Jake Kodish performed as backup dancer for BTS Jung Kook’s first official solo endeavor, “Seven,” and from appearing in the Official Performance Video to TikToks with BTS’ Golden Maknae to performances on Good Morning America and BBC’s The One, Jake discusses his experience learning and executing choreography to a song that nearly broke the internet. Congratulations on this awesome job!! How’d it come about? I got a text from a student’s mom asking if I was interested in a job for Jung Kook for a music video in Korea to which I said, “I’m down.” So then, she sent it to a group chat, and it was ..read more

Alek at Madison Square Garden When I first moved to LA, I didn’t realize just how many dance opportunities the American TV and film industry had to offer. Coming from Poland, where these avenues are much smaller, my idea of dance on screen stopped at “So You Think You Can Dance,” and “Dancing With The Stars.” I may have done an occasional award show with a singer or a dance job on X Factor (remember that one?!), but other than that my experience has mainly been performing for a live audience – on tours, in concerts, music festivals, etc.  I’ve always known that versatility is great for a ..read more

As it turns out, there is more to May than the Justin Timberlake memes leading up to it. May is *also* Mental Health Awareness Month, and we thought it would be a good idea to speak to some of our favorite choreographers about what they do to take care of their mental health. Here’s what they had to share: Jessica Richens “I like to remind myself that I’m a human first, dancer second. Dance can be so all-consuming, that you forget to acknowledge the human you are when you’re not dancing. I like to prioritize my sleep and nourish my body with food that I know will make me feel good and think c ..read more

Natsuki Miya’s story spans the globe and hits impressive highs. The journey she underwent to strike success as a performer after coming from Tokyo, Japan, is remarkably unique! She’s danced for music legends including Beyonce, Rihanna, Justin Timberlake, Usher, Pharrell, Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj, Cardi B, Lady Gaga, Kehlani, Normani, TLC, Sean Paul, J Balvin…you get the picture. She continues to leave her mark in both Japan and America as a teacher, artist and choreographer, and today, you get to learn why… Who is Natsuki according to Natsuki? I’m a dancer and choreographer. I’m a positive p ..read more

I remember before moving to LA, it had been stressed to me how important and how difficult it was to be signed to a dance agency. Agents are a massive tool in connecting you with auditions, contract negotiations, bookings, and high-profile names. If you want to work in the industry, you must be signed. At least, that was the impression that I was given. This was roughly six years ago. I was stressed about how to go about finding the right connections, and now in a post-covid (or ever-present-covid?) landscape, I can only imagine how those feelings have elevated for the general dance community ..read more

As 2022 has come to a close, we’re already struck with the idea of bigger and better moves for 2023. Maybe you’re changing locations, or setting new goals, or cementing resolutions. If you’re a dancer with your sights set on the industry, you might be thinking of getting new headshots, revamping your casting profiles, or nailing down a new look. But maybe you’re not sure where to start. You know it’s a time for change, but where does that begin? I got you. I gathered industry pros, aspiring pros, and TMilly Studio staff to answer the question, “What’s something you wish you knew before you mov ..read more

Davion “Dae Dae” Coleman has come a long way in a short amount of time. He’s only been teaching for a few years (and many of those were through a global pandemic!), but he’s already amassed a dedicated following of students that is rivaled by few. If you’re a Los Angeles resident, you know the type of impact that Dae’s Dae’s choreography makes. If you live anywhere else, he’s somebody who should be on your “MUST TAKE CLASS,” list (tell me I’m not the only one that has one of those?). The energy that he brings to the room is heightened by his charm, knowledge, and teaching style. Get to know th ..read more

I took a contemporary class from a friend of mine a little bit ago. He began the class by calling contemporary “a fusion of styles,” as opposed to being its own style. I found that fascinating. We have all these classes and titles with the word “contemporary,” stamped on them, and yet it still doesn’t stand on its own as a definitive genre? I started doing some digging. I started asking questions. I came to find that he was not alone in his thought process. Tessandra, photographed by louise flores Two-time Emmy award winner Tessandra Chavez says it’s been a matter of debate between herself and ..read more

Denzel Chisolm has a reputation for being one of the busiest dancers in the dance industry. If there are dancers on a job, there’s a strong likelihood that Denzel is one of them. He can easily be spotted on award shows, in music videos, on tour and on television. His credits include A-list artists like Janet Jackson, Ariana Grande, Katy Perry, Jennifer Lopez, Taylor Swift, Nicki Minaj, Rihanna, and Beyoncé. Despite having a packed schedule, he still makes time to teach class on a regular basis and share his knowledge. So what keeps Denzel going, and how did he get to where he is today? Photo C ..read more

Malia baker kicks of the show with exuberant introductions. Photo credit: Winnie Mu. Los Angeles has had a long-standing relationship with annual choreography showcases for up-and-coming and established artists. There have been numerous iterations over the years, with many still in rotation, but Malia Baker saw an opportunity to bring something new to the game. Stage and Screen Show was birthed in March 2022 with the intention of creating a concert experience. “There’s choreography showcases like Choreographers Carnival and Club Jete, but this is more of a theater space,” Malia shares. “I wan ..read more