Recorded August 3, 2026 | The Business of Dance VIP Day, Los Angeles
EPISODE SUMMARY
Tina Landon and Travis Payne helped create the choreography for Michael and Janet Jackson’s “Scream.” In this live conversation with Menina Fortunato, the award-winning choreographers reunite to share two very different perspectives on the same iconic project—and the career lessons behind it. Recorded at The Business of Dance VIP Day in Los Angeles, this episode brings dancers into the room with two artists whose work has shaped music videos and world tours.
Tina traces her journey from Lancaster, California, to working with Janet Jackson, while Travis shares how his training in Atlanta and a homemade audition video opened the door to Rhythm Nation. Together, they revisit the pressure of creating for Michael and Janet: different movement styles, separate rehearsals, changing production demands, and the challenge of making the choreography feel right for both performers. Their stories reveal how much collaboration, preparation, and adaptability happen before the cameras roll.
The conversation then opens to questions from Business of Dance mentees about career longevity, saving money, artistic identity, and what makes a dancer someone choreographers want to hire again. From attitude and reputation to arriving prepared and continuing to learn, Tina and Travis offer practical lessons for aspiring professional dancers, working performers, and choreographers building careers that last.
SHOW NOTES
00:00 – Preview: dancing with Michael and Janet Jackson
02:46 – Menina welcomes Tina Landon and Travis Payne
07:26 – Tina’s beginnings and her path to Janet Jackson
10:12 – Travis’s journey from Atlanta to Rhythm Nation
16:29 – Creating “Scream”: Tina’s side of the story
23:32 – Choreographing for Michael and Janet’s different styles
26:32 – Travis’s path from Dangerous to “Scream”
30:13 – Separate rehearsals and the secrecy surrounding “Scream”
36:41 – Last-minute sets and the realities of production
42:42 – Why “Scream” continues to connect across generations
46:00 – Mentee Q&A: money and building a dance career
51:33 – Staying true to yourself for a lasting career
1:00:00 – What makes a dancer someone choreographers will hire?
1:02:44 – The qualities that earn repeat bookings
1:06:37 – Advice for dancers who want to choreograph
ABOUT TINA LANDON & TRAVIS PAYNE
Tina Landon is an Emmy-nominated choreographer and creative director whose credits include Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, Rihanna, Ricky Martin, and Christina Aguilera. Her work includes Janet’s janet. and The Velvet Rope tours and co-choreography for “Scream.” Raised in Lancaster, California, she moved to Hollywood to pursue dance, performed as a Laker Girl, and appeared in Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal.” She continues to share her experience with dancers navigating professional careers.
Travis Payne is an Emmy-nominated choreographer and director who began touring with Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814 World Tour. His extensive work with Michael Jackson includes the Dangerous and HIStory tours, “Scream,” and This Is It. His collaborators also include Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, and Usher. The founder of Travis Payne Productions, he has earned MTV and American Choreography Awards for his work. His career spans live performance, music videos, concert production, and film, bringing a broad perspective to developing and sustaining a career in entertainment.
CONNECT WITH TINA LANDON
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamtinalandon/
CONNECT WITH TRAVIS PAYNE
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travispayne1/
Website: https://www.travispayne.com
THE BUSINESS OF DANCE
https://www.bizofdance.com/thepodcast
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