Matthew Bej's Dance Journey

Leica Marie's Dance Journey

Leica Marie does all kinds of dance, from Latin ballroom to aerial to jazz funk, but she got her professional start dancing for the NBA and NFL! That set the standard for excellence in training and performance as well as being a role model to kids. She was also encouraged to have a job outside of dance and pursue other interests with the same level of effort. Leica has done this her whole life, growing up with a strong commitment to flute, marching band, piano, and pit orchestra. She was always dancing too, but in eighth grade, her mom signed her up for jazz and modern classes. Then in high school, she decided to audition to be a dancer in her school's performance of Cabaret. She was only a freshman and got cast as a Kit Kat Girl alongside juniors and seniors! This was a dream for Leica, as she always loved watching Broadway shows since she was a kid growing up outside New York. She ended up becoming a cheerleader, continued dancing in musicals, and joined her high school's Pom dance team that were D1A county champions her senior year, winning all seven of their competitions! Though Leica experienced many wins in dance, there were also times that she didn't get what she thought she wanted for her dance career. But through a series of events, including the pandemic, she ended up moving to LA where she continues to dance professionally while also focusing on her education. She now has her master's in psychology and is working at getting her Doctorate of Education. Check out the full episode to learn more about her continued hopes and dreams for dance and for school, and even how they intertwine! Follow our dance journeys on Instagram: @boomshakaleica @DanceJourneyPodcast @T racyinLA

Betsy Colombo's Dance Journey

We've been talking about LA Unbound on the podcast for so many episodes, but now we get to chat with Betsy Colombo, one of the co-founders, and learn how it all began! Betsy got her start "late" in ballet at age 12. She loved it and was so dedicated, taking 4 to 5 classes a week and going on pointe by age 14. She danced with her studio's pre-professional company but never felt like her technique was good enough to make it a career. She studied communications at college with a dance minor and was part of the dance company there. But after graduating, she moved to LA to work in the music industry, not knowing dance was about to become a huge part of her life's work! Betsy has now been co-running LA Unbound since 2007 and opened her own kids studio (Unbound Dance Studio) in 2018. Catch the full episode to hear how it all came about and how Betsy persevered through the hardship of the January 2025 wildfires that affected her studio in Altadena. Betsy is passionate to give dance opportunities to all ages and levels of dancers, and her ability to bring these visions to life is quite the inspiration. Follow our dance journeys on Instagram:  @BetsyUhler @DanceJourneyPodcast @TracyinLA

Ailish Hill's Dance Journey

This week we are chatting with Ailish Hill! You probably know her as host of the One Movement community dance classes that happen 2nd and 4th Fridays at Evolution Studios in North Hollywood (for free!). But did you know she moved to LA at 18 to pursue the dance industry? She did the Millennium summer intensive before that and was so grateful a door opened right away for her to move here officially. She was also so grateful for Millennium's unlimited monthly membership at $99 a month! She got signed soon after and was performing and going on auditions. But through a series of events including moving away for a bit and coming back, God led her to a new way of dancing: with her church, One LA. Ailish knew nothing of "dance ministry" and never would have thought she'd end up leading one. But now, here she is, 10+ years later, heading up One Movement where she choreographs for church performances and classes. She also brings in amazing teachers and encourages so many people to grow in their dance abilities as well as their faith. Tune in to the full episode to hear all the details along with what Ailish is still hoping for in her life and dance journey.Follow our dance journeys on Instagram: @geturgruvon @DanceJourneyPodcast @TracyinLA

Brittni Miller's Dance Journey

Meet Brittni Miller, everyone! Interior designer by day, dancer by night and weekend. Brittni is a very talented dancer and choreographer, but according to her, she didn’t start out that way. It wasn’t until her freshman year of high school when she made it for the JV dance team, that her coaches really started to see her potential and invest in training her well. It was also her love for dance that drove her to practice diligently and work hard on her own, which led her to make the varsity team her sophomore year. Brittni grew up doing ballet, tap, and jazz, but her main focus in high school was jazz and pom. She even thought about pursuing cheerleading professionally! But she considers herself more of a calculated-risk type of person and wanted to have a more stable job rather than solely relying on dance for money. Even so, she got into UC Irvine by auditioning and being accepted into their competitive dance program. She ended up majoring in social ecology but still took dance classes there and performed in many dance pieces, often contemporary. (Sidenote: She also studied abroad and learned ballroom while in the UK!) Since college, she takes classes at various studios around LA and performs regularly with LA Unbound and NACHMO, among others. She’s choreographed multiple pieces, where she loves to use dance to tell a story of relationships and connection, often with her signature whirling contemporary style. Brittni is so passionate about dance and finding good dance teachers, as she recognizes the life-changing influence they can have. She also loves teaching herself and hopes to one day have a regular class where she can do the same for others. Follow our dance journeys on Instagram: @brittnimillerryo     @DanceJourneyPodcast @TracyinLA

Bravo's Dance Journey

Julianna Bravo takes dance classes all over LA, always popping up at different studios and working so hard. She started her dance training as an adult and says it's just a hobby, but she is a high school dance teacher and continues to grow in her skills and take opportunities as they come. After college, Bravo worked as a Covid safety manager on tour with "Hamilton," traveling to 37 cities and ending up in Oklahoma for a while. It was there that she got a job as an adaptive PE curriculum developer for an organization that works with kids with disabilities. That's also when she started taking dance classes and ended up auditioning for the hip hop crew for NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder. Her high energy and performance quality led to her getting booked on their hype squad during their championship season! Then she moved back to LA and booked the hype squad for the LA Clippers! Bravo loves to go for every opportunity that comes her way, even if it may seem "delusional,"  and that's why she's currently living her best life, doing what she loves and spreading joy to others.  Follow our dance journeys on Instagram: @JuliannaBravoOfficial @DanceJourneyPodcast @TracyinLA