DanceSpeak

Galit Friedlander
  • 5.0 (167)
  • ARTS
  • UPDATED BIMONTHLY

From a living room in Los Angeles, DanceSpeak brings you candid interviews with the movers and the shakers of the global professional dance community. Get inside stories, advice, and blueprints to success, from dancers, choreographers, teachers, and some of the hidden gems whom have been in the industry for years.

  1. 1H AGO

    225 - How Dancers Can Build Success Even When the Dance Industry Says “No” with Kara Tatelbaum

    In episode 225, Kara Tatelbaum (author of Putting My Heels Down, critically acclaimed choreographer, renowned Pilates teacher, and dance educator) shares an honest look at what it means to continue building a meaningful life in dance when things don’t go according to plan. This conversation explores how dancers can navigate rejection, injury, burnout, financial reality, and evolving identity without losing their connection to movement or themselves. Kara opens up about growing up with physical limitations that teachers constantly criticized, making peace with a career trajectory that looked different than expected, and eventually finding fulfillment in places she never anticipated, including teaching preschool dance after years in higher education, choreography, Pilates, and the professional dance world. Galit and Kara also discuss the difference between being an instructor versus an educator, balancing artistry with survival jobs, the pressure dancers place on themselves to “make it,” and why stories from non-famous dancers still matter. This episode offers perspective for dancers trying to create sustainable careers, expand their definition of success, and feel less isolated in the realities that so many people in the dance world quietly experience. Follow Galit: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/gogalit Website - https://www.gogalit.com/ Fit From Home - https://galit-s-school-0397.thinkific.com/courses/fit-from-home You can connect with Kara Tatelbaum on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/karatatelbaum/ and through her website https://karatatelbaum.com/. Listen to DanceSpeak on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

    1h 14m

  2. APR 13

    224 - Archie Burnett - The Club Is the Classroom

    Archie Burnett is a foundational voice in New York’s dance and club culture (House of Ninja, Check Your Body at the Door and world-renowned teacher) - someone who's lived through and contributed to the environments that shaped social dance as we know it today. In this episode, we get into the realities of the club scene, the impact of policy and tragedy on nightlife, and how dancers adapted when everything around them shifted. Archie shares what it meant to learn through observation, community, and experience (long before social media). This conversation goes beyond dance into philosophy, identity, and the mindset that’s carried Archie through decades of life, work, and movement. Follow Galit: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/gogalit Website - https://www.gogalit.com/ Fit From Home - https://galit-s-school-0397.thinkific.com/courses/fit-from-home You can connect with Archie on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/demoncar0007/ Listen to DanceSpeak on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

    1h 24m

  3. MAR 16

    223 - May Or - Dancing on Tour While Earning a Doctorate in Psychology

    In episode 223 host Galit Friedlander and guest May Or (professional dancer with touring and commercial credits and a doctorate in psychology) discuss what it took for May to complete her PhD while working as a dancer, the pressure and perfectionism many dancers experience, and how social media has changed the way dancers are seen in the industry. They also talk about May’s experience growing up as an immigrant navigating language barriers, balancing rehearsals with doctoral coursework, and her perspective on why dancers can pursue more than one path. Follow Galit Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/gogalit Website - https://www.gogalit.com/ Fit From Home - https://galit-s-school-0397.thinkific.com/courses/fit-from-home You can connect with May Or on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/maylovespink and TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@maylovespink. Listen to DanceSpeak on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

    1h 24m

  4. FEB 9

    222 - Brian 'Footwork' Green - The Difference Between Moving and Being a Dancer

    This week on DanceSpeak, I sit down with Brian 'Footwork' Green, a master teacher and influential figure in street and club dance culture whose impact spans generations. Recorded live in August 2025, this episode captures Brian’s unfiltered thoughts on musicality, lineage, and what often gets misunderstood about street dance. We explore competition versus convention culture, the realities of the dance economy, and the difference between who you are and the artistic name you move under. Brian speaks honestly about off-beat dancing, “auto-tuned” movement, teaching, trends, and what gets lost when dance drifts away from the heart. The conversation also touches on race, representation, and identity in dance spaces—layered, nuanced, and rooted in lived experience rather than soundbites. Insightful, funny, challenging, and deeply grounded in culture, this episode is for dancers who love dance enough to think about it, question it, and keep it alive. Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/gogalit Website – https://www.gogalit.com/ Fit From Home – https://galit-s-school-0397.thinkific.com/courses/fit-from-home You can connect with Brian on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/brianfootworkgreen/. You can purchase Brian's on-line dance classes https://www.theybarelyunderstandhello.com/#classes.

    1h 19m

  5. JAN 14

    221 - Kim Holmes - Coming Up in NYC House Culture and Building a Lasting Dance Life

    In episode 221, host Galit Friedlander and guest Kim Holmes (widely respected director, choreographer, dance educator) explore the roots of house and hip-hop culture through lived experience, mentorship, and time spent inside New York City’s party and club scenes before these styles became widely visible. Kim shares her journey into dance, discovering house at a young age, and learning directly with pioneers like Marjory Smarth during a formative era that shaped how she moves, teaches, and thinks about longevity. Together, Galit and Kim reflect on what it meant to come up in spaces where culture was built in real time—long before social media or conventions—and how being “the it kids” back then came with both opportunity and responsibility. The conversation also moves into technique, recovery, listening to the body, trusting timing, and how mindset and intuition quietly guide long careers in dance. Originally recorded in 2019, this episode feels especially relevant today as dancers revisit foundations, lineage, and what it truly means to sustain a life in dance beyond trends. Follow Galit: Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/gogalit Website – https://www.gogalit.com/ Fit From Home – https://galit-s-school-0397.thinkific.com/courses/fit-from-home You can connect with Kim Holmes on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/kimd.holmes. Listen to DanceSpeak on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

    59 min

  6. 12/15/2025

    220 - Chad Geiger - A Dance Agent on What Actually Gets You Booked

    In episode 220, host Galit Friedlander and guest Chad Geiger (dance agent at The Movement Talent Agency) pull back the curtain on what representation really looks like from the agency side and what dancers often misunderstand about it. We talk about essential pieces of a sustainable dance career: communication, contracts, headshots and resumes that actually serve you, and how your choices off the floor impact your opportunities just as much as your training on it. Chad shares insight on navigating direct bookings, building trust with your team, and why “doing the basics well” is still one of the biggest differentiators in today’s industry. Follow Galit: Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/gogalit Website – https://www.gogalit.com/ Fit From Home – https://galit-s-school-0397.thinkific.com/courses/fit-from-home You can connect with Chad Geiger on https://www.instagram.com/chad_geiger Listen to DanceSpeak on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

    1h 28m

  7. 11/17/2025

    219 - Jason Pickett - Rethinking Dance Culture, Teaching, and Influence

    In this episode, Galit sits down with creator and educator Jason Pickett for a real conversation about the shifts happening in today’s dance world. Jason shares his path from Utah’s freestyle community to building a career outside the traditional LA route, and the mindset behind choosing what actually feels right. They dig into the responsibilities of teachers and influencers online, the short-sightedness that's causing dance studios and conventions business, and a shift in what dancers want to do professionally. Jason and Galit also explore whether competitions are watering down dance, how COVID changed the mentality of young dancers, and why the best teachers don’t rely on the “combo.” This episode pulls back the curtain on connecting the generations, talent development, and what it really means to create good dancers - not just good perfectionists. Follow Galit: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/gogalit Website - https://www.gogalit.com/ On-Demand Fitness Courses - https://galit-s-school-0397.thinkific.com/collections Follow Jason Pickett: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/heyitspickett/ Jason's Website - https://nsadance.com/

    1h 18m

  8. 10/14/2025

    218 - Ben “BTEK” Chung – Detours, Discipline, and Designing a Dance Career on Your Own Terms

    In episode 218, host Galit Friedlander and guest Ben “BTEK” Chung (Kinjaz co-founder, Jabbawockeez, America's Best Dance Crew, and entrepreneur/consultant) dig into what happens when you refuse to take the conventional route. Ben shares how he went from production work at MTV to dancing full-time, creating his own lane instead of following someone else’s path. We talk about best communication practices, navigating contracts with confidence, and redefining success as your career and even priorities change. Ben opens up about mindset, faith, and finding growth in life’s detours, plus what it really takes to stay sharp and inspired over the long game. Follow Galit: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/gogalit Website - https://www.gogalit.com/ On-Demand Fitness Courses - https://galit-s-school-0397.thinkific.com/collections Follow Ben Chung: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/btek_benchung Werkflow - https://www.werkflow.us/

    1h 21m
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5
out of 5
167 Ratings

About

From a living room in Los Angeles, DanceSpeak brings you candid interviews with the movers and the shakers of the global professional dance community. Get inside stories, advice, and blueprints to success, from dancers, choreographers, teachers, and some of the hidden gems whom have been in the industry for years.

Information

  • Creator
    Galit Friedlander
  • Years Active
    2016 - 2026
  • Episodes
    223
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © by Galit Friedlander
  • Show Website
    DanceSpeak

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