The Business of Dance

• 106- Aubrey Fisher: Viral Tiktok Dancer, Jason Derulo, Snoop Dogg & Kendrick Lamar

  Interview Date: August 10th, 2025 Episode Summary:In this powerful and uplifting episode, we sit down with Aubrey Fisher — dancer, recording artist, and creative powerhouse — who went from teaching himself choreography in his living room to sharing stages with Jason Derulo, Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar, DaBaby, and Tyga.Aubrey opens up about his unique path into the entertainment industry, revealing how he went from a college basketball player to one of the most recognizable names in commercial dance. Raised by a musical family, including his mother Angie Fisher, a Grammy-nominated vocalist, Aubrey shares how faith, discipline, and divine timing shaped his evolution as both a performer and a person.He takes listeners behind the curtain of tour life — from the long rehearsals and creative highs to the loneliness and grind that come with chasing big dreams. Aubrey also discusses how he transitioned from dance into music, using his platform to inspire and connect through storytelling, vulnerability, and sound.Throughout the episode, Aubrey drops gems on consistency, humility, networking, and staying grounded, while encouraging the next generation of dancers to embrace their individuality and to never give up, even when the path isn’t linear.This episode is perfect for dancers, aspiring choreographers, and creatives who dream of turning passion into purpose — and proof that you don’t need a traditional background to make it to the topShownotes: (0:00) – Welcome & intro to Aubrey Fisher’s journey(9:30) – Growing up dancing & balancing basketball dreams(11:56) – First dance class at Millennium Dance Complex(15:01) – Creating videos & finding confidence through content(18:37) – From 2017 videos to viral success(20:43) – Influence of Grammy-nominated mom, Angie Fisher(23:26) – Joining Jason Derulo’s tour & worldwide travel(27:14) – Tour life highs, lows & mental balance(35:04) – Industry lessons: business, ethics & awareness(1:29:49) – Final advice: stay humble, authentic & resilientBiography:Aubrey is known for his phenomenal dance skills and captivating stage presence, but now he’s taking the music world by storm. A rising star creating his own lane with a sound of music, singer, songwriter and professional dancer. Aubrey is a recording artist from Pasadena, California. At a young age, Aubrey was very much surrounded by music and entertainment by his Mother "Angie Fisher". A Grammy nominated singer who performed background vocals for Michael Jackson, Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Lopez, Missy Elliott, Keisha Cole, Jamie Foxx, Michael Bublé and many more. Aubrey played basketball in college for one year to later quit to pursue his career as a professional dancer at the age of 19. Aubrey has made a remarkable fan base on social media and has accomplished many success in the dance industry and worked on jobs like Super Bowl, Samsung, Toyota Corolla commercial, Pacsun, Celsius, and many more. Aubrey has also worked with artists like Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar, Dababy, Travis Scott, Jason Derulo and more. After a few years of working in the industry Aubrey has decided to build his career in music and says he wants to be the next “superstar”. Aubrey believes that he can make a huge impact in music starting off as an independent artist. Aubrey is an r&b, pop and hip-hop powerhouse vocalist and loves to create music for people to feel alive, happy, soulful and energetic. Aubrey is very versatile and loves to explore different styles of music, not only for himself but for the listeners as well.Connect on Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_aubreyfisher/

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• 105 -Lindsey Blaufarb: The Voice, The Masked Singer, AGT, Pentatonix & Avril Lavigne

  Interview Date: August 3rd, 2025Episode Summary: Choreographer/director Lindsey Blaufarb (half of LNC Collective) maps the leap from touring dancer to Emmy-nominated creative. A military kid who moved often, she found community through arts, earned an Urban Jam scholarship, then moved to L.A. at 17 to attend Hollywood High and the EDGE program—surviving on bar-mitzvah gigs and big dreams.Lindsey unpacks early heartbreaks and lucky breaks: the Christina Milian switcheroo, saying no to Britney’s Circus tour to fully pivot, and landing Avril Lavigne’s record-breaking “Girlfriend” video after being invited into Avril’s band. She breaks down real creative direction—styling, staging, lighting, content, team-building—and shares lessons from The Voice, Blue’s Big City Adventure, and directing Pentatonix’s tours.For dancers, she gives today’s playbook: build a brand look, study an artist’s world, post smart on Instagram, DM thoughtfully, be a great hang, and let your originality—and energy—do the talking. Mindset, resilience, and resourcefulness thread through it all.Shownotes:(0:00) – Welcome, Guest Intro, Urban Jam throwback,(9:48) – Late start, moving often, arts community(12:32) – Urban Jam scholarship leads to L.A.(13:55) – Hollywood High + EDGE, solo at 17(21:12) – Christina Milian switch; “everything happens” lesson(28:58) – Turned down Britney tour to pivot(32:31) – Avril invites band; choreographs “Girlfriend”(39:24) – Blue’s Big City Adventure: feature musical(41:51) – Directing Pentatonix tours; Christmas prep(49:40) – How to stand out now: brand, energyBiography:Lindsey Blaufarb is one half of L&C Collective and an Emmy-nominated and two-time World Choreography Award-winning choreographer and director. Her celebrated work spans film, commercials, music videos, television, and live performances, including The Masked Singer, The Voice, America’s Got Talent, and the musical feature film Blue’s Big City Adventure.In music, she has collaborated with top artists such as Karol G, Lykke Li, Pentatonix, Tori Kelly, Jacob Collier, Kelly Rowland, Pink, Blake Shelton, Weezer, Missy Elliot, Ty Dolla $ign, Usher, Miley Cyrus, Nicki Minaj, Justin Bieber, Ricky Martin, Avril Lavigne, and others, crafting iconic moments like Cee-Lo Green’s Grammy-nominated F** You* music video.Her commercial credits include major campaigns for Target, Apple, McDonald’s, Hyundai, Madden, and a variety of globally recognized brands.Renowned for her originality and trendsetting artistry, Lindsey continues to push boundaries and elevate entertainment across every medium.Connect on Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/im_lindseyb?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==Website: https://www.clcollective.net/

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• 103- Eden Shabtai: Beyoncé, The Weeknd, Jennifer Lopez, Doja Cat

  Interview Date: July 14th, 2025Episode Summary:Eden Shabtai shares how a kid from a tiny Israeli kibbutz—obsessed with MTV and training in ballet and modern—willed her way into New York’s scene and eventually L.A.’s major stages. She opens up about the unglamorous decade of artist development, underpaid gigs, and nonstop outreach that built the foundation for her “overnight” break assisting on Chris Brown’s Loyal, leading to major award shows and TV. A six-month backpacking trip through India reshaped her idea of success, while the O-1 visa process taught ruthless persistence. Eden also speaks candidly about receiving an aggressive breast-cancer diagnosis while five months pregnant, undergoing chemo with cold-cap treatments, and protecting her peace by avoiding toxic workrooms.Creatively, Eden explains why she builds choreography live in the studio—feeding off dancers and music—and why energy, individuality, and attitude matter more than stacked résumés. Listeners will gain insight into using social media strategically, differences between NYC training and L.A. work volume, how to stand out in auditions (presence, styling, quick adjustments), and the mindset that sustains a career: humility, resilience, and community.Shownotes:(0:00) – Welcome and guest introduction(8:20) – Early roots: ballet, modern, MTV influence(13:53) – India trip reframes success and happiness(15:24) – Visa grind: persistence, evidence, good lawyer(18:53) – Moving to L.A.: training vs. booking realities(21:08) – Breakthrough: assisting on “Loyal”(26:44) – Favorite projects: BET 2014, Fleur East(29:31) – Cancer while pregnant: resilience and boundaries(42:05) – Creative process: energy-first choreography(51:19) – What makes dancers stand outBiography:Originally from a kibbutz in northern Israel, Eden began training in ballet and modern at age 7. With no formal hip-hop classes available at the time, she learned by watching MTV. Determined to pursue dance professionally, she left home at 16 to study at a specialized dance school. After serving in the IDF, she spent six transformative months traveling India before moving to New York City to chase her dream.In NYC, Eden trained at Broadway Dance Center and quickly became a sought-after teacher for over 150 young students while choreographing for up-and-coming artists. Realizing her long-term goals required a move west, she relocated to Los Angeles in 2010.Since then, Eden has worked across NBC, ABC, BET, FOX, CBS, VH1, CW, and MTV. Her credits include the VMAs, Grammys, Billboard Awards, Dancing with the Stars, iHeart Radio Awards, BET Awards, Soul Train Awards, X Factor, The Ellen Show, James Corden, American Idol, Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, and more. She has choreographed campaigns for Hasbro, Office Max, Office Depot, HEB, and Clark’s.Eden has worked with artists including Chris Brown, Ariana Grande, Demi Lovato, Pitbull, Ava Max, Jason Derulo, Enrique Iglesias, Jamie Foxx, Ne-Yo, Lil Wayne, Marc Anthony, Flo-Rida, Brandy, Omarion, Miguel, Pia Mia, Little Mix, Sevyn Streeter, No Doubt, Snoop Dogg, Kehlani, Janelle Monáe, Fleur East, Priyanka Chopra, Machine Gun Kelly, Tinashe, WizKid, Serayah, DJ Snake, Hardwell, YungBlud, Jack & Jack, and many more.In 2017 Eden served as a Judge/Mentor on a new Israeli dance competition series, where she became the winning mentor. Today she works as a choreographer, artistic director, artist developer, and consultant—living by her belief that with hard work, mental strength, and determination, anything is possible.Connect:Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/theedengarden/Website – https://edenshabtai.com/

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• 104 - Dytto - Viral “Barbie Girl” (World of Dance), Assistant Choreographer for Shakira, & Ellen Alumi on Freestyle, Branding, and Building a Career

  Interview Date: June 22nd, 2025Episode Summary:Dytto (aka Courtney Kelly) — the fembot icon of the dance community whose viral “Barbie Girl” freestyle on World of Dance launched a global following of ~10M across platforms. A professional mover, personality, and director, she’s appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, starred in national campaigns (Android Wear, Target), and most recently served as Assistant Choreographer for Shakira.In this conversation, Dytto traces her path from studio kid and cheerleader to self-driven freestyler, sharing how an alter ego helped her overcome stage fright and claim a unique lane in a male-dominated popping/animation space. She breaks down the business: why brand deals followed when she started talking (not just dancing), how she balances content “pillars,” and the realities of name usage, credits, and trademarking a stage name.We also dive into monetization (and why dancing to copyrighted music pays everyone but the dancer), creating original music (Fembot Files), and her upcoming training app The Next Move—a practical system for turning freestyle fear into confidence. In the live Q&A she offers concrete drills, mindset resets, and career advice on evolving publicly, navigating street vs. commercial worlds, booking without auditions, and staying grounded in who you are—especially when everyone’s watching.Shownotes:(0:00) – Welcome & intro: “Barbie Girl” viral phenom joins the show(2:13) – Early dance journey: from studio kid to freestyler(4:27) – The making of “Barbie Girl” — purpose behind the moment(6:20) – Creating “Dytto”: alter ego that conquered stage fright(11:43) – Managing identity: real name vs. stage name(15:50) – Viral momentum → brand deals, Ellen, and global recognition(19:47) – $100K brand deal & secret to attracting sponsorships(25:16) – New ventures: launching The Next Move freestyle app(26:56) – Owning creativity: why she makes her own music (Fembot Files)(1:18:16) – Final reflections: authenticity, vulnerability, and self-beliefBiography:Dytto, the fembot icon of the dance community, is a professional mover, personality, and director. You may have seen her as a 17 yr old in her first viral freestyle on World of Dance called 'Barbie Girl' which launched her into a fruitful career. Since, she's been in numerous commercials, campaigns, and productions, some even of her own, being self-directed and produced for her infamous Youtube channel. Most recently, we watch her work come to life from her time assistant choreographing for the one and only, Shakira.Connect on Social Media:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/iam_dytto/Website - iamdytto.com

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• 102 - Dytto : Viral “Barbie Girl” (World of Dance), Assistant Choreographer for Shakira, & Ellen Alumi.

  Interview Date: June 22nd, 2025Episode Summary:Dytto (aka Courtney Kelly) — the fembot icon of the dance community whose viral “Barbie Girl” freestyle on World of Dance launched a global following of ~10M across platforms. A professional mover, personality, and director, she’s appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, starred in national campaigns (Android Wear, Target), and most recently served as Assistant Choreographer for Shakira.In this conversation, Dytto traces her path from studio kid and cheerleader to self-driven freestyler, sharing how an alter ego helped her overcome stage fright and claim a unique lane in a male-dominated popping/animation space. She breaks down the business: why brand deals followed when she started talking (not just dancing), how she balances content “pillars,” and the realities of name usage, credits, and trademarking a stage name.We also dive into monetization (and why dancing to copyrighted music pays everyone but the dancer), creating original music (Fembot Files), and her upcoming training app The Next Move—a practical system for turning freestyle fear into confidence. In the live Q&A she offers concrete drills, mindset resets, and career advice on evolving publicly, navigating street vs. commercial worlds, booking without auditions, and staying grounded in who you are—especially when everyone’s watching.Podcast Shownotes:(0:00) – Welcome & intro: “Barbie Girl” viral phenom joins the show(2:13) – Early dance journey: from studio kid to freestyler(4:27) – The making of “Barbie Girl” — purpose behind the moment(6:20) – Creating “Dytto”: alter ego that conquered stage fright(11:43) – Managing identity: real name vs. stage name(15:50) – Viral momentum → brand deals, Ellen, and global recognition(19:47) – $100K brand deal & secret to attracting sponsorships(25:16) – New ventures: launching The Next Move freestyle app(26:56) – Owning creativity: why she makes her own music (Fembot Files)(1:18:16) – Final reflections: authenticity, vulnerability, and self-beliefBiography:Dytto, the fembot icon of the dance community, is a professional mover, personality, and director. You may have seen her as a 17 yr old in her first viral freestyle on World of Dance called 'Barbie Girl' which launched her into a fruitful career. Since, she's been in numerous commercials, campaigns, and productions, some even of her own, being self-directed and produced for her infamous Youtube channel. Most recently, we watch her work come to life from her time assistant choreographing for the one and only, Shakira.Connect on Social Media:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/iam_dytto/Website - iamdytto.com

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