Meet Lo Cody

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lo Cody and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lo, what’s the most important lesson your business/career has taught you?

The most important lesson my career in the dance industry has taught me is to believe in yourself while having trust in the process. As a young dancer, I was constantly looking for affirmation of my success through the praise of others, awards ,and accomplishments. I found validation in how others perceived me versus how I perceived myself. I danced for me, but I “performed” for others. As I grew and experienced more in the industry, I realized that the praise from others was easy to receive, but the belief in myself was what was harder to obtain and hold on to.

Dancers are taught to thrive in the constructive criticism of others and a reflection in the mirror. You are taught to be hard on yourself and to compare yourself and your accomplishments to the dancers around you. As I got older, I noticed that it wasn’t the best dancers who had the most success; it was the most authentic who did. I noticed that the dancers who were their own biggest fans ,while remaining humble, were the ones who continued to grow their careers. It is hard not to be jealous of others or think that your story must mirror theirs or you’re not good enough.

For example, I grew up being told that cheerleading was not for “real” dancers; however, being an NBA and NFL cheerleader helped me grow in ways that my competitive training had not. Another example is how I thought that you aged out of dancing at a certain point and that a transition to teaching was the end of my industry career, only to be pulled back into the industry at 40 to have some of my biggest resume credits doing choreography for artists like Green Day and Lenny Kravitz and having two commercials I choreographed being aired on TV at the same time.
If there is one lesson I could share with young artists or humans in general, it is to spend more time and energy believing in yourself and trusting your path instead of comparing yourself to others. Be your own biggest fan!

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?

I think one of the things that sets me apart from other dancers and choreographers is my versatility and recognition that when on a job it’s not always about my art but about providing what the client is looking for and needing.

As a young dancer, I trained in all forms of dance including tap, and as I got older, I expanded my training to pro cheerleading, ballroom, and fitness. Having this versatile background, I am able to have more opportunities in different areas. When the industry was slow, I could teach competitive dancers or go for auditions for fitness videos. I was in workout videos such as Julianne Hough’s Dancing with the Stars Cardio Ballroom. I have done everything from teaching at conventions to owning my own competitive studio for 8 years in Agoura Hills. Having diverse training allowed me to sustain employment and make a living throughout the years without having to go outside of the dance world.

In addition to versatility, being flexible with my art and choreography and knowing when it was about me and what I wanted to create and when it was about ” the client” and what they wanted from me made me get hired more often. I would get rehired by production companies, artists, and directors because of my flexibility in my art. It’s not always easy as an artist to put your feelings aside to please a client. It’s easy to get lost in your own art and forget that at the end of the day, it’s a job you were hired to do.

I’m proud of myself for being able to do what I love for 25 plus years now, and my well-rounded training and understanding of when it’s about me and when it’s not is to thank for that.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

I love LA. I love everything about it. I love that around every corner there’s something new and different. I love the melting pot of cultures. If a friend were to visit the city, I would love to take them to Venice Beach or to the Melrose and Fairfax Marketplace. I love finding vintage tees, jewelry, and house wear. I also love the Arts District downtown. For the evening, one of my favorite spots is Delilah. It has great food and an even better atmosphere.
And obviously, if my friend was a dancer, we’d have to hit up one of the many amazing professional studios in the area, such as Millennium Dance Complex or The Playground.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

I would credit my success to all of the amazing instructors I had throughout the years, and of course, my parents were a huge source of inspiration. Being a graduate of the Edge Performing Arts Center’s scholarship program run by Bill Prudich and Randy Allaire was a big part of my success. Also, my students and daughter Harlow, who remind me that dance is about so much more than moves and gigs; it’s about the non-dance lessons like work ethic and human connection that really matter. Lastly, my partner Paul. Without his constant support and help, going as far as building the floors in the dance studio I owned, I would nit be where I am.

Instagram: @loandharlow or @theprojectdancecomplex

Image Credits
Lokii Reis