In this episode of The Business of Show Business I speak to award-winning West End choreographer and movement director Chris Whittaker.

We discuss the transition from performing to choreographing and how to follow your goals and passions to get to where you want.

It was an absolute pleasure to talk to Chris and underneath the time code you can find a link to Chris's Website. I hope you enjoy :)

Time Code:

0:54 episode starts

2:09 Where Chris’s journey into the arts all began

3:07 Transitioning from performing to choreography 

3:38 “ I think that was the switch moment “

3:50 "You can’t be taken seriously in the thing you want to do until it’s the only thing you want to do"

4:50 The adventure doesn’t start until you go off the path

5:05 "If I hadn’t tried where would I be now"

5:30 Variety of Chris’s career

6:49 Understanding how to work with performers having been there himself

7:14 Making auditions a positive experience

8:05 Advice for those auditioning

9:33 Being able to trust your ability

9:58 "An audition is a dialogue"

11:27 Seeing the bigger picture of what the casting director wants

13:30 At what point does a choreographer get involved with a project?

16:09 How to get into choreography

16:50 "You don’t know what kind of choreographer you will be"

18:45 The show that made Chris into a full time choreographer

19:28 Other passions alongside performing

20:14 Setting his own work schedule as a choreographer   

21:33 The hardest thing as a choreographer

24:38 Why do you think people give up?

29:15 Have time off if you need it

30:12 Advice on mental health in the arts

31:54 Business as choreographer

33:36 "Twitter for me has been invaluable"

36:41 Having a family and life outside of the arts

39:28 Who or what inspires Chris?

39.41 "I want to be a story teller through dance"

41:23 Don’t try and be everything to everyone –

44:25 The advantages of getting older in the industry.

You can find out more about Chris and his work here - http://www.whittakerchoreography.com/