“Welcome to Enter Stage Left. I’m your host, Yvette Monique Clark. This is the spot where we kick it about all things theatre — with veterans and newbies alike. From onstage, to backstage, and even under the stage, we’re talking stories, craft, and the passion that keeps the theatre world alive. So whether you're a performer, a crew member, or just a lover of the stage, you’re in the right place. Let’s get into it.”

On this episode of Enter Stage Left, Yvette Monique Clark sits down with the fabulous Darius Anthony Robinson for a conversation that goes far beyond dance and choreography. From growing up performing in Dallas, Texas to teaching the next generation of artists, Darius opens up about what it truly means to be an educator in today’s entertainment industry.

Together they dive into the realities of preparing students for an industry that often promises dreams while delivering hard lessons. Darius shares his journey from teaching praise dance at his grandmother’s church to becoming a college educator and mentor, and talks candidly about the responsibility educators carry when shaping young artists.

This conversation explores:

• Why students need confidence as much as technique

• The emotional responsibility teachers have toward young performers

• Breaking cycles of harsh, trauma-based teaching methods

• Preparing artists for rejection, callbacks, and uncertainty

• Why possibility should never be limited by body type or expectations

• The difference between teaching survival versus teaching hope

• Real talk about Broadway, auditions, and navigating the industry

One of the biggest takeaways from this episode is Darius's philosophy of embracing "all the Fs" — failures, f*ck ups, fights, and everything in between. Because growth doesn't come from avoiding mistakes; it comes from learning how to move through them. This episode is funny, honest, and deeply human — a conversation about art, mentorship, and making room for the next generation to thrive.