individuality while continuing to learn from different styles and experiences. CONNECT WITH TRAVIS LIM Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travylim/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@travylim
