Hey, Dancer!

Miller Daurey
  • 4.8 (38)
  • Performing Arts
  • Weekly

Welcome to Hey, Dancer! — hosted by Miller Daurey, a former pro teen dancer (Paula Abdul, Joffrey) who has returned to training 3 decades later. Having cultivated a highly engaged and supportive dance community online, Miller is excited to dive deeper on everything dance with two weekly episodes! In one, Miller brings his unique perspective as an ex-dancer returning to the art form, sharing insights on… - the evolution of dance, from class to comps to the industry - living with injury and cutting-edge approaches to healing chronic pain - fostering mindfulness through guided dance meditations - responding to online feedback and comments - reviews of dance books, documentaries, and shows - and tons more! …all with a fresh, behind-the-scenes lens shaped by his inspiring journey and thriving Instagram community. The second weekly episode introduces a compelling series titled The Rest of the Story — where Miller delves into fascinating, little-known histories of dance legends and the unsung heroes who shaped the craft. Through these captivating stories, listeners will discover the hidden struggles, triumphs, and legacies of those who helped define dance as we know it today. While dedicated to helping dancers reconnect with their WHY in a culture that often prioritizes perfection over purpose, this podcast also speaks to anyone looking to reignite their creative spark or rediscover a long-lost passion. Follow along and explore all things dance with Miller!

  1. 3d ago

    Gene Anthony Ray: The Dance Story Behind Fame's Leroy Johnson | The Rest of the Story | ep 76

    Gene Anthony Ray became Leroy Johnson, the explosive dancer at the heart of Fame, first in Alan Parker's Oscar-winning 1980 film and then for six seasons on television alongside Debbie Allen, watched by millions around the world. But before Fame, he was a kid from 153rd Street in Harlem who never lost a dance contest. And the real High School of Performing Arts? It kicked him out, and told him he'd never make it in show business. So how did that same kid end up as the most famous dancer in a story about that very school? And how did he nearly miss his chance entirely? In this episode of The Rest of the Story on my Hey, Dancer! podcast, I trace his journey from block parties and street contests to a casting call of 2,500 hopefuls, an Earth, Wind & Fire tape in his pocket, and a choreographer who compared him to a young Fred Astaire. From the film to the series, from London's Royal Albert Hall to Broadway in Carrie, this is the dance story behind Leroy, told in more detail than ever before. And in the outro, I'll walk you through the conflicting stories I uncovered along the way, including how he really got cast and how he really left Performing Arts. If you enjoy this kind of deep-dive into all things dance, you can support my podcast here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy Me a Coffee!⁠⁠⁠ Much appreciated!!! Check out my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Return to Dance docuseries!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support my Instagram — where I post daily dance inspo, insights and fun! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@backtogreat⁠

    Gene Anthony Ray: The Dance Story Behind Fame's Leroy Johnson | The Rest of the Story | ep 76

  2. Oct 31

    What the Bob Fosse Biographies Left Out

    Bob Fosse's biographies don't always agree with each other... or with the newspaper archives. And after weeks of researching his life as a dancer, I found some fascinating discrepancies and a few unanswered questions. As promised at the end of my Bob Fosse documentary, I'm sharing more of what I uncovered along the way. From newspaper discoveries about his high school years and conflicting accounts of how he got to MGM, to whether he actually studied with Jack Cole and the surprising history behind his signature hats. I'll also share a few stories that didn't make the documentary, plus a fun encounter with the Fosse Verdon Legacy! It's a little behind-the-scenes look at what goes into researching these dance histories... and why the answers aren't always as straightforward as you might think. Watch my full Bob Fosse dance documentary ⁠HERE!⁠ If you enjoy this kind of deep-dive into all things dance, you can support my podcast here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy Me a Coffee!⁠⁠⁠ Much appreciated!!! Check out my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Return to Dance docuseries!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support my Instagram — where I post daily dance inspo, insights and fun! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@backtogreat⁠

    What the Bob Fosse Biographies Left Out

  3. Oct 24

    Bob Fosse: THE DANCER | The Rest of the Story | ep 75

    Bob Fosse gave the world Sweet Charity, Cabaret, Chicago, and All That Jazz, and a style so distinctive you can spot it in a single glance. But long before the bowler hats and turned-in knees became famous on other dancers, they belonged to him. In this episode of The Rest of the Story on my Hey, Dancer! podcast, I trace Bob Fosse's dancing life: a Chicago kid tapping through nightclubs and burlesque houses as one half of the Riff Brothers, Navy shows across the Pacific, Broadway in Call Me Mister with his dance partner and first wife, Mary Ann Niles, and an MGM contract that had him dancing on screen alongside dance legends Debbie Reynolds, Bobby Van, Ann Miller, and Tommy Rall. What kind of training made him the dancer he became? How did his own physical limitations help shape a style the whole world would come to know? And how did one minute with Carol Haney in Kiss Me, Kate change the course of his career? From Joan McCracken and Gwen Verdon to My Sister Eileen, Damn Yankees, and a dance in The Little Prince that helped inspire Michael Jackson, this is Bob Fosse dancing, in his own right. Through slow motion and freeze frames, you'll see him dance the same steps side by side with others, and just how differently they live on his body. His choreography made him iconic. But this episode is about the dancer, equally iconic, who came first. WATCH the episode HERE! If you enjoy this kind of deep-dive into all things dance, you can support my podcast here: ⁠⁠⁠Buy Me a Coffee!⁠⁠ Much appreciated!!! Check out my ⁠⁠⁠⁠Return to Dance docuseries!⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support my Instagram — where I post daily dance inspo, insights and fun! ⁠⁠⁠⁠@backtogreat

    Bob Fosse: THE DANCER | The Rest of the Story | ep 75

  4. Oct 10

    I Took the Same Dance Class at 90 and 60 Minutes. Here's What Changed

    Do you prefer 60-minute or 90-minute dance classes? And how much does that extra half hour really matter? Maybe more than you think... or maybe not! Recently, one of my favorite dance classes was shortened from 90 minutes to 60. Same teacher, same class... just 30 minutes less. Having experienced both versions, I have some thoughts! Especially when it comes to warming up, learning choreography, filming, and getting the most out of the time I spend at the dance studio. In this episode of Hey, Dancer!, I'm sharing another story from my return to dance, along with a few things I've learned about what makes a dance class worth my time. Whether you prefer an hour, 90 minutes, or something longer, I'd love to hear what works best for you! If you enjoy this kind of deep-dive into all things dance, you can support my podcast here: ⁠⁠⁠Buy Me a Coffee!⁠⁠ Much appreciated!!! Check out my ⁠⁠⁠⁠Return to Dance docuseries!⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support my Instagram — where I post daily dance inspo, insights and fun! ⁠⁠⁠⁠@backtogreat

  5. Oct 3

    Peter Gennaro: Fosse's Dance Star & Jerome Robbins' Secret Weapon | The Rest of the Story | ep 74

    Peter Gennaro danced Bob Fosse's original "Steam Heat," co-choreographed West Side Story with Jerome Robbins, and won a Tony Award for choreographing Annie. So why isn't his name better known today? And just how much of the dancing in West Side Story was actually his? In this episode of The Rest of the Story, I uncover for the first time the extent of Gennaro's early dance training and follow a career that would take him from Broadway to decades of television, Hollywood, Radio City Music Hall and the Rockettes... as a dancer, teacher and choreographer. Along the way, he worked with Bob Fosse, Jerome Robbins, Chita Rivera, Judy Garland, Mitzi Gaynor and so many others... while helping shape the developing language of theatrical jazz dance. There was so much more to Peter Gennaro than even I realized when I started researching him. And by the end of this story, I think you'll understand why his name belongs in the conversation about the dancers and choreographers who helped define American musical theater. If you enjoy this kind of deep-dive into all things dance, you can support my podcast here: ⁠⁠⁠Buy Me a Coffee!⁠⁠ Much appreciated!!! Check out my ⁠⁠⁠⁠Return to Dance docuseries!⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support my Instagram — where I post daily dance inspo, insights and fun! ⁠⁠⁠⁠@backtogreat

    Peter Gennaro: Fosse's Dance Star & Jerome Robbins' Secret Weapon | The Rest of the Story | ep 74

  6. Sep 26

    Still No Fred Astaire? Inside the Dance Hall of Fame's Just-Announced 2026 Class

    The Dance Hall of Fame has announced its 2026 class, honoring Debbie Allen, George Balanchine, Katherine Dunham, Mandy Moore, The Nicholas Brothers, Savion Glover, Toni Basil, George Chakiris, Rita Moreno, and Russ Tamblyn. In this episode, I take a closer look at the second-ever class, the remarkable range of dance history it represents, and some of the questions that come with building a new Hall of Fame from scratch. I also dive into the West Side Story connection between three of this year's inductees.  And with five members of the 2026 class already featured on my ongoing series, The Rest of the Story, I share why some of the Hall's choices really resonate with the kinds of dance stories I've been drawn to telling. And then there's Fred Astaire. After Mikhail Baryshnikov himself raised the question of Astaire's absence onstage at the inaugural ceremony in 2025, his name is still missing from the Hall's second class. It opens up a larger conversation about chronology, legacy, and how a Dance Hall of Fame begins deciding who comes first. If you enjoy this kind of deep-dive into all things dance, you can support my podcast here: ⁠⁠⁠Buy Me a Coffee!⁠⁠ Much appreciated!!! Check out my ⁠⁠⁠⁠Return to Dance docuseries!⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support my Instagram — where I post daily dance inspo, insights and fun! ⁠⁠⁠⁠@backtogreat My ep on the inaugural Dance Hall of Fame!

    Still No Fred Astaire? Inside the Dance Hall of Fame's Just-Announced 2026 Class

  7. Sep 19

    Lucille Bremer: Astaire's MGM Dance Partner (& Why She Vanished) | The Rest of the Story | ep 73

    Lucille Bremer danced alongside Fred Astaire in some of MGM's most lavish musical numbers. So why isn't she remembered today? For this episode, I traced her story all the way back to childhood... through ballet, the Radio City Rockettes, Broadway, New York nightclubs and eventually MGM... uncovering newspaper clippings, photographs and details about her dance life that have simply never been included in the stories told about her. And then there's Fred Astaire. Ziegfeld Follies. Yolanda and the Thief. "This Heart of Mine." "Limehouse Blues." "Coffee Time." She reached extraordinary heights as a dancer... and then, almost as quickly as she arrived, her Hollywood dance career was over. Stick around after the story, because I'll also share a little about what happened after her Hollywood life. If you enjoy this kind of deep-dive into all things dance, you can support my podcast here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy Me a Coffee!⁠⁠⁠ Much appreciated!!! Check out my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Return to Dance docuseries!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support my Instagram — where I post daily dance inspo, insights and fun! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@backtogreat⁠

    Lucille Bremer: Astaire's MGM Dance Partner (& Why She Vanished) | The Rest of the Story | ep 73

  8. Sep 12

    Can You Turn Dance Class Nerves Into Excitement? Science Says You Can!

    Do you ever get nervous before dance class? Or an audition, a performance... anything where you suddenly feel like all eyes are on you? On my way to a new class recently, my heart was racing and I suddenly realized... I was genuinely nervous. Why can dance class feel so high-stakes when there are really no stakes at all? That experience sent me digging into the science of performance anxiety, nervousness and excitement... and I discovered a surprisingly simple way of reframing those pre-class butterflies. I also had a realization about my own nerves and what they might actually say about how much dance still means to me. Whether you're a dancer, artist, performer... or just someone who gets nervous when it's time to put yourself out there... I really hope this episode helps. Because understanding those nerves might not just change the way you think about them. It might change the entire experience for you! Study mentioned in the episode: HERE If you enjoy this kind of deep-dive into all things dance, you can support my podcast here: ⁠⁠⁠Buy Me a Coffee!⁠⁠ Much appreciated!!! Check out my ⁠⁠⁠⁠Return to Dance docuseries!⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support my Instagram — where I post daily dance inspo, insights and fun! ⁠⁠⁠⁠@backtogreat

    Can You Turn Dance Class Nerves Into Excitement? Science Says You Can!
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Trailer

4.8
out of 5
38 Ratings

About

Welcome to Hey, Dancer! — hosted by Miller Daurey, a former pro teen dancer (Paula Abdul, Joffrey) who has returned to training 3 decades later. Having cultivated a highly engaged and supportive dance community online, Miller is excited to dive deeper on everything dance with two weekly episodes! In one, Miller brings his unique perspective as an ex-dancer returning to the art form, sharing insights on… - the evolution of dance, from class to comps to the industry - living with injury and cutting-edge approaches to healing chronic pain - fostering mindfulness through guided dance meditations - responding to online feedback and comments - reviews of dance books, documentaries, and shows - and tons more! …all with a fresh, behind-the-scenes lens shaped by his inspiring journey and thriving Instagram community. The second weekly episode introduces a compelling series titled The Rest of the Story — where Miller delves into fascinating, little-known histories of dance legends and the unsung heroes who shaped the craft. Through these captivating stories, listeners will discover the hidden struggles, triumphs, and legacies of those who helped define dance as we know it today. While dedicated to helping dancers reconnect with their WHY in a culture that often prioritizes perfection over purpose, this podcast also speaks to anyone looking to reignite their creative spark or rediscover a long-lost passion. Follow along and explore all things dance with Miller!

Information

  • Creator
    Miller Daurey
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    119
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2024
  • Show Website
    Hey, Dancer!

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