Chloé & Maud Arnold on DC Roots, Columbia University, Founding Syncopated Ladies, Emmy-Nominated Tap Choreography, the Beyoncé Effect, and Leading the Next Generation Through Philanthropy
Do you worry that pursuing a passion like the arts can't lead to stable, global success? Do you need inspiration to keep grinding through the long years of unemployed fun? In this highly inspirational episode of No Boxes: Just Verses, we go beyond the bios, beyond the titles with Chloé and Maud Arnold, powerhouse sister duo and founders of the viral Syncopated Ladies tap dance troupe. Learn their strategies for artistic entrepreneurship, leveraging education as a tool for access, and maintaining joy throughout the hard work.
Chloé and Maud Arnold are an internationally recognized tap dancing, choreographing, and producing duo, both graduates of Columbia University. They co-founded the viral female tap dance band, Syncopated Ladies, known for videos, including tributes to Beyoncé and Prince, that have garnered over 100 million views. Chloé is an Emmy-nominated choreographer whose work has been featured in major productions like Netflix's Unfrosted and The Late Show with James Corden. Maud's choreography has been featured in films like Hulu's hit Theater Camp and A24's Y2K. The sisters have been praised by figures like Beyoncé, Janet Jackson, and Shonda Rhimes, and have been recognized by the US House of Representatives and the Kennedy Center for their work as ambassadors for the art form.
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Key Takeaways:
Their career path was defined by mentorship, specifically Debbie Allen, who pushed Chloé to move to LA and gave them space to create, proving that great leaders often see your potential before you do.
Despite being immersed in the arts, both sisters attended Columbia University. They reveal how the prestige and the need for housing and structure made college a crucial strategic access point for success in New York.
They detail the seven years it took between meeting Beyoncé and investing in their first viral video. Their secret to perseverance: Maintaining joy and a positive attitude, even while street performing and working multiple side jobs.
They explain why their viral success—especially the "Formation" and "When Doves Cry" videos—came from being completely authentic to their art and their shared emotions (like collective mourning for Prince).
The sisters share their technique for dealing with negativity: Instead of engaging with "hater aid," reframe the energy into power, focus on doing the work, and use that critical energy to fuel new art.
Chloé and Maud's journey reminds us that if you keep grinding with purpose, the break you've been working toward is destined to find you. Never lose the joy in your work!
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Theme Song: Pedal to the Medal by Martin Luther (Spotify | Apple Music)
Never Give Up: 5 Simple Steps to Turn Your Passion into a Global Brand
Why Your Biggest Dream Needs the Long Grind
Do you have a big, artistic dream that feels too huge to come true? Maybe you love to dance, write, or create, but you worry you can't actually make a living doing it. It's easy to look at successful people and think their success just "went viral" overnight.
This article is for you if you are in the middle of your grind and need proof that the hard work pays off. We're going to share the wisdom of two powerhouse sisters, Chloé and Maud Arnold, who founded the viral Syncopated Ladies tap dance group. They turned their passion for tap into a global business praised by Beyoncé and the Kennedy Center. You'll learn the simple steps they used to build an artistic empire by combining talent with smart business strategy.
To use these steps, you must be ready to work hard for years without getting paid, just for the love of the art. This strategy isn't about shortcuts; it's about making smart decisions that give you the time and access you need to let your dream grow.
Here's what you need to be successful:
A "Joyful Grind" Mindset: You must be able to stay positive and magnify the good, even when things are hard.
A Long-Term Vision: You need to plan seven years ahead, not just seven days.
Openness to Mentorship: Be ready to follow the advice of great leaders, even if it feels uncomfortable.
Step-by-Step Guide: Your Artistic Ascent
1. Find a Mentor Who Sees Your Biggest Future
When you start your career, you only see the next small step. The common mistake is waiting for a formal mentor application. The better approach is to find a visionary leader who sees your talent and simply follow them everywhere. For these sisters, that leader was Debbie Allen. She didn't just teach them to dance; she pushed them to move to L.A. instead of Broadway and gave them space to create their viral dance group. You must listen to the person who tells you what you are capable of, even when you doubt yourself.
Follow the Vision
Look for a visionary leader who is already doing what you want to do.
Follow their lead, even if their advice feels scary (like moving to a new city).
Know that a true mentor provides space and resources for you to create your own idea.
Never doubt the person who tells you what you are capable of—they know more than you do.
2. Use College as Your Strategic Access Point
Many artists think they must choose between education and art. That's a mistake. The problem is that big cities like New York are expensive, and starting a career requires money and connections. The new and better approach is to use a prestigious school (like Columbia University) as a strategic tool. College provided free housing, a great education, and gave the sisters access to the biggest arts hub. This strategy let them prioritize dance every day while still building their credentials.
Education Is a Tool, Not a Trap
Do not choose between your art and education—use one to fund the other.
Choose a school that gives you access to the right city or industry.
Use college as a way to solve financial problems like housing and living expenses.
Credentials (like a college degree) add immense value to your artistic brand.
3. Magnify the Positive and Love the Grind
When you are an artist, the grind is long. You might work a cocktail waitress job, teach classes, or sweep floors just to pay rent. The problem is that if you focus on the struggle, you'll lose your joy and quit. The smart approach is to maintain a "Lovely Day" mindset. You must zoom out, realize you don't "have it the worst," and consciously magnify the positive in every situation. This joyful grind—working hard but loving the process—is the only way to persevere for seven years without seeing a financial return.
Joy Fuels Persistence
You must have a positive attitude to work through years of effort without payment.
Look for the joy in every job you take, no matter how small.
Remember that activism should be joyful—if you lose the joy, you're doing it wrong.
This positive energy prevents bitterness and fuels your persistence.
4. Self-Fund Your Dream and Wait for the Break
The biggest hurdle for artists is usually funding. The common mistake is waiting for someone else to give you a big break or a grant. The new approach is to self-fund your art. For the sisters, this meant working side jobs (like dance conventions) and living simply (like staying in a rent-stabilized apartment for 17 years). They invested their own money into making their videos. That seven-year investment led to a viral video, proving that you must invest in your dream first. When your break comes, you must be ready.
Invest in Yourself First
Use income from side jobs and teaching to fund your art.
Live simply (below your means) so you have money to invest.
Remember that you never know who is watching your work, so always create your best art.
When the break comes (like a major celebrity sharing your work), you must be ready for it.
5. Use "Hater Aid" to Power Your Creativity
Once you become successful, you will deal with negativity and "haters." The problem is that letting the criticism or betrayal hurt you causes bitterness and distraction. The new approach is to see "hater aid" as a sign of your power. When people criticize you, it means you're doing something right. Your strategy should be "Don't Hate, Create." Instead of replying or engaging with the negativity, use that fierce energy to immediately create new art. This reframes the situation and keeps you focused on building, not breaking down.
Don't Hate, Create
See criticism as proof that you are powerful and intimidating—you are doing something right.
Follow the wisdom of great mentors: keep your hand on the plow and do the work.
Refuse to engage with the drama or negativity online or in person.
Fuel that energy into creating new art and keep growing.
Your Next Steps: All I Do Is Win
The big idea is that your success is destined, but you have to put in the work to meet it. Your journey—from the first class you took to the side jobs you work now—is all part of the story. Stop thinking small, and start acting like you're already a global brand.
Here is your list of steps to implement these ideas successfully:
Find Your Visionary: Identify one successful leader who inspires you and ask yourself, "What would they tell me to do next?"
Book the Access: If you want to move to a new city, find the strategic (and most affordable) way to get there now (like a school or a specific job).
Audit Your Joy: Look at your schedule and ask: Am I spending enough time doing the joyful grind that fuels my passion?
Make the Investment: Budget a small amount of money this month to invest only in creating new art or content. Don't wait for permission or a grant.
Create, Don't Hate: The next time you feel negative, step away from the keyboard and put that energy into making something new instead.