Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast

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What if dance isn't just about movement but also about the people who move with you through life? In this reflective episode, dancer, choreographer, and teacher Wendy Rogers joins the show to tell us all about her career and how collaboration guided her creative voice. Wendy's story is deeply rooted in experimentation, resilience, and the profound kinship shared between dancers. Tuning in, you'll hear about Wendy's early life and the struggles that shaped her, her dance education and how those formative years defined her career, the different projects and collectives she was a part of, and the transformative experiences that she had through dance. We explore and honor the wisdom of older, more experienced dancers before discussing what it means to keep learning and evolving across decades of practice. Wendy speaks about a life-altering incident that changed her relationship to her body and helped her step into her identity as a dancer. Our guest even delves into the birth of the Wendy Roger's Dance Company, the works she created, her years of teaching, and so much more! To hear all this and be reminded that relationships with other dancers is a gift, be sure to press play now!

Key Points From This Episode:

Welcoming Wendy Rogers to the show.
A brief overview of Wendy's life and early struggles.
How Wendy got involved in dance with Ruth Hatfield.
Wendy tells us of her experience at Berkeley High School.
Studying dance education and what made her pivot away from that.
Creating the Moveable Feast and what that time was like for her.
How Margaret Jenkin's piece, 'Summerspace' transformed Wendy.
Wendy tells us about her dance collective, Among Company.
What we can learn from older, more experienced dancers.
How her accident changed her life and made her call herself a dancer.
The Wendy Rogers Dance Company and the first dances she created.
Why Wendy believes that relationships with other dancers are a gift.
A brief overview of her time teaching and her 'ten-year projects'.
What Wendy is up to now and what's next for her.

For more on Movers & Shapers & Wendy: Instagram, Facebook, Show Notes

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From her early experiences of finding freedom in ballet classes, to becoming a devoted bunhead, to her modern dance studies at Princeton, and her current work in choreography and movement artistry, Jill Sifah Sigman has a storied creative legacy. During this episode, we dive deep into the origins of the themes that continue to inform her work today. We also unpack the layered meaning of working with waste and donated objects to build structures she uses in her performances, how this differs from props and sets, and how this deeply meaningful practice shapes her work. Next, we explore the tension between the artifice we often associate with performance and the authentic expression she has always valued most about her dance practice. Building on this, we dive into what it might look like to strike a balance between work that is accessible and work that resonates with audiences in a more meaningful way. Join us for a truly expansive conversation with today's inspiring guest.

Key Points From This Episode:

Jill Sifah Sigman's journey to dance, from early ballet to choreography and movement artistry.
How her studies shaped her relationship to archetypes, philosophy, and movement.
Starting her company in 1998 after graduating from Princeton.
Her journey to making and understanding site-specific work.
Starting to work with waste in 2007, before it began to inform the message of her work.
Meaningful opportunities to repurpose waste into structures used in her dance productions.
Her journey to working with foraged plants.
Distinguishing between the artifice and authenticity of performance.
How plants, movement, and clay came to shape her project, Reseeding.
Exploring insatiability, hoarding, and the antidote of soil.
The power of art-making in facilitating connection.
Navigating the tension between creating recognizable work and embracing experimentation.
How her full-time care of her father informed her work and her response to the present.

Jill Sifah Sigman is a choreographer, interdisciplinary artist, forager, and educator with a holistic vision of choreography that integrates human bodies, more-than-human beings like plants and soil, and things people throw away, in ways that catalyze presence and healing.

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Sometimes you can get everything you want as a dancer, only to discover the reality is quite different from what you imagined it would be. In this episode, author and former dancer, Rym Kechacha, shares how that realization shaped her own journey, from early ballet training in London to dancing professionally with Northern Ballet, where touring life was both joyful and intensely demanding. She reflects on what it felt like to end her career as a dancer earlier than expected, and how that ending opened the door to a new creative identity. Rym traces her path into teaching, studying creative writing, and eventually publishing fiction, shaped by a lifelong love of books and fantasy. Our conversation explores her latest novel, The Apple and the Pearl, a ballet-inspired fantasy that captures both the beauty and cruelty of the stage world, blending realism with folkloric and fantastical elements. Thoughtful and candid about reinvention, artistry, and creative freedom, Rym offers her insights on what happens when one dream ends and another begins. Listen in for a rich discussion on dance, writing, and the stories that carry us forward!

Key Points From This Episode:

Rym's upbringing in London and her love of dance from a young age.
How she persuaded her parents to let her attend ballet school at age 16.
The demanding daily schedule of life at Central School of Ballet.
Figuring out her plans after Ballet School and how her love of story ballets guided her.
How she joined Northern Ballet and what it was like touring with the company.
The serious impact of arts funding cuts and austerity measures in 2010.
Losing her place at Northern Ballet: why it was both sad and liberating.
What Rym did next in her career: travelling, au pairing, and becoming a teacher.
How she rediscovered writing, earned her creative writing MA, and published her first novel.
Reflections on the challenges of publishing and how ballet prepares you for rejection.
Her experience writing her latest book, The Apple and The Pearl, and how it relates to ballet.
A closer look at her upcoming novels, from Algerian history to London folklore and fantasy.

Rym Kechacha is a former dancer, now writer from London, UK.

For more on Rym & this episode: Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast

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So much of what validates the human experience is the ability to collaborate and connect with other people in the world, and today's guest has managed to do that through dance! Kitty McNamee joins us today to talk about her impressive career and how she found success despite limitations. Kitty was first drawn to the escapism element of musical movies and the wordless expression of dance, and although she started dancing late, she was accepted to Houston's performing arts high school. In this conversation, you'll hear all about how starting dance at the age of 16 made her even more passionate because she really had to fight for success. Kitty goes on to talk about how she started choreographing and touches on her choreographic voice and style before sharing the importance of community and relationships in this industry. Kitty even tells us about the projects she is most proud of and teases what we can look forward to seeing from her in the future. From dance films to documentaries to pop-up performances by LA artists, music videos with Laura Marling, and operas, Kitty's career is truly an amalgamation of different art forms and a testimony to the power of collaboration with other artists. This is an episode you don't want to miss!

Key Points From This Episode:

A brief introduction to today's guest, Kitty McNamee.
Where she's from and how she became interested in dance.
Kitty's experience at Houston's performing arts high school.
Her physical limitations and why she thought she should be an actress.
Choreographing for Open Fist and starting her own dance company.
Kitty describes her choreographic voice, movement themes, and influences.
How her career progressed and how community and relationships kept her going.
Her transition into working in dance films and how she got into that.
Kitty tells us about her latest documentary project, Citizen, and her involvement.
What LA POPS UP is and what inspired Kitty to create it.
Her work with Laura Marling and what it's been like to work in different kinds of spaces.
Kitty shares her favorite dance projects and what she is most proud of.
What we can look forward to from Kitty's career in the future.

For more on this episode: The Moving Architects

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For in-person and virtual film screening tickets to The Moving Architects' Where She Once Stood: The Women of the Crane House & Historic YWCA Alive Through Dance

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Dance is a beautiful medium to honor the past while building community in the present. Today, we are joined by Bhumi B Patel of Patel Dance Works to discuss her distinguished career. In this episode, you'll hear all about Bhumi's life, her creative interests, her college education at a women's liberal arts institution, her love for constant learning and education, and so much more! We delve into her MFA experience and working through injury before discussing her dissertation on how queer of color performance is informed by improvisational practice and the 'ghosts' of the past. She even tells us about getting her Ph.D. during COVID, what her research was about, and how she managed to finish it in just four years. Lastly, Bhumi tells us how she plans on expanding her dissertation work into a book and what else we can expect from her in the future. From her master's thesis encompassing the upheaval after World War Two, to her deep love for dance writing, Bhumi's talents, interests, and achievements are fascinating! This is a conversation you don't want to miss, so be sure to tune in now!

Key Points From This Episode:

Introducing Bhumi Patel to the show.
How she became interested in dance, and why she chose a women's college.
What inspired Bhumi to pursue a career in dance during her undergrad.
Bhumi tells us about her master's thesis on Anna Sokolow's Rooms.
What kept drawing Bhumi back into an academic setting.
Bhumi's experience doing her MFA at Mills College and her focus on grief.
Her dissertation on how queer of color performance is informed by improvisation.
How she advocated for change through writing and starting her dance company.
Bhumi tells us about the content of her Ph.D. and her determination to finish it fast.
What she plans to do with her research and her plans for the future.

For more on this podcast episode: Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast

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If you want long-term success in the dance industry, you need to be very clear on why you're doing it and who it's for above anything else! In this conversation, you'll hear all about Winifred Haun's introduction to dance, how her craft has evolved over the years, some of the incredible dance practitioners she has learned from, how she decided she wanted to dance for her career, and what it was like to start her company, Winifred Haun and Dancers. We delve into the importance of balancing unique ideas with appealing entertainment for audiences before discussing how her company has evolved over the years and how Winifred continues to create work. Winifred goes on to remind us of the power and importance of collaboration in the dance space and shares why she loves mentoring people so much. We even hear about some of the incredible projects she's been part of, including her recurring Community Dancer Project, what making site-specific dance work is like, and what the future holds for her. To hear all this and some pearls of wisdom from this illustrious guest, be sure to tune in now!

Key Points From This Episode:

Welcoming Winifred Haun to this episode of the show.
Winifred tells us about her dance history and how she became interested in dancing.
What it was like to balance being a dance apprentice and working other jobs.
Starting her own company, Winifred Haun and Dancers, and what her focus is.
How Winifred Haun and Dancers has grown over the years, and where they rehearse.
The importance of collaboration and mentorship in the dance industry.
Winifred tells us about her Community Dancer Project and other projects she's done.
Our guest tells us what it's like to make dance pieces for specific spaces.
What the future holds for Winifred Haun and Dancers and some advice for young creators.

More on this podcast: Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast

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A lifelong devotion to movement can shape not just an artist's career, but an entire community. Today, choreographer, educator, and Artistic Director Jessica Gaynor shares how her path began in gymnastics before finding her true calling in modern dance. From her early days studying with the legendary Alice Teirstein to becoming a mentor and leader in her own right, Jessica's story is one of passion, resilience, and creativity. In our conversation, Jessica reflects on the freedom and self-expression she discovered through improvisation, her formative years studying dance at Brown and CalArts, and the drive that led her to form her own company back in New York. She recalls milestone performances, collaborations with composers, and the challenges of sustaining a company while teaching full-time. Today, her work as Artistic Director of the Young Dancemakers Company continues to empower teens to create original work in partnership with professional composers, carrying forward the legacy of her mentor. Tune in to hear how Jessica has built a multifaceted career in dance, and why she remains committed to creating, teaching, and inspiring the next generation.

Key Points From This Episode:

Jessica's upbringing in NYC and her shift from gymnastics to ballet and modern dance.
How she found mentorship with Alice Teirstein at the Fieldston School.
Her love of dance as a form of freedom, self-expression, and community through movement.
Early influences on her dance career: Pilobolus and Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company.
Studying at Brown, while doing an academic major, repertory works, choreography, and more.
Graduate training at CalArts, focusing on choreography, performance, and collaboration.
What it was like returning to NYC and forming a company with fellow dancers.
Creating evening-length works at Triskelion Arts and touring performances.
Collaborative works with composers, exploring structure and form.
Joining the Young Dancemakers Company (YDC) and becoming Artistic Director.
Leading YDC through the pandemic with Zoom dance films and outdoor shows.
Jessica's love of teaching and helping teens create original work.
Rediscovering performance and collaborating with her musician husband.
Reflections on highlights and challenges while sustaining a career in dance.

For more on the episode: Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast

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With a heavy heart, KDH Dance Company announced the passing of their fierce founder and dearest friend, Kathy Dunn Hamrick. Kathy has had an enormous impact, with ripples throughout Austin and beyond, as she is loved by so many. The organization is heartbroken, but committed to honoring Kathy and her legacy for years to come. Read more in the KDH Dance Company newsletter.

Today's podcast is a re-airing of an interview with Kathy from 2024.

Kathy Dunn Hamrick was the Artistic Director of Kathy Dunn Hamrick Dance Company, an award-winning modern dance company based in Austin, Texas. Kathy happily committed her professional life to dancing, teaching, choreographing, presenting, mentoring, and advocating for modern dance and dancemakers. She created over 50 dances that have been described as "strikingly athletic and wonderfully expressive," "heavenly," "smart" and "masterly," and garnered numerous recognitions for the dance company, including Austin Critics Table awards for Best Choreographer, Best Dance Concert, Best Dancer, Best Duet, Best Lighting Design, and Best Ensemble. The company has performed throughout Texas as well as in New York City, Chicago, San Francisco, and Toronto, and her "Lake Dances" were featured in Arts + Culture Texas, Arts Journal, and Dance Magazine. Kathy had a BA in Modern Dance from The University of Texas and an MFA in Performance and Choreography from Florida State University. She taught at Florida State, Stephen F. Austin State University, St. Edwards University, The University of Texas, and Austin Community College. She taught modern dance for both recreational and professional dancers at Café Dance; provided professional development for educators; directed artist residencies for high schools and universities; and served as a mentor for Austin Emerging Arts Leaders. In 2015, Kathy founded Austin Dance Festival, an annual modern dance event that hosts professional dance showcases, master classes, and a Youth Edition that includes non-competitive showcases forteens 13-18, a Pro Chat Q&A, and a college fair. In 2018, Kathy was inducted into the Austin Arts Hall of Fame as "a model for the artist who approaches each project in a spirit of experimentation and reinvention."

For more on this episode: Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast

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From Iowa to Juilliard, from Israel to screens, Bobbi Jene Smith's Journey through dance is anything but ordinary and defies borders and expectations! In this episode, we are joined by internationally acclaimed dancer, choreographer, and filmmaker Bobbi Jene Smith. Known for her deeply personal and raw approach to movement, Bobbi shares the milestones that shaped her path; from leaving home at the age of 11, to ultimately moving to Israel to join Batsheva Dance Company. Bobbi opens up about the challenges of living abroad and the profound ways in which her relationship with dance evolved through her time in Israel before reflecting on her decision to leave Batsheva and return to the US. We also hear about her transition to dance filmmaking, her current projects, and what it means to her to continuously practice and live through her craft. Finally, Bobbi leaves us with thoughtful reflections on identity, artistry, and her hopes for the future. Thanks for tuning in!

Key Points From This Episode:

Welcoming today's guest, Bobbi Jene Smith.
Bobbi Jene tells us about her background in dance.
What the summer program at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School was like.
Moving away from home at the age of 11 and ending up at Juilliard.
How the Juilliard environment differed from Bobbi's previous studies.
Bobbi Jene walks us through the logistics of moving to Israel and what it felt like.
How Bobbi Jene reconnected with her love for dance.
The challenges that came with being in Israel for so long.
Bobbi Jene tells us about some of her favorite performances.
How she decided to leave Batsheva Dance Company and move back to the US.
The importance of continuously practicing your craft.
How Bobbi Jene got into creating dance films and what she's working on now.
What Bobbi Jene's hopes and dreams are for the future.

For more on Bobbi Jene with Show Notes & Links: The Moving Architects

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Morgan Teel is the mind behind Dance Waterloo, an organization making dance more accessible through site specific and site responsive shows in Austin, Texas. During this episode, she joins us to share the story of how she first fell in love with dance, what deepened her knowledge of choreography, and the motivation behind launching Dance Waterloo. Morgan also shares what first drew her to site-specific work and how Austin audiences have embraced it, from intimate community performances to larger shows like Quixotic States at the Zilker Hillside Theatre Stage. We discuss her inventive projects, including a spelling bee themed dance production, and how she works to make the creative process as visible as the final product. Along the way, she reveals where she finds inspiration for her pieces and why accessibility, experimentation, and community connection remain at the heart of her vision for Dance Waterloo's future.

Key Points From This Episode:

Morgan Teel's introduction to the world of dance as a child.
Applying for colleges and honing her skills as a choreographer.
What motivated Morgan to start Dance Waterloo: making dance more accessible.
Naming Dance Waterloo, fundraising, and putting on their first show under an overpass.
How dance classes for families allow children to see their parents as equal collaborators.
The legacy Morgan hopes to build with Dance Waterloo.
How she is working with Austin's senior population.
The spelling bee dance production she recently put on.
Where she finds inspiration for her pieces.
How she is working to make the process of dance visible beyond the product of it.
Quixotic States: a dance show at the Zilker Hillside Theatre Stage.
Plans for the future: dancing with teenagers.
How Morgan cross-pollinates her skills.

For more on Morgan with Show Notes & Links: The Moving Architects

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Joining Erin on Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast today is Mickela Mallozzi. Mickela is a four-time Emmy® Award–winning host and executive producer of Bare Feet with Mickela Mallozzi, a PBS and Amazon Prime travel series celebrating global dance traditions. A professional dancer and trained musician, she travels the world exploring how everyday people express their cultures through movement. In today's conversation, Erin and Mickela delve into the origins of her dance journey, how a middle-of-the-night dream blossomed into her life project, Bare Feet, and she recounts the impact of growing up in an immigrant family on both herself and the TV show. Mickela unpacks how she worked hard to get her show off the ground, in the process starting a blog, and emphasizes the weight of storytelling in producing the episodes. She touches on what it's like going into different cultural settings, how she has overcome challenges throughout the year, and when she realized that Bare Feet was more than just a travel show! To hear more about Mickela's incredible journey, including how she navigated the ins and outs of the COVID-19 pandemic, and what hopes and dreams are coming into fruition in the near future, be sure not to miss out on another insightful episode. Thanks for listening!

Key Points From This Episode:

Mickela shares the origins of who she is and her dance journey.
How she took a middle-of-the-night dream and made it an award-winning TV Show reality.
She recounts growing up in an immigrant family with an amazing storytelling Nonnapina.
Mickela talks about Bare Feet, the TV Show, and the features of immigrant families in NYC.
"The Plan" before Bare Feet came to be.
Mickela shares how dance returned to her life.
She tells the story of getting Bare Feet off the ground and ultimately starting her blog.
The story of sneaking into a PBS conference and how it panned out.
Mickela emphasizes the weight of storytelling on Bare Feet.
The importance of working hard and intentionally pursuing what you're called to do.
She talks about the hard juxtaposition of finding funding and support for the show.
Mickela breaks down what it's like going into culturally different communities and learning from the people, the dances, and the spaces.
The difference between cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation.
Overcoming challenges throughout the years: Mickela shares a real-life example of "figuring it out."

For more on Mickela with Show Notes & Links: The Moving Architects

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Some creative partnerships do more than grow over time; they help shape an entire artistic landscape. In this episode of The Movers and Shapers Podcast, we meet Sara Coffin and Susanne Chui, co-artistic directors of Mocean Dance, whose long shared history and collaborative vision have transformed contemporary dance in Nova Scotia. Sara begins by tracing her path from early choreography to training across Canada and the United States, and how returning home eventually led her into a leadership role with Mocean Dance. Susanne shares her parallel journey, from a childhood in community dance to professional training in Toronto and the decision to return to Halifax, where she built an independent career before joining the company. Together, they reflect on the evolution of Mocean Dance from a dancer-centered company to a community-focused hub for creation, training, and sector-wide collaboration. They discuss how their friendship, complementary strengths, and improvisational ethos shape their working relationship, and they offer a look at the ambitious interdisciplinary and land-based projects that will define their next chapter. Listen in for a thoughtful conversation about collaboration, place-based artistry, and what it takes to sustain a thriving dance ecosystem outside major centers.

Key Points From This Episode:

Sara's early pull toward dance and her first experiences in choreographing.
Training across Canada and finding her voice through somatics and collaboration.
Forming the SiNS (Sometimes in Nova Scotia) collective: building an early artistic community.
Returning to Halifax and stepping into leadership at Mocean Dance.
Completing her MFA at Smith College in the United States to deepen her artistic practice.
Susanne's community-based dance beginnings and discovery of professional training.
Moving to Toronto for conservatory study and early company work.
Returning home to build an independent career supported by grants and local networks.
Joining Mocean Dance and forming a co-artistic partnership with Sara.
Learning the administrative demands of running a company.
Shifting Mocean from dancer-centered work to community-focused programming.
Expanding professional development offerings, labs, and training programs.
Building interdisciplinary partnerships across art, ecology, architecture, and design.
Developing land-based and relational works with Indigenous collaborators.
Reflections on sustaining a long-term creative partnership rooted in trust and improvisation.
Looking ahead to large regional initiatives and reimagined touring models.

For more on Sara and Susanne and Show Notes & Links: The Moving Architects

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A dancer's career is often shorter than many others, and for the most part, there comes a time when the performer must pivot and find other ways to find value and joy in their craft. Joining us today is Danielle Guillermo, a former dancer turned dance consultant, as well as brand strategist and web designer. We begin with Danielle's background and how she got into the world of dance before learning how her home and school support structures gave her the confidence needed to excel in performance. Then, we examine how her career goals have evolved since high school, how being rejected from Juilliard was a blessing in disguise, her role at the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, and other early-career experiences, and everything that happened to instigate the second phase of her career. We also discover how Danielle began building websites, her journey as a brand strategist, why she chose the teaching route, and why it's possible (and healthy) for artists to have financial aspirations without compromising their art. To end, Danielle walks us through Dance News Daily — the news hub she built for the entire dance community — and we discover what she has planned for the near future as well as how to connect with her and her work.

Key Points From This Episode:

Danielle Guillermo describes who she is and how she got into the world of dance.
What drew her to ballet, and a journey through her time at dance school.
How her support structures gave her confidence that she previously had to fake.
The goals she had when growing up in dance school and how they've evolved.
Rejected from Juilliard: The ups and downs of her dancing education after high school.
The start of her career and her experience at Dayton Contemporary Dance Company.
Her European adventure, and everything that happened post-DCDC 2.
How Danielle's performance career ended and why she chose to focus full-time on teaching.
Breaking Glass: How she approached a career crossroads at the age of 31.
How artists can also have aspirations of financial freedom without compromising their art.
Danielle's website-building career and how it's transformed her and her client's lives.
The importance of building a personal brand and making it visible to the right people.
Unpacking Dance News Daily – a news hub for the entire dance community.
Danielle's upcoming projects and what she's focused on moving forward.
How to connect with Danielle Guillermo and her work.

"It looks like you're taking the focus off of the art and you're talking about money. For me, it's not one or the other. We as artists need to survive. And not just survive, let's look at thriving." — Danielle Guillermo

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Amber Sloan's life in dance has unfolded through curiosity, community, and constant reinvention. Growing up in Virginia, her early exposure to improvisation and composition in high school sparked not just a love of movement but a way of thinking that would shape her future. Her time at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign deepened that foundation and connected her with the people and places that helped her put down artistic roots. From piecing together income through unexpected jobs, to choreographing for the Joyce SoHo and seeking to scale her work in the years leading up to the pandemic, Amber has never shied away from the uncomfortable or the uncertain. She's navigated performance anxiety, surgery and recovery, and the challenge of being involved in many facets of the dance world, from performing with David Parker to presenting work through platforms like Women in Motion. Today, with recent pieces like her show at Kestrels (set to return next year), she continues to build a career that defies the assumptions people often make about a life in dance. At the heart of it all is a simple, lasting dream: to keep exploring alongside the dancers who move her work forward. Thanks for listening.

Key Points From This Episode:

Amber Sloan's upbringing in Virginia and her introduction to dance.
How early experiences of improv and composition in high school shaped her career.
Continuing her dance journey at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
How the connections she made while studying helped her develop roots in dance.
Working various jobs to pay the bills, including a role for Harvey Keitel's wife.
Choreographing for the Joyce SoHo.
Making an effort to do her work in a bigger way pre-pandemic.
Navigating performance anxiety and doing what is uncomfortable.
Being involved in many different areas of dance.
How a 2015 surgery and recovery impacted Amber's career.
Dancing for David Parker: rehearsals, footwork, and more.
Amber's presenting work, including Women in Motion and more.
Recent work including a show at Kestrels which will show again next year.
Why a life in dance is often not what you might expect.
Her ultimate dream for her work.

Amber Sloan is a choreographer, performer, teacher, and producer based in Jersey City and the New York City area.

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MSP 188: Attuning to the Beauty of Passion with Sara Veale

The incredible beauty of passion lies in the relentless dedication of one's entire being, a force that radiates outward to inspire and elevate others. Today on the Movers & Shapers podcast, Erin is joined by author and dance critic Sara Veale. A North Carolina native, dancer turned dance writer, currently living in London, UK. Tune into the conversation as they dance into what inspired Sara into a lifelong journey in dance, how dance became an integral part of her identity, and what sparked her journey to shift into one that centers around her writing. They discuss her transition from the US to London, UK, the differences in the dance world, and she unpacks the responsibility of writing dance reviews and why she ultimately finds the Stars system to be fundamentally flawed. They then dive into an in-depth discussion on her book, Wild Grace: The Untamed Women of Modern Dance, breaking down what inspired the writing, how she approached the structure of the book, incorporating advice from her editor, delving deeply into the research, and the timeline from beginning to end. She shares how the book ultimately led her to a new attuning of the very beauty of passion itself! Be sure not to miss out on all this, and as always, much more. Thanks for listening, enjoy!

Key Points From This Episode:

Sara reveals how a two-year-old girl's fascination with movement blossomed into a lifelong journey in dance.
Sara explains what about dance made it such an integral part of her identity.
The journey of her writing career.
Sara unpacks how she got into writing as a dance critic.
We discuss her transition from the US to London, UK, and how it shaped her dance writing.
Finding her voice in the dance critic world.
Why you've got to be reading when you want to be writing, according to Sara.
The responsibility behind writing dance reviews.
She shares why she believes the idea of the Stars system, when writing reviews, is fundamentally flawed.
We delve into a discussion on her book, Wild Grace: The Untamed Women of Modern Dance.
How she approached the structure of her book, finding the women, taking advice from her editor, and making tough decisions.
Sara explains the research journey she undertook for her book and the women she writes about.

"The coolest thing ever is to be good at something and be passionate about it and to throw your whole body and soul into it." — Sara Veale

For more on Sara and Show Notes & Links: The Moving Architects

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The Curiosity That Moves Us with Ann Carlson

At the heart of every great artistic work is the exploration of curiosity and a commitment to the process of creation. Today on Movers & Shapers, Ann Carlson joins us to discuss her illustrious career in interdisciplinary arts and shares the deep curiosity she possesses about movement, meaning, and the human experience, with work borrowing from the disciplines of dance and performance as well as visual, conceptual, and social art practices.

In this conversation, Ann reflects on how she first discovered her love of dance, how working with Meredith Monk and exploring performance art shaped her creativity, and the thriving performance scenes in NYC in the 90s that opened doors for experimentation. She shares the inspiration behind her work with animals, the reality of supporting herself financially as an artist, and how she navigated motherhood and her dance career. She also dives into the delicate marriage between process and product in creation before discussing her dance project, The Symphonic Body. Finally, Ann reveals what is piquing her interest today and shares a glimpse of what the future will hold for her in her career. Thanks for listening!

Key Points From This Episode:

A brief overview of today's guest, Ann Carlson, and how she found her love of dance.
How performance art and working with Meredith Monk inspired Ann's own creations.
Cross-connecting dance with other performance scenes during her time in NYC.
What inspired Ann's animal series and how she managed to support herself.
How Ann's dance career pivoted when she started a family.
The beautiful amalgamation of process and product in dance creation.
What Ann learned about art from the poet Allen Ginsberg.
Ann looks back on her career and some of the most meaningful projects she did.
Ann tells us what she is curious about today and what her next project will be.

Ann is the recipient of numerous awards for her artistic work, including a Creative Capital Award, a Doris Duke Award for Performing Artists, a National Dance Project Award, two American Masters awards, a USA Artist Fellowship, a Guggenheim Fellowship, a New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship, a Fellowship from the Foundation for Contemporary Art, and more!

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Welcome to a new season of Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast, hosted by Erin Carlisle Norton, choreographer and Artistic Director of The Moving Architects. In this update episode, Erin shares what she's been up to, including the company's site-specific project Where She Once Stood, which brought Montclair's Crane House & Historic YWCA to life through dance, history, and storytelling.

This podcast is made possible this season by The Ohio State University Dance Department's Dance Preservation Grant and a generous anonymous donor. Special thanks to both for supporting the podcast and helping preserve and share dance stories with artists and audiences everywhere.

Erin also previews the season ahead, featuring interviews with dancers, choreographers, and leaders shaping contemporary dance today. Tune in for stories, insights, and artistry that continue to inspire, guide, encourage, and connect the dance community.

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Learn more about The Moving Architects' recent dance project "Where She Once Stood" and preview "Where She Once Stood" on State of the Arts.

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Summer podcast announcement from host and Artistic Director of The Moving Architects Erin Carlisle Norton.

Support this one-of-a-kind podcast with a tax-deductible donation! themovingarchitects.org/support

Movers & Shapers is celebrating 10 years of podcasting! Connect with our archive of nearly 200 interivews: themovingarchitects.org/podcasts

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Lessons from 10 Years of Dance Conversations with Erin Carlisle Norton

What does it take to lead a forward-thinking, boundary-pushing dance company in today’s ever-changing artistic landscape? After a decade of hosting Movers & Shapers and nearly 200 interviews, Erin Carlisle Norton, Artistic Director of The Moving Architects (TMA), steps into the guest seat for a special 10th-anniversary episode. In conversation with Megan Mizanty, Lead Editor of thINKingDANCE, Erin reflects on the podcast’s evolution, the inspiration behind it, and the guests and stories that have profoundly shaped her perspective. They explore the intersection of dance and community engagement, the role of adaptability and resilience in the arts, and how collaboration fuels creative growth. Erin also shares her dream interview guest, the unexpected insights and connections that have emerged from the podcast, and how these conversations have deepened her understanding of what it means to build a meaningful life in dance. Tune in for a behind-the-scenes look at the artistry, strategy, and vision that drive Movers & Shapers (and TMA) forward!

Key Points From This Episode:

· An introduction to Erin and the story behind Movers & Shapers.

· Insight into how the podcast has evolved over the past decade.

· Memorable moments and some of Erin’s favorite guest interviews.

· The biggest lessons Erin has learned from nearly 200 interviews.

· Ways that the podcast has influenced Erin’s work and artistic vision

· The importance of adaptability, resourcefulness, and resilience in the arts.

· Exploring the intersection of dance, community engagement, and storytelling.

· Reflections on recurring themes, shifting dance landscapes, and industry trends.

· Unexpected connections and insights that have emerged from hosting the podcast.

· Podcast hosts who have influenced Erin’s approach to storytelling.

· The modern dance icon Erin dreams of interviewing and why.

· What it means to build a rich life in dance and Erin’s advice for emerging artists.

“Remembering that we’re part of something bigger that has been going on for generations is very grounding and reassuring. No matter what the art form is, there’s something about the legacy – that you can feel like you’re a part of.” — Erin Carlisle Norton

Erin Carlisle Norton is the Artistic Director of The Moving Architects and host of Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast.

Check out our podcast episode partner thINKingDANCE!

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Building the Mosaic Dance Theatre Company with Morgiana Celeste Varricchio & Samara Adell

Every dance company has its own unique journey and characteristics, from how it was founded to the style of dance it specializes in. Today, we’re joined by the Producing Artistic Director and Founder of the Mosaic Dance Theatre Company (MDTC), Morgiana Celeste Varricchio, and the Artistic Director for Dance and Choreographer, Samara Adell. MDTC showcases the vibrant dance and folkloric heritage of the Mediterranean, spanning North Africa, the Middle East, and Southern Europe. Through captivating performances and educational initiatives, MDTC brings to life the region’s music, myths, and traditions, preserving and sharing its cultural tapestry. In this conversation, Morgiana and Samara share how they discovered their affinity for Middle Eastern dance, why they felt it wasn’t adequately represented in the US, and how they formed the Mosaic Dance Theatre Company. We discuss the many shows they’ve produced, including their special upcoming 20th-anniversary show, Visions of the Near East, how they manage their creative partnership, and the challenges of running a nonprofit. Tune in to hear the full scope of Morgiana and Samara’s beautiful journey, from becoming friends to running a thriving company together!

Key Points From This Episode:

An introduction to Morgiana Celeste Varricchio and her dance journey.
How she became involved with Middle Eastern dance and met Samara Adell.
The success of Morgiana’s production of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves.
How Morgiana and Samara founded the Mosaic Dance Theatre Company in 2005.
Their mission to ensure Middle Eastern Dance was properly represented in the US.
An overview of their productions, including their original show, Caravan to Cairo.
Their upcoming production, Visions of the Near East
Some background on Samara and how she became interested in dance.
Her time working in New York and the extensive global touring she did as a dancer.
The inner workings of Samara and Morgiana’s creative partnership.
How they prepare for, plan, rehearse, and arrange all the different elements of their shows.
Standout experiences during their two decades with Mosaic.

“We both agreed that Middle Eastern Dance was not represented properly in the professional world of dance. It is a very legitimate dance form, but not looked upon that [way] here in the US. It was our mission, then, to bring this dance to the public.” — Morgiana Celeste Varricchio

Morgiana Celeste Varricchio is the Producing Artistic Director and Founder of Mosaic Dance Theater Company.

Samara Adell is Artistic Director for Dance & Choreographer of Mosaic Dance Theater Company.

For more on this episode, Morgiana, and Samara: Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast

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Twin Cities with Joanna Lees, Jesse Schmitz-Boyd, Erinn Liebhard

Nestled along the Mississippi River, Minneapolis and Saint Paul offer a unique mix of natural beauty and culture. Winters are harsh, but skyways provide warmth, and frozen lakes set the scene. When summer arrives, the cities buzz with life, from thriving arts and food scenes to passionate sports fans. Each season brings a fresh energy to this dynamic and welcoming community. Today, we’re joined by three dance artists who call the Twin Cities home—Joanna Lees, Jesse Schmitz-Boyd, and Erinn Liebhard. Together, we dive into the Twin Cities dance and arts scene, exploring how they found their way there, their roles in the dance world, and how the region’s geography (and harsh winters) shape the artistic landscape. They share insights on leading dance companies, navigating the audition scene, and the importance of carving out a niche. We also discuss the concept of “all-encompassing physicality,” available resources for artists, and the gaps they hope to see filled in the local dance community. Tune in for a rich conversation on what makes the Twin Cities such a unique and inspiring place for dance!

Key Points From This Episode:

· Listeners are introduced to our three amazing guests: Joanna Lees, Jesse Schmitz-Boyd, and Erinn Liebhard.

· Their roles in the dance world and what brought them (or kept them) in the Twin Cities.

· What ‘Twin Cities’ means and how the geography influences the dance scene.

· How the winter (with its snow and ice) impacts their art and dance-making.

· They highlight their experiences leading dance companies in the Twin Cities.

· We discuss the ins and outs of the audition scene in the Twin Cities.

· Joanna expands on the concept of “all-encompassing physicality.”

· Jesse touches on the necessity of moving towards a “niche” in the Twin Cities dance scene.

· The vibe of the dance community and different dance hubs in the area.

· They expand on the different resources available in the Twin Cities.

· The gaps (or downsides): changes and developments they’d love to see.

· Each guest expands on what makes their dance life in the Twin Cities special to them.

Joanna Lees (MFA '20) has been a performer, choreographer, producer, and educator in the Twin Cities since 2008 and is the Co-Founder of the Minneapolis dance company Alternative Motion Project.

Erinn Liebhard is a Twin Cities-based dance educator and the Artistic and Executive Director of Rhythmically Speaking, a Twin Cities-based dance company sparking vibrancy and connectedness through jazz and American social dance ideas.

Jesse Schmitz-Boyd is a Twin Cities-based choreographer, dance artist, and educator, known for his playful, off-kilter movement and thought-provoking work, and the founder of Rogue & Rabble Dance, with extensive collaborations across the local dance scene.

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Something About the Way She Moves with Heidi Henderson

Vibrant, humble, and down-to-earth, Heidi Henderson is a Professor at Connecticut College and also the artistic director of elephant JANE dance, where she brings her unique vision and creativity to the stage. From Maine, to New York City, to Rhode Island, Heidi is a four-time recipient of the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts Choreography Fellowship. Her work has been performed internationally in London and Korea, as well as at renowned venues like Jacob’s Pillow, The Flynn Space, and the Bates Dance Festival. She has danced with acclaimed companies and artists, including Bebe Miller, Nina Weiner, Paula Josa-Jones, Colleen Thomas, Peter Schmitz, and Sondra Loring, was a contributing editor at Contact Quarterly, a vehicle for moving ideas. Join the conversation to hear what inspired her dance journey, what her experience was like in New York, what it was like to figure out the intricate logistics of performing in a roller-skating rink, and what inspired the name of her company. We highlight some of the challenges, benefits, and peaks of her journey, what’s next for her, and much more! Don’t miss out, tune in now.

Key Points From This Episode:

· Heidi shares her dance journey throughout the years.

· What ultimately sucked her into the world of dance.

· She details her experience getting her M.F.A. at Smith and her plan after graduate school.

· Heidi talks about her experience in New York with Bebe Miller, Nina Weiner, and more.

· What Heidi did as a “job” during her time in New York (and how those skills are still in use!)

· The logistics behind her recent show, Untitled Sad Piece, performed in a roller-skating rink.

· Heidi’s journey as she started making her own work.

· The story behind the name of her company, elephant JANE dance.

· How her teaching career came together and evolved over the years.

· She breaks down some of the challenges she’s faced over the span of her dance journey.

· We discuss some of the benefits of starting a dance career later on.

· Looking back, we highlight some of the peaks of her dance career.

· What’s next for Heidi.

· How Heidi finds artists to work with.

“I’ve never been a repertory dancer. There is something about the way I move that is the way I move.” — Heidi Henderson

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A World Immersed in Art with Dancer, Filmmaker, Choreographer, and Artistic Director Jamila Glass

Jamila Glass is a filmmaker, choreographer, and Artistic Director of L.A. Contemporary Dance Company (LACDC), where she has been a member since its founding in 2005. She has choreographed for Netflix, HBO, Hulu, BET, and PRADA, with her work featured in the NY Times, L.A. Times, and more. In 2024, she co-founded the Los Angeles Choreographers Institute and has directed 21 short dance films, a TV pilot, and music videos through her production company, The Cutting Room. A graduate of USC’s School of Cinema-Television, her work blends movement, storytelling, and world-building to reflect the human experience. On this episode of Movers and Shapers: A Dance Podcast, Erin sits down with Jamila Glass to discuss her love for dance, her time at a performing arts high school, and her journey through USC’s School of Cinema-Television. Jamila explores how dance and film began to intertwine in her life, unpacking her powerful statement: “I’m a better dancer because I’m a filmmaker, and I’m a better filmmaker because I’m a dancer.” She reflects on nearly five years as Artistic Director of the L.A. Contemporary Dance Company (LACDC) and shares her current projects and excitement for what’s ahead. Don’t miss this insightful conversation with an inspiring artist. Thanks for listening!

Key Points From This Episode:

· Jamila shares the origin story of her love for dance.

· She reflects on her time in a performing arts high school (in Houston).

· What she wanted to get into after high school and her first entry into film: video editing.

· Jamila takes us through her USC journey and her plan for after graduation.

· How her two worlds of dance and film began to merge.

· She explains how she started and her experience choreographing for film and television.

· Jamila delves into and unpacks her quote, “I’m a better dancer because I’m a filmmaker, and I’m a better filmmaker because I’m a dancer.”

· Why she finds it interesting that people grapple with the idea that they need to choose one thing and stick to it for the entirety of their careers.

· Jamila details her role and insights gained as Artistic Director of the L.A. Contemporary Dance Company (LACDC)

· What she’s creating now and the energy behind her upcoming projects.

Jamila Glass is a creative working in Los Angeles in film and television, and the Artistic Director of L.A. Contemporary Dance Company.

“I think the best artists are people who bring all of their experiences into the room with them, whether those experiences, thoughts, or interests seem related to movement or not. Any one of us can be in — the movement style class and we can know the traditional way of moving in those styles but it’s the other life experiences and interest that distinguish the artist, in my opinion.” — Jamila Glass

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Five Voices, One City: Unpacking Chicago’s Dance Community, with Kristina Fluty, Alyssa Gregory, Rahila Coats, Michael McStraw, and Helen Lee

In this episode of Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast, we dive deeply into the vibrant and diverse world of Chicago’s dance scene. Joining Erin are five incredible voices, each bringing a unique perspective on what makes this city’s dance community so dynamic, expansive, and full of life. Featured in this episode are Kristina Fluty, Alyssa Gregory, Rahila Coats, Michael McStraw, and Helen Lee — five Chicago-based dance artists who capture the spirit and energy of this thriving artistic hub. Together, they share how living in Chicago has shaped their careers and creative journeys, and explore how the city’s geography influences its dance community. We explore the work being created there, the support systems and resources that have been most valuable in their growth, and delve into an overview of opportunities for residencies and funding. Plus, each artist reflects on what keeps them curious, inspired, and energized within the Chicago dance world. Tune in for a lively and insightful conversation that captures the essence of this incredible dance community. Enjoy!

Key Points From This Episode:

· Setting the scene for the Chicago-focused episode.

· We are introduced to our five guests: Alyssa Gregory, Kristina Fluty, Rahila Coats, Michael McStraw, and Helen Lee.

· How living in Chicago has influenced their careers and artistic journeys.

· Our guests help situate Chicago for listeners unfamiliar with the city and how it shapes the dance community.

· We dive in and discuss the Chicago dance scene and the work being made.

· Resources and support systems that have been the most valuable to our guests throughout their careers.

· An overview of the opportunities available for dance residencies and funding within the Chicago dance scene.

· Dance education hubs and the overall dance class vibe in Chicago.

· Each guest talks about what keeps them curious, interested, and excited about their dance lives in Chicago.

“In my time here in Chicago, I’ve just seen things grow, blossom, and then shift. That seems to be the rhythm in this community.” — Michael McStraw

Kristina Fluty, an Associate Professor at The Theatre School at DePaul University, has been dancing, teaching, consulting, and performing in Chicago since 2003, primarily with Molly Shanahan/Mad Shak.

Alyssa (Uhh-lee-sa) Gregory is a Chicago-based performing artist and cultural organizer who moves between the worlds of dance, arts administration, and podcasting, amplifying Black creativity and championing the brilliance of Chicago’s vibrant arts community. (she/her)

Rahila Coats is an improviser, dancer, musician and educator who loves to eat up space and eat with her community; her work focuses on black femme experiences and joy.

Michael McStraw, Executive Director of Chicago Dance History Project, is an outstanding advocate for the Chicago performing arts community and highly regarded as a positive and constant influence in the sector for 40 years.

Helen Lee is a Queer Asian Chicago-born interdisciplinary artist raised by immigrant parents from South Korea. They are the director for the project-based company, Momentum Sensorium, which often performs in unconventional spaces such as lighthouses, train stations, and homes.

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Crafting a Fulfilling Life In Dance with Tristan Ching Hartmann

What does it take to craft a fulfilling life in dance? For Tristan Ching Hartmann, it’s a blend of resilience, curiosity, community, and an unshakable love for movement. From her shy beginnings in Ventura, California, to performing with the Margaret Jenkins Dance Company in San Francisco, Tristan’s journey has been anything but conventional. She reflects on transformative moments, including commuting long hours for ballet classes, finding her artistic home with Robert Moses’ Kin, and reinventing herself as a jazz dancer during her time in London. Tristan delves into how her teaching practice reignited her creativity, her experiences taking on choreography, and the life lessons she’s learned from Argentine Tango. She also shares the profound impact of a serious spinal injury that temporarily halted her dancing and how it led her to redefine her relationship with movement. Now dancing into her late 40s, she offers insights on adapting training, cherishing every moment in the studio, and navigating the physical demands of her art. Her passion for building community and mentoring younger dancers reflects her deep commitment to the art form and those who practice it. Join us for an inspiring conversation that explores what it truly means to craft a fulfilling life in dance!

Key Points From This Episode:

· An introduction to Tristan Ching Hartmann and her unique movement journey.

· How a childhood dance class sparked a lifelong passion for movement and artistry.

· Tristan’s deep connection to ballet and her love for its precision, grace, and classical music.

· The balancing act of pursuing dance while meeting her family’s academic expectations.

· How Stanford shaped her journey, leading to modern dance and joining Robert Moses’ Kin.

· The pivotal role of Robert Moses in Tristan’s early professional career and artistic growth.

· Recovering from a serious spinal injury and the life-changing decision to travel and reflect.

· How moving to London allowed Tristan to reinvent herself and explore jazz and the West End.

· Her transformative experience teaching and discovering new ways to connect with students.

· Returning to the stage with Margaret Jenkins Dance Company in her late 40s.

· How Tristan adapts training to stay active despite the physical challenges of aging.

· Tristan’s insights into Argentine Tango as a life lesson in feeling and responding.

· Reflecting on her love for building community and mentoring the next generation of dancers.

Tristan Ching Hartmann (she/her) is a long-time lover of dance, the Bay Area, and dance in the Bay Area. She was a founding member of Robert Moses’ Kin, on faculty at the San Francisco Conservatory of Dance, and currently dances with Margaret Jenkins Dance Company as well as collaborating with her dance friends/heroes, The Straw Dogs.

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The Durham Dance & Arts Community with Anna Barker, Jessi Knight, Kristin Taylor Duncan, and Stacy Wolfson

Durham, North Carolina, is a mid-sized city known for its vibrant mix of innovation, collaboration, and creativity. Frequently ranked as one of the best places to live in the US, it boasts a thriving arts, culture, and culinary scene. With a strong sense of community, Durham takes pride in its commitment to inclusivity and diversity. In this episode, we shine a spotlight on four inspiring Durham-based dance artists: Anna Barker, Jessi Knight, Kristin Taylor Duncan, and Stacy Wolfson. Resourceful and deeply passionate, these dancers not only support one another but also fully embrace the creative freedom they've found in Durham, along with its unique joys and challenges. Our conversation explores the journeys that brought each artist to Durham and how the city has influenced their work. They share insights into its geography and connections to the Triangle and Triad regions, discussing how these factors shape their artistic processes. The discussion also tackles the challenges of building a dance community and reflects on its role within the local arts landscape. Looking ahead, the artists articulate their visions for the future of their community, the changes they hope to see, and what makes their dance lives in this city so deeply meaningful. Don’t miss this heartfelt and inspiring exploration of creativity, connection, and community. Tune in today!

Key Points From This Episode:

· An introduction to today’s topic and each of our special guests.

· What drew these artists to Durham and how it has influenced their artistic journeys.

· Insight into the geography of Durham; the Triangle and Triad.

· How dance artists navigate the various challenges of making work in Durham.

· Where in the community artists can come together in Durham or its surroundings.

· Reflections on where dance fits into Durham's art landscape and why.

· A breakdown of the different changes or developments they’d like to see in the dance community and how they envision their contributions to it.

· What is special to Kristin, Jessi, Anna, and Stacy about their dance life in Durham.

Podcast Guests:

Anna Barker is a choreographer, mover and Pilates instructor based in Durham NC.

Jessi Knight is a dancer, teacher, and choreographer from NC who has evolved and reinvented herself many times over the years through grace and art making and with her tribe.

Kristin Taylor Duncan is a dancer, choreographer and dance educator from Durham, North Carolina, producing dance works for film, stage and alternative space.

Stacy Wolfson (Artistic Director of The Bipeds Dance Theatre) is a choreographer, dancer, singer, mama of teenagers, wife, and Pilates studio owner (Bull City Pilates and Massage).

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This season we focus on interviews and discussions with vibrant artists from cities across the United States. Today - Alice Gosti in Seattle, WA.

Beyond the Stage: Alice Gosti on Time, Space, and Identity

What does it mean to create art that exists both within and beyond time and place? In this episode, we step into the world of Alice Gosti, an Italian-born, Seattle-based dance artist known for pushing the boundaries of performance. She is also a key collaborator of MALACARNE, an experimental dance and performance ensemble dedicated to co-creating transformative rituals that challenge limiting ideas about class, sexuality, gender, ability, and ethnicity. Raised in Italy with American roots, Alice’s multicultural identity informs her approach to choreography and her fascination with “non-places” like airports, where people share fleeting moments of connection. She reveals how these unconventional spaces inspire her work, why beauty and entertainment are consequences of her work rather than motivations, and shares her passion for durational performance and the powerful transformations that occur over hours-long art experiences. Whether she’s turning a museum into a stage or bringing choreography to the heart of an airport, Alice’s work invites us to reconsider how we experience movement and meaning in unexpected spaces. Tune in for her reflections on the intersections of time, space, and identity in art and consider new ways to see life as a creative artist!

Key Points From This Episode:

· Alice’s beginnings in Perugia, Italy, and her introduction to dance at three years old.

· Early dance influences, including her exposure to the Alwin Nikolais lineage.

· Pressure Alice faced to pursue choreography over dance due to her appearance.

· Her interest in integrating performance art and dance in nontraditional venues.

· Reflections on feeling like an “other” in both Italy and the United States.

· Alice’s strong connection to Seattle and its artistic support.

· Insight into her love for planes, airports, and creating dance pieces in “non-places.”

· Alice’s exploration of durational performances, inspired by long-form theater.

· What Alice is working on now and what audiences can expect from her in the future.

“It would make such a huge difference if – choreographers and dance artists – valued more critical thinking, autonomy, [and] possibility for conversation and observation.” — Alice Gosti

Alice Gosti (she/her) is an Italian American immigrant, dancer artist, choreographer, facilitator, hybrid performance artist, DJ, curator and architect of experiences, and educator focused on creating inclusive, body-based storytelling through movement, blending ecology, trans-feminism, and improvisation. Alice works under the name MALACARNE.

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Welcome to another episode of Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast! You’re in for a very exciting treat as we venture into interviewing dance professionals from across the USA. Today we are talking with four dance figures from Pittsburgh, PA about their careers and the dance culture in their city. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about our incredible guests, Shana Simmons, Peter Kope, Alan Obuzor, and Brittany Nettles’ careers, how they have navigated the dance scene in Pittsburgh, what resources have helped them, and so much more! We delve into how dance fits into Pittsburgh’s culture before discussing the competition and collaborative spirit in the city. We go on to talk about the incredible changes they have seen over the years in the Pittsburgh dance world and what they’d love to see happen in the future. Finally, they share beautiful moments that made them so passionate about working as dance professionals in Pittsburgh and why they love it so much. You don’t want to miss out on this inspirational episode, so be sure to press play now!

Key Points From This Episode:

· A brief overview of Pittsburgh’s history of dance.

· Introducing today’s guests: Shana Simmons, Peter Kope, Alan Obuzor, and Brittany Nettles.

· How they navigated dance careers in Pittsburgh and the resources that have helped them.

· Our guests tell us where dance fits into the culture of Pittsburgh.

· The collaborations and competition each of our guests experience.

· What kinds of classes they offer and the struggles they face when it comes to consistency.

· How they have seen the local dance community change over the years.

· The changes and collaborations they’d love to see in the Pittsburgh dance scene.

· Our guests tell us what they love about working in the dance industry in Pittsburgh.

Podcast Guests:

Shana Simmons is the Founder and Artistic Director of Shana Simmons Dance, a contemporary dance organization and company whose mission is to bring high quality dance experiences through performance, education, and community building.

Peter Kope is Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Attack Theatre, which fuses modern dance, original live music, and interdisciplinary art forms to create engaging dance performances.

Alan Obuzor was born in Pittsburgh, he trained predominantly at Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre's school before joining their company for 7 seasons. After that he taught at PBT school before founding Texture contemporary ballet in 2011 and Texture Ballet School in 2019.

Brittany Nettles (she/they) is a Pittsburgh based freelance dancer, choreographer and educator, who has worked with groups such as Shana Simmons Dance, Point Park University, PearlArts, and InterPGH.

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We are back! This season we will focus on Interviews and discussions with vibrant artists from cities across the United States. Up first - Clare Cook in Lafayette, Louisiana.

Clare is the Founder and Creative Director of Basin Arts, a non-profit arts incubator dedicated to helping Louisiana artists develop sustainable creative practices. Basin Arts aims to expand access to professional contemporary arts experiences while fostering genuine connections between artists and the broader community. In our interview, we explore how dance was positively cultivated in different spaces throughout her life, what she’s grateful for, and unpack her decision to pursue a life in dance. She shares insights into being the youngest in her NYU Tisch Dance program, her passion for storytelling and collaboration, and her interest in the theatre-dance hybrid. We also discuss her experience with an observership, the decision to return to Lafayette, and go deeper into the heart and vision behind Basin Arts. For all this and much more, be sure to tune in!

Key Points From This Episode:

· We’re introduced to our guest Clare Cook and her life and dance journey.

· She reflects on how dance was cultivated in different spaces throughout her life and what she’s grateful for.

· Clare unpacks her decision to pursue a life in dance.

· How she thought of dance as a way to become more of herself.

· Her love and interest in storytelling and collaboration.

· How she got her first gig choreographing a musical.

· She talks about her interest in the theatre-dance hybrid.

· Clare shares about her opportunity to do an observership.

· The impetus to move back to Louisiana and what it was like navigating that transition.

· How the concept for Basin Arts started to unfold.

· She speaks to the idea of trajectory as continued evolution along the path of creative process, collaboration, and community.

· Clare breaks down what creating authentic relationships with the community looks like through Basin Arts.

· Clare shares what she’s excited about and upcoming events.

“[Basin Arts] was this idea of how can we, in the simplest, least encumbered way, find a space for people to come together and do their work.” — Clare Cook

Clare Cook is a hyphenate artist working simultaneously as a choreographer, dancer, teacher, and arts administrator through her work as Founder & Creative Director of Basin Arts, a interdisciplinary arts incubator in Lafayette, La.

Special thanks to season supporters: The Ohio State University Dance Preservation Fund and a special Anonymous Donor!

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A special announcement from host and Artistic Director of The Moving Architects, Erin Carlisle Norton.

Support this one-of-a-kind inspiring podcast with a tax-deductible donation! themovingarchitects.org/support

Movers & Shapers has been podcasting interviews with those who shape the dance field since 2015. Connect with our archive of 175 interviews: themovingarchitects.org/podcasts

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When Decisions are Commitments with Rachel Damon

Joining us today is Rachel Damon, a choreographer, theatrical designer, performer, and co-founder and artistic director of Synapse Arts, a Chicago-based dance theater company. Rachel's self-made career is a testament to her multidisciplinary talents, blending onstage and backstage roles to create dynamic performance works through collaboration, improvisation, and teamwork. In this episode, Rachel shares her remarkable journey from lovable weirdo at musical theatre summer camp to internationally-renowned production stage manager and performer who lives her life by making decisions as commitments. Tuning in, you’ll discover how her dual passions for choreography and crafting have fueled her personal and professional growth, the power of educating performers to negotiate their value, ensuring that art is recognized as legitimate work, and why diversity is a cornerstone of Synapse Arts' identity. We also explore Rachel's love for theatre production, her innovative partnership with the Chicago Park District, and the unique site-specific performances born from this collaboration. Join us for an engaging conversation that covers all this and more!

Key Points From This Episode:

· An overview of Rachel’s background and what sparked her interest in dance and theatre.

· The immediacy that she loves about theatre production work and stage management.

· How Links Hall in Chicago acted as a springboard for her career.

· Insight into Synapse Arts, how it got started, and how it has evolved since.

· Synapse’s partnership with the Chicago Park District’s Arts & Culture Unit (ACU).

· Rachel’s site-specific and outdoor performances that punctuate everyday life.

· The significance of her interdisciplinary work, including her “textile dances.”

· Challenges she has encountered in her onstage and backstage career.

· How Rachel empowers artists and advocates for art to be valued as work.

· Ways that you can contribute to Synapse’s 20th Birthday Bash Campaign.

· Why a diversity of identities and lived experiences is important in the arts.

“Being with the weird people who are risky, accepting, and idea-driven [is] where I feel safe and inspired.” — Rachel Damon

Rachel Damon is a Chicago-based theatrical designer, choreographer, and performer whose self-made career bridges onstage and backstage.

For more on this episode: Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast

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The Deeper Meaning of Dance, Dance and Emerging Technology, and Navigating an Economy that Exploits Dancers with Sydney Skybetter

Creating a successful career as a dancer in a world where there are few opportunities to thrive is particularly challenging. However, today’s guest has created a fascinating career for himself in the world of academia, research, and even dancing robots! Sydney Skybetter joins us today to discuss his life as a dancer, dance educator, and entrepreneur. In this conversation, you’ll hear all about how Sydney was introduced to dance, the beauty in the chosen family he created at art school, and his incredible Conference for Research and Choreographic Interfaces (CRCI). After Sydney’s studies, he was forced to hustle his way through a variety of odd jobs to survive financially and he tells us all about the important lessons he has learned from every job he’s ever had. We also delve into why dance programs should consider the dangers of sending dancers out into a world and economy that isn’t built for them, the connection between dance and emerging technology, potential problems for dancers and AI, and much more. Tune in now!

Key Points From This Episode:

· An overview of Sydney’s life and how he got into dance.

· The connection between dance history and emerging technology.

· A commentary about the body-type expectations for dancers.

· Insight into Sydney’s dance training and the chosen family he created.

· All about the Conference for Research and Choreographic Interfaces (CRCI) he started.

· Comparisons between writing and performance.

· Some of his “weird jobs” and why he did them.

· The danger of pumping out dancers into an economy that will not make good use of them.

· How Sydney got into academia and what his experience at Brown University has been like.

· What he is most excited about right now and the research he is currently doing.

· How artists and dancers are being exploited, especially when it comes to technology.

· What Sydney is excited about for his career in the near future.

“I came to realize that the academy was one of the few places where artists held longitudinal power.” — Sydney Skybetter

Sydney Skybetter is the first choreographer to receive tenure at Brown University, where he serves as the Deputy Dean of the College for the Curriculum and Co-Curriculum.

For more on this episode: Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast

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Dance for a Violence-Free Future with Giada Matteini

Today's guest, Giada Matteini, embodies the belief that artists have the extraordinary ability to shape a world free from violence. As a performer, educator, choreographer, and cultural producer, Giada founded WADE (Wandering Avian Dance Experience), a women-led performing arts company that brings awareness to gender-based violence and offers healing through the transformative power of dance. In this episode of Movers & Shapers, Giada shares a panoramic view of her international dance career, brimming with hope and inspiration for those driven by their passion for art, movement, and self-expression. She speaks candidly about her personal experience with domestic violence and the profound role that dance played in her healing process; emphasizing how WADE emerged as a platform to raise awareness, initiate important conversations, empower survivors, and build a compassionate community of creative minds. You’ll gain insight into Giada's journey, her dedication to her craft, and her unwavering commitment to using art as a catalyst for social change. This episode is a testament to the boundless potential of dance and resilience, so be sure to tune in today!

Key Points From This Episode:

· Giada’s love for movement and teaching and an overview of her dance career.

· The story of how she first came to the United States (and what made her stay).

· How she learned English from The Cure and honed her American slang with TV.

· Her early days in New York and how she began to build a career for herself.

· Insight into her passion for learning and her formal dance education.

· The haven that dance provided for Giada when life was difficult.

· How WADE was born and how it became so much more than a dance company.

· The bird that inspired the name and the four foundational pillars in the logo.

· Touching stories about some of the most poignant moments from Giada’s career.

· Why Giada refers to ballet as “the greatest equalizer” and her somatic approach to it.

· Insight into her plans to use dance as a tool to build a violence-free future for all.

“My life was hard; emotionally hard, physically hard, financially hard. Dance was – my haven.” — Giada Matteini

Giada Matteini is an Italian performer, educator, choreographer, and cultural producer based in New York City, who is the Founder and Director of WADE (Wandering Avian Dance Experience), a women-led multifaceted performing arts company working at the intersection with social justice and focused on supporting the voices and artistic expressions of women and historically underrepresented artists.

More on this episode: themovingarchitects.org

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The Journey of Creating Dance for Video with Mimi Garrard

Video dance work has become increasingly popular as technology has advanced, but not many dancers and choreographers have made it their primary medium of work. Today’s guest, Mimi Garrard, is the exception, having spent most of her extensive career focusing on video dance. In this episode of Movers & Shapers, we hear all about Mimi’s life, what led her to dance, her training under Alwin Nikolais, why she chose video dance, and what she loves about it. We delve into how she combines video and live dancing before Mimi expands on how technology has changed her work, the lighting system her husband designed for her, and some of her biggest influences throughout her career and life. Mimi feels that intuition has always been a driving force for her, and today, she tells us how that has served her work. We even discuss how AI might impact her work and what’s next for Mimi Garrard Dance Theatre. This is a fascinating episode filled with unique perspectives carved from Mimi’s special journey, so be sure to tune in!

Key Points From This Episode:

· An overview of Mimi’s life and what led her to dance.

· Her training and touring program with Alwin Nikolais and the pieces she did with him.

· Mimi’s move to the country, her outdoor work, and how madness is a theme of her work.

· What informed her decision to combine video with live dance and how it has been received.

· Who has influenced her work most throughout her career.

· What Alwin Nikolais was like (according to our guest!)

· How Mimi got hooked on video dance and how her work has evolved with technology.

· The lighting system her husband came up with for her dance videos.

· How Mimi’s intuition has served her throughout her career.

· The importance of learning and continuously working as a beginner.

· What’s next for Mimi and her curiosity about how AI will affect her work.

· Why she doesn’t attend screenings of her own work.

“If I don’t know what to do, it’s my intuition that tells me what to try next.” — Mimi Garrard

Mimi Garrard is an award-winning choreographer for the stage and for video.

For more on this episode: Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast

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Finding Your Artistry Beyond Words with Stefanie Nelson

One of the beautiful things about dance is the ability to express yourself without words. You can just dance. Joining Erin on the podcast today is Stefanie Nelson, Founder and Director of Stefanie Nelson Dancegroup (SND), a contemporary dance company based in NYC. Stefanie also established Dance Italia, an international summer dance program in Lucca, Italy. Today, she shares what kickstarted her lifelong love of dance and the influence that Alice Teirstein had on her journey. She also offers insight into her college journey and what it takes to make it as an artist in New York City. Tuning in, you’ll learn how she transitioned from dancer to choreographer and how 9/11 ultimately led her to Italy. She details her time dancing and choreographing in Italy before returning to America and shares her vision for Dance Italia. To learn more about Stefanie’s career highlights, challenges, and the different projects and initiatives that keep her busy, be sure not to miss this episode of Movers & Shapers. Thanks for listening in!

Key Points From This Episode:

· How quitting piano led Stefanie to a lifelong love of dance.

· Alice Teirstein and what led her to become a dancer.

· What it means to “make it work” as an artist in New York City.

· How Stefanie eventually transitioned into creating her own work as a choreographer.

· Running away to Italy after 9/11 and how it played out.

· Highlights from her time dancing and choreographing in Italy.

· Details about the Dance Italia festival and the vision behind it.

· How the organization and planning for Dance Italia have changed over the years.

· The different projects and initiatives that Stefanie is busy with.

· Insight into her upcoming work in 2025 and beyond.

· Highlights, challenges, and other obstacles from Stefanie’s career journey.

· Her hopes, aspirations, and dreams for the future.

“There’s something very beautiful about being able to express yourself without having to articulate words, ideas, thoughts, and sentences in a linear way.” — Stefanie Nelson

Stefanie Nelson is the Founder and Director of Stefanie Nelson Dancegroup (SND), a contemporary performance group based in NYC; DANCE ITALIA, an international summer dance festival in Lucca, Italy; and Motore 592, a bold, new, center for contemporary movement practices in Lucca, IT.

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Creating a Modern Dance Culture and Community with Kathy Dunn Hamrick

Establishing a modern dance company is no easy feat, but today’s guest managed to create a successful organization and build a wonderful modern dance community in Austin, Texas. Today on Movers & Shapers, we welcome Kathy Dunn Hamrick, the Artistic Director of Kathy Dunn Hamrick Dance, to discuss her work and how she helps dance grow in Austin. Kathy found a love for dance at a young age and quickly decided that she needed to dedicate her life to it. In this episode, you’ll hear all about Kathy’s life and career, her decision to teach, and how her desire to be ‘in charge’ led her to start her company. We discuss the difficulty of balancing a family and career, her gorgeous piece choreographed on platforms on a lake, and starting the Austin Dance Festival. We delve into Kathy’s recent cancer diagnosis and how her community has showed up for her, and Kathy opens up about next steps of sharing her knowledge with the next generation of dancers and choreographers. Finally, we walk through Kathy’s career highlights and struggles. To hear all this and more, press play now!

Key Points From This Episode:

· We delve into the who behind Kathy Dunn Hamrick and learn about how she got into dance.

· The wonderful mentors Kathy has had and how they shaped her career.

· Kathy tells us about her move to New York and why she decided to get her MFA.

· Transitioning into the role of dance teacher and founding namesake company; Kathy Dunn Hamrick Dance.

· How Kathy balances her family and business while keeping her career interesting for herself.

· The incredible dance piece that was choreographed by Kathy and performed on a lake.

· The modern dance culture in Austin and why Kathy started her dance festival.

· How COVID affected Kathy’s business and festival.

· Kathy’s diagnosis with stage four cancer and what’s next for her and the organization.

· Why finances have always been Kathy’s biggest business struggle.

· The highlights of Kathy’s career and the wonderful dance community she’s built.

“From a very young age I knew I wanted a family and I knew I wanted to dance and I’ve achieved both of those [things] so I’m living my best life honestly.” — Kathy Dunn Hamrick

Kathy Dunn Hamrick is the Artistic Director of Kathy Dunn Hamrick Dance Company and the Founder and Executive Producer of Austin Dance Festival.

For more on this episode: Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast

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Enjoying the Art, Expression, and Freedom of Dance with Julie Lemberger

Welcome to the latest episode of the Movers and Shapers podcast, where today we're delighted to welcome our guest, Julie Lemberger. Julie is a multifaceted individual — she's had a life as a dancer, dance photographer, and educator. She has dedicated over 15 years to capturing the ephemeral beauty of concert dance. Her lens has encapsulated the essence of New York City's dance scene at the turn of the 21st century. Julie's stunning dance photography has graced the pages of prestigious publications like The New York Times, Dance Magazine, and numerous national and international journals and websites since 1993. Join the conversation to hear about what sparked her interest in dance, why she was initially turned off of modern dance, and how her ballet journey led her to places like The Netherlands, Germany, and New York. We delve into her diverse dance ventures and then pivot to hear about her transition to Plan B: starting college. Julie shares the fascinating intersection of her worlds; photography and dance, and articulates the emotions she experiences when capturing dance through her camera. Don't miss out on this intriguing discussion! Tune in now to hear all this and much more. Thanks for listening!

Key Points From This Episode:

· We discover how The Nutcracker sparked Julie’s interest in dance.

· Her thoughts on being more of an artist and enjoying ballet for the artistry of it.

· Why she decided to stick to the discipline of ballet while growing up.

· Julie shares a turning point, and realization, in her dance career.

· She delves into her time in Europe (The Netherlands, Germany, England).

· We are transported forward, back to New York, and her other endeavors at the Graham School, Jacob’s Pillow, and more.

· Her Plan B: starting college.

· Why starting college was the saddest day of her life.

· She recalls the time she got her first camera, at age 23.

· When the two worlds collide: dance and photography.

· What Julie enjoyed most about dance photography: her master’s degree experience.

· She expresses what taking photos of dance makes her feel.

· Julie highlights what she’s excited about, and what gives her energy, these days.

“I realized that having my photographs judged was so much easier than having my body and my dancing judged.” — Julie Lemberger

A former dancer, Julie Lemberger photographs dance in New York City for 30 years, and whose work has appeared in the New York Times, Dance Magazine and many other journals, books and digital platforms. Check out her coloring book Modern Women: 21st Century Dance.

More on this episode: Movers & Shapers

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Continuing a Modern Dance Legacy with Samantha Géracht

There are many legends in modern dance that are responsible for making the art form what it is today. But how do we continue their legacy? Today we hear from one of the people responsible for continuing the legacy of Anna Sokolow, Samantha Géracht. Samantha is the artistic director at the Sokolow Theatre/Dance Ensemble and in this episode, she tells us all about her incredible career, the multitude of amazing dance practitioners she has learned from and worked with, the difference between a Sokolow dancer and a Sokolow director, the challenges she faces in continuing Anna’s legacy, and so much more! From ballet to modern dance, Samantha has experienced it all as student, performer, and teacher. You don’t want to miss this one so tune in now!

Key Points From This Episode:

· Samantha tells us about her upbringing and what made her interested in dancing.

· What made her switch from ballet to modern dance and breaking the stigma about modern.

· Samantha shares her experience at the Nikolais/Louis Dance Lab and who taught her.

· Samantha’s early marriage and family life.

· Joining the Sokolow company and the teaching jobs she had while she was a dancer.

· Becoming a Sokolow artistic director and how it differed from being a Sokolow dancer.

· The legacy that Anna Sokolow left and Samantha’s special Sokolow choreography.

· Samantha shares the biggest struggles and challenges throughout her career.

· The support system Samantha has to help her continue Anna’s legacy.

· Some of the highlights of Samantha’s career and what she’s working on now.

· Where she sees the Sokolow Theatre/Dance Ensemble in the future.

“Being a dancer and a modernist in an era that’s not that interested in modernism is it’s own struggle…..[I’m] giving myself a voice and figuring out what it is I want to do with Anna’s legacy and what that means.” — Samantha Géracht

Samantha Géracht performed with Anna Sokolow’s Players’ Project for eleven years and is artistic director and a founding member of the Sokolow Theatre/Dance Ensemble. Catch In the Eye of a Dream, November 9-19, 2023 @ Theaterlab

Show Notes on this Episode: Movers & Shapers

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Translating Vision into Action with Alyssa Alpine

Whether it’s for communication, marketing, budgeting, scheduling, or meetings (and more!), we can attest to the level of detail, creativity, and make-it-happen-attitude required in the support to make dance happen! The role of the Arts Administration is dedicated to translating vision into action, and with great appreciation and admiration we introduce today’s guest, Alyssa Alpine. Alyssa, with her accompanying drive and passion, is the Founding Director of the CUNY Dance Initiative, a residency program for NYC choreographers on City University of New York (CUNY) college campuses. In our conversation with Alyssa today, we delve into the story of how her love for dance stems from both sides of her family and what has fueled her lifelong commitment. She takes us through her academic path and recounts the story of how she fell into a career as an Arts Administrator. Alyssa elaborates on the functioning of the CUNY Dance Initiative and highlights some of the challenges and peak moments she's encountered along her career journey. Tune in to this episode to hear more from Alyssa Alpine, a true master of wearing many hats (concurrently!) and doing them all successfully!

Key Points From This Episode:

· We get to meet Alyssa and explore her passionate journey in the world of dance.

· She talks about what got her started in dance and what made her stay

· Alyssa's perspective on the Midwest and why she’d find it difficult to replicate her current life elsewhere.

· Hopping from one school program to another and figuring out the dance world.

· Alyssa recounts the dream and plan she had had coming out of undergrad.

· We hear about her time at Columbia and her academic path.

· Her sentiments about living and working in New York.

· Where she went after the Limon Foundation (and having had enough of the Arts world!)

· She tells the tale of how she wound up at CUNY, managing the CUNY Dance Initiative.

· Her dance journey amidst working and what that looked like for Alyssa.

· The strengths and skills she brings to her role as an Arts Administrator.

· She elaborates on the inner functions (and systems) of the CUNY Dance Initiative.

· She highlights some of the challenges she’s had to overcome throughout her career.

· Alyssa shares some peak moments in her career journey.

· What Alyssa is energized for and currently looking forward to.

“Dance is a special thing. I think it grabs some people and others, of course, are like, ‘I don’t want to move I just want to sit and watch!’ But I think for those of us, as you know yourself, it touches something in you and it is just very compelling and it’s something unique.” — Alyssa Alpine

Alyssa Alpine, the founding director of the CUNY Dance Initiative, has spent two decades in NYC’s performing arts world, with a career that’s spanned everything from rolling out marley to rolling down the steps of the NYC Public Library.

More on this episode: Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast

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The Independent Thinker, Liz Lerman

Liz is a choreographer, performer, writer, teacher, and speaker. For the past forty years, she has infused her artistic exploration with a personal touch, humor, intellectual vibrancy, and a contemporary edge. Her choreography has delved into a wide spectrum of topics, ranging from her experiences as a go-go dancer to an exploration of the intricacies of choreography and connections with community. Today, she shares with us insights into what ignited her love for dancing and reflects on the abundant influences that have affected both her life and artistic career. She talks about the importance and complexities of our feelings and how she rode the wild waves of her 20s to discover, for herself, what dance could mean for her. We hear about the impact of her mother’s life and death on her stubbornness to figure life out for herself, why rehearsals should always matter, and the unfolding of events that surround the founding of The Dance Exchange. She expresses and reflects on how she views herself as more of an interdisciplinary artist and her eagerness to be generous about spreading her wealth of knowledge. She then details her passion for the Critical Response Process (CRP) and how that was formed over the years. Join in as we delve into the chronicles of her life and her pursuit of understanding. Tune in now!

“One of my deep interests is the way we tell stories and what stories, and whose stories, and how they come across, and who’s listening, and all those kinds of questions.” – Liz Lerman

Key Points From This Episode:

· Liz offers insight into where she comes from and what ignited her love for dancing.

· A wild ride in her 20s: riding the waves of figuring out what dance could be for her.

· The impact of her mother’s life and death on her stubbornness to figure life out for herself.

· How working intergenerationally moved and shifted her mindset.

· The response she experienced when she started making work/performances.

· Making rehearsals matter.

· More about the founding of The Dance Exchange.

· She goes into detail about how her different works unfolded uniquely.

· Her thoughts on the nomadic life and being an ethical visitor.

· How she began to extract herself from The Dance Exchange: composting Liz.

· Reflections on how she views herself as more of an interdisciplinary artist.

· She talks about the Critical Response Process (CRP).

· Liz delves further into her current projects and pursuits.

“There is so much pain and rudeness in the world of critique and what I have come to believe is that a lot of critique is just power. And if you actually want to – change the way power is absorbed and reignited in a different way in a circle then you should use CRP” — Liz Lerman

Liz Lerman uses dance to understand and change the world. Her relentless curiosity has transformed the field of contemporary dance with subject matter including aging, genetics, history, the ethics of justice, and the origins of the universe.

More on this episode: Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast

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Building Community through Arts Education with Anna Pasternak and Blair Brown of Movement Exchange

Our guests today are passionate about dance, dance education, and serving communities. Join us today as we share a podcast with you featuring an interview with Anna Pasternak, the Founder of Movement Exchange, and Blair Brown, the organization's current Executive Director. During our conversation, we hear about their journeys with dance, what captivates them about the arts, and how their life paths led them to Movement Exchange. Movement Exchange is an international non-profit organization that provides accessible and sustainable dance education to youth of all ages. They share all about how it started, how it evolved, and their plans for expansion. We hear more about their university chapters and international volunteer dance exchanges and how they build leadership development, cultural awareness, and a passion for community building through arts education. To hear more about their year-round sustainable programs in underresourced communities, be sure not to miss out on today’s episode with Anna and Blair from Movement Exchange!

Key Points From This Episode:

· Anna shares her personal history and transformative journey with dance.

· She elaborates on her aspirations after high school and how getting into Harvard impacted her dance journey.

· Fly and be free; the pull to see and experience everything the world had to offer.

· Anna talks about the exciting journey of founding the Movement Exchange.

· Her biggest worry stepping down as Executive Director at Movement Exchange.

· We hear from Blair about who she is, where she’s from, and what brought her to dance!

· She elaborates on the biggest shift that altered her life as an artist: dance education.

· Meeting Anna and Movement Exchange; the second jump in her career.

· We discuss the realization of the barrier to dance, even in the USA.

· They talk about any pushback experienced with Movement Exchange (and how they counter it).

· How you can get involved in the Movement Exchange programs.

“There will be nothing in my life that will be as important or have made me as happy as running Movement Exchange.” — Anna Pasternak

Anna Pasternak founded the dance non-profit Movement Exchange in 2010 when she was 25 years old and living in Panama. She is a Fulbright Scholar, Harvard graduate, and currently supports Movement Exchange as a member of the board of directors.

“Dance is social. It’s all about community and how do we connect with that and make our communities stronger.” — Blair Brown

Blair Brown received her BA in Dance from Loyola Marymount University, her MFA in Dance from UC Irvine, and spent 10 years teaching dance in under-resourced schools and programs in California and New York before becoming the Executive Director for Movement Exchange.

Learn more about Movement Exchange!

More on this episode: Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast

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Around the World with Mark Morris

From the age of seven, Mark Morris was enamored with dance. Immersing himself in everything from flamenco to Israeli folk to ballet to modern, Mark has lived, trained, and worked in many different parts of the world. In this episode, Mark takes us on a journey from the audition that signaled the start of his career to the Mark Morris Dance Company’s first show in 1980 to his years in Brussels, where he did his “grandest work.” We also take a look at the work that Mark devotes his time to these days, which involves choreographing “dances of the future” that are only intended to be seen by the public after his death. His life has been eventful, to say the least, and this episode will give you a taste of the passion and flair that epitomize Mark Morris!

Key Points From This Episode:

Where Mark’s love for dance originated.
Different dance forms that he has been drawn to during his life.
How his life changed when he was just 11 years old.
Mark’s experience training and working overseas.
Why he moved to New York and the various companies he danced for while there.
The driving force for the founding of the Mark Morris Dance Group.
Mark Morris Dance Group’s first show and how the company evolved from there.
Some of Mark’s career highlights.
The contradictory attitudes that he dealt with during his time in Brussels.
How the Mark Morris Dance Center came to be.
Where Mark finds inspiration to continue to choreograph.
Insight into his “dance of the future” concept.
The profound role that music plays in his life.

“I like excellence and I like surprise. I’m very interested in work that engages me and that’s not necessarily what everybody else agrees with.” — Mark Morris

Mark Morris is the founder and Artistic Director of the Mark Morris Dance Group for which he has choreographed more than 150 works since its founding in 1980, and has received numerous awards and honorary degrees for his achievements in the performing arts as choreographer, conductor, and director.

More on this episode: Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast

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Take Up Your Space with Confidence with Artistic Director Melissa M. Young

Often, as dancers, we have a choice to take up space with confidence or feel defeated and hold back. Our guest on today’s episode is one that continuously chose to take up space and inspired others to follow their intuitions, pursue what they love, and embrace their curiosity. This is an inspiring interview with the Artistic Director of Dallas Black Dance Theatre (DBDT), Melissa M. Young. Our conversation with Melissa is incredibly touching as she talks about why she loved the exploration of dance and remembers certain key impressions that impacted her greatly throughout the years. She tells us why she always chose to dance to the beat of her own drum and why she pursues uncovering herself in the most authentic ways before sharing about her time spent in New York City and how she ultimately ended up dancing at the Dallas Black Dance Theatre. She’s an amazing individual with a passion for dance and holds the responsibility of being an artistic director with such fervor. Tune in now to hear about the pure joy derived from Melissa’s life in dance. Enjoy.

Key Points From This Episode:

· Melissa talks excitedly about who she is and where her love for dance ignited from.

· She talks about the impact of The Stack-Up by Talley Beatty (Alvin Ailey) on her life’s journey.

· Melissa remembers taking a class from Donald McKayle and the impression it left on her.

· Why Melissa never put a timeline on her career and allowed the journey to flow.

· Navigating the shoulds, the coulds, and the woulds, and why she chooses to dance to the beat of her own drum.

· How the culture shock of moving to New York City made her feel more alive.

· How she came upon the DBDT audition notice and took a chance.

· What it was like to move to Dallas: another culture shift.

· She shares information regarding the current dance and art scene in Dallas.

· Looking back at her career, she reflects on some challenges she’s faced and overcame.

· Things that are sparking excitement in Melissa for the future.

· Why she looks for great human beings first when looking at prospective dancers.

“What I love about dance is I look at it like professional problem-solving. The choreography is the problem and the equation of how you get there working with everyone else, that’s how you get to the “answer”.” — Melissa M. Young

Melissa M. Young is the Artistic Director of Dallas Black Dance Theatre, celebrating her 29th season with the company.

More on this episode: Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast

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Creating a Technique that Honors the Individual with Susan Klein

Today’s guest Susan Klein is a true luminary, having shaped the modern dance landscape with her groundbreaking theories as creator of the renowned Klein Technique. In this episode, we explore her transformative journey as a movement pioneer, uncovering her dance background, the hurdles she overcame following a series of debilitating knee injuries, and her return to the world of movement. We discover how her experience ignited her passion for understanding the body and teaching others about movement, and how this ultimately led to the development of the Klein Technique. Susan recounts the pivotal moment she realized the limitations of imitation-based teaching and explains why she believes in nurturing individuality within dance. She opens up about her quest to safeguard her unique contributions, and why she decided to concede, despite her concern about the potential harm of her work being taught incorrectly. Join us as Susan shares her unique journey to quietly becoming one of the most valuable and influential players in the modern dance field.

Key Points From This Episode:

· Susan's dance background and training.

· Why she believes teaching through imitation to be ineffective.

· Her influences and how they shaped her journey.

· The series of knee injuries that temporarily derailed her dancing career and her return to dance, post-injury.

· How Susan’s experience ultimately led to the development of the Klein Technique.

· The importance of individuality in dance and Susan’s continued fascination with movement and teaching.

· Why she finds the widespread adoption of her work both gratifying and concerning.

· Challenges she’s faced in her dancing career and the various career paths she’s explored.

· Susan shares her plan to share her knowledge in book form.

“When I work with people, that's always exciting because their potential and what's going on in their lives or in their body is infinitely interesting.” — Susan Klein

Working and teaching in New York City, Susan Klein is the renowned creator of Klein
Technique™ and a practitioner of Worsley style 5-element acupuncture and Zero
Balancing.

More on this episode: Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast

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Activism, Dance, and Co-Leadership with Hope Mohr

Dance, movement, performance, and art-making can play many roles in one’s life. And how they are expressed can change shape over the course of a career. Our guest today, Hope Mohr, has woven together a life of art and activism as a choreographer, curator, and advocate. She has had a fascinating career journey, dedicating herself to both dance and activism and finding new and innovative ways to integrate the two. We talk with Hope about the inexorable pull that dance has exerted on her throughout her life and how her feminist awakening in college inspired her activism. She tells us about the leave of absence she took from studying law (on more than one occasion) to pursue unmissable dance opportunities with legends like Lucinda Childs and Trisha Brown, and shares how she finally completed her law degree before founding a presenting platform called The Bridge Project. Hope goes on to describe the project’s transition to co-ownership, changing their name to Bridge Live Arts, why she chose to leave after 15 years, and what it’s been like returning to work as an independent artist after so many collaborative projects. Our conversation today covers urgent and meaningful topics, from dismantling existing power structures and redistributing power within dance to returning to yourself and learning how to listen to your inner voice as an artist. To learn more about Hope’s fascinating journey and bigger questions about dance and power, be sure to tune in today!

Key Points From This Episode:

· Hope’s dedication to dance and activism throughout her career.

· Learn about The Bridge Project, a presenting platform Hope started in 2010.

· How the project transitioned to a model of co-leadership and was renamed Bridge Live Arts.

· Her feminist awakening and how it led to her activism and work as a lawyer.

· The focus of Hope’s work as a choreographer: motherhood and navigating the world as someone who identifies as female.

· An overview of the curation and collaborative work Hope has done for Bridge Live Arts.

· What informed Hope’s decision to move away from Bridge Live Arts; tending to herself as an artist and making space for a more equitable distribution of power.

· Hope’s return to being an independent artist and her latest new work.

“I think I've always had a very hungry mind and a real passion for social justice work. So that has been a throughline. But dancing has always been my first love. So yeah, it's been a real calling for me. It still is.” — Hope Mohr

Hope Mohr (she/her) is an artist and advocate.

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Building a Dancer with Rosalynde LeBlanc

Rosalynde LeBlanc built her career dancing for some of the biggest names in dance. Today, she is Professor and Chair of Dance at Loyola Marymount University. Social justice awareness has always underpinned her work as a choreographer, which is why she creates pieces that are related to the world and not the mirror. During today’s conversation, she shares her perspective on what it truly means to build a dancer beyond just the physical. Tune in to hear the highlights of her incredible journey as the daughter of an accomplished dancer with Paul Taylor, applying to college early and completing her high school diploma alongside her studies, and her time dancing with Bill T. Jones that skyrocketed her career. She shares the story of being invited to dance with Baryshnikov, before burning out just three years later. Rosalynde offers her insights on doing the necessary inner work to succeed as a dancer before telling listeners all about her transition into the world of education. Tune in today to hear all this and more!

Key Points From This Episode:

· Rosalynde LeBlanc’s first experiences with dance and when she really fell in love with it.

· Her mom’s hands-off approach to managing her relationship with dance.

· Why she declined an invitation to dance with Paul Taylor.

· Her memory of Alvin Ailey’s death and the first World AIDS Day in 1989.

· Applying to college early and completing her high school diploma alongside her studies.

· Her experience at Purchase and the social change that occurred while she was there.

· The Bill T. Jones workshop she attended summer of ’92.

· Apprenticing for Bill T. Jones.

· The duet she performed with Bill T. Jones which launched her career.

· Her father’s work in cinema and the relationships she formed with Black Hollywood.

· What it was like to dance for Bill T. Jones at the age of 19.

· Her experience of being in the work and touring with Still/Here.

· The fraught process of leaving Bill T. Jones.

· Being invited to dance with Baryshnikov.

· The mind-body connection and how it relates to becoming dancer.

· Burning out at White Oak Dance Project after three years.

· Her transition into education.

· The sanctuary of the studio.

· What she loves most about performing.

· The piece she is working on at the moment; Tomboy.

· The less talked about shadow of success.

“The other 50% of being a dancer is your psychological state of being and that shapes your body as much as all the other technique classes. So you have to deal with that.” — Rosalynde LeBlanc

Rosalynde LeBlanc is a Bessie-nominated dancer and the co-director of Can You Bring It: Bill T. Jones and D-Man in the Waters. A former dancer with the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company (1993 - 1999) and with Mikhail Baryshnikov’s White Oak Dance Project (1999 – 2002), LeBlanc is now a professor and Chair of Dance at Loyola Marymount University.

Can You Bring It: Bill T. Jones and D-Man in the Waters is streaming nowas part of season 15 AfroPoP: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange. Audiences can stream it for free at worldchannel.org and on the YouTube Channels of WORLD (@worldchannel) and Black Public Media (@blackpublicmedia).

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Remembering Agnes De Mille with Elizabeth Ferrell and Jenna Rae Herrera

Today’s episode is a special one, where we look back and remember world-renowned dancer, choreographer, writer, lecturer, and director, Agnes De Mille. Agnes had a successful, yet tempestuous, career that spanned almost 70 years through the world of 20th-century American theater and ballet. We take a look at her through the eyes of Elizabeth Ferrell, formerly a member of the American Ballet Theater, and Jenna Rae Herrera, a principal artist with Ballet West. We hear their recollections of working with De Mille in the studio and performing her work, and we listen to their insights about how the course of American dance was forever changed by her. Stay tuned for a lively conversation about Agnes De Mille and her long-lasting impact; creating strong-willed American female roles. Enjoy!

Key Points From This Episode:

· Beth shares a short (but detailed) biography of Agnes De Mille; Agnes in a nutshell.

· More about Beth, her background, and how she became part of De Mille’s work.

· Beth tells listeners about De Mille’s personality (both in the studio and on stage).

· Jenna talks about her background in dance and career at Ballet West.

· Jenna tells us about learning her role in Rodeo and how it helped her grow as an artist.

· The process of learning the Rodeo material (and hearing the narrative from Agnes herself).

· Jenna shares her experience learning work that was made decades ago (and translating it to her body and the company).

· We hear Beth’s experience doing De Mille’s work, both the physical experience and the learning process.

· Jenna and Beth reminisce about their time performing The Cow Girl in the Rodeo ballet.

· Why Rodeo was set on ballet companies (as opposed to other genres of dance).

· Their thoughts on why De Mille’s work has become timeless and why it’s still being performed today.

“She was really ahead of her time, there’s still a real push to nurture and push female choreographers and women’s voices [today] — and here she is in the 1940s choosing her own music, dancers, costumes, set designs, and was calling the shots.” — Elizabeth Ferrell

Former member of American Ballet Theatre, Elizabeth Ferrell emerged as a major interpreter of the works of Agnes de Mille, having performed leading roles in De Mille’s Rodeo, 3 Virgins and a Devil, The Informer, and Brigadoon.

Jenna Rae Herrera is a Principal Artist with Ballet West in Salt Lake City and made her debut last year as The Cowgirl in Agnes de Mille’s Rodeo.

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Remembering Jennifer Muller (1944-2023)

Today’s podcast is a re-airing of an interview with Jennifer Muller on Movers & Shapers from September 2019. Jennifer was the Artistic Director/Founder of Jennifer Muller/The Works, and was an influence in the dance world for over 50 years. Jennifer passed away March 29 peacefully in her home.

A maverick in the dance field, in this episode you will hear from the determined, tenacious, and passionate Jennifer Muller of Jennifer Muller/The Works. From her early days dancing with Jose Limón, Pearl Lang, and Louis Falko, to touring the world and always pushing against the dance norms of the time to follow her own vision, hear how Jennifer made a life in dance. An influencer in the dance field for over 50 years, hear about her love for collaboration and how she made work in response to the world.

“This is what I do. I create work that is meaningful to me, no matter what anyone has to say about it. That’s just how stubborn I am.” - Jennifer Muller

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Fierce, Fragile, Empathetic, Political, and Poetic Art with Miguel Gutierrez

Our guest today, Miguel Gutierrez, is irrevocably passionate about making works of art and creates empathetic and irreverent spaces outside of traditional discourse. Our conversation starts with Miguel sharing more about his upbringing as the child of two immigrants, how he came to love the arts and dancing, and what he wanted to be when he grew up. He tells us about his time at Brown, Queer Activism, working with Paula Hunter, and later going full circle back to Brown. He also talks about his epic time in California in the 90s, what it was like to work with Joe Goode and John Jasperse, and what sparked his shift back to New York. This is a jam-packed episode so stay tuned for this candid, introspective, and inspiring interview.

Key Points From This Episode:

· Miguel gives us a short introduction of who he is and where he is from.

· How Miguel came to love dancing.

· What he wanted to be when he grew up.

· What happened when he showed up for school at Brown.

· He shares about his time doing Queer activism.

· He tells us about his time dancing with Paula Hunter.

· What compelled him to go back to Brown and finish his degree.

· He shares his Californian experience in the 90s.

· What sparked the shift back to New York (and why Europe didn’t work out).

· What it was like working with John Jasperse.

· Miguel tells us about his own choreography journey.

· The kinds of day jobs Miguel has had to support himself over the years.

· His experience of when things started to take off, his work, and what life looked like.

· Why he hates when propriety supplants honesty and when professionalism is used to maintain the status quo.

· Projects he is working on now and what life looks like.

“When you are younger, as a dancer, you think that if you aren’t dancing professionally by the age of nothing, you’re never going to make it. It’s like this BS idea of what dance is, and it’s fed to you from when you are little.” — Miguel Gutierrez

Miguel Gutierrez is a choreographer, music artist, writer, visual artist, educator, podcaster, and Feldenkrais Method practitioner based in Lenapehoking/Brooklyn, NY and Tovaangar/Los Angeles. His work creates empathetic and irreverent spaces outside of traditional discourse.

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The Art of Improvisation with Margaret Beals

For today’s guest, dancing without inhibitions is what has fed her soul for more than 8 decades. Joining us on Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast is the incredible dance improvisation innovator Margaret Beals to tell us all about her years of dancing and her new documentary, Dancing Without Steps. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about our guest’s privileged upbringing, her longing to be free, dancing in her home and the streets of New York City, and why she always stood out as a dancer. She walks us through her early adulthood, dance classes, club and cabaret days, and teaching before explaining how she dealt with being so different. With an amazing ability to perform improvised solo concerts that combined dance, text, music, and humor, she tells us how she realized she was so unlike others in her generation. Finally, Margaret shares her experience of creating her film with us. So to hear all about improvisation and to be inspired to embrace your authentic self, tune in now!

Key Points From This Episode:

· Margaret tells us about her upbringing and how she started dancing.

· How she knew her lifestyle was different and why she wanted to be free.

· Her experience of dancing in her front hall, moving to New York, and dancing in the streets.

· She tells us her opinion of the definition of ‘talent’ and why she always stood out.

· What Margaret wanted to do when she was in her 20s and her time doing cabarets and clubs.

· Margaret tells us about how she got started with teaching.

· She shares the secret to moving and talking at the same time.

· How she navigated the challenge of feeling like she doesn’t belong.

· Getting the rights to Sylvia Plath’s works and performing poetry in an original play.

· How Margaret shares her methodologies with dancers.

· Margaret shares what she is working on in her field now.

· How her movie, Dancing Without Steps, became a reality.

· The importance of accepting your unapologetically unique self.

“I don’t think I danced to please. I danced the way I danced and hoped everybody would see it.” — Margaret Beals

During her 50 year career, Margaret Beals pioneered the use of improvisation in dance performance, often using her speaking voice. In her new film, Dancing Without Steps: The Art of Improvisation with Margaret Beals, audiences are offered glimpses of Ms. Beals’ work along with insights into her philosophies on improvisation across artistic genres.

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The Magic of Creativity with Renée Jaworski

Being a successful dance performer requires a combination of technical skills, artistry, professionalism, dedication, and networking. In today’s episode, we sit down with Renée Jaworski, the Executive Director and Co-Artistic Director of the rebellious dance company, Pilobolus, as she shares her experience working there throughout her illustrious 20+ year career and unpacks the magic of creativity, risk, collaboration, artistic expression, and the value of hard work. Hear why she began pursuing dance and being a performer, the lessons she learned working for a company, the emotional struggles of learning the business end of dance, and how she forged ahead in her dance career while also a mother. We discuss how she integrates her various passions into dance, how Pilobolus acts as a gateway to the art form, why you should not take dance too seriously, her upcoming projects, and much more. Tune in, and discover industry insights and the value of pursuing your dreams with Renée Jaworski.

Key Points From This Episode:

· Background about Renée and how she became interested in dance.

· The influence attending the University of the Arts had on her.

· Why she chose to be a performer as opposed to continuing in academia.

· Her experience transitioning from being a student to working for a company.

· How she juggled pursuing a career with raising a family.

· The motivation behind joining the Pilobolus team.

· Find out why she has chosen to stay at Pilobolus for most of her career.

· We discuss Pilobolus’s reputation and the collaboration with the rock band OKGo.

· What it takes to make collaborations work and complete projects.

· The biggest challenges and highlights of her career.

· Learn about her past, current, and exciting upcoming projects.

“As I am getting older I am realizing that the more we can have those role models in place who have [raised a family while working] and want to support people who want to [have a family] the more the art form is going to thrive.” — Renée Jaworski

Renee Jaworski, Executive Director and Co-Artistic Director has had an extensive creative career with Pilobolus since 2000, and along with creative partner and Artistic Director Matt Kent, was chosen in 2011 by the founding Artistic Directors to lead the company.

Upcoming: Pilobolus at NJPAC (Newark, NJ) March 12, 2023, info HERE

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Sharing the Power of Dance with Lynn Peterson and Kate Sutter

The power of dance can be harnessed and shared with people from all walks of life. The connection facilitated by the art form is undeniable when witnessing the fortuitous friendship between Lynn Peterson and Kate Sutter. The two visionary leaders behind SYREN Modern Dance join us today to share their respective dance journeys, and the process of starting, sustaining, and now celebrating 20 years of SYREN. We learn about their roles in the organization and their principal source of inspiration, as well as their intention to share the value of modern dance as widely as they can. Lynn and Kate always have been and always will be dedicated to dance and, in this episode, we are reminded of the importance of placing creativity at the center of any art form, despite the distraction of building a business around it. Tune in for this inspirational conversation with two women who didn’t idly wait for opportunities to come their way, but rather seized the reins and did it their way!

Key Points From This Episode:

· Kate and Lynn’s respective dance backgrounds, and what initially drew them to dance.

· The process of starting SYREN Modern Dance together.

· The various jobs they’ve done along the way to support their dance careers.

· SYREN’s development over the years.

· How Kate and Lynn connected and how it transferred to their work.

· What caused them to make the intentional shift to stop auditioning and start SYREN.

· Their intention to share the value of modern dance.

· The story behind the name, SYREN.

· Their growth strategies for the organization and the challenges they’ve encountered.

· How they’ve merged dance and science.

· SYREN’s current projects and plans for the future.

· The power of dance and the source of Lynn and Kate’s inspiration.

“The past five years have really started to feel like we have this organization that is being supported by many different prongs of programming, and the cycles of inspiration and work continue to feed each other and grow.” — Kate Sutter

SYREN Modern Dance is a New York City based company co-founded by Lynn Peterson and Kate Sutter now celebrating its 20th year as a dance sharing organization. SYREN's artists are United States Cultural Ambassadors who share dance where people gather in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Maryland, North Carolina, Washington D.C., Texas, Rhode Island, Ohio, France, and the United Arab Emirates.

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A Legacy of Dance with Alessandra Corona

Today’s episode is sure to inspire you! Joining us in conversation today, we have a joyful spirit, Alessandra Corona. Tuning in, you’ll hear about her time as a principal dancer for Ballet Hispánico, overcoming a language barrier, and falling in love with modern dance. Alessandra shares how Ann Reinking was a revolutionary influence on her, and invited her to join the international Fosse tour. Alessandra’s life took an unexpected twist when she started her own dance company, Alessandra Corona Performing Works; hear the story of what motivated her to take the plunge, how her dancers made it possible, and so much more during this motivational episode. Thanks for listening!

“Fosse was something I never expected would happen in my career. All I wanted to be was a concert dancer, that’s it! In the modern company I was obsessed with contemporary work and modern work, but I was not thinking about Broadway!”

Key Points From This Episode:

The story of how Alessandra first became interested in dance.
Going to Rome alone to pursue her dream after attempting to study to be a dance teacher.
Why modern dance is her number one favorite way to perform.
Auditioning for Ballet Hispánico.
Moving to New York, learning English, and how dance saved Alessandra.
Why Ballet Hispánico was so challenging and why she loved it.
The influence that Ann Reinking had on Alessandra and joining the international Fosse Tour.
What motivated Alessandra to start a company.
Dancing at the age of 60 and the many different ways you can be on stage.

Alessandra Corona, native of Italy, is a dancer, choreographer and artistic director/founder of Alessandra Corona Performing Works - a dance theater Company based in New York City, founded in 2012. Alessandra was a principal dancer with Ballet Hispánico for 15 years and was a principal dancer in the international tour company of the musical Fosse.

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Sustaining the Legacy of the Limón Dance Company with Dante Puleio and Michelle Preston

The Limón Dance Company is approaching its 75th anniversary and in today’s episode, we are joined by its Artistic Director, Dante Puleio, and Executive Director, Michelle Preston. Dante and Michelle’s passion for their work is palpable and over the next few years they plan to inject new energy into Limón while also preserving the company’s rich heritage. Tune in today to hear how dance changed the lives of these two guests, the journeys that led them to their current positions at Limón, and how, through marrying their different skill sets, they hope to enhance and empower the legacy of this institution.

“I wasn’t really taking good care of myself emotionally or physically and when I started dancing, that’s when I woke up and started to find that I had a purpose.” – Dant Puleio, MSP 149

Key Points From This Episode:

Dante shares an overview of his journey to becoming a professional dancer.
Factors that make the Limón technique unique.
How Dante became part of the Limón Dance Company.
Michelle’s introduction to dancing.
The realization that Michelle came to after four years of intensive artistic study.
Why Michelle moved to New York, and the jobs she held subsequently.
Dante’s approach to fulfilling his role as Artistic Director of the Limón Dance Company.
How Michelle wants to see the non-profit space evolve.

A former Company member for more than a decade, Dante Puleio was appointed Artistic Director in 2020, his work focuses on celebrating José Limón's historical legacy and reimagining his intention and vision to reflect the 21st century contemporary landscape. Michelle Preston, a NYC artist manager and leader with over 15 years experience, began as the Executive Director of the José Limón Dance Foundation in November 2022.

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Stepping Out into the World with Davalois Fearon

Today we bring you a beautiful and inspiring conversation with Davalois Fearon, whose work as a dancer, teacher, and choreographer brings together her family history, early years in Jamaica, and a dedication to moving the art form and community forward. Expect to come away with some fascinating insight into her process of connecting the different parts of her life and experience into a unified artistic voice. Make sure to join us for this great episode, with the one and only Davalois Fearon!

Key Points From This Episode:

Davalois' early years in Jamaica and initial attraction to dance and performance.
Moving to the Bronx and the playground training that started Davalois' learning.
Joining the Stephen Petronio Dance Company, touring, parties, and the excitement of the early years.
Davalois' internship at Pentacle and the entrepreneurial lessons she learned.
The period of research that enabled Davalois to truly realize her artistic identity.
Why the grassroots approach that Davalois employed served her so well in the long run.

“From birth, I was surrounded by movement and music.” – Davalois Fearon, MSP 148

Davalois Fearon is a critically acclaimed choreographer, dancer, and educator. The recipient of numerous awards and grants, her work has been presented nationally and internationally, including at prestigious New York City venues such as the Joyce Theater. In addition, she has been commissioned by renowned institutions and is visiting lecturer at Princeton University.

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Dancing Across Continents, Finding Your Body, and Discovering the Ilan Lev Method with Annie Rigney

Who you are as an artist is undoubtedly influenced by the teachers you encounter along the way. Similarly, being exposed to different artistic practices can have a significant impact on your development. Today’s guest, Annie Rigney, started dancing at the tender age of three and hasn’t looked back since. In our conversation, Annie recounts how she was first introduced to new techniques (like Graham and Gaga), the teachers that took the time to work with her one on one, and how these experiences gave her the tools to begin to move beyond the limitations of ballet. We hear about her time in Israel, her discovery of the Ilan Lev method, and why becoming an Ilan Lev practitioner was one of the best decisions she ever made. Annie's love for dance is evident throughout this conversation, and the knowledge she has accumulated is nuanced, profound, and thought-provoking. Be sure to tune in to hear all this along with her wonderful insights on a range of fascinating topics, from healing through dance to the art of repetition!

Key Points From This Episode:

Get to know today’s guest, Annie Rigney, and how she first fell in love with dance.
The rigor, discipline, pain, and emotional abuse that characterized Annie’s early dance training.
The Gaga dance course that Annie took with Bobbi Jene Smith and how it altered her trajectory.
Annie’s move to Israel and the time she spent training in Tel Aviv.
An overview of the Ilan Lev method and how it transformed Annie’s mobility and movement and how Annie became an Ilan Lev practitioner.
Annie’s experience playing Lady Macbeth for three years in Sleep No More
How the COVID-19 pandemic gave her the freedom to experiment with choreography.

“This whole journey with my body, from very young has been one of stripping away what's not needed. So I learned so many things in that short time, which were keys for me to unlock new physical possibilities.” – Annie Rigney, MSP 147

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Art and Community

Performers are always looking for creative outlets and creative communities. In this episode, we hear from three incredible people, Elizabeth Yilmaz-Dobrow, Mara Driscoll, and César Abreu, who have come together to form an exciting new project with a shared vision for performance. Art Bath is an immersive performance salon series that fosters community, exploration, and exchange within the community. Our guests share how they met while dancing at the Metropolitan Opera Ballet and why they decided to join forces to create Art Bath. We start by learning about each of their journeys to becoming the performers they are today, what they enjoy most about dance, and the unique way in which they have come together. Learn about the power of the Art Bath platform, how art can help people connect and understand one another, and how they found the formula that works. We also find out how the various ways they support the salon, the challenges of building a solid support base, the ultimate goal of Art Bath, and what the future holds for this exciting creative production. Tune in to hear more about the power of art and community with today's inspirational guests, Elizabeth Yilmaz-Dobrow, Mara Driscoll, and César Abreu!

“My life is surrounded with dance, movement, and beauty.” — Elizabeth Yilmaz-Dobrow

Key Points From This Episode:

How each of our guests first became interested in dance.
The experience of performing on stage at the Met.
The sense of community amongst the dancers at the Met.
How our guests first met and decided to start Art Bath.
The concept and vision behind Art Bath.
What to expect from Art Bath and our guests in the future.

Elizabeth Yilmaz-Dobrow is a former company member with Ballet Hispanico, Mara Driscoll grew up dancing at the Boulder Ballet and is currently the Program and Advancement Lead at ISPA (International Society for Performing Artists), and Puerto Rican dancer/producer Cesar Abreu began his career with the Grammy-nominated Latin group Menudo. The three met while dancing with the Metropolitan Opera Ballet. As an antidote to the pandemic’s months of social and creative isolation, they joined forces to create Art Bath, a new recurring artist salon series for some of today’s leading performers.

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Dance artist Carmen Caceres – passionate, driven, and inspiring! Hear what it was like for Carmen to:

Move to NYC from Buenos Aires, Argentina and her deeply personal immigrant experience as a dancer and choreographer pulled between two cultures.
How a childhood dream came true with an encounter with world-renowned dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov.
What it’s like to follow your artistic voice and create important immersive creative work today.

“When I'm dancing, I get to be this person that's free from all those organized structures and enjoy the moment and be present.”

Carmen Caceres is a dance artist originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Caceres has been creating and presenting dance works in Argentina and NY since 2009. In 2012, she founded DanceAction, a creative platform composed of artists from multiple disciplines to produce performing artworks in collaboration and provide educational opportunities. Her works have been presented in several venues, such as Dixon Place, Green Space Studio, Triskelion Arts Center, Teatro Sea, The Mark Morris Dance Center, the Center at West Park, and the Center for Performance Research. As a performer and collaborator, she has worked with Ines Armas, Jillian Peña, Lisa Parra, Elia Mrak, Jody Oberfelder, among other artists. Carmen also works as a dance educator and program director for different art education programs in New York City, Brooklyn, and the Bronx.

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Choreographer, dance educator, arts leader Amanda Selwyn - resilient, hard-working, and inspiring! Hear what it was like for Amanda to:

Grow up wanting to be a performer, and then eventually finding her niche as a choreographer and arts leader.
How her college experience at Northwestern University shaped her as an artist as well as connecting with her Jewish roots and spending a year living in Israel.
What it was like for her to create and develop a thriving dance organization with an active dance company and an education arm that reaches into dozens of NYC public schools.

“There was never a doubt, I never thought about doing anything else, but every step of the way has been hard.”

Amanda Selwyn (Artistic Director/Choreographer) founded Amanda Selwyn Dance Theatre/Notes in Motion in 2000 and in 23 seasons, has directed over 85 productions, developed a network of artists, and created the curriculum for Notes in Motion’s dance education programs.

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"I'm grateful for the whole journey" - McClaine Timmerman, Founder and Artistic Director of the Contemporary Dance Choreography Festival (CDCFest) Today's guest is McClaine Timmerman. McClaine is the Founder and Artistic Director of the Contemporary Dance Choreography Festival (CDCFest) in Orlando, Florida. She is an awarded choreographer, Nationally Certified Pilates instructor, business owner, and dance educator.

Applications for CDCFest are open now, and due January 25th! For guidelines and more info: CDCFest.com

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Applications for CDCFest are open now, and due January 25th! For guidelines and more info: CDCFest.com

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"Dancers dance because we have to, I don't know how else to explain it." - Austin Hartel, MSP 142

Today's guest is Austin Hartel. Austin is a former longtime member of Pilobolus Dance Theater, and has been connected with the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond for almost 20 years as teacher and founder/artistic director of the University's School of Dance.

As Artistic Director of Dalton-Hartel Dance and Hartel Dance Group, he toured nationally and internationally to critical acclaim. His choreography has been presented on five continents and at prestigious festivals, including in Italy at The Vignale Dance Festival, The Florence Dance Festival, and the Versiliana Festival. He was presented in Brazil at the 5th Festival de Danca de Mercosul and the VI International Seminar de Danca. New York performances were produced at numerous popular dance venues, including The Kaye Playhouse, DTW, St. Mark's Church, Clark Studio Theater at Lincoln Center, and more.

Austin's honors include the U.S. Department of State naming him as a Cultural Specialist touring throughout Central and South American for ten years, and a 2009 Fulbright Scholar's Grant. Austin started the Oklahoma International Dance Festival in 2019.

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"Dancers dance because we have to, I don't know how else to explain it." - Austin Hartel, MSP 142

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"I've always chased that thrill." - Adele Myers on her lifetime in dance

Today's guest is Adele Myers. Adele is a Miami based dance maker and Artistic Director of Adele Myers and Dancers (AMD), a national touring contemporary dance theater company made up of female athletes of the heart.

For over a decade, AMD has been presented throughout the U.S with funding from the New England Foundation of the Arts, National Dance Project, and National Performance Network. Since relocating to Miami, she received commissions from Miami Light Project, Live Arts Miami and South Miami Dance Cultural Arts Center. She was an Assistant Professor of Dance at Tulane University and Connecticut College and has taught on faculty at New World School of the Arts in Miami.

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"I've always chased that thrill." - Adele Myers on her lifetime in dance

For more on this episode: Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast

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"We are the carriers of the culture." - Ranee Ramaswamy

Today's guests are Ranee and Aparna Ramaswamy, the Artistic Directors of Ragamala Dance Company, a pioneering company rooted in the South Indian dance form of Bharatanatyam. Over the last four decades, Ranee and Aparna have forged a path for culturally rooted performing arts organizations and made Ragamala a standard-bearer within the American dance landscape. The New York Times says, “Ragamala shows how Indian forms can be some of the most transcendent experiences that dance has to offer.”

Ranee and Aparna’s choreographic work has been commissioned and presented extensively throughout the U.S., India, and abroad, highlighted by the Kennedy Center (Washington, D.C.), Joyce Theater (New York), Lincoln Center (New York), Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival (MA), Walker Art Center (Minneapolis), American Dance Festival (Durham, NC), Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates), Just Festival (Edinburgh, U.K.), Bali Arts Festival (Indonesia), Sri Krishna Gana Sabha (Chennai, India), and National Centre for Performing Arts (Mumbai, India), and others. Among their many individual honors, Ranee serves on the National Council on the Arts, appointed by President Barack Obama.

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"This is who I am. I am a dancer and this is what I have to offer the world." - Gloria McLean

Today's guest is Gloria McLean. Gloria is artistic director of LIFEDANCE/Gloria McLean and Dancers. LIFEDANCE is dedicated to the integration of body, mind and spirit through the creative process. Gloria's dances often collaborate with new music, art, language and the environment. Her choreography has been presented in NYC and internationally, including the American Dance Festival, festivals in Ireland, Paris, Montreal, Germany, Switzerland, Japan, Korea, and China. She first received acclaim as a leading member of the Erick Hawkins Dance Company from 1982-1993, performing major female roles in the repertory, teaching at the Hawkins School, and touring the U.S. and internationally. Currently McLean is President of the American Dance Guild producing festivals live and online. She teaches and performs from her base in New York City and Andes, NY.

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Today’s guest on Movers & Shapers are Joan Myers Brown and Kim Bears-Bailey of Philadanco.

Joan is the founder of Philadanco which was created in 1970 out of a need to provide performance opportunities and training for Black dancers. PHILADANCO! has since grown into a professional dance company that is recognized around the world for its artistic integrity, superbly trained dancers, and captivating performances. Of her many honors, she is the honorary chairperson for the International Association of Blacks in Dance (IABD), an organization she established in 1991, and she received the prestigious National Medal of Arts Award and 2019 Bessie Award for Lifetime Achievement in Dance for her choreographic influence on black dance in America.

Kim joined Philadanco in 1981 and its current Artistic Director. She is a Bessie's award recipient and Associate Professor of Dance at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Kim is one of few artists granted permission to remount the works of many world-renowned choreographers including Talley Beatty, Pearl Primus and Gene Hill Sagan.

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Today's guest is Lar Lubovitch. Lar is one of America’s most versatile and widely seen choreographers. He founded the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company in 1968. Over the course of 54 years, it has gained an international reputation as one of America’s top dance companies, produced more than 120 dances and performed before millions across the U.S. and over 40 countries. Many other major companies throughout the world have performed the company’s dances, including American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Paris Opera Ballet, Royal Danish Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, the Joffrey Ballet, Martha Graham Dance Company, and more.

Recent awards: 2011 designated a Ford Fellow by United States Artists and received the Dance/USA Honors Award; 2012 his dance “Crisis Variations” awarded the Prix Benois de la Danse for outstanding choreography at the Bolshoi Theatre; 2013 honored for lifetime achievement by the American Dance Guild; 2014 awarded an honorary doctorate by The Juilliard School; 2016 received the Scripps/American Dance Festival Award for lifetime achievement and the Dance Magazine Award, named one of America’s Irreplaceable Dance Treasures by the Dance Heritage Coalition and appointed a Distinguished Professor at UC/Irvine. In honor of his company’s 50th anniversary, in 2018 he was presented with the Martha Graham Award for lifetime achievement.

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Today's guest is Nadia Adame. Nadia is a Spanish multidisciplinary award-winning artist with a spinal cord injury and the Artistic Director at AXIS Dance Company. She was a company member with AXIS (2001-2003) and Candoco Dance Company (2007-2008). In 2004, she co-founded and was the Co-Artistic Director of Compañía Y in Spain, a multimedia and performance collective. Nadia’s credits include dance, theatre, commercial, and independent film projects in the UK, Spain, US, and Canada. As a performer, she has been featured in works by Stephen Petronio, Bill T. Jones, Arthur Pita, Rafael Bonachela, Davis Robertson, Sonya Delwaide, Marc Brew, Chevi Muraday and Asun Noales, among others.

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Today's guest is Erica Hornthal. Erica, a licensed clinical professional counselor and board-certified dance/movement therapist, is the CEO and founder of Chicago Dance Therapy. Since graduating with her MA in dance/movement therapy and counseling, Erica has worked with thousands of patients from age 3 to 107. Known as “The Therapist Who Moves You,” Erica has truly changed the way people see movement with regard to mental health: moving people toward unlimited potential, greater awareness, and purpose by tapping into their innate body wisdom. In addition to her passion for working with cognitive and movement disorders, neurologic conditions, anxiety, depression, and trauma, she is an advocate for the field of dance/movement therapy. Erica created the Dance Therapy Advocates Summit in 2020 in order to spread awareness and inspire and connect individuals and practitioners from all over the world.

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Today's guest is Shamel Pitts. Shamel is a dancer, choreographer, teacher, as well as performance, conceptual, and spoken word artist. Since 2019, he is the artistic director/founder of TRIBE, a New York-based multidisciplinary arts collective which was a 2020-21 Artist-In-Residence at 92Y Harkness Dance Center.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, he started his professional dance career with Mikhail Baryshnikov’s Hell’s Kitchen Dance and BJM_Danse Montreal. Between 2009-2016, he was a company member of the Batsheva Dance Company, led by Ohad Naharin where he studied Gaga movement language, of which he is now a certified teacher. Since 2015, Shamel has created a triptych of award-winning multidisciplinary works known as “BLACK Series,” which has been performed and toured extensively to many festivals around the world. He is the recipient of a 2018 Princess Grace Award in Choreography, a 2019 NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship Award winner in Choreography, and a 2020 Jacob’s Pillow artist in residence, a 2020 Guggenheim Fellow, and the cast member of the 2021 Bessie Award-winning production of “The Motherboard Suite” at New York Live Arts.

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Today's guest is Cara Hagan. Cara is a mover, maker, writer, curator, champion of just communities, and a dreamer. Cara's adventures take place as live performance, on screen, as installation, on the page, and in collaboration with others in a multitude of contexts.

In recent years, Cara and her work have traveled to such gatherings as the Performática Festival in Cholula, Mexico, the Conference on Geopoetics in Edinburgh, Scotland, the Loikka Dance Film Festival in Helsinki, Finland, the Taos Poetry Festival in Taos, New Mexico, and to the Dance on Camera Festival in New York City. Extended residencies have taken place at Thirak India in Jaipur, India, Playa Summer Lake in the dynamic outback of Oregon, Roehampton University in London, the University of Colorado at Boulder, and the University of North Carolina, School of the Arts.

Since becoming a parent and navigating a global pandemic, Hagan’s work takes place a bit closer to home these days. She is working on a new book titled, Ritual is Both Balm and Resistance.

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Today's guest is Peggy Baker. Peggy Baker has been a vivid presence in contemporary dance since 1973, performing internationally in the work of Lar Lubovitch, Mark Morris (with Mikhail Baryshnikov’s White Oak Dance Project), Doug Varone, Tere O’Connor, Molissa Fenley, and Charles Moulton (NYC); with Fortier Danse-Creation (Montreal); and Dancemakers, Toronto Dance Theatre, and James Kudelka, (Toronto). She established Peggy Baker Dance Projects in 1990, and for the first 20 years she dedicated herself to solo performance, winning rapturous praise for the eloquence and depth of her dancing, and accolades for her collaborative partnerships with extraordinary choreographers, directors, musicians, and designers. Since 2010 her choreography has focused on works for small ensemble. Over its 32-year history Peggy Baker Dance Projects has been presented at major festivals and dance centres in North America, Asia and Europe, including Danspace, The Kitchen, Symphony Space, and the Harkness Festival in New York; the Luckman Center in Los Angeles; Jacob’s Pillow; the Copenhagen International Dance Festival; the Time Festival in Ghent, Belgium; The Holland Dance Festival; the Cervantino Festival in Guanajuato, Mexico; MoDaFe in Seoul, Korea; Landmark Tower in Yokohama, Japan; the Canada Dance Festival in Ottawa, the High Performance Rodeo in Calgary, Tangente, L’Agora de la danse, and Danse Danse in Montreal, and Canadian Stage and Fall for Dance North in Toronto. Her evening-length multi-disciplinary work who we are the dark, created with composer/performers Sarah Neufeld and Jeremy Gara of Arcade Fire, toured across Canada and internationally from winter 2019 to early in 2020.

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Today's guest is Moses Pendleton. Moses has been one of America’s most innovative and widely performed choreographers and directors for over 40 years. A co-founder of the ground-breaking Pilobolus Dance Theater in 1971, he formed his own company, MOMIX, in 1980. Mr. Pendleton has also worked extensively in film, TV, and opera and as a choreographer for ballet companies and special events. Moses is an avid photographer with works presented in Rome, Milan, Florence, and Aspen. Images of his sunflower plantings at his home in northwestern Connecticut have been featured in numerous books and articles on gardening. Momix at Staller Center for the Arts, Stony Brook, NY on April 2, 2022

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Today's guest is Netta Yerushalmy. Netta is an award winning choreographer and performer originally from Galilee, Israel. Based in New York City since 2000, her work aims to engage with audiences by imparting the sensation of things as they are perceived, not as they are known, and to challenge how meaning is attributed and constructed. Most recently recognized with a 2022 United States Artists Fellowship, Netta has also been awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship, Princeton Arts Fellowship, Research Fellowship from New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Toulmin Fellowship for Women Leaders in Dance at the Center for Ballet and the Arts at New York University, New York City Center Choreography Fellowship, Jerome Robbins Bogliasco Fellowship, Foundation for Contemporary Arts Grants-to-Artists Award, National Dance Project Grant, LMCC’s Extended Life, Six Points Fellowship, and a New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship.

For more on Netta and this episode including her upcoming work with Peak Performances at Montclair State University: Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast.

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Today's guest is Hannah Kahn, founder and artistic director of the Hannah Kahn Dance Company. Hannah is a master teacher with fifty-two years of experience creating over one hundred and forty dances. Some of the strongest influences on her choreography were her childhood classes in Ithaca, New York with Iris Barbura, her studies of the techniques of Jose Limon and Martha Graham, and her performance of dances by Doris Humphrey and Anna Sokolow. The practice of Tai Chi has also influenced her movement style.

After graduating from the Juilliard School in 1972, Kahn founded the Company in New York, and directed it there for twelve years before moving to Colorado in 1988, where she has directed the company ever since. In addition to her own company, her works have been in the repertories of over a dozen other dance companies.

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Today's guest is Lisa La Touche. As a proud Canadian and former New Yorker, Lisa’s credits are world renowned. She was an original cast member in Broadway’s Shuffle Along, choreographed by Savion Glover and Directed by George C. Wolfe, where she received both the Fred Astaire Award and the Actor’s Equity Award for Outstanding Broadway Chorus. Her TV credits include the 70th Annual Tony Awards and Amazon’s Original “Z, The beginning of everything”. Previous highlights have also included touring with the Savion Glover production, Stepz, and also performing with both New York's Off-Broadway and the North American touring casts of STOMP. Since 2010 she has run her own performance company Tap Phonics and has been commissioned to present for organizations such as The Brooklyn Museum, 92Y, Gibney Dance and Fall For Dance North. As an educator and Professor she has taught for PACE University, NYU, The School of Jacob’s Pillow, University of Calgary, Decidedly Jazz Danceworks, Rosie’s Theater Kids and member of the creative council for the American Tap Dance Foundation. Her recent endeavor includes co-curating the Tap Dance Legacy Series along with Travis Knights in partnership with Dance Immersion providing the local black community free access to their cultural history. She also has written and directed her debut film TRAX encompassing her journey back to Alberta while discovering important local black history. Above all, her proudest achievement greatest inspiration, is the gift of being a mom. For more on Lisa and this episode: Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcastt

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Today's guest is veteran choreographer and dance educator, JoAnna Mendl Shaw.

JoAnna has been devising performance works for stage, rural and urban landscapes since the 1980’s. Her body of interspecies work initiates visceral engagement with the natural and cultural environment. Redefining the possibilities for dance-making, Shaw’s research into the human-equine dialogue began in 1998. Her company, The Equus Projects, tours throughout the States and Europe creating site-specific works through immersive collaboration with local equine and arts communities. An internationally recognized dance educator, Shaw has taught on faculty at NYU, The Juilliard School, Alvin Ailey, Princeton, Mount Holyoke, and Montclair State. Shaw is the recipient of NEA Choreographic Fellowships and multiple NEA grants for Interdisciplinary Performance. She has brought her somatic practice of Physical Listening into elementary schools and academic think tanks, into the Strategic Studies group at the Naval War College and NYU Medical school. She is a certified Laban Movement Analyst. She is the author of the 2021 book, Physical
Listening, A Dancer’s Interspecies Journey.

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Today’s podcast is a re-airing of an interview with Nai-Ni Chen on Movers & Shapers from February 2018. Nai-Ni passed away unexpectedly on December 12, 2021 in a swimming accident in Hawaii.

Since starting her dance company Nai-Ni Chen Dance in 1998, her choreography has brought the dynamic freedom of American modern dance together with the elegant splendor of Asian art. Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company has been one of the most visible Asian American dance companies in America, touring nationally and internationally over the last 30+ years. Her signature technique, Kinetic Spiral, is a fusion the dynamism of contemporary dance with the essence of Chinese traditional art. As a beloved member of the New Jersey and NYC dance communities, she will be deeply missed and her work and spirit will continue to resonate with everyone she touched.

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Today's guest is Loni Landon. Loni is a Dancer, Choreographer, and Movement Consultant based in New York City. In addition to creating dances for her own collective Loni Landon Dance Project, her work is commissioned by dance companies and film directors across the country. Born and raised in New York City, Loni performed with Aszure Barton and Artists, Ballet Theater Munich, Tanz Munich Theater, and The Metropolitan Opera, and is a Princess Grace Choreography Fellowship Winner.

As a sought after choreographer, her work has been commissioned by such institutions as The Joyce Theater, Keigwin and Company, BODYTRAFFIC, The Juilliard School, American Dance Institute, Northwest Dance Project, and Groundworks Dance Company. Her company has performed at The Joyce Theater, Pulse Art Fair, Jacob’s Pillow, Insitu Dance Festival, Bryant Park, Beach Sessions in Rockaway Beach and Guggenheim Works and Process Series.

Loni has won numerous choreography awards, with residencies at New Movement Residency at USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance, Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation New Directions Choreography Lab, ITE, NYU, CUNY Dance Initiative, Kaatsbaan, and Stephen Petronio’s new residency center. She has been adjunct faculty at NYU, Barnard, SUNY Purchase, and Princeton University.

Loni is passionate about Entrepreneurship in the Arts and has co-founded THE PLAYGROUND, an initiative designed to give emerging choreographers a place to experiment, while allowing professional dancers to participate affordably. The Playground was recognized by Dance Magazine as a 25 To Watch. As well as four/four presents, a platform that commissions and presents collaborations betweens dancers and musicians.

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Today's guest is Margaret Jenkins. Margaret Jenkins, founder and artistic director of the Margaret Jenkins Dance Company, celebrating the 50th anniversary of her Company in 2022, is a choreographer and mentor to many artists as well as a designer of unique community-based dance projects.

In the 1960's, Margaret moved to New York to study at Juilliard, continued her training at UCLA and returned to New York to dance in the companies of Jack Moore, Viola Farber, Judy Dunn, James Cunningham, Gus Solomons, Jr. and Twyla Tharp’s original company with Sara Rudner. In addition, Jenkins was a member of the faculty of the Merce Cunningham Studio and restaged his works for companies in Europe and the United States for over 12 years.

In 1970, Jenkins returned to San Francisco, and in 1973, formed the MJDC. She opened one of the West Coast's first studio-performing spaces and a school for the training of professional modern dancers. In the last five decades, she has created an impressive body of work, with over 85 works created on her Company, as well as resident companies in the United States, Asia and Europe.

For her unique artistic vision, Margaret has received numerous awards, including a Guggenheim Fellowship, an Irvine Fellowship in Dance, the San Francisco Arts Commission Award of Honor, three Isadora Duncan Awards (Izzies), and the Bernard Osher Cultural Award for her outstanding contributions to the arts community in San Francisco and the Bay Area.

Fore more on this episode: Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast and The Moving Architects

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Today’s guest is Rosie Herrera. Rosie is a Cuban-American dancer and choreographer working within the fields of modern dance, opera, cabaret, theater and film. She is the artistic director of Rosie Herrera Dance Theater in Miami. Rosie has been commissioned by such groups as The Miami Light Project, The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, Ballet Hispanico, Jose Limon Dance Company, and the American Dance Festival (ADF) in 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016 and 2018. Her company, Rosie Herrera Dance Theatre, has been presented by the Northrop Dance Series, New World Symphony, Baryshnicov Arts Center, Texas A & M University, Maui Arts and Cultural Center, Dance Place, Contemporary Arts Center New Orleans, The Yard at Marthas Vineyard, Gotham Dance at Skirball and Focus Dance at The Joyce as well as by The American Dance Festival at the Joyce NYC in 2016 and 2018, among others.

Rosie is a 2016 USArtist Sarah Arison Choreographic Fellow, a 2010 and 2018 MANCC choreographic fellow, a 2014 Bates Dance Festival Artist in residence, a 2016 Bessie Schoenberg Fellow and a 2011 and 2016 Miami Dance Fellow. She was awarded a Princess Grace Choreographic Fellowship for her work with Ballet Hispanico in 2013.

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Today's guest is Ali Kenner Brodsky. Ali makes gesturally rich and emotionally driven dance-theater works that ask the viewer to indulge in a world of reflection, remembering, and connection. Her dance company, ali kenner brodsky & co., produces, presents, and tours original works of choreography and dance films. Ali was recently accepted into NEFA’S New England Regional Dance Development Initiative, was a 2019 artist-in-residence at the Croft: Ground for Art, a 2018-19 Catalysts artist at the Dance Complex, 2016 Emerging Choreographer in Residence at Bates Dance Festival, and 2014 recipient of the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts Choreography Fellowship. Alongside David Henry, Lila Hurwitz and Andy Russ, Ali co-founded Motion State Arts which presents innovative dance-films and live performances from local, national and international artists.

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Today's guest is Colleen Thomas. Colleen is a New York-based choreographer, scholar, teacher, and performing artist. She is the director of Colleen Thomas Dance, co-director of Bill Young/Colleen Thomas Co., and co-curator for LIT (loft into theater). She began her professional career with the Miami Ballet and went on to work with renowned contemporary choreographers such as The Kevin Wynn Collection, Nina Wiener Dance Company, Donald Byrd/The Group, Bebe Miller Dance Company, and Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company, among others. Her work has been seen throughout the United States as well as in Europe, Asia, and South America and has been presented in NYC at Danspace Project, Movement Research at Judson Memorial Church, Dance Theatre Workshop/New York Live Arts, and La MaMa MOVES! Dance Festival, to name just a few. She is currently a Professor of Professional Practice at Barnard College of Columbia University.

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Today's guest is Daniel Gwirtzman. A Rochester, NY native, Daniel is a producer, choreographer, educator, filmmaker, and dancer, and directs the New York City-based Daniel Gwirtzman Dance Company, celebrating its 23rd Anniversary and operating with the belief that everyone can join the dance. Gwirtzman was a member of Garth Fagan Dance, toured internationally as a guest artist for multiple years with the Mark Morris Dance Group, and co-founded Artichoke Dance Company, for which he choreographed and danced.

 Daniel Gwirtzman Dance performance highlights include Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, Edinburgh International Fringe Festival, The Kennedy Center, The Studios at Key West, Whitney Center for the Arts (Wyoming), The Yard (Martha’s Vineyard), and, in New York, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Queens Museum of Art, La MaMa, Joyce SoHo, and The Flea Theater, among others. Daniel has been awarded many residencies including by the Joyce Theater Foundation (NYC), The Yard (MA) Raumars (Finland), Sacatar (Brazil), Djerassi (California), and Skafiotes (Greece). Daniel is on faculty at Ithaca College, where he is an Assistant Professor of Dance.

 The Company’s dance film The Fantasyland Project, which Time Out New York selected as among “the best live theater to stream online” was one of the first new dance films to emerge from the pandemic, premiering July 2020. A year later, June 2021, Dance With Us, an educational digital platform launched. This multi-faceted project, with leadership support from The Rockefeller Brothers Fund, explains ways to view and speak about dance.

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Today's guest is Tina Fehlandt. Tina Fehlandt was a founding member and integral part of the Mark Morris Dance Group for twenty years, performing in over 50 works choreographed by Mark Morris. With the Group she toured the world and appeared in several television specials, most notably as “Louise” in Mr. Morris’ production of The Hard Nut. In Ballet Review, she was hailed as “one of the most beautiful dancers anywhere.” Tina has staged Mark Morris’ work at San Francisco Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Royal New Zealand Ballet, English National Ballet, Royal Ballet Covent Garden, Boston Ballet, Miami City Ballet, Houston Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, and many others.

Tina is a full time Lecturer in Dance at Princeton University’s Lewis Center for the Arts where she teaches all levels of Ballet and Modern Dance. She continues her association with MMDG as an instructor in the Summer Intensives and as Faculty at The School teaching Professional/Advanced Ballet.

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Today's guest is Melanie George. Melanie is a dance educator, choreographer, scholar, and dramaturg. She is the founder and director of Jazz Is… Dance Project and an Associate Curator and Scholar-In-Residence at Jacob’s Pillow. As a dramaturg, she has contributed to projects by David Neumann & Marcella Murray, Raja Feather Kelly, Ephrat Asherie, Susan Marshall & Company, Machine Dazzle, Kimberly Bartosik/daela, and Urban Bush Women among others. A highly sought after teacher and choreographer of the neo-jazz aesthetic, Melanie is featured in the documentary UpRooted: The Journey of Jazz, Dance.

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Today's guest is Duke Dang. Since 2006 Duke has served as the General Manager of Works & Process, the performing arts series at the Guggenheim (NYC), where he oversees nonprofit administration and manages the logistics of the artistic programming. He and Producer Caroline Cronson collectively curate the organization’s programs and commissions that traditionally take place in the theater of the Guggenheim, but in recent years have expanded to include works commissioned and made in and for the Guggenheim rotunda. In response to the pandemic, since April 2020 Works & Process has virtually commissioned 85 new works and supported over 300 artists. Under Duke’s leadership Works & Process has led the way in producing bubble residencies as a means for artists to safely gather, create, perform and work.

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Today's guest is Kathryn Alter. Kathryn a choreographer, teacher, and dancer living in New York City. She danced with the Limón Dance Company for 15 years and is currently the Associate Program Director of the Limón Professional Studies Program. She teaches the Limón Company and students of the Limón Institute, has reconstructed the works of José Limón for the Ballet Nacional de México in México City in 2018 and Ballet am Rhein en Düsseldorf in 2020, and leads Limón workshops nationally and internationally. Her choreographic work has been shown across the United States and abroad. Kathryn is a part of the N.A.D.I.N.E. Project and helps to organize the Choreographers’ Collective concerts in New York City.

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Podcasts: Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast

Due May 21: Call for Submissions: From the Field

And catch the company behind the podcast! LONELAND, an evening of dance cinema, on June 3 @ 7.30pm ET. Ticket info at The Moving Architects.

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Today's guest is Stefanie Batten Bland. Jerome Robbins awardee, Stefanie is an interdisciplinary global artist who interrogates contemporary and historical culture. She situates her work at the intersection of dance-theatre and installation. She is a 2021 commissioned artist by Baryshnikov Arts Center, Duke Performances, 2021 Toulmin Creator fellow Center for Ballet Arts at NYU, and 2019-2020 choreographer for American Ballet Theatre's inaugural Women's Movement Initiative. She created Company SBB in Paris in 2008 and established it in New York City in 2011, when she was in residency at Baryshnikov Arts Center and began her current residence at University Settlement. Regularly produced by LaMama Experimental Theater, she premiered her latest work "Look Who's Coming To Dinner" at LaMama in fall 2019 for FIAF's Crossing the Line Festival. COVID commissions include the digital performance of EU Day for the European Union at the United Nations, a distanced films for Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, Works & Process at the Guggenheim, and Duke Performances digital world premiere. For more on Stefanie and show notes: Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast

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Today's guest is Megan Williams. Megan is an independent dance artist, choreographer, teacher and repetiteur. She performed and toured internationally in the 1980’s with the companies of Laura Glenn, Ohad Naharin, and Mark Haim, among many others. In 1988, she joined the Mark Morris Dance Group, dancing for 10 years, touring worldwide, teaching, and appearing in several films. She is in demand as a master class teacher and guest lecturer, and founded Megan Williams Dance Projects in the summer of 2016. Her choreography has been produced by DanceNOW NYC at Joe’s Pub, Dance Theater Workshop, Rivertown Artist’s Workshop, Barnspace, MIXT Co., Purchase College, Marymount Manhattan College, Connecticut College and Interlochen Arts Academy.

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Today's guest is Kimberly Bartosik. Choreographer, performer, educator, and essayist, Kimberly creates viscerally provocative, ferociously intimate choreographic projects that are built upon the development of a virtuosic movement language, rigorous conceptual explorations, and the creation of highly theatricalized environments.

A member of the Merce Cunningham Dance Company for 9 years, Kimberly is a 2020 Bessie Honoree for Outstanding Performance & Outstanding Performer (Burr Johnson) for her recent work, through the mirror of their eyes. She is a 2019 Guggenheim Fellow in Choreography and a 2020 Virginia B. Toulmin Women Leaders in Dance Fellow at Center for Ballet and the Arts (CBA) at NYU. She has an extensive history of touring, commissions, and creative residencies, including as a a 2017-20 New York Live Arts Live Feed Residency Artist; a 2019-20 Harkness Dance Center Artist-in-Residence @ the 92nd St Y; and a 2019 Exploring the Metropolis (EtM) recipient with Composer Sivan Jacobovitz. She currently teaches at SUNY/Purchase Conservatory of Dance and the Merce Cunningham Trust.

For more on this podcast with episode show notes: Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast

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Today's guest is Deborah Damast. Deborah is Associate Professor and Program Director of Dance Education at NYU Steinhardt where in addition to teaching, she is Artistic Director of concerts, Kaleidoscope Dancers, and the Uganda study abroad program. She is also a Doctoral student at Columbia Teachers College and on faculty at Little Red Schoolhouse, the Dance Education Laboratory in Manhattan, and the Yard in Martha's Vineyard. Deborah has recently received the 2020 Dance Teacher Magazine Award for Higher Education and the 2021 National Dance Education Organization (NDEO) Executive Director Award.

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Today's guest is Dr. Carla Stalling Walter. Carla teaches and writes about dance, spirituality, and wellbeing. A former professor with a PhD in Dance History and Theory, she is also a Certified Somatic Psychotherapist, and a Certified Spiritual Counselor. Her company, Dance in the Spirit, LLC provides personal and corporate retreats, classes, and workshops on sacred dance meditation, and diversity, equity, and inclusion practices. She is a member of The Sacred Dance Guild, the Dance Studies Association, and a board member with the San Francisco Zen Center.

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Megan Slayter is a dance educator, administrator, historian, and lighting designer at Western Michigan University where she is the Acting Associate Director of the School of Theatre and Dance with a research focus on the reconstructions of works by modern dance pioneer, Loïe Fuller. Her ongoing collaborative research with dance historian Jessica Lindberg Coxe has resulted in the reconstruction of Fuller's “Fire Dance”, “Night”, “Lily of the Nile”, and “La Mer” that have been reconstructed and commissioned for performance by universities, dance companies, and art museums across the country.

For more on this podcast with episode show notes: Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast.

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Today's guest is Alana Marie Urda. Alana is the Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Amalgamate, where she pursues using dance for a purpose through her choreographic works, documentaries and company events. Alana has envisioned and produced a range of distinguished dance events, charity projects, and educational workshops with Amalgamate. Her repertoire has been celebrated in renowned NYC venues and tours both nationally and internationally. Commissioned for numerous projects, she has set choreography on dancers across the states and presented work at Jacob's Pillow Inside/Out Series, Boston University, BBKings, Sant'Angelo in Vado, Italy, Brunei, Asia, The Times Center, Ailey Citigroup, and Merce Cunningham Studio. She is Assistant Director of The Trinity School After School Program, and a Teaching Artist at New York City Center and The Events in Orlando, FL.

For more on this podcast with episode show notes: Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast.

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Today's guest is Diane Coburn Bruning. Diane is an award-winning choreographer who has worked with ballet, dance, opera and theatre companies throughout the US and abroad. She is the recipient of a Guggenheim fellowship and multi-year National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship and grants among many others. She is the Founder and Artistic Director of Chamber Dance Project, dancers and musicians.

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On this special episode of "Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast" you will hear from an array of artists working in the dance field, each uniquely navigating what COVID-19 means to them and the work they do. On this episode, hear from Melissa Riker with Dance Rising (NYC), Crystal Michelle Perkins with The Landingplace Project (Ohio), Shana Simmons with Shana Simmons Dance (Pittsburgh), and Erin Carlisle Norton with The Moving Architects (NJ/NYC) who launched new programs or initiatives during this era, despite of and in response to the challenges of our time.

For more on Movers & Shapers and these artists: themovingarchitects.org/podcasts

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Today's guest is Denise Saunders Thompson. Denise is the President & CEO of the International Association of Blacks in Dance (IABD). She has extensive experience in non-profit and for-profit, established or start-up organizations. She has advised organizations on administrative, programmatic and fundraising issues including strategic plans, policy and procedures, communications programs, budgeting and contracts. In April 2015, Denise completed 17 years of service at Howard University in the capacities of Professor, Theatre Manager/ Producing Artistic Director for the Department of Theatre Arts and Manager of Cramton Auditorium.

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Today's guest is Staycee Pearl. Staycee is the co-artistic director of PearlArts Studios and STAYCEE PEARL dance project & Soy Sos (SPdp&SS), where she creates artful experiences through dance-centered multimedia works. Debuting in 2010 at Kelly Strayhorn Theater (Pittsburgh) and serving as the theater's resident company for 3 years, the Pearls opened their dance/art/sound space, PearlArts Studios in 2012, initiating project-generating programs including the Charrette Series, the In The Studio Series, and the PearlDiving Movement Residency. SPdp&SS recently toured Italy and New York with their work-in-progress showing of CIRCLES: Black-Grrlness.

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Today's guest is Robin Staff. Robin is the Founder, Executive Director, and Producer of DANCE NOW. DANCE NOW offers an interdependent network of performance, creative development, and educational opportunities, serving a diverse roster of multi-generational artists. DANCE NOW provides dance makers with paid performance, commissioning, teaching and residency opportunities through five programs - DN Joe's Pub (NY), DN Raw (NY), DN SteelStacks (PA), DN Silo (PA), and DN Boston (MA). 2020 Celebrates 25 years of DANCE NOW, an anniversary season that can be experienced through THE DANCE NOW STORY, a virtual tour through their past, present and future.

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Today's guest is Erin Pride. Erin is an online business coach for dance educators and host of the Dance Boss Podcast. Erin helps dance educators niche down, build an online business, and bring in additional revenue for them and their families. Erin began her coaching journey as a dance education coach, providing resources and training to help dance educators run more successful classrooms. Now Erin helps her fellow dance educators pursue their dreams and start an online business that impacts the masses.

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Today's guest is Preeti Vasudevan.Preeti is an exponent of classical Indian dance (Bharatanatyam) creating new provocative contemporary works from the Indian tradition questioning the role of identity in contemporary lives. She is the first artist of Indian descent to receive recognitions from top institutions in the US for her outstanding contribution to dance. Some highlights include: 2019 Dance Lab New York / Joyce Theater Foundation Creation Grant; 2019 Virginia B. Toulmin Fellowship for Women Leaders in Dance; 2018 Lincoln Center Award for Emerging Artists; 2018 Selected Artist, DanceMotion USA Follow-On Program with the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM); and 2018 Jerome Robbins Dance Division’s Dance Research Fellowship, NY. Preeti partners her educational and creative leadership with world-impacting organizations as Silkroad founded by legendary musician Yo-Yo Ma and the National Dance Institute. Her ground-breaking educational website, Dancing for the Gods (in collaboration with the Dept of Education, NYC) has been developed to build a cultural bridge through creative Indian dance and used in NYC Public Schools.

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Today's guest is Alejandra Duque Cifuentes. Alejandra is an immigrant activist, artist, producer, educator, and Executive Director of Dance/NYC. With more than 10 years of production and stage management experience in theatre and dance, she has toured nationally and internationally with Zaccho Dance Theatre, Bandaloop, Dancing in The Streets, and The Foundry Theatre, among others. As a teaching artist, she has taught children and adults in over 100 New York City public schools and through community theatre programs. In 2011 she founded Theatre That Transcends, which taught local, underserved communities how to express themselves and address community issues through the art of theatre. As an activist, she plays an integral part in advancing a more equitable arts and cultural ecology by working on measures to increase access, justice, equity, and inclusion within dance for disabled artists, immigrant artists, and artists of color in the five boroughs of New York City.

For more info on this podcast and Movers & Shapers: themovingarchitects.org/podcasts

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Today's guest (episode 100!) is Jody Sperling. Jody is a dancer-choreographer from NYC and the Founder/Artistic Director of Time Lapse Dance. She has created 45+ works including many furthering the legacy of modern dance pioneer Loie Fuller (1862-1928). Considered the preeminent Fuller stylist, Sperling has expanded the genre into the 21st century, deploying it in the context of contemporary and environmental performance forms. Current projects focus on creating visual-kinetic narratives merging choreography and climate science. Time Lapse Dance is currently celebrating their 20th Anniversary Season.

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On this special episode of "Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast" we continue our "From the Field" series with an episode that features a wide array of artists in the dance field. Each are trying to navigate what the coronavirus crisis means to them and the work they do. Inspiring, honest, hopeful, hear from Jessica Chen, Zoee Marsh, Miles Norton, Aria Roach, Mark DeGarmo, and Isabel Bowser.

For more on Movers & Shapers:

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Today’s guest is award-winning filmmaker Alla Kovgan. Born in Moscow, Alla has divided her time between Europe and the U.S., bringing two decades of experience working with dance and film on screen, virtual reality, and in theatre, as well as a strong record as a documentary writer and editor. Her latest film Cunningham traces Merce Cunningham's artistic evolution over three decades of risk and discovery (1944–1972), from his early years as a struggling dancer in post-war New York to his emergence as one of the world’s most visionary choreographers. The documentary weaves together Merce's philosophies and stories, creating a visceral journey into his innovative work. A breathtaking explosion of dance, music and never-before-seen archival material, Cunningham is a timely tribute to one of the world’s greatest modern dance artists.

For more info on this podcast: www.themovingarchitects.org/podcasts

More info on Cunningham: www.cunninghammovie.com

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On this special episode of "Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast" we have for you a wide array of artists working in the dance field who are each trying to navigate what the coronaviris crisis means to them and the work they do. Inspiring, honest, hopeful, hear from Megan Mizanty, Ariel Grossman, Eduardo Villaro, Anabella Lenzu, Stephanie Acosta, and Eva Yaa Asantewaa. For more on Movers & Shapers: www.themovingarchitects.org/podcasts

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Let's Share.

How are you responding to this time?

Record it. Send it.

Let's hear your voice.

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We are taking a podcast pause....listen in to hear why.

For more info Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast

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And catch the company behind the podcast in March!

March 3-9: Spring/Break Art Fair (NYC)

March 14: Second Saturdays at Central (family friendly event, NJ)

March 26: An Evening with The Moving Architects (Montclair, NJ)

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Today's guest is Pavel Zuštiak. Pavel is a director, choreographer, performer, and founder/artistic director of the New York-based performance company Palissimo. Born in communist Czechoslovakia and trained at Amsterdam's School for New Dance Development, Pavel's staged performances tour nationally and internationally, merging dance with multidisciplinary and multi-sensory theatrical experiences. He was awarded both a Guggenheim Fellowship and the New York "Bessie" awards, among others.

This podcast was produced in conjunction with the MFA in Dance at Rutgers University, a program that establishes students as creatively literate world citizens who can develop interdisciplinary solutions to address complex contemporary issues.

Now accepting applications for the Summer 2020 cohort: masongross.rutgers.edu

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Today's guest is Sondra Fraleigh. Sondra is professor emeritus of the State University of New York at Brockport, a Fulbright Scholar, SUNY Faculty Exchange Scholar, and a significant writer in the field of dance philosophy. She is an award winning author of nine books including most recently: Back to the Dance Itself: Phenomenologies of the Body in Performance(2018); Moving Consciously: Somatic Transformations through Dance, Yoga, and Touch(2015); BUTOH: Metamorphic Dance and Global Alchemy (2010); and Land to Water Yoga(2009). Fraleigh was chair of the Department of Dance at SUNY Brockport for nine years and later head of graduate dance. Her innovative choreography has been seen in the USA, Germany, Japan, and India. Sondra is the founding director of Eastwest Somatics Institute.

Now accepting applications for the Summer 2020 cohort: masongross.rutgers.edu

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Today's guest is Christine Dakin. Christine has spent more than four decades in Martha Graham’s deep tradition, exploring the physical and intellectual practice of dance as principal dancer, artistic director of the company, and teacher. She shares the language of dance collaborating with choreographers, musicians, and teachers, and continuing to perform from Russia to the US, maintaining a special connection to the Mexican dance community since 1981. She has been awarded a “Bessie”, the Dance Magazine Award, and a fellowship from Harvard University’s Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study. She has brought her personal poetics of dance to film in her “La Voz del Cuerpo / The Body Speaks” and “Terpsikon”.

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Today's guest is Jessica Chen. Jessica is a choreographer, teacher and Artistic Director of J CHEN PROJECT, a 501c3 non-profit modern dance company based in NYC. In 2013, Jessica made a miraculous journey back to the stage after suffering a horrific car accident, which rendered her in a coma for 13 days after 8 hours of brain surgery. She shares her story and fight to live through her work as a choreographer, speaker, and Artistic Director of J CHEN PROJECT. As a freelance choreographer, her work has been seen Off-Broadway, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and TEDx.

For more info on this episode:

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Today's guest is Vangeline. Vangeline is a teacher, dancer, and choreographer specializing in the Japanese postwar avant-garde movement form Butoh. She is the artistic director of the Vangeline Theater (New York), a dance company firmly rooted in the tradition of Japanese Butoh while carrying it into the 21st century, and the founder of the New York Butoh Institute. She is also the founder of the 12-year running, award-winning program “Dream a Dream Project”, which brings butoh dance to incarcerated men and women at correctional facilities across New York State. For more info on this episode: www.themovingarchitects.org/podcasts

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Today's guest is Michelle Manzanales. Michelleis a choreographer and dance educator originally from Houston, TX. She is the Director of the Ballet Hispánico School of Dance, but lends her artistic voice to all facets of the organization led by CEO and Artistic Director Eduardo Vilaro (MSP podcast no. 77!). She began working with Eduardo in 2003 as a dancer for his company Luna Negra Dance Theater of Chicago where she also served as Rehearsal Director and as Interim Artistic Director. Michelle has created works for professional dance companies, universities, and schools across the nation. www.ballethispanico.org

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Today's guest is Melissa Riker. Melissa is based in NYC and is the director and choreographer of Kinesis Project dance theatre. The company dances outside in sculpture gardens, universities, public parks, as well as hosting more than 30 surprise performances all over New York City and the tri-state area. Recently Ms. Riker is a 2016, 2017 and 2019 CUNY Dance Initiative Residency Fellow, 2015 LMCC Community Arts Fund grantee, and 2019 Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone Grantee. For more info on Movers & Shapers and this episode: http://themovingarchitects.org/podcasts

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Today's guest is Lucy Sexton. Lucy is a Brooklyn born choreographer, producer, and administrator who works in the fields of dance, theater, film, and advocacy. She is currently Executive Director of the cultural advocacy organization New Yorkers for Culture and Arts, working for equity and support for culture for all New Yorkers. Beginning in 2009, she has served as Executive Director of the NY Dance and Performance Awards, The Bessies, building them for the first time into an independent organization. As a dance artist she works with Anne Iobst; together they create and perform the dance performance duo DANCENOISE which was founded in 1983.

Come to The Bessies! Monday, October 14 at NYU Skirball:

https://tickets.nyu.edu/10398

For more info on Movers & Shapers and this episode:

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Today's guest is Ivy Baldwin. Ivy is a New York-based choreographer, performer, teacher, and founder of Ivy Baldwin Dance. Since 1999, she has created 17 works for her company, including, most recently, commissions from BAM (Next Wave Festival), Philip Johnson Glass House, the Joyce Theater, Abrons Arts Center, the Chocolate Factory, and the Wooden Floor. Baldwin has received many awards and fellowships, including from the Guggenheim Foundation, Jerome Foundation, and New York Foundation for the Arts, and has been an Artist-in-Residence with BAM, Movement Research, ArtistNe(s)t (Romania), Manitoga and CPR (currently), and the 92nd Street Y (upcoming).

For more info on this episode and Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast: themovingarchitects.org/podcasts

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Today's guest is Jennifer Muller. Jennifer is the Artistic Director/Founder of Jennifer Muller/The Works, and has been an influence in the dance world for over 50 years. She is known for her visionary approach and innovations in dance/theater, multi-discipline productions, incorporating the spoken word, live and commissioned music, artist-inspired décor, media and unusual production elements. Muller has created over 125 pieces, including seven full evening productions, collaborating with such artists as Keith Haring, Keith Jarrett, Yoko Ono, David van Tieghem, Burt Alcantara, Marty Beller and Jeff Croiter.

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Today's guest is Jonathan Hollander. Jonathan is the founder, artistic director, and president of Battery Dance. He is creator of the Company’s renowned Battery Dance Festival and Dancing to Connect arts education program. Widely recognized as one of the outstanding choreographers of his generation, his works have been presented in major theaters and festivals across five continents and 70 countries. In June, 2018, he was awarded the Federal Order of Merit by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in honor of his “great commitment and leadership in bringing young people together across borders through cultural exchange”. 38th Annual Battery Dance Festival 30 Companies, 10 Countries, August 11-17 more info: batterydance.org For more info on this episode: themovingarchitects.org/podcasts

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Today's guest is Stephanie Acosta. Stephanie is a Brooklyn-based interdisciplinary artist who blends performance with practice-based research, making work in response to, while also creating, site and space. Engaging ensembles in facilitated processes, she creates fleeting performance works that challenge site, space, and perception to bring about shared experiences.

A Cuban American born and raised in Miami, Stephanie works extensively with unseen histories, performance, experimental radio, and film. Acosta continues an ongoing collaborations with Intrinsic Grey Productions including on experimental feature film The Ladies Almanack, which recently had its world premiere at Outfest LA and is currently screening at national and international film festivals. Currently, Acosta heads up the monthly performance series Sunday Service with co-creator Alexis Wilkinson. She can also be found working on a new publication with longtime collaborator Rory Murphy under the name NO ONE IS ANYWHERE, as well as on the upcoming premiere of her multi-platform performance Good Day God Damn at the Chocolate Factory Spring 2020, and touring nationally and internationally with This Bridge Called My Ass created alongside collaborator Miguel Gutierrez and featuring an all Latinx cast of performance misfits.

For more info on this episode and Movers & Shapers:

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Today's guest is Zvi Gotheiner. Born and raised in kibbutz Mesilot in northern Israel, Zvi began his artistic career as a violinist and began dancing at age seventeen, joining the Bat-Sheva Dance Company after serving in the army. Zvi arrived in New York in 1978, and founded ZviDance in 1989, creating more than twenty-five works for his company. Zvi is a highly regarded ballet teacher, described by the New York Times as the “Zen Dance Master of New York.” Most recently, Zvi received distinguished teaching awards from the American Dance Festival and the Kaatsbaan International Dance Center’s Playing Field.

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Today's guest is Francesca Harper. Francesca is an internationally acclaimed, multifaceted artist. She is the Founder and Artistic Director of The Francesca Harper Project and former principal dancer with Ballet Frankfurt under William Forsythe. Francesca has choreographed works for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Ailey II, Tanz Graz, Hubbard Street II, and Dallas Black Dance Theater, and enjoys her appointment as an adjunct professor at New York University and the Juilliard School. Francesca was awarded a two-year choreographic fellowship with Urban Bush Women, providing support toward her latest dance-theater work An Unapologetic Body.She is committed to works rooted in artistic expression, empowerment, and social awareness.

For more info on this episodes and other interviews on Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast:

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Today’s guest is Jacqulyn Buglisi. Choreographer, dancer, educator and advocate, Jacqulyn Buglisi co-founded Buglisi Dance Theatre in 1993 following an illustrious career as a principal dancer with the Martha Graham Dance Company. She leads the annual Table of Silence Project 9/11, a site-specific performance ritual for peace performed at Lincoln Center by 180 dancers, six musicians and chorus of nine, and seen via live stream across the U.S. in all 50 states and worldwide in 129 countries. Buglisi Dance Theatre will be performing as part of the upcoming Women/Create! A Festival of Dance at NYLA in NYC.

Women/Create! A Festival of Dance

2018 Season New York Live Arts

Celebrating the Innovation of Women in Choreography

June 11-16, 2019

More Info: womencreatedance.org

During this 8th season, Armitage Gone! Dance, Buglisi Dance Theatre, Carolyn Dorfman Dance, The Francesca Harper Project, Jennifer Muller/The Works, Helen Simoneau Danse, and Katarzyna Skarpetowska (featuring The Richmond Ballet) come together for a distinguished week of programming that celebrates women creators and their unapologetic voices in the dance world.

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We are taking a break in April, with new interviews coming in May. In the meantime, you can catch the company behind the podcast performing in a series of performances this spring.

NYC, Boston, Pittsburgh! We are coming your way! For tickets to Elevate: A Triple Bill of Female Choreographers with Bryce Dance, The Moving Architects, and Shana Simmons Dance, go to www.themovingarchitects.org/elevate

April 17-18 / The Mark O'Donnell Theater at The Actors Fund Arts Center (Brooklyn)

April 19-20 / The Dance Complex (Boston)

May 4 / Point Park University, George Rowland White Performance Center (Pittsburgh)

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Today's guest is Eva Dean. Eva is the founder and Artistic Director of Eva Dean Dance, based in Brooklyn and established in 1985. Eva has a rich history as a Brooklyn-based choreographer of site-specific and theatrical contemporary dance, and is also a community leader mentoring other female choreographers and founding Union Street Dance studio. Known for rich visuals and genre-defying theatricality, the company has been featured on both the local and international stage. Notable NYC credits include The New Victory Theatre (Victory Dance 2018), The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), Dance Theater Workshop, Danspace at St. Mark’s Church, The Brooklyn Museum and The Children’s Museum of Manhattan among many others. Also known for site-specific immersive dance, the company has staged numerous public productions in Prospect Park (Brooklyn, NY).

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Today's guest is Oxana Chi. Oxana is a choreographer, dancer, filmmaker, curator, and author. She founded the company Oxana Chi & Ensemble Xinren in Berlin, Germany in 1991 and moved to New York City in 2015. In 2018, she was listed in the Dance Enthusiast’s 2018 “A to Z” of People Who Power the Dance World. She is featured in several publications and films, and is the main protagonist of the movie Dancing Through Gardens. Chi is accompanied in this podcast by her main collaborator Dr. Layla Zami, Visiting Assistant Professor in the Performance + Performance Studies MFA Program at Pratt Institute and interdisciplinary artist (music, poetry, theater, film).

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Today’s guest is Michele Wiles. Michele danced with American Ballet Theater from 1997-2011, beginning in the studio company and promoted to soloist in 2000 and principal in 2005. Michele left the position in 2011 to start BalletNext with the vision to pair classically trained dancers and live musicians in a collaborative setting that encourages risk taking and a focus on process.

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Today's guest is Dunya Dianne McPherson. Dunya is a dancer, NEA choreographer, Shattari Sufi Master Teacher, Founder of Dancemeditation™, and author of Skin of Glass: Finding Spirit in the Flesh, a memoir about dance as a spiritual path.

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Today's guest is Eduardo Vilaro. Eduardo joined Ballet Hispánico as Artistic Director in August 2009, becoming only the second person to head the company since it was founded in 1970. He has been part of the Ballet Hispánico family since 1985 as a dancer and educator, after which he began a ten-year record of achievement as founder and Artistic Director of Luna Negra Dance Theater in Chicago. Born in Cuba and raised in New York from the age of six, he is a frequent speaker on the merits of cultural diversity and dance education.

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Today’s guest is Jody Oberfelder. Jody is a director, choreographer, and filmmaker, who creates visceral experiences for audiences, onstage and in alternative sites. Her work has been shown extensively internationally as well as at Jacob’s Pillow, MASS MoCA, The Yard, Museum of Jewish Heritage, New York Live Arts, and her immersive heart-themed work 4Chambers was performed 86 times: in an historic home on Governors Island and in a former hospital in Brooklyn.

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Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast celebrates 75 interviews! And a special announcement from podcast host Erin Carlisle Norton about upcoming interviews (hint: see you 2019!)

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Today's guest is Dr. Hannah Kosstrin. Hannah is a dance historian whose work engages dance, Jewish, and gender studies, modes of movement analysis, and digital projects. She is on faculty at The Ohio State University Department of Dance, and is author of the book Honest Bodies: Revolutionary Modernism in the Dances of Anna Sokolow.

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Today's guest is Young Soon Kim, Artistic Director of WHITE WAVE Young Soon Kim Dance Company formed in 1988, and Producer of the annual DUMBO Dance Festival in NYC. Young Soon's company has criss-crossed the globe performing her repertory of 62 original works.

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Today's guest is Liz Gerring. Liz is head of Liz Gerring Dance Company, based in NYC and formed in 1998. As a choreographer she has been awarded the Jacob's Pillow Prize, a Joyce Theater Residency and Creation award, and a New York City Center Choreographic Fellowship. She recently completed a trilogy of large scale proscenium works commissioned by Montclair State University Peak Performances in Montclair, New Jersey.

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Today's guest is Molissa Fenley. Molissa has presented her choreography in NYC and throughout the world for the last 41 years, with recent performances at the 92nd Street Y (NYC), St. Mark's Church (NYC), and Mills College Art Museum (CA). A Guggenheim Fellow with two Bessies for Choreography among her many accolades in the field, Molissa is currently a Professor of Dance at Mills College and on the faculty of NYU's Experimental Theater Wing.

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Today's guest is Namoi Goldberg Haas. Naomi is the founding Artistic Director of Dances For A Variable Population, a multi-generational dance company and educational organization which promotes strong and creative movement for adults of all ages and abilities, with a focus on seniors.

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Today's guest is Stephanie Nerbak. With a career that has spanned the country, Stephanie is currently a New Jersey-based dance artist, arts administrator, and founder of N-root Danceart, a contemporary performance company that fosters holistic creativity and radical curiosity.

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Today's guest is Janet Eilber. Janet has been Artistic Director of the Martha Graham Dance Company since 2005. Her direction has focused on creating new forms of audience access to the Graham masterworks. Earlier in her career, as a principal dancer with the Martha Graham Dance Company, Janet worked closely with Martha Graham. She danced many of Graham’s greatest roles, had roles created for her by Graham, and was directed by Graham in most of the major roles of the repertoire. Apart from her work with Graham, Eilber has performed in films, on television and on Broadway directed by such greats as Agnes deMille and Bob Fosse and has received four Lester Horton Awards for her reconstruction and performance of seminal American modern dance.

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Today's guest is Pat Catterson. Pat is a NYC-based choreographer, dancer, educator and writer, who has choreographed 111 dances but, although her biggest pleasure is still making her own dances, these days she is more known as a dancer and rehearsal assistant for Yvonne Rainer, as well as a custodian of Rainer’s early works.

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Today's guest is Martha Eddy. Martha is a Dance Artist-Scientist, expert in Social Somatics and author of Mindful Movement The Evolution of the Somatic Arts and Conscious Action. She is best known for her lectures on and research in overcoming the side-effects to cancer treatment through dance and exercise, perceptual-motor development, and embodied peace-making and for developing her own system of Somatic Education entitled Dynamic Embodiment. Martha currently offers her curricula in the low-residency (intensive format) Masters programs at Montclair State University (greater NYC), University of North Carolina- Greensboro, and St Mary’s College (San Francisco Bay Area), as well as offering workshops in Europe and South America.

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Today's guest is Lauren Grant. Lauren has been a celebrated performer with the Mark Morris Dance Group for more than 20 years. She stages Morris' work and teaches ballet and modern technique at schools, universities, and for dance companies worldwide. She has received a New York Dance and Performance "Bessie" award for her career with Morris, and her dance writing has been published in numerous dance publications.

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Today's guest is Douglas Dunn. Douglas has been dancing and making dances for fifty years. His lineage includes five years as a member of the Merce Cunningham Dance Company and work with Yvonne Rainer leading to the founding and six-year career of Grand Union. He formed Douglas Dunn + Dancers in 1978, and continues to work in collaboration with other artists to offer a multifaceted theatrical experience. Douglas has received countless awards and accolades for his work and teaching, and has a collection of published writings entitled "Dancer Out of Sight".

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Today's guest is Dance Magazine's editor in chief Jennifer Stahl. A former senior editor of Pointe, she has also written for The Atlantic, Runner's World and other publications. With a background as a dancer with degrees in dance and journalism, she has served as a judge for the Capezio A.C.E. Awards, on the panel of the New York City Dance Alliance Foundation, as an adjudicator for the American College Dance Association, and was recently an invited speaker at the Women in Dance Leadership Conference.

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Today's guest is Lois Greenfield. World-renowned photographer Lois Greenfield has been photographing dance for over 40 years. Starting her career as a photojournalist, Lois worked for the Village Voice capturing the experimental dance scene from 1973 to the mid 90’s. She developed a unique photographic style not based in capturing choreographed movements. Instead, Lois inspired the dancers to improvise expressly for the camera. With her split second timing Lois revealed moments beneath the threshold of perception. Radically redefining the dance photography genre, Lois has influenced a generation of young photographers.

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Today's guest is Sara Rudner. Sara is a movement addict eager to spread the experience. In her remarkable dance career, Sara has participated extensively in the development and performance of Twyla Tharp's modern dance repertory; was a founder and director of the Sara Rudner Performance Ensemble: has produced marathon dances as well as short forms; and is the former director of Dance at Sarah Lawrence College where she continues to teach.

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Today's guest is Inbal Oshman. Inbal is an Israel-based choreographer and dancer who creates dance for stage, public spaces, and screen, and finds inspiration in diverse mythical, historical, and cultural sources. She has been a resident choreographer at Kyoto Art Center (Japan), Attakkalari Dance Company (India), and Fest'Factory (Israel), with recent performances as part of the Peak Performances program at Montclair State University (New Jersey). Special thanks to Peak Performances for arranging this podcast interview.

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Today's guest is Valerie Green. Valerie has been an active dancer, choreographer and teacher in the New York City dance community since 1995. She is the Artistic & Executive Director of Dance Entropy and Green Space Studio in Long Island City, Queens.

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An interview with Heather Bryce. Heather is a Brooklyn, NY based contemporary choreographer, artistic director of Bryce Dance Company, and Teaching Artist with a focus on collaboration and creating work with and for every body. Starting her company in Boston in 2006, Heather's work has been supported and presented across New England, the tri-state area, and beyond.

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Today's guest is Tom Pearson. Tom is the co-founder/co-artistic director of Third Rail Projects and the director of the Global Performance Studio, an international program for cultural listening and exchange. He has received two New York Dance and Performance (BESSIE) Awards, and is best known for his movement-based theater works, including the long-running Then She Fell and The Grand Paradise.

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Today's guest is Nai-Ni Chen. A cross-cultural choreographer based in the NJ/NYC area, Nai-Ni brings the dynamic freedom of American modern dance together with the elegant splendor of Asian Art. Nai-Ni Chen Dance company is one of the most visible Asian American dance companies in America with an extensive season of touring and performing around the world for the past 30 years.

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Today's podcast is in partnership with the Women in Dance Leadership Conference that took place in January 2018 in NYC. Our first guest in this episode is Sandra Parks, the founder/director of the Women in Dance Leadership Conference. Sandra is also a choreographer, dance educator, film producer and editor, and advocate for female leadership. Our second guest is Renee Chatelain, currently President/CEO of the Arts Council of Baton Rouge. She is also an attorney, former professional ballet dancer, teacher and speaker. Most recently, she was on faculty at the Ballet Festival of India in Mumbai and a speaker at the Women in Dance Leadership Conference at NYU.

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Today's podcast is in partnership with the Women in Dance Leadership Conference that took place in January 2018 in NYC. The first guest in this series is Blakeley White-McGuire. Blakeley is a critically acclaimed award winning dance performer, maker, and teacher working at the intersection of movement and ecology. She was a Principal Dancer with the Martha Graham Dance Company from 2002-2017.

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An interview with Karen Eliot, a former dancer with the Merce Cunningham Dance Company and now Professor in the Department of Dance at The Ohio State University. An expert in the areas of ballet, modern, and dance history, she has written two dance history books and co-edited a third with Melanie Bales, and is co-editor of Dance Chronicle: Studies in Dance and the Related Arts.

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An interview with Wendy Perron, a former dancer/choreographer and former editor in chief of Dance Magazine, now a freelance writer who teaches a graduate seminar at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. Wendy is author of "Through the Eyes of a Dancer" and during her 30-year career as a dance/choreographer danced with the Trisha Brown company in the 1970s and choreographed more than 40 works for her own group, alongside teaching at many colleges, universities, schools, and dance centers.

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An interview with Margie Gillis, Canada's modern dance legend. As an internationally acclaimed solo modern choreographer/dancer, Margie has been creating original works for over forty years.

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An interview with New York area based multi-disciplinary artist gwen charles. gwen creates site-specific, collaborative live performances and choreographed actions for and with the camera using handcrafted wearable props & sculptures. Her works have been viewed in international venues and video festivals in New York, USA, Germany, Slovenia, and Croatia, with artist residencies throughout the USA, Mexico, India, and Slovenia.

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An interview with Sarah Weber-Gallo. Sarah is a senior member of the Metropolitan Opera Ballet, Dance Director for Mile Square Theatre in Hoboken, NJ, and Choreographer and Director of SarahWeberGallo/dancetheatre.

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An interview with Diane Jacobowitz. Diane is a professional choreographer, arts administrator and the Artistic and Executive Director of Dancewave - a Brooklyn-based dance education organization championing accessibility to all.

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An interview with Laurie Berg. Laurie works in a variety of forms including dance, performance, collage, and jewelry, and is co-organizer of the dance event platform AUNTS along with Liliana Dirks-Goodman. Look for AUNTS as it opens NYU's Skirball season on Friday, September 15 in an immersive dance party.

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An interview with Ariel Grossman. Named one of Jersey (New) Moves Emerging Choreographers, Ariel is celebrating the 10th anniversary of her all-female contemporary dance company, Ariel Rivka Dance. Look for Ariel Rivka Dance at NYLA in NYC from September 6-10, 2017.

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A special interview with the members of the all-female dance company, The Moving Architects, which is led by Movers & Shapers podcast host/producer, Artistic Director Erin Carlisle Norton. Hear from Caitlin Bailey, Maggie Beutner, Rachel Gill, Jenny Gram, Léla Groom, and Ashley Peters about their lives as 20-something dancers living, dancing, and working in the New York City dance scene.

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An interview with Adam Barruch, a choreographer and performer based in Brooklyn, New York. Adam currently sets new work on dance companies alongside creating work under his own company Anatomiae Occultii.

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An interview with Donnell Oakley. Donnell is an independent choreographer, performer, and teacher based in Brooklyn, New York since 2001. As a current dancer with Doug Elkins and member of the collaborative trio LMNO3, she is continually interested in the inherently collaborative nature of dance

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An interview with Theresa Ruth Howard. Theresa is a writer, dance educator, and former dancer for companies including Dance Theatre of Harlem, Armitage Gone! Dance, and works by Donald Byrd. In 2015 she launched MoBBallet (Memoirs of Blacks in Ballet) that reinstates and preserves the contributions and stories of Black artists in the field of ballet through a digital platform.

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An interview with Xan Burley. Xan works in New York City as a performer, teacher, arts administrator, and choreographer in collaboration with her partner Alex Springer and has been a member of Doug Varone and Dancers since 2012.

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An interview with Tami Stronach, a NYC-based choreographer, actor, teacher, and public speaker dedicated to unlocking the power of imagination. Tami formed her dance company Tami Stronach Dance in 2000 and recently co-founded Paper Canoe Company to create family programming that utilizes movement, theater, puppetry, and object manipulation.

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An interview with Hilary Easton. Leader of her NYC-based dance company Hilary Easton + Company established in 1992, Hilary is also on the faculty at the Julliard School and director of their global K-12 dance programs for Julliard Global Ventures.

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A special announcement from podcast host Erin Carlisle Norton about upcoming interviews (hint: we are on spring break to prepare for April performances celebrating The Moving Architects 10th Anniversary Season!).

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An interview with NYC-based Teresa Fellion, a choreographer, dancer, dance-educator, and Artistic Director of BodyStories: Teresa Fellion Dance.

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An interview with Sara Wookey, a dancer, choreographer, and creative professional currently based in London a Tier 1 Visa endorsed by Arts Council England. With a career that has spanned from the USA, to Amsterdam, to Los Angeles, and now London, Sara is also a certified transmitter of Yvonne Rainer's iconic work "Trio A" and currently interested in the potential for dance in its return to museum spaces.

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An interview with Tomer Heymann, an award-winning Israeli filmmaker whose new film, MR.GAGA, focuses on the life and art of the legendary choreographer Ohad Naharin. MR. GAGA opens Feb 1 in NYC, Feb 10 in LA, and from there expands nationwide.

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A special announcement from podcast host Erin Carlisle Norton about upcoming interviews (hint: see you in January!).

Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast: Recent Episodes

The Moving Architects