This week on the podcast, Bec sits down with choreographer, creative powerhouse, and longtime friend Stephen Tannos for one of those chats that feels equal parts nostalgic, inspiring, and wildly honest.

From the early days of quirky choreography pieces that didn't place… to creating work that people still remember decades later… this episode is a reminder that originality matters more than trophies.

Stephen shares the story of how he accidentally fell into teaching, the importance of giving young creatives freedom to experiment, and why chasing trends and "viral moments" can actually pull dancers further away from finding their own voice.

It's a conversation every studio owner, teacher, parent, and young dancer needs to hear — especially in a world where social media can make everyone feel like they need to fit into the same mould.

There's also a lot of laughing, old competition stories, giant stage skirts, bicycle choreography, and some very honest reflections on what actually creates lasting success in the dance industry.

In this episode:

• How Stephen accidentally started teaching
• Why Bec gave him complete creative freedom from day one
• The choreography pieces that never won… but became unforgettable
• What dancers can learn from creatives like Paris Cavanagh and Bob Fosse
• Why originality is harder than ever in the TikTok era
• The truth about "going viral"
• How studio owners can better nurture creative students
• Why technique classes still matter (even when kids don't think they do)

This episode is such a powerful reminder that the dancers who leave the biggest impact are usually the ones brave enough to be fully themselves.

And that lesson applies way beyond dance too.

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