After making waves in The Music Man at such a young age, Travis Wall has been continuously pushing forward. Already somewhat of an icon on So You Think You Can Dance as a Season 2 contestant-turned-major choreographer on the series, the young artist is also a member of the dance team Shaping Sound, whose tours are the talk of the town. As someone who deeply feels the connection between music and dance, YA Mag sat down with Travis to talk shop and more.

First off, of course, is So You Think. “We start [taping the show] in about 3 weeks!” he says, his excitement evident. “I’m trying to put a lot of myself into this season.” This is something he has had the opportunity to do for some years now, after appearing on the show’s second season and becoming an official series choreographer. The feeling of being a contestant is “slowly fading away” for Travis – “the show has evolved so much, it’s a very different experience to compare to,” he shares.

And right when the show wraps, he and the Shaping Sound crew hit the road for their second national tour. “We’re trying to perfect a version of the show that we had,” he says of the new material, with “a lot of things that will be different.” But Travis also knows the idea if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it: “The same overall feel of the show will be there,” he assures us. “We’re constantly making smarter and better choices to solidify an amazing show.”

So what makes this prolific artist so passionate? “I’m truly inspired by music,” he responds simply. “If I have a personal story in my life I want to tell, I try to find a song that matches that.” Travis uses lyrics to guide his music, mostly gravitating toward underrepresented artists whom he hopes to introduce to the public. He has used these choices to communicate through dance about many of his life experiences, from winning his first nationals at a very young age, to recuperating and dancing again after a major hip operation, to realizing that he is gay and grappling with coming out. “I couldn’t take my eyes off someone,” he remembers, which connected him directly to the music he was listening to. And it all comes out beautifully in his dancing.

When asked what advice he has for other young artists, Travis also doesn’t hesitate. “Know what you want, and know what you want to do,” he states, referring to the drive and focus on goals an artist needs to rise above. “You have to work everyday at them.”

Travis’s works really shows, and his path can truly inspire others to be better at their craft. It’s evident how much he’s grown from when he first started on SYTYCD, and it’s just an amazing feeling to know that if you really put your mind to it, you can make it happen. We wish Travis the best of luck!