The Dance Legend Behind Chris Brown, BTS, and Usher

Author: Ourselves
Published: Wed 16 Jul 2025
Episode Link: https://ourselves.podbean.com/e/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