Dance Real Podcast
Podcast Description
Dance Real Podcast is hosted by Kate Histon-Behrend a former dance studio owner of 23 years, now international dance judge, mindset coach to dancers and leadership mentor to teachers and studio owners.
Join in on real conversations exploring the trickier sides of the dance industry with tips and tricks and featuring stories of resilience, triumph, and growth. From dancers and professional performers to teachers and often-overlooked dance parents, each episode dives deep into their unique journeys. With expert insights and reflections from Kate’s years of experience, this podcast sheds light on the full spectrum of the dance world—both on and off the stage
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast explores various themes within the dance industry such as mental health, body positivity, and communication among dancers and educators. Episodes like the first one, which discusses the challenges male dancers face and the significance of fostering supportive environments, highlight personal stories of resilience and growth while offering practical tips for dancers and educators alike.
Welcome to Dance Real;
a podcast that pulls back the curtain on the dance industry to explore what really goes on behind the scenes. I’m your host, Kate Histon, former dancer, teacher and studio owner to now mindset and leadership coach as well as international adjudicator. I am someone who’s lived through the pressure, perfectionism, and unspoken harm that too often defines the dance world. This podcast is for dancers, teachers, and parents who are ready to hear honest conversations about everything from artistry to crossed boundaries, competition, community, intuition to industry norms and start reimagining a healthier, more progressive approach to dance education and employment. We’re here to talk about what’s real. Because only when we tell the truth can we change the story.
www.katehiston.com
📲 @kateHiston 📲 @Master_Dancer_Mindset 🎙 @Dance_Real_Podcast
Season 4 Ep:11
In this episode of The Dance Real Podcast, Kate Histon sits down with Finnish dance leader, educator, and international adjudicator Marco Bjurström to explore what it means to lead, teach, and judge with integrity in the global dance landscape.
Marco reflects on his early beginnings in Finland, from discovering dance through popular culture to building Step Up Company and Step Up School into one of the country’s most influential training environments. He shares how teaching beginners across rural Finland shaped his belief that dance is fundamentally about atmosphere, emotional safety, and the responsibility that comes with holding authority in a learning space.
The conversation moves into the ethics of judging, where Marco outlines the difference between analysis and approval, and why honest, structured evaluation serves dancers more than pleasing feedback. Together, Kate and Marco explore cultural responsibility in choreography, including the importance of understanding the historical and social context of music and movement, and how competitions can become spaces for both artistic growth and ethical awareness.
They also discuss originality in dance creation, the risks of trend-driven choreography, and why artistry emerges when a piece is shaped around the dancer rather than the formula. The episode closes with reflections on studio leadership, parent boundaries, and the role of communication in creating training environments that are both high-performing and psychologically safe.
This is a thoughtful dialogue for dancers, educators, adjudicators, and studio leaders who care about excellence that is grounded in respect, responsibility, and human development.
Marco’s Career Credits
• Co-founder of the Finnish Dance Organization (1989).
• President of the Finnish Dance Organization (served three separate terms).
• Member of the IDO Presidium (International Dance Organization).
• Presidium member of the Finnish Dance Sport Federation.
• International dance adjudicator, judging IDO competitions since 1988.
• Supervisor for IDO Championships. Performance and Creative Work
• Dancer in Cats at Helsinki City Theatre. • Founder of StepUp Company.
• Founder of StepUp School (1997), which has grown from one studio into a major dance institution.
• Choreographer of the musical HYPE at the Swedish Theatre in Helsinki (1994), a major commercial success. Stage Director and Choreographer Directed major theatre productions including: • Grease, Hair, Saturday Night Fever, Avenue Q , High School Musical (1 & 2), Rent, A Chorus Line, Chicago, The Prom, From Berlin to Broadway,
Hype Opera directing credits: • Carmen, Sillanpää Television, Creator of the StepUp Show (television series featuring dancers and celebrities)., Host of the hit Finnish television game show “BumtsiBum!” (approx. 230 episodes), Host of Dancing With the Stars Finland (2006–2009), Head Judge on So You Think You Can Dance Finland (2010).
Choreographic and Creative Output • Creator of 18 large-scale adult dance productions. • Choreographer of 30+ dance formations, plus numerous small group and duet works.
🩰 Stay Connected with Kate Follow Kate for more episodes, personal reflections, and real-talk on healing and integrity in the dance world: 🌐 Website: www.katehiston.com 📷 Instagram: @katehiston @dance_real_podcast @Master_Dancer_Mindset 🎧 Podcast: Dance Real Podcast – Available on Spotify, Apple, and all major platforms
Disclaimer: The Dance Real Podcast is a space for open, honest conversations rooted in real-life experiences within the dance world. What I share and what my guests share is based on personal perspective, not professional advice. If you’re seeking support for your mental health, legal matters, or business decisions, I encourage you to speak with a qualified professional. The views expressed by guests are their own and don’t always reflect mine. Any references to people, places, or situations are shared with respect and the intent to spark reflection, learning, and conversation not to harm or misrepresent. By engaging with this content, you acknowledge and agree that the host, guests, and Dance Real Podcast are not liable for any decisions made based on the information provided.
Disclaimer
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