TDF- EP.2~ DENISE COLEMAN

Starting this podcast off with a bang we are blessed to have Denise Coleman join us with the first interview. This was filmed nearly a month before my filming of episode 1 and even with a smaller understanding of what this project will be, Denise brings such a great energy and some excellent advice! This episode will give you a better understand of what the series will be like moving forward. Denise is a highly skilled and well-trained individual with several jobs in a "higher-up" position. Her smile and laughter are infectious even over audio. You can find Denise on social media to follow her journey @denisemarietheartist 

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Host- Ty Nelson @tallglassofty

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Transcript

Welcome. Welcome to TheDanceFloor, everybody. My name is Ty Nelson. I'm your host. We have our very first guest of the series today. She is vibrant. She's smiley. She's very fun. And someone I've known for a while. We're going to jump into that. This is Denise Coleman. What's up, Denise? Hi, Ty. Hey, y'all. Hello. So as Denise knows, and as you all know, this is like a weird little series. Not really weird, not a negative word, but it's just a fun series where we're gonna talk to Denise, learn about her artistry, things that she's learned throughout her career. Things she's excited about for the future. And then mostly the idea is just to inspire people. So whatever inspiration or advice you can give out, that's like the goal. So we're gonna start things off with a little warm up. We're gonna kick into things. Introduction of who you are, What do you wanna say? Like, who are you? First off, this is our dance captain of Ship Show here on the ship. I've known Denise for a few years. Yeah, we were. We were together on Sesame Street Live,  2019? Yeah, yeah, 18 or 19, before the pandemic, before it all went crazy, yeah, we were on a tour bus. Yes. Together, with like 9 other people yeah, yeah. And now we have so many other people around the ship. It's a way different vibe, but we're both inside of this show called Ship Show. Take it away. Yeah. So yeah, my name is Denise Coleman. I was born in Chicago. Right now I live in Northwest Indiana in Crown Point, if people know where that is. I am, I always say I am performer. I am performer. I use dance as a meeting to tell stories through. You know, just the stories of art or life or any message that I feel like that needs to get out into the world. So it's funny. Yeah. I've done, you know, Sesame Street Live. I also did Disney Live. I worked in Disney World in the parks. Umm, now we're here on Virgin and I also do dancing back home. I teach also dance instruction and fitness and acro back home. So if you're back in the Crown Point area, let me know. Hit me up. I coach. OK, yeah. Yeah, I do a lot of things I currently do back at home. Also do a little bit community theater with musicals and stuff like that. So yeah, this is all well-rounded performer, I guess. And Coach, I want to help people grow into the best selves. So a great person to have on the show. That's what I just heard. Yeah. So many things. Yeah, that's. First and foremost, thank you for joining. Like I'm really excited just to do it. Like I said, I have known Denise for a while, but it's been nice in this contract. We're about done with the contract at the time of filming. We about 30 days out from being done and it's been nice to actually like hang out and work with you again 'cause we did work on Sesame and I feel like… We still kind of do the same thing where it's like, I feel like you like to get out there on the town. You party a little bit. Oh, yeah, not too crazy, but she parties.(I explore) Yeah. And I am mostly in here, so, you know, But it's been nice to have another contract and another job where we got to do our thing, I think. And on that contract I was dance captain too, right? Yes, whenever I was still in “Happenings”? Yup. No, on Sesame. Literally. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Oh my God, I just started remembering the choreo. Yeah, the you know what Sesame actually the first like job where I got injured 'cause coming down that when I did that tumbling pass. Oh yes, yes, I like landed wrong and I had to I remember I had to go get Injections of, like, steroids in my butt. Oh, wow, That was crazy. Now, 'cause then when you got injured, I had to take over that, that tumbling track. Oh my God, Yeah. Round off that handspring. Yeah. Full circle. Crazy. Wow. See, that's why we gotta do things like this. What's like your warmup before you get into a dance more specifically? I mean, you could say warm up for like coaching or whatever, but what's your go to if you have one like a routine? I guess it depends on what I'm doing per se. I mean, for example, for Ship Show a lot of my warmup is dynamic warm up just to get my body pumping. A lot of dynamic and static stretching. Always have to work the splits 'cause you know. I do two splits in the show; one of them being a drop split. For you! yes. Yeah, so I have to, you know, get that warmed up when I did, for example, I did a musical this past summer, my warmup was ‘course more vocal and then I did a lot of this like more like I guess dynamic stretching and just like movements of we did like in the show. It was a very musical theater, like heavy, like on your feet type show, so I had to make sure my feet were warm 'cause you know, character shoes are not the most comfortable. I can’t say that I know but I know the pain from hearing it I think they know. I heard a lot, so I understand that was fun. But yeah, I always say the warm up depends on the job, what you're trying to do, even with teaching sometimes I have to warm up my voice because I am talking to children all day and I have to stay at this level to make sure they can understand what I'm saying, especially my little two and three-year olds. So yeah, it just depends on the job. I don't think I've ever thought about that with teaching kids. I've taught  kids before and I've never thought about my voice being something I should warm up too. That’s smart, that's why you da pro. Did you ever go for schooling? Like what's your background completely and your artistry? Gotcha. Well, I was kind of one of the, I guess the odd ones, I should say. I started out as an athlete first, so I played softball, I did track and I did gymnastics. So I got into dance through gymnastics because I love floor routine so much and I wanted to do more. Actually back it up, I since I was like, I don't know, four, I used to always perform in like, you know, church functions and stuff like that. Oh hell yeah! …well... Like… Let me not say “hell yeah” when you say “church functions” but no, I get it. Like so always doing stuff, you know, performances for the family, like to I was always like organizing and performing. Since I was little, never had really like formal dance training. Until I was in middle school and I was like, wow, I really love floor routine and I want to learn more. So I joined the dance team also at our middle school, sorry, high school, I did that. And then I studied dance at a studio. And then I was like, yeah, this is it. I'm gonna dance forever now. And I went to school at University of Georgia. I did not graduate, though, so. You got what you needed. I did two years and I was like why am I paying all this money to study dance when I can just go to a studio down the street? Also this is back in like 2006, 2007, 2008. Where I feel like the dance programs weren't as complete as they were today, like today you have like, you know, performance. You have all these different things that help become a well-rounded dancer. Back then it was just like, this is how you'd be a dance teacher. And I'm like, I already know how to teach dance, teach me how to actually perform. You know what I mean? So I left 'cause I was like, I'm not spending all this money doing that. .So I moved down to Orlando and that's when I worked at Disney World. And then I continued to train in Orlando, just different studios performing also in like parades and shows and stuff like that. So a lot of my training is just from different studios and this meeting people throughout the world and my world travels like I've taken class in like Paris and taking class in Japan, like whenever we travel like I mean. Dance is such a universal language. Like all you have to know is 5678. Yeah, you know, I hear that a lot actually. And I, Megan ‘The Flare’ actually said that to me recently. And I, I don't really think about it that way, but I have started to understand it more that way 'cause I'm like, that is so true. Dance can just be taught to anybody in that same way. As long as they know that “mm dah dah” Exactly. I feel like a lot of my problems come from like, not knowing how to count. Are you big on counting or are you big on the cat scat? No, I'm very about musicality, OK. And I feel like that's where a lot of my style, my performance style is from, like, as well as being expressive. But a lot of time I'm like on that beat in the background where you kind of hear. Like what, What, Oh, you know, I kind of suck at a counts. Which is funny 'cause as a dance captain, I really have to like one of those things. I'm like, I have to know the count, right? You know? So I have to write, I write them down that way I can remember them because I or else I’m like “Cara?” “What’s the…?” Cara’s always on it. Yeah. Again, just traveling, learning from different people around the world, and there's a lot of auditioning, a lot of this. I guess this is more what do you call it? Hands on experiences and that type of you know, schooling curriculum: how to dance and perform, watching videos. I was gonna ask videos. How do you feel about videos? Do you pick up from watching choreography that way? Yeah I like going to live performances more and I like also watching musicians too and see how they express themselves too through the music, because for me the music tells me what to do. I don't create moves to the music. The music tells me to moves, if that makes sense. I like that. Yeah, I like that. So that's how I just learn and perform. I grow through that. Right now, I love watching just old musicals too. That's why I'm kind of leaning towards later where we go and do our session. I want a little bit more musical theater, like styled. Well, you know what we can we can skip ahead to that right now let's talk about the actual song, so what song did you choose for this episode? So I chose… I FORGOT ‘The Way You Make Me Feel? I was about to say the way you are. That's not the right song. I'm sorry. The Way You Make Me Feel by Michael Jackson. Oh my gosh, to me Michael Jackson is like one of the greatest performers ever. I remember again just watching videos like me and my brother after I got done doing our Saturday morning like chores. We will watch Michael Jackson videos and learn the choreography from the videos. Fight over, well I don't know if you ever seen ‘Speed Demon’ the video. I haven't. OK, I’ll do some research. We used to fight over who's gonna be the Bunny who's gonna be Michael Jackson anyways we'll put that in the description and you guys can check that video Yeah so yeah, I love Michael Jackson and I also this song is Important to me because I guess you were talking about earlier warming up. Before I used to go to auditions, I called this my walk song. So the song that I mentally walked to when you walk into the room, because the audition starts not even when you get into the room but the morning, you know, you start. So you having that song in my head of the boom boom boom. “Walking with confidence.” Yeah, OK. Yeah. It's always been one of my favorite songs- Michael. What would you say is a style you're hoping we go through more, more musical theater? Yeah, Yeah, that's what I'm kind of feeling. I know you're like a hip hop guy, but you also have some. Comical, you know, stylings that you do I see in your movement too. So I think that would be fun to do to create with you too. I was thinking more the lines of like, Fred Astire/ Ginger Rogers type… oh hell yeah OK, so we'll see what happens. I'm excited. Yeah, I'm excited. What's like something that's stuck with you, whether it's from a mentor or something you learned, you watched. I think one thing you've already touched on was like I think is very impressive and something we can all learn from is walking into the room for an audition that matters just as much as being prepared to know the choreo. But is there anything else that sticks with you throughout your artistry, whether it's dance, coaching, whatever, that you try to take into everything you do? As an artist, I feel like you need to know yourself. Which is hard because as an artist, we are kinda of programmed to people please. And I feel like I am my greatest performer, greatest dancer self is when I am fully me, like fully myself and I, you know, silly, goofy pulling from that or you know, if it is sad moment, I pull from that. So I think first of all, before, you know, deciding to work for a company or do something, it's like, OK. Who am I? What kind of artist I am, and then how can I help benefit that company? You know, 'cause I feel like a lot of dancers and artists to get lost in the company and then when they're done with their career, they're like, wait, what did I just do? Who am I? I just had someone just tell me these moves to the past, you know, five years of my life. And like, I don't know, saying like it's a bad thing, but like, I feel like just a grow, as a human, like you should know yourself first, you know, And then as you grow into that, you become a great performer or human or whoever you want to be as you go through these different stages of life. Yeah, I think kinda in that same vein, I want to touch on knowing who you are is good because what I feel or at least I've seen a couple times, we forget that they are like accepting us sure they're hiring us, but they also work for us too, right? Like they the companies and things you work for are picking you so if you just as you said, people please and try to be with a with what they need to be, then yeah, you're gonna end up leaving and being like, well, yeah, I'm not Virgin Voyage. So what am I supposed to do? I think it's good to remember that they pay us, but we also show up for ourselves and it's up to us to bring that authenticity, that's a big *** word, big word for Elmo. Authenticity to the roles and the things we do. Because I feel like we sometimes forget that they're not just the boss in a way that we are our own entity of getting paid and making the work and making the art. That's really dope. Yeah, thank you. Is there any advice, like specific advice or like a motto if you will, that you've been told or that you remember that you try to keep? What's sticking out in my head right now, umm is “Find your light.” Always well on stage, also stay in your light. Like anyways, from like this human aspect, I feel like you need to know what lights you up and like what again, going back to what's you because once you find your own light, you will shine bright, and you get to attract other people from that light. But that's why I feel like it's good to have you back around because. Just like seeing your light and seeing you shine and helps me shine and then we have others shine and it's just like all these big lights just shining together. And I know that's kind of like yippee, but I feel like that's what it is like and there's nothing wrong with that. I feel like that also goes into the … wow I really don't want to get that word out. Authenticity, authenticity 123 authenticity, I think. Oh. I think that goes, it ties into it like because once you learn how to be yourself, then you can inspire other people. That's kind of what I want this whole thing to be about. It's just seeing people be themselves, seeing how different everybody can be and still enjoy the same art. Even though the people who come on are gonna be from different backgrounds and different jobs and things like that. I think you're starting this off with a really good, like beginning of saying good advice of the first thing should be to start with you. And I'm very thankful that you're giving us that. That's a, that's a drop. That’s a dime. If you weren't doing dance or profession like the coaching, what is something that you would try to do outside of it just to pick your brain? Yeah, I know. And it's always hard to take like the art out of the thing. It could still somewhat be in the art, like maybe you're moving more to the technical aspect or the show directing or. I can see that for you as well. I mean, you've done the captain roll a couple times and you're you're in that vibe. Yeah. Especially with coaching, I think. Yeah, definitely show directing. That's like down the line. I would love to do that. OK, moving into more the bigger picture of everything. Like not only just the steps on the stage, but how does the lighting look? How is the sound? What kind of venue are we in? What is the setup like? I feel like that's all important in telling the story. You know, I was talking about this with my husband. Like Blues, like Blues music. It's weird when it's like in a big stadium because that's not what Blues is. Blues is supposed to be the small room or in bars so you can like feel the emotion you can see the sweat on the musician's face. You can hear the grunting in their voice like you know different styles and stories these different venues in different settings. So yes, moving into that aspect that would be really cool. Make the stories come alive. That was a really good just just so knowledgeable, so thoughtful. I'm so happy you have such good stuff. But OK. Yeah, I completely agree as well with like the different venues having different sounds and I personally love Blues, like when we're on the ship and Slam Allen is playing. Slam Allen? Yes, so good. So good. So I completely, I completely rock with that. Your husband also likes Slam Allen? Or what about Slam Allen specifically, but also likes Blues and yeah, he plays Blues in Americana country. Jack Whittle Music. Check him out. He's out in the Chicagoland area and in Indiana. He also travels down to like Louisville to Indy. So yeah, check him out. That's Jack Widow WHITTLE Music. Don’t forget the music. And speaking of that. We've already kind of touched through pretty much everything, and it's not a full 30. I think whatever the time is gonna be is, I'm OK with it, but we're gonna kind of transition out so we can go get ready and start working towards the dance. Before I do that, is there anything else you'd like to promote? Talk about what you're going towards next. We talked about your lovely husband having his music. So, what else for you and where can people find you? Oh, so Instagram is Denise Marie the artist D.E.N.I.S.E. M.A….. Oh my gosh, MARE. it will be in the description. Right down there. @Denisemarietheartist. Yeah. Go check me out. Yeah. I post a lot of these things on there. Just like me hula hooping or like me. Yeah, I like the hula hoop. It's just one of those flow things that I like to do. Just the kind of that's not dance, you know? Like, I just need something, you know? I feel like a lot of artists, they turned their. I guess their hobbies into money making. Yeah, yeah. We’re just those people? But yeah, yeah, check me out on there and I don't know what else. Yeah. If you're in the Northwest Indiana area or Chicago land area, I am again available for coaching. I coach from 2(years) to adults. You're never too old to do a handstand. If you want to learn, let's go. You want to learn how to dance and hip hop, let's go. You wanna get in shape, let's go. Let's go. Whatever you wanna do, I'm here to help you build your healthy self. Denise Coleman. Well, as always, I am your host. Hi, Nelson. And we wanna give a huge thank you. Thank you so much for coming on. Our very first guest of the entire series someone. Awesome. Such great energy. We're gonna go have fun and make this dance. Yeah. So the way you make me feel. And as always, thank you for joining us. This is episode 2, technically, with our first guest, Denise Coleman. Again, a huge thank you for coming on. You're an awesome guest, especially to get things started. Thank you Ty. Thank you. Hopefully you as a listener have found something inspirational throughout this and get to see two very silly people have a good time, and hopefully you had a good time as well. Regardless of the case, you know what? If all else fails, we hope one day we'll see you out on TheDanceFloor. Bye bye. You're ready. Awesome.