Ourselves Podcast The Dance Legend Behind Chris Brown, BTS, and Usher
At just 23, Josh Smith was choreographing for the biggest names in music: Chris Brown, Usher, BTS, Ciara, and more. But his journey started way outside the industry playbook. In this raw and powerful episode, Josh opens up about being rejected, breaking into the dance world with no agent, and how one last-minute audition changed everything.
From crashing a Disney audition to touring the world with Usher, this is the unfiltered truth about what it takes to build a sustainable dance career, including the money, the mindset, and the hustle no one talks about.
Whether you're a dancer, creative, or just chasing a dream, this interview will shift your perspective.
00:00 Intro
02:06 Childhood and Early Dance Influences
03:44 Middle School Dance Beginnings
10:01 High School and Developing Skills
11:33 Transition to Atlanta
13:50 America's Best Dance Crew Experience
15:51 First Professional Gigs
21:13 Dealing with Rejection and Perseverance
29:46 Landing Major Artist Collaborations
30:48 Mentorship and Career Growth
32:02 Loyalty and Big Break with Usher
34:38 Touring with Usher
41:29 The Role of Dance Agents
46:07 Sustaining a Dance Career
52:17 Adapting as You Get Older
01:00:34 Transitioning to Choreography
01:02:27 Working with Chris Brown
01:09:43 The Role of Choreographers in Dance
01:10:31 The Challenges of Filming Dance
01:10:40 Editing Dance Videos
01:12:30 The Impact of TikTok on Dance
01:23:45 Finding Inspiration for Choreography
01:32:47 Advice for Aspiring Dancers
01:36:28 Dream Collaboration with Michael Jackson
01:39:30 Meaningful Compliments and Legacy
01:42:38 Final thoughts
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