“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey and special guest, Diana Byer, founding director of the New York Theater Ballet.

In this episode of Dance Talk with Joanne Carey, join host Joanne Carey as she chats with Special Guest, Diana Byer, as she shares her life in dance which began from a suggestion made by her pediatrician to exercise. That first class lead to a lifetime career in dance, an art form on which she continues to leave her imprint and is creating a profound and exemplary legacy.

Diana discusses her commitment to developing dance artists and her outreach program for homeless and at-risk children.

Diana Byer received her principal dance training from Margaret Craske and Antony Tudor. She is the founder of New York Theater Ballet that stages works that are intimate in scale and able to touch audiences in deeply personal ways. Hailed by Dance Magazine as “a miniature American treasure,” NYTB is known for its theatrical inventiveness, high production quality, excellent technique, and accessibility to its audiences. She has been a guest instructor of the Cecchetti Society of America, the Cecchetti Society of Canada (Toronto), Cornell and New York Universities, State University of New York at Purchase, Martha Graham School, and other centers of dance. Ms. Byer conducts master classes in schools and performance settings across the USA and Europe.

Ms. Byer received extensive media attention for her ongoing work with homeless and at-risk children, winning special citations from President George Bush, First Lady Hillary Clinton, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the President’s Committee on the Arts & the Humanities. The LIFT Community Service program, which provides dance classes, performance opportunities, scholarships, and services for homeless and at-risk children in New York, was initiated at NYTB through her vision and commitment.

In 1988, 1990, and 1993, Ms. Byer received the Helen Wieselberg Award of the National Arts Club in recognition for her ongoing work with LIFT. In 1992, Lincoln Center produced, at Alice Tully Hall, a one-hour presentation for children called Dreams On A Shoestring, featuring an original script based on Ms. Byer and LIFT. She received a Humanitarian Hero recognition from Good Housekeeping Magazine for her ongoing work with LIFT and was the 2023 Martha Hill Dance Fund Lifetime Achievement Awardee. The feature-length film LIFT, documenting Ms. Byer’s journey of LIFT, was featured in the 2022 Tribeca Festival and recognized with a “Children’s Resilience in Film Award” by Shine Global.

In December 1996, she was again spotlighted in two features in Dance Magazine. Ms. Byer coached the principals in the Columbia Pictures film, Center Stage. She was a member of the Antony Tudor Centennial Celebration Committee and in 2008 staged Tudor’s Judgment of Paris for the American Ballet Theatre Gala at The Metropolitan Opera House. She is a repetiteur for the Antony Tudor Trust and a member of the Board of Directors of the Dance Notation Bureau and The Clive and Valerie Barnes Foundation.

In 2010 she assisted Kevin McKenzie in ABT’s restaging of Antony Tudor’s Jardin Aux Lilas (Lilac Garden) and staged Agnes de Mille’s Three Virgins and a Devil for the Alabama Ballet.

In 2011 Ms. Byer restaged Antony Tudor’s Soiree Musicale and the dances from Agnes de Mille’s Carousel, Oklahoma, and Brigadoon for American Ballet Theatre’s Studio Company.

She continues to direct the NYTB School which she established in 1978.

Learn more about The Diana Byer Legacy Project

https://www.dancio.com/dianabyerlegacyproject

Learn more about New York Theater Ballet

⁠https://nytb.org/about⁠

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“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey 

"Where the Dance World Connects, the Conversations Inspire, and Where We Are Keeping Them Real."

Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey and special guest, Artistic Director & CEO, Eduardo Vilaro, Ballet Hispánico. 

In this episode of “Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey, join host Joanne Carey as she chats with Special Guest, Eduardo Vilaro, who sits at the head of Ballet Hispánico, leading the organization into its 55th year as a world-class organization with a spirit of love, grace and humility.

This engaging and beautiful conversation explores the history of Ballet Hispánico, Mr. Vilaro's story of emigrating from Cuba at 6 years old, his career, his love for his culture, life and the art form along with his continued commitment to making the life and experience of the community around him purposeful and beautiful.

Eduardo Vilaro is the Artistic Director & CEO of Ballet Hispánico (BH). He was named BH's Artistic Director in 2009, becoming only the second person to head the company since its founding in 1970, and in 2015 was also named Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Vilaro has infused Ballet Hispánico’s legacy with a bold brand of contemporary dance that reflects America’s changing cultural landscape.

Mr. Vilaro’s philosophy of dance stems from a basic belief in the power of the arts to change lives, reflect and impact culture, and strengthen community. He considers dance to be a liberating, non-verbal language through which students, dancers, and audiences of all walks of life and diverse backgrounds, can initiate ongoing conversations about the arts, expression, identity, and the meaning of community.

Born in Cuba and raised in New York from the age of six, Mr. Vilaro’s own choreography is devoted to capturing the Latin American experience in its totality and diversity, and through its intersectionality with other diasporas. A Ballet Hispánico dancer and educator from 1988 to 1996, he left New York, earned a master’s in interdisciplinary arts at Columbia College Chicago and then embarked on his own act of advocacy with a ten-year record of achievement as Founder and Artistic Director of Luna Negra Dance Theater in Chicago.

The recipient of numerous awards and accolades, Mr. Vilaro received the Ruth Page Award for choreography in 2001; was inducted into the Bronx Walk of Fame in 2016; and was awarded HOMBRE Magazine’s 2017 Arts & Culture Trailblazer of the Year. In 2019, he received the West Side Spirit’s WESTY Award, was honored by WNET for his contributions to the arts, and was the recipient of the James W. Dodge Foreign Language Advocate Award. In August 2020, City & State Magazine included Mr. Vilaro in the inaugural Power of Diversity: Latin 100 list. In January 2021, Mr. Vilaro was recognized with a Compassionate Leaders Award, given to leaders who are courageous, contemplative, collaborative, and care about the world they will leave behind. He is a well-respected speaker on such topics as diversity, equity, and inclusion in the arts, as well as on the merits of the intersectionality of cultures and the importance of nurturing and building Latinx leaders.

For Information on Ballet Hispánico

https://www.ballethispanico.org/  

Follow Joanne Carey on Instagram @westfieldschoolofdance 

WEBSITE Link

https://dancetalkwithjoannecarey.com/

YOUTUBE Link

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“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey 

"Where the Dance World Connects, the Conversations Inspire, and Where We Are Keeping Them Real."

“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey and special guest, Megan Williams. 

In this episode of  “Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey,  join host Joanne Carey as she chats with Special Guest, Megan Williams, whose long and varied career as a dance artist brought her from Julliard to dancing with the Mark Morris Dance Group. 

She candidly shares her experience as a teacher and choreographer along with the challenges and rewards of aging in the dance world.

Megan shares about her upcoming show, 'Smile Though Your Heart is Aching'  taking place at the Mark Morris Dance Center in April 2024.

Megan Williams  is an independent dance artist, choreographer, teacher and repetiteur, with a BFA from the Juilliard School, and an MFA from Sarah Lawrence College. Her choreography has been produced by 10 Hairy Legs, DANCE NOW NYC at Joe’s Pub and Dance Theater Workshop, and by the Rivertown Artist’s Workshop, Barnspace, MIXT Co., Purchase College, Marymount Manhattan College, Connecticut College, and Interlochen Arts Academy. In addition to performing her own work, she can be seen dancing with choreographer Rebecca Stenn and in Netta Yerushalmy’s Paramodernities project. 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, including Falling Down Stairs (with YoYo Ma), The Hidden Soul of Harmony, The Hard Nut, and Dido and Aeneas. Ms. Williams continues her affiliation with Morris as guest performer, creating the role of Lady Capulet in Morris' 2009 Romeo and Juliet: On Motifs of Shakespeare and dancing in Bijoux at the 2014 Bessie Awards, guest rehearsal director, and guest faculty at the Mark Morris Dance Center. She has staged Morris' work on the Purchase Dance Company, Vassar Repertory Company, Fieldston Dance Company, the Boston Ballet, and the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater and on students at the Juilliard School, George Mason University, Les Etes de la Danse (Paris), Interlochen Arts Academy, and Cal State Long Beach among others. Ms. Williams has been Morris’ assistant in a variety of settings including ballet, Broadway and television. From 2000-2013 she served on the modern dance faculty of the Conservatory of Dance at Purchase College, State University of New York and taught as a guest lecturer at Connecticut College in 2017. She was featured in Dance Teacher Magazine in 2010, 2014, and 2019. She teaches Dance for Parkinson’s Disease in Rye, NY, and is on the renowned Dance for PD flagship teaching team. She has recently served on the faculties of Marymount Manhattan College and Hunter College teaching Anatomy for Dancers. She has served on the board of directors of the Martha Hill Dance Fund since 2011 and is proud to have a producing credit on the documentary film Martha Hill: Making Dance Matter. She was a 2019 Center for Ballet and the Arts Artistic Partnership Initiative Fellow at NYU (CBA). She is currently on the ballet faculty of Sarah Lawrence College.

Instagram @meganwilliamsdance

https://www.mwdanceprojects.com/

Purchase Tickets below

Smile, though your heart is aching is  a world premiere evening length dance and live music event with choreography by Megan Williams in collaboration with composer Eve Beglarian.
https://megan-williams-dance-projects.ticketleap.com/smile-though-your-heart-is-aching/

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“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey

"Where the Dance World Connects, the Conversations Inspire, and Where We Are Keeping Them Real."

“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey and special guest, Alicia Graf Mack, Dean and Director of the Dance  Division of The Juilliard School. 

In this episode of  “Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey,  join host Joanne Carey as she chats with Special Guest, Alicia Graf Mack who was recently recognized as a Dance Magazine Award Honoree.    

Join us as we talk, not only about her inspiring career, its longevity and the set backs she has overcome, but she graciously pulls back the curtain on her gratefulness, spirituality and family that grounds her along with sharing her deep connection to the responsibility of an artist in the world.

You will agree that Alicia Graf Mack brings this to all she does. 

Be inspired by this kind, gentle, thought provoking and intelligent woman who not only loves to dance, but she loves teaching and loves to inspire the success of her students no matter which path they choose. 

Listen in and be 'moved in these moments.'

Alicia Graf Mack enjoyed a distinguished career as a leading dancer of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.  She has also been a principal dancer with Dance Theater of Harlem and Complexions Contemporary Ballet, and she had danced as a guest performer with Alonzo King's LINES Ballet, Beyonce, John Legend, Andre 3000, and Alicia Keys.  Graf Mack graduated magna cum laude with honors in history from Columbia University and holds an MA in nonprofit management from Washington University in ST. Louis.  In 2007, Smithsonian Magazine named her American Innovator of the ARTS and Sciences. She is the recipient of the Columbia University Medal of Excellence, an award given each year an alumnus who has demonstrated excellence in their field of work.  In 2008, she delivered the keynote address to the graduates of Columbia University's School of General Studies.  As a dance educator, Graf Mack most recently taught as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Houston and was a visiting assistant professor at Webster University.  She is co-founder of D(n)A Arts Collective, an initiative created to enrich the lives of young dancers through master classes and intensives.  She began her inaugeral season as director of the Juilliard Dance Division in 2018.

Follow on Instagram

@aliciagrafmack @movingmomentspodcast

https://www.juilliard.edu/dance/faculty/graf-mack-alicia

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“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey

"Where the Dance World Connects, the Conversations Inspire, and Where We Are Keeping Them Real."

“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey 

In this episode of  “Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey,  join host Joanne Carey as she chats with Special Guest: Joan Myers Brown during Women's History Month.

Listen in with Ms. Brown (who is 92 years young) shares her story that began as a young dancer living in segregated America who became determined to create opportunities for black dancers. Ms. Brown emphasizes the power and essence of dance as a form of expression and the life lessons it teaches. She is a lady who will inspire you to do and be your best!

Joan Myers Brown (affectionately known as “Aunt Joan” or “JB”) is the founder of The Philadelphia School of Dance Arts in 1960 and The Philadelphia Dance Company (PHILADANCO!) in 1970.  She serves as honorary chairperson for the International Association of Blacks in Dance (IABD), established in 1991, an organization that she laid the groundwork for in 1988 with the founding of the International Conference of Black Dance Companies.  She is a Distinguished Visiting Professor at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, which bestowed upon her an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts; is a member of the dance faculty at Howard University in Washington, DC; and awarded an honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from Ursinus College in Collegeville, PA. In May 2015, she received an honorary Doctor of Arts degree from The University of Pennsylvania. Listed in Who’s Who in America and described as an “innovator and communicator,” Ms. Brown has made significant contributions to arts communities locally, regionally, nationally and throughout the world. 

Joan Myers Brown’s undisputed status as a leader in the national and international arts communities were acknowledged when she was selected to receive the 2012 National Medal of the Arts, the nation’s highest civic honor for excellence in the arts. President Barack Obama presented the prestigious honor at a ceremony that took place in July 2013 at the White House. President Obama cited Ms. Brown for carving out “an artistic haven for African American dancers and choreographers to innovate, create, and share their unique visions with the national and global dance communities.”

In May 2020, Ms. Brown celebrated two landmark achievements – PHILADANCO!’s  50th year and the Philadelphia School of Dance Arts’ 60th year.  She as recently honored with a Lifetime Achievement Recognition from the Martha Hill Awards Gala.

Find out more about Joan Myers Brown and Philadanco:

https://philadanco.org/about/

@philadanco

@philaschoolofdancearts

@joanmyersbrown

⁠⁠⁠Follow Joanne Carey on Instagram @westfieldschoolofdance

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“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey

"Where the Dance World Connects, the Conversations Inspire, and Where We Are Keeping Them Real."

“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey 

In this episode of  “Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey,  join host Joanne Carey as she chats with 

Special Guest: Valerie Green. Valerie shares her dance journey and what lead her to the work she does today as well as her choreographic process.

Valerie also shares the wonderful, healing work she has been dedicated to- providing performances and workshops for underserved populations, including at-risk youth, trauma survivors, the formerly incarcerated, addiction rehabilitation patients, older adults, and those with differing abilities, immigrant communities and more.

This is a person dedicated to helping lives.

Valerie's new work 'Rite' premieres Feb 29th-March 2nd at

The Center at West Park:165 West 86th Street, New York, NY 10024

centeratwestpark.org

Tickets: https://danceentropy.networkforgood.com/events/65644-rite-premiere

Valerie Green: Artistic Director of Dance Entropy and the Founder and Director of Green Space.

She is a dancer, choreographer, working over 25 years with dancers of all levels, from the absolute beginner to the consummate professional, Valerie Green has developed her unique teaching style, Dance Your Frame. She has taught master classes and workshops to dancers of varying ages locally in New York, nationally, and in countries as far reaching as Azerbaijan, Armenia, India, and Cuba. Dance Your Frame integrates Green’s own style, emphasizing correct musculature and bone alignment, with the Erick Hawkins technique. She supplements her modern dance technique methods with creative workshops such as Enter The Body: Choreography Workshop.

Green has also developed two unique workshops, Skimming the Surface and Movement Playground, through her individual teaching experience and the outreach programs she spearheads in her local community for groups such as older adults, at risk youth and trauma survivors. These movement workshops for non-dance populations are rooted in Green’s philosophy that all bodies can benefit from movement and dance. She also offers one on one sessions in Core Energetics a somatic based psychotherapy modality and facilitates and Somatic Healing Group

Green is available to lead classes and workshops at a variety of partner organizations independently, through festivals or in conjunction with VG/DE’s grant programs.

Contact Valerie Info@DanceEntropy.org

https://www.danceentropy.org/

Follow Valerie @danceentropy

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Joanne Carey on Instagram @westfieldschoolofdance

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“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey

"Where the Dance World Connects, the Conversations Inspire, and Where We Are Keeping Them Real."

“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey 

In this episode of  “Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey,  join host Joanne Carey as she chats with 

Special Guest: Liz Gerring chair of the 2024 Martha Hill Awards Gala.  Join us as we chat about Liz's career as a dancer, choreographer and teacher and the legacy of Martha Hill "whose influence in the world of dance education and performance knew no bounds."   

Liz Gerring is the Executive Director of Liz Gerring Dance and the chair of the 2024 Martha Hill Awards Gala.

Liz was born in San Francisco in 1965 and grew up in Los Angeles where she began studying dance at age 13.  Ms. Gerring studied at the Cornish Institute in Seattle, and in 1987 she received a BFA from the Juilliard School. 

She formed the Liz Gerring Dance Company in 1998 and has been presenting her work in New York City and abroad continuously since that time. Ms. Gerring was awarded the Jacob’s Pillow prize in June 2015 and a Joyce Theater Residency the same year. Between 2013-18, Ms. Gerring was commissioned for three works in collaboration with composer Michael J. Schumacher for Peak Performances at the Kasser Theater in Montclair NJ. In 2017/18 she was awarded a City Center Choreographic Fellowship and in 2019 Ms. Gerring was one of five artists to receive the Cage - Cunningham Fellowship from the Baryshnikov Arts Center. Ms. Gerring has been on the faculty of Groove With Me, an after school dance program for girls, since 2018.

She lives in New York City and upstate NY with her husband Kirk Radke, her three children, a dog and a cat. 

“For most of my life I have been engaged in the pursuit of movement for its own sake. Developing an early interest in abstraction as the primary means to expression, I have focused my work on the body and its presentation through space and time.” -- Liz Gerring

⁠⁠⁠Follow Liz @lizgerringdance

https://www.lizgerringdance.org/

For information on the

Martha Hill Awards go to

https://www.marthahilldance.org/martha-hill-awards

and follow

@marthahilldancefund

"Our goal is to honor a professional in the dance field who exemplifies any or all of those qualities for which Martha Hill was most revered--whether an educator or a creative force who has made a significant contribution to the field of dance 'behind the scenes".

⁠⁠⁠Follow Joanne Carey on Instagram @westfieldschoolofdance

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“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey

"Where the Dance World Connects, the Conversations Inspire, and Where We Are Keeping Them Real."

“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey 

In this episode of  “Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey,  join host Joanne Carey as she chats with Special Guest: Alex Smith Jr.  Executive Chairman of Thelma Hill Performing Arts Center.  

Listen in as we sit down and talk about Alex's unexpected and fascinating journey that lead him to where he is today. A Visual Artist, Graphic Designer, Caretaker and Executive Chairman and a man with an open heart to where he is lead- we are celebrating this man and all he is doing in the community and for the performing arts!

THPAC's Black History Month FREE program Saturday, February 24, 4 p.m.  

Alex Smith Jr.  was born in Montgomery, AL. His parents, both veterans of the Montgomery bus boycott, migrated to Brooklyn, NY when he was 3 years old. He has resided in Brooklyn ever since that time. Smith is the Executive Chairman of Thelma Hill Performing Arts Center (THPAC). This association began in 1988, when it’s then executive director, Melvin Davis hired Smith to assist in re-branding the image of THPAC. It turned into a long term business relationship with THPAC which continued until the untimely death of Melvin Davis in May of 1995. At this point Smith was asked by the THPAC board to consider becoming the executive director. He accepted the position along with choreographer Marshall Swiney, who became artistic director of THPAC. 

Under Smith’s continuing tenure at THPAC as Executive Chairman, over 300 artists have been presented in performance including: Ron Brown, Camille Brown, George Faison, Louis Johnson, Marlies  Yearby, Fred Benjamin, Urban Bush Women, Dance Theater of Harlem and Philadanco, among many others; seven new programming formats have been added; THPAC’s  Life Time Achievement Awards were established; new relationships with performance venues at Long Island University and the Actors Fund Arts Center were formed;  a development dept. for THPAC was established; new in-house works for THPAC entitled Audre Lorde In Motion, Ramp to Paradise and The Gospel According to THPAC were produced; the administrative staff and THPAC boards were restructured; the relocation of THPAC’s headquarters was accomplished.  Smith is spearheading the production of a documentary on THPAC’s 42 years on the dance scene as well as laying out a digital archival structure for THPAC in association with the NYPL at Lincoln Center. On October 18, 2016 Smith was the recipient of the Bessie Award for outstanding service to the field of dance. Smith is a Brooklyn College graduate with advance graphics design/photography studies from the School of  Visual Arts. He is a graphics designer and a visual fine artist.

Thelma Hill Performing Arts Center (THPAC), the oldest presenting organization in Brooklyn, and Central Baptist Church of NYC will present its FREE Black History Month program on Saturday, February 24, 4 p.m. for the community celebrating Black contributions through music, dance and spoken word in observance with Black History Month. The performance features three bible-themed works by choreographer Walter Rutledge, featuring dancers Amina Konate and Tevin Johnson and narration by James Earl Jones.

THPAC and Central Baptist Church of NYC are committed to the remembrance of Black history and to uplifting of African Americans. By reaching back through this program, we can envision and grasp a healing future for our community and all of humanity. Audiences, the church congregation and larger community will experience a performance about faith, perseverance and the collective strength communities have when joined together.

Find out more https://www.thelmahill.org/

⁠⁠⁠Follow Joanne Carey on Instagram @westfieldschoolofdance

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“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey

"Where the Dance World Connects, the Conversations Inspire, and Where We Are Keeping Them Real."

“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey and  Jamel Gaines of Creative Outlet.

In this episode of  “Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey,  join host Joanne Carey as she chats with Special Guest: Jamel Gaines, founder and Director of Creative Outlet. 

This year marks a special moment for JGCO's annual program as more than 3,000 New York City Public School students will experience the lessons of Remembering. The Company will travel to Cape Coast and Accra, Ghana giving performances and workshops in Africa.

Listen in as we talk about the impact Arts in Education had and continues to have in Jamel's life.

The February 15 performance of Remembering is in collaboration with Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, City Council Member Crystal Hudson, and NAACP Brooklyn Chapter, and pays tribute to New York City Board of Education principals and teachers. The February 16 performance is in collaboration with the Delta’s Chapter of Brooklyn. The

February 17 performance is in collaboration with the Brooklyn Brownstones Organization

https://youtu.be/x8JgSjd3S_M?si=HIB-br85c8s4xW0M

Tickets are available through the link belowhttps://www.bam.org/dance/2024/remembering

Brooklyn Academy of Music on February 15 and 16 at 7:30 PM and February 17th at 2 PM.

Jamel Gaines is the Founder and Artistic Director of Creative Outlet.Jamel has dedicated his life to delivering artistic excellence and stirring, soaring performance to audiences everywhere.  With more than 22 years of teaching and choreographing experience, Jamel seeks to inspire, motivate and nurture dancers and artists.  Under his leadership, Creative Outlet has set itself apart as a highly acclaimed performing arts organization with a proven record in training the next generation of professional dancers and artists.

Some of Jamel’s more recent choreography includes the crowd pleasing presentation live streamed across the internet during Spike Lee’s Annual Tribute Concert to Michael Jackson (August 2017) televised choreography and dramatic performance by contestants on So You Think You Can Dance. (2010).  In addition, Mr. Gaines has created and staged over 25 repertory and concert productions.  He has had the distinction of working with such distinguished artists as Jennifer Holiday, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Savion Glover, Malik Yoba, George Fasion, Ornette Coleman, Ossie Davis, Olatunje Babatunde, Max Roach, Cassandra Wilson and Rick James.

Founder and Artistic Director, Jamel Gaines has dedicated his life to delivering artistic excellence to artists and audiences.

Jamel has appeared on Public Television’s American Talent in which he was presented The Teacher Recognition Award, during the Presidential Scholars in the Arts Committee at The Kennedy Center, and has been featured in publications such as Essence Magazine, The New York Times, The Seattle Times and The Daily News.  His work has been staged by the Actors Theater Workshop, The NYC Department of Parks, Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, the Paramount Theatre and The Martha Graham School.

  Mr. Gaines serves as the director of St. Paul’s Eldad Medad Danced Ministry. His work at St. Paul’s includes “He Got Up”, the commemoration of the African Holocaust and the acclaimed “Black Nativity” for which he won an Obie Award.

Gaines began his dance career in the mid-1990s under the direction of Diane and Adrian Brown, and James Grant and Received his BFA from SUNY Purchase.

He credits the development of his unique and nurturing approach to teaching and composing to Kevin Iega Jeff.

Follow on Instagram @jamelgainescreativeoutlet 

Find out more https://www.creativeoutlet.org/⁠

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“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey

"Where the Dance World Connects, the Conversations Inspire, and Where We Are Keeping Them Real."

“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey and  Karisma Jay.

In this episode of  “Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey,  join host Joanne Carey as she chats with Special Guest: Karisma Jay founder of the AbunDance Academy of the Arts, teaching and mentoring abundance in the lives of all her students . The AbunDance Academy is the first Black Owned Non-Profit Arts Organization to produce an original production written by Karisma herself.

With a healthy and robust curriculum, AbunDance Academy of the Arts offers specialized classes in Dance, Audition Prep, Adult Fitness and Aerial Yoga. Its diverse faculty roster includes highly skilled teaching artists who are passionate about their artistry and the budding artistry of every student. Located in Brooklyn’s Prospect Heights / Lefferts Gardens neighborhood, AbunDance Academy gives students the opportunity to explore their passions without having to travel to another borough.

The organization will host the second annual Abundance Awards to be held at the Billie Holiday Theatre in Brooklyn to Benefit The Abundance Academy of Arts on February 4th.

Tickets are available through the link below

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-2nd-annual-abundance-awards-tickets-523131930687?aff=oddtdtcreator

The AbunDance Awards were created in 2023 and raise funds for the AbunDance Arts Academy, founded by award-winning artist and entrepreneur Karisma Jay to show youths what they can accomplish in the dance world and to honor people of color who have made significant contributions to the field. 2024 honorees include Reginald Van Lee, Assane Konte, Obediah Wright, Karen Thornton, Jamel Gaines, Chloe Arnold, Maud Arnold, Arcell Cabuag, and Nicole Deweever. 

Karisma Jay is a Brooklyn native , dancer, actress, singer, director, playwright, choreographer, coach, teacher, entrepreneur and host who has been performing, curating and creating for three decades. She is the recipient of a Dance Teacher Magazine 2021 Dance Teacher Award and a 2023 Women of Distinction Award Recipient. Her work has been featured on Netflix, Lifetime, BET, MTV, NBC, and VH1. In 2013, Karisma joined STOMP. In 2016, Family Circle magazine coined her a “Local Hero,” and Lifetime TV called her “a Female Entrepreneur to Watch.” In 2017, she won the “Power Women in Business” award for her work as Artistic Director/Founder of AbunDance Academy. A recent Summa Cum Laude Dance MFA graduate of Hunter College, she also Guest Teaches Dance/Culture at Hunter. A Guest Teaching Artist at The Juilliard School, LaGuardia High School, Hunter College, Ballet Tech, and Broadway Dance Center, she was also the choreographic apprentice of David Byrne’s American Utopia and choreographer for COMMON's Music Video, "When We Move." 

Jay is dedicated to providing affordable classes and opportunities to perform for young aspiring dancers of color. She conceived, co-wrote, and co-directed the 2022 short film C.R.O.W.N., which tells the story of a young Brown ballerina who has to tame her hair into submission for the biggest audition of her life. The film was inspired by Jay’s own attempts to fit into a ballet world with her thick, curly hair and Afro-Latina curves. Crown sparked an important conversation around embracing one’s differences and loving one’s hair texture and skin tone in ballet. Jay also directed the 2021 short film Just Like YOU to inspire young people to love themselves regardless of their skin color, hair texture, body shape, or background.

Follow on Instagram @abundance_company @iamkarisamajayFind out more https://www.abundancearts.org/our-journey

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“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey

"Where the Dance World Connects, the Conversations Inspire, and Where We Are Keeping Them Real."

 "Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey

In this episode of  “Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey,  join host Joanne Carey as she chats with Special Guest: Gabriel Chajnik.

Joanne and Gabriel go way back as dancers, colleagues, friends. 

It's always a treat when Dance Talk welcomes an old friend to the platform!

sit back , listen in, laugh a little as they forget they are recording a podcast and chat about their time working together, their thoughts on the power of dance and Gabriels upcoming project "Jungle Book" in collaboration with classical Indian dance choreographer Sudha Shekhar Devulapalli. 

Gabriel Chajnik is the founding director of the new Axelrod Contemporary Ballet Theater, Gabriel Chajnik was trained under the tutelage of Maestro Hector Zaraspe and is an alumnus of the Juilliard School.

Gabriel is a former dancer with American Repertory Ballet. His teaching credits expand from Argentina to Europe and the United States at Brooklyn Music School, Princeton Ballet, the Academy of Dance Arts and Gotta Dance in New Jersey. Gabriel’s work has been featured at Juilliard, the Manhattan School of Music, the Shakespeare Theater in Washington, D.C., Alice Tully Hall, the Clark Theater at Lincoln Center, MMAC, and the Lambs Theater.

Gabriel is also the Artistic Director for TranscenDanceGroup, whose TDG Holocaust Awareness performance has reached school students throughout the tri-state area. Gabriel has been honored by the Jewish Federation of Somerset, Hunterdon, & Warren Counties.

Find out more ⁠https://www.axcbt.org/about-axcbt⁠

Get tickets to Jungle Book February 2-11, 2024 

A new ballet based on Rudyard Kipling’s collection of stories about a boy adopted and raised by wolves fulfilling his quest for identity, love and belonging. Directed and choreographed by AXCBT Director Gabriel Chajnik, The Jungle Book is a groundbreaking collaboration with classical Indian dance teacher Sudha Shekhar Devulapalli. This AXCBT production features a fusion of Bharatanatyam and contemporary dance performed by a cast of professional dancers and talented young fellows and trainees, with elaborate costumes designed by José Solis and masks and headpieces designed by Tentacle Studios, whose clients include Lady Gaga, Kesha, and the Royal Ballet.

⁠https://ci.ovationtix.com/35486/production/1160725⁠

⁠⁠⁠Follow on Instagram @⁠https://www.instagram.com/axelrodarts/⁠

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"Where the Dance World Connects, the Conversations Inspire, and Where We Are Keeping Them Real."

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“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey

In this episode of  “Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey,  join host Joanne Carey as she chats with Special Guest: Andrew N. Chiang, the executive director of Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company. Listen in as Andy shares about his life and 'love at first sight' with his beloved late wife Nai-Ni Chen and the continued mission of the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company that is deeply rooted in the Chinese American immigrant experience and to advance the vision of its founder.

Happy Chinese New Year as you join us in celebrating the Year of the Green Wood Dragon!

Check out Na-Ni Chen Dance Company at NJPAC https://www.njpac.org/event/nai-ni-chen-dance-company-year-of-the-green-wood-dragon/

Tickets Available for Feb 10 & 11

https://www.ticketmaster.com/artist/1152075?venueId=308&_gl=1*5y38hm*_gcl_au*NjcxODQ0MjgxLjE3MDU1MDM3Nzg.&_ga=2.167876385.1093882650.1705503778-888170708.1705503778

Andy Chiang emigrated to the Bronx, New York, from Taiwan when he was 14, with a single mom who worked as a nurse. A math whiz from a young age, Chiang caught the attention of a teacher who encouraged him to apply to prestigious undergrad programs. Computer science was just beginning to take off when Chiang began at MIT, and he eventually migrated from math into computing. He worked at IBM over several summers, researching automatic programming (or early AI), earning both money and MIT credits. Through his work at IBM, he received his master’s degree as part of the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science’s 6-A program.

Finishing his studies at the dawn of the personal computer, Chiang resisted the call of Silicon Valley heeded by many of his peers. Instead, he stayed on the East Coast and joined a startup, founded by a fellow MIT alum, that focused on transactional computing in finance, designing systems to be crash resistant. He moved on to working on crash resistance at AT&T Bell Labs before starting a company called Intellimed, an early pioneer in electronic medical records. After selling the company, he worked as an independent consultant on projects in health care and finance. 

Chiang had already met his future wife at MIT when she performed for the Chinese Student Club in a dance troupe visiting from Taiwan. (Chen was the troupe’s lead dancer; Chiang was the club’s president.) The two stayed in touch, and Chen eventually emigrated to the US to attend New York University. They married in 1982, and Chen started her namesake company six years later. By the time Chiang decided to step away from consulting and dedicate himself full time to the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company, he had also served on a panel evaluating grants for the NEA and on the board of the Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation. 

Find out more https://www.nainichen.org/company

Follow on Instagram @nainichendancecompany

Please leave us review about our podcast 
⁠Follow Joanne Carey on Instagram @westfieldschoolofdance

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“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey and special guest, conductor, Robin Fountain.

In this episode of Dance Talk with Joanne Carey, join host Joanne Carey as she chats with Special Guest, conductor, Robin Fountain about the world premiere of the Raffaella Ballet that they are working on.

Tune in as they discuss Robin's background in music and his process as a conductor, discussing the path to becoming a conductor, the role of a conductor in leading an orchestra, and the preparation process for conducting a piece of music. They also draw parallels between conducting and choreography in terms of leadership, preparation, and the importance of understanding the music or movement.

In this conversation, Joanne and Robin discuss the collaborative process of creating a ballet performance, specifically the project they have been working on for months, the Raffaella Ballet. They highlight the importance of communication and collaboration between the dancers, musicians, conductor, and composer, as well as enormous privilege and excitement of being part of a premiere and creating something new for the ballet world.

Robin Fountain is Professor Emeritus of Conducting at Vanderbuilt University’s Blair School of Music. He is in demand as guest conductor, with recent engagements including concerts with the Singapore Symphony, the Tennessee Philharmonic, the Louisiana Philharmonic, and L’Orchestre Philharmonique Sainte Trinite.

Learn more about Robin Fountain and his career

http://robinfountain.com/

Learn more about the Raffaella Ballet and to purchase tickets to the June premiere at the Morris Performing Arts Center in South Bend , Indiana

https://raffaellaballet.org/

Follow Joanne Carey on Instagram @westfieldschoolofdance 

And follow “Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey wherever you listen to your podcasts. 

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“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey 

"Where the Dance World Connects, the Conversations Inspire, and Where We Are Keeping Them Real."

“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey

In this episode of  “Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey,  join host Joanne Carey as she chats with Special Guest: Legendary Ballet Master,  Finis Jhung. 

Listen in as he retraces his career that spans decades and continues to inspire generations. Meet the  master teacher as he reflects upon his life, career, and what brings him joy. He continues to inspire dancers of all all ages. And tells us to M-O-V-E our bodies!

Finis Jhung's career spans six decades and has left his mark on Broadway, in film, and on stages across the world. While still a dancer, he studied with the greats—Valentina Pereyaslavec, Vera Volkova, Stanley Williams, Erik Bruhn, Rosella Hightower, and David Howard—and danced in the San Francisco Ballet, The Joffrey Ballet, and the Harkness Ballet. He danced for presidents and dignitaries and eventually founded and choreographed for his own ballet company. Now in the second phase of his career as a renowned and beloved dance instructor, Finis has taught everyone from prima ballerinas and Broadway stars to adult beginners. His goal is to make ballet accessible to everyone, to create innovative ways of teaching, and to inspire present and future generations of dancers. Not content with life in the studio, he has created more than 50 instructional dance videos, produced 18 music CDs, and authored The Finis Jhung Ballet Technique: A Guide for Teachers & Students—all so that aspiring dancers of every level can learn his techniques, without ever leaving home. In Ballet for Life: A Pictorial Memoir, he shares his own story for the first time, starting from humble roots in World War II Hawaii.Still actively teaching at the age of 86, his greatest joy is helping students find their “inner dancer.”

Follow on Instagram @finisjhung

Find out more https://finisjhung.com/about-finis-jhung/

⁠Follow Joanne Carey on Instagram @westfieldschoolofdance

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“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey
"Where the Dance World Connects, the Conversations Inspire, and Where We Are Keeping Them Real."

“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey and  Gene Schiavone.

In this episode of  “Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey,  join host Joanne Carey as she chats with Special Guest: Dance Photographer Gene Schiavone  about his  career which grew out of a hobby.

You will meet this humble man behind the lens who captures moments in time thus memorializing history.

Gene shares how he savors the relationships he has made and the individuals he has met, summing up his career by his treasured box of thank you notes, saying in his own words, "You measure your life, in some way,  by how many thank you notes you got."  

Gene Schiavone became interested in photography as a child.  With no formal training, he went on to become a sought after Dance Photographer. What began as a childhood curiosity became a budding career,  photographing some of the worlds best ballet dancers. Gene attributes his introduction to the world of ballet to his wife through her involvement with ABT (American Ballet Theater). His informal conversation with renowned ballerina, Julie Kent, piqued his interest in the art form and then began to attend more ballet performances. Around that same time, Gene was given permission to photograph performances of ABT's studio company and after two years was invited to photograph the main company, which led to other requests for similar work.

Gene's work and images includes Boston Ballet, Mariinsky Theatre, Bolshoi Ballet, Washington Ballet, Miami City Ballet, Atlanta Ballet and The Radio City Rockettes among others. His images have appeared New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal and all the major dance publications both here and abroad.

In March 2020, Gene retired from studio photography and is currently working on his first book in collaboration with retired ballerina and dance writer, Gavin Larsen.

Gene continues to acknowledge his gratitude for all the dancers he has worked with over the years and for the hundreds of pairs of signed shoes and photos he remembers them by. 

Follow on Instagram @geneschiavoneofficial

Find out more ⁠https://www.geneschiavone.com/

Follow Joanne Carey on Instagram @westfieldschoolofdance

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“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey

"Where the Dance World Connects, the Conversations Inspire, and Where We Are Keeping Them Real."

“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey and special guest, Kara Tatelbaum, dancer, choreographer, teacher, coach, and author of her memoir,  'Putting My Heels Down: A Memoir of Having a Dream and a Day Job.'

In this episode of  “Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey,  join host Joanne Carey as she chats with Special Guest, Kara Tatelbaum  author of 'Putting My Heels Down: A Memoir of Having a Dream and a Day Job.'  As you tune in, you'll see Kara's honest, genuine and humorous style of writing was present in all she does.  Kara brings us inside her journey through the dance world and what it was like to carve out a thriving career in NYC when everything was pointing to 'no.'  This is a delightful conversation with a fun, warm and delightful human being who in her own words is 'caregiver to all of her endeavors. '

Kara Tatelbaum Described by the New Yorker as “having brown curls, bright eyes, kiddish exuberance and looking like the heroine of a children’s book, Really Rosie meets Olivia the Pig,” Kara Tatelbaum brings full-out dancer energy to all of her endeavors, striving for a life of authenticity, grace, and humor. As a sought-after teacher and coach, Kara empowers others to hold on, let go, realize, and expand their own dreams. You can find her spotlight center-stage or cheering from the audience. Turns out she’s comfortable both places. Kara Tatelbaum brings her whole self as dancer, choreographer, teacher, coach, writer, and caregiver to all of her endeavors.

Kara lives in NYC with her husband and two children. 

Follow on Instagram @karatatelbaum

To learn more about Kara and to found out where to purchase her book

https://karatatelbaum.com/

Follow Joanne Carey on Instagram @westfieldschoolofdance

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“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey

"Where the Dance World Connects, the Conversations Inspire, and Where We Are Keeping Them Real."

“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey and special guest, Marina Harss, dance writer and author of 'The Boy from Kyiv, Alexei Ratmansky's  Life in Ballet.' 

In this episode of  “Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey,  join host Joanne Carey as she chats with Special Guest, Marina Harss who recently published her first biography 'The Boy from Kyiv, Alexei Ratmansky's  Life in Ballet.' Join us as we talk not only about this beautiful book that explores the life and career of choreographer , Alexei Ratmansky, but the in depth process and care that Marina took to learn and connect us to this 'boy from kyiv'.  Marina's writing brings the reader inside the heart of this extroidinary talent of Alexei Ratmansky in a way that leaves the reader wanting to know more.

Marina Harss is a dance writer, journalist, and critic based in New York City. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Nation, The Guardian, The Boston Globe, The Threepenny Review, Dance Magazine, and Fjord Review.

Follow on Instagram @marina.harss

To purchase the book

⁠⁠https://us.macmillan.com/search?searchType=products&q=The+Boy+from+Kyiv⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/Boy-Kyiv-Alexei-Ratmanskys-

⁠Ballet/dp/0374102619/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=⁠⁠

Follow Joanne Carey on Instagram @westfieldschoolofdance

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“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey
"Where the Dance World Connects, the Conversations Inspire, and Where We Are Keeping Them Real."

“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey and special guest, Seth Orza, founder and CEO of Orza Brand. 

In this episode of  “Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey,  join host Joanne Carey as she chats with Special Guest, Seth Orza, former principal dancer with Pacific Northwest Ballet and the Founder and CEO of Orza Brand.  Listen in as they talk about his amazing career and the injury that led to his developing this innovative ballet shoe, Orza Pro One. Orza set out to create new technology that would focus on injury prevention and dancers’ well-being. Working and developing the shoe with specialists and design engineers worldwide, they built the ORZA Pro One from the ground up. What started as an idea is now a new necessity for the international dance community. 

Seth Orza  Founder and CEO of ORZA, a new shoe company committed to the mission of prolonging dancers’ careers by helping to make their feet and bodies feel better. Seth is from San Francisco, where he grew up in a dance family. All five of his siblings danced, as did his father and mother. He trained at San Francisco Ballet School and on full scholarship at the School of American Ballet. In 1999, he joined New York City Ballet as an apprentice: He was awarded the Mae L. Wien Award for Outstanding Promise that same year. He became a corps de ballet member in 2000, and in 2007 he was promoted to soloist. Mr. Orza joined Pacific Northwest Ballet as a member of the corps de ballet in 2007, was promoted to soloist in 2008 and to principal in 2010.“Seth Orza has had a distinguished career as one of America’s leading male dancers,” said Kent Stowell and Francia Russell, PNB’s Founding Artistic Directors, in a statement. “Greatly admired by colleagues, choreographers, directors, and audiences, he is ideally positioned to use his experience to benefit dancers. ORZA PRO-ONE shows unique promise to enhance dancers’ careers and lessen the pain and injuries they have always had to cope with.As Founder and CEO, Mr. Orza manages all aspects of the company, including managing the overall operations and resources of the company and acting as the main point of communication between investors and corporate operations.Orza is backed by an all-star team of medical professionals who are leaders in their respective fields. Our Medical Advisory Team includes Marika Molnar, Physical Therapist NYCB; Dr. Phillip Bauman, MD, FAAOS; Selina Shah, MD, FACP, FAMSSM, Dance & Sports Medicine and Karin Steere, DPT, MTC, CSCS University of Puget Sound.

Follow on Instagram @orzabrand

Find out more about Orza Brand Ballet Shoes

⁠https://orzabrand.com/⁠

Follow Joanne Carey on Instagram @westfieldschoolofdance

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“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey
"Where the Dance World Connects, the Conversations Inspire, and Where We Are Keeping Them Real."

“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey and special guest, Dawn Atkins, principal dancer with Miami City Ballet. 

In this episode of  “Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey,  join host Joanne Carey as she chats with Special Guest, Dawn Atkins, principal dancer with Miami City Ballet.  They chat about Dawn's recent appointment as principal dancer with Miami City Ballet and her upcoming season. Tune in and hear them share their thoughts on dancers as givers who touch the audience perhaps when they didn't even know they needed it. Dawn shares her desire to be someone positive in the room as well as her advice to dancers on the importance of developing their whole person, for that is the person audiences see on stage, not just the character you are portraying.

Dawn Atkins  began her dance training in Rutland, Vermont and upon moving to Virginia, continued her dance training with The School of Richmond Ballet.  She attended North Carolina School of the Arts on scholarship, under the direction of Ethan Stiefel.  Dawn joined Boston Ballet School as a trainee in 2011 and Boston Ballet II in 2012. In 2013, she was a Princess Grace Award nominee and was promoted to Artist of the Company. Dawn was promoted to Second Soloist at Boston Ballet in 2019. She joined Miami City Ballet as soloist in 2021.

Atkins was promoted to the rank of principal soloist in 2022.

Follow on Instagram @dawnatkinshilty

Find out more about Dawn Atkins and Miami City Ballet

https://www.miamicityballet.org/portfolio/dawn-atkins

⁠

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“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey

"Where the Dance World Connects, the Conversations Inspire, and Where We Are Keeping Them Real."

“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey and special guest, HIllary-Marie, award-winning tap dance artist. 

In this episode of  “Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey,  join host Joanne Carey as she chats with Special Guest, Hillary-Marie, tap dance artist who describes herself as  a visual music maker who tells vivid stories through the universal languages of music dance. Listen in as she takes us on a unique journey of sound, rhythm and artistic expression. We dive deep into her world of sound and sound as language. We also talk about her debut collaboration, with the Grammy Award-winning a cappella group Take 6 and beatboxer Mark Martin. "Together, they explore the limitless acoustic nature of the human body."  As Hillary-Marie says, she is on stage giving 600%, and after our invigorating conversation, I believe it!

Now scatta, be, dat, dat, ta and listen in, you'll be inspired!

Hillary-Marie is a native of New Jersey. She is is a Tap Dance Artist, a visual music maker who tells vivid stories through the universal languages of music dance. She is an award-winning, internationally acclaimed soloist and collaborator, and at age 17 founded Jersey Tap Fest, named the Best Place to See Live Dance Performances in New Jersey by New Jersey Stage. Hillary-Marie is the co-owner of Grooves Unlimited Dance Studio, established in 2012, and the only dance studio in the United States to be entirely dedicated to Hip-Hop and Tap Dance, home of FutureSTEP Tap Company, a pre-professional tap dance company for tap dancers ages 10-25. She is also the Founder of iTapOnline.com since 2016, an online Tap Dance School for tap dancers and tap teachers all around the world, also home to the iTap Teacher Certificate Program. She has served on faculty at Montclair State University and guest faculty at Alvin Ailey and STEPS. 

Hillary-Marie has been recognized by and featured in the New York Times, Star Ledger, Dance Studio Life Magazine, Dance Spirit Magazine and Dance Teacher Magazine. She has given a TedxTalk about her artist-entrepreneur experience and has traveled the world as a featured soloist at the Apollo Theater, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Highline Ballroom, Copacabana, NJ State Theater, NJPAC, SOPAC, Symphony Space, Westobou Festival as well as Tap and Jazz festivals in Europe, Central America, South America, Asia and throughout the U.S

Follow on Instagram @hillarymarietap

Find out more about Hillary-Marie

https://www.hillary-marie.com/

Follow Joanne Carey on Instagram @westfieldschoolofdance

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“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey

"Where the Dance World Connects, the Conversations Inspire, and Where We Are Keeping Them Real."

“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey and special guest, Lauren Lovette, Resident Choreographer for Paul Taylor Dance Company

In this episode of  “Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey,  join host Joanne Carey as she chats with Special Guest, Lauren Lovette.

Joanne sat in on a rehearsal of a new piece for all male dancers that Lauren created for The Paul Taylor Dance Company prior to this episode.  Here they not only talk about this new piece, but Lauren's career as a ballerina and the transition Lauren made into the modern/contemporary dance world as well as her current position as resident choreographer.  During their conversation, you will also hear that they share the belief that dance belongs to everyone.

Lauren Lovette  personifies the intertwining of dance and choreography, moving seamlessly from one to the other. Her work has been commissioned and performed by leading dance companies and festivals, including the New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, the Vail International Dance Festival, American Ballet Theatre Studio Company, the Paul Taylor Dance Company, Nevada Ballet Theatre, as well as a self-produced evening entirely of her own work in which she also danced, Why It Matters.She began creating dance as a ballet student, for a 2007 choreographic workshop showing at the School of American Ballet (SAB). Another ballet, for the 2008 workshop, was soon followed by her being selected to create a work for the 2009 New York Choreographic Institute.In 2016, Lovette, then a relatively new principal dancer, was asked to choreograph her first piece, that then premiered at the New York City Ballet Fall Fashion Gala. In 2017, she choreographed for the Vail International Dance Festival, the NYCB Fall Season Gala, and the American Ballet Theatre Studio Company. She was awarded the Virginia B. Toulmin Fellowship at the Center for Ballet and the Arts at New York University in fall of 2018, and a year later created a work for the 2019 Fall Fashion Gala at NYCB. Her work at NYCB is noteworthy, forging a path for other female choreographers in an area of dance that has notably been predominantly male.Born in Thousand Oaks, CA, Lovette began studying ballet at the age of 11 at the Cary Ballet Conservatory in Cary, NC. She enrolled at SAB as a full-time student in 2006. In October 2009, Ms. Lovette became an apprentice with NYCB and joined the Company as a member of the corps de ballet in September 2010. Promoted to soloist in February 2013 and to principal dancer in June 2015, she stepped down from her position at the company in 2021 to embark on a career devoted to dance and choreography in more equal measure. Ms. Lovette received the Clive Barnes Award for dance in December 2012 and was the 2012-2013 recipient of the Janice Levin Award.

Follow on Instagram @laurenlovette @paultaylordance

Find out more about Paul Taylor Dance

⁠https://paultaylordance.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Joanne Carey on Instagram @westfieldschoolofdance

And follow  “Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey wherever you listen to your podcasts.

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Please leave us review about our podcast 

“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey

"Where the Dance World Connects, the Conversations Inspire, and Where We Are Keeping Them Real."

“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey and special guest, Serge Laurent, Van Cleef & Arpels' Director of Dance and Culture Program

In this episode of  “Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey,  join host Joanne Carey as she chats with Special Guest, Serge Laurent Van Cleef & Arpels' Director of Dance and Culture Program. Listen in as Joanne and Serge discuss Van Cleef & Arpels initiative, Dance Reflections, and its commitment to uphold the long history of support it has to the world of dance. Serge offers a profound insight into the way in which dance, movement and choreography appeal to such a wide audience by bringing all the artistic disciplines together to offer a unique and cultural experience to the viewer. He discusses Van Cleef & Arpels commitment to its mission of Creation, Transmission and Education.

Serge Laurent was educated in Art History and Archeology at Ecole du Louvre, Paris, France. Monsieur Laurent spent twenty years at the Fondation Cartier pour l’Art Contemporain as well as the Centre Pompidou in Paris. Since 2019, Serge Laurent has been in charge of the Dance and Culture Program at Van Cleef & Arpels.

Follow on Instagram @vancleefarpels

Find out more about Dance Reflections

⁠https://www.dancereflections-vancleefarpels.com/en/mission

Follow Joanne Carey on Instagram @westfieldschoolofdance

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“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey

"Where the Dance World Connects, the Conversations Inspire, and Where We Are Keeping Them Real."

“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey  and special guest, Jillian Davis, company artist with Complexions Contemporary Ballet.

In this episode of  “Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey,  join host Joanne Carey as she chats with Special Guest, Gillian Davis. Listen in as Joanne and Jillian recount that they are no strangers. Joanne shares how she recalls Jillian as a young dancer traveling far from home to attend the morning Adult Ballet class where Joanne kept up with her own ballet training. Joanne goes on to share with Jillian that she knew she had that "special something". Follow along as they talk bout Jillian's growth as a young ballet dancer to the powerhouse artist she is today as part of Complexions Contemporary Ballet.

JILLIAN DAVIS (Dancer) from Kutztown, PA and began her ballet training at the age of 3. She studied with Risa Kaplowitz and Susan Jaffe at Princeton Dance and Theater Studio in Princeton, NJ. Jillian attended San Francisco Ballet, School of American Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet and LINES Ballet programs. Jillian has been a company member with Complexions since 2014. She has been part of Dwight Rhoden world premieres including Headspace, Strum, Gutter Glitter, Star Dust, Bach 25, Woke, Love Rocks, and a world-premiere solo, Elegy. She has also performed installation works by Desmond Richardson and an excerpt of Approximate Sonata by William Forsthye. Along with being a dancer with Complexions, Jillian is part of the core faculty for Complexions Dance Academy.

Follow on Instagram @jillange93

Find out more about Complexions Contemporary Ballet

https://www.complexionsdance.org/home

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“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey

"Where the Dance World Connects, the Conversations Inspire, and Where We Are Keeping Them Real."

“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey and special guest, choreographer and author, Vladimir Angelov.

In this episode of “Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey, join host Joanne Carey as she chats with Special Guest, Vladimir Angelov, a renowned choreographer, and author. Together, they discuss his journey from Bulgaria to the United States and his passion for choreography. He shares his own journey as a choreographer and the satisfaction of contributing to the dance community. 

Mr. Angelov is also the founder of the International Choreography Organization and Networking Services (ICONS) that provides resources and opportunities for choreographers worldwide and emphasizes the importance of recognizing and supporting choreographers in the dance industry. His recently published book, 'You, the Choreographer: Creating and Crafting Dance' , does just that. It is a valuable guide for choreographers of all genres in their creative process. 

This engaging conversation explores the history and process of choreography, and also delves into the creative process of choreography, discussing the role of personal experiences, storytelling, and the exploration of norms and boundaries. 

Mr. Angelov is considered by many of his colleagues a key international expert in choreography, especially in philosophy and theory of choreography, as well as traditional and experimental approaches to creative practices. 

Vladimir Angelov (choreographer, author, lecturer, and executive director) graduated from the National School for Dance Arts in Sofia, Bulgaria. He studied philosophy at the University of Sofia and completed his master’s degree in dance and choreography at American University in Washington, D.C. Mr. Angelov served as a choreographer at the Washington National Opera at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., under the artistic direction of Placido Domingo. He also has choreographed for diverse musical, theater, film, and television productions. Mr. Angelov has created original contemporary ballets for companies such as Arizona Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, Indianapolis Ballet, Richmond Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Washington Ballet in the United States, as well as Alberta Ballet in Canada, National Ballet of Finland, Ballet, National Ballet of Mexico, Ballet Manila in the Philippines, Tokyo City Ballet in Japan, Mariinsky Ballet in St. Petersburg, Russia, among others. Mr. Angelov has been regular guest lecturer at the George Washington University and the American University in Washington DC, USA, and has taught at numerous universities and seminars at dance companies in Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, China, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, and Russia. He is the Founding and Executive Director of the International Consortium for Advancement in Choreography – Dance ICONS, Inc., the International Choreographers’ Organization and Networking Services – a global association for choreographers based in Washington, DC, USA. 

For Information on Dance ICONS visit ⁠https://www.danceicons.org/pages/index.php?p=151221143635 

You can purchase the book here

https://www.routledge.com/You-the-Choreographer-Creating-and-Crafting-Dance/Angelov/p/book/9780367444464 

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 “Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey 

"Where the Dance World Connects, the Conversations Inspire, and Where We Are Keeping Them Real."

“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey  and Sydnie Liggett-Dennis, Executive Director of the dance company, A.I.M by Kyle Abraham .

In this episode of  “Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey,  join host Joanne Carey as she chats with Special Guest, Sydnie Liggett- Dennis. Listen in as Joanne and Sydnie not only share their love of dance, but they dive into the role of Executive Director, and what its like to be an administrator; sharing the importance of this crucial behind-the-scenes role. Sydnie also discusses navigating a dance company through COVID and this "new normal." She also speaks of the vision of A.I.M and Kyle Abraham advocating and caring for his dancers through providing a livable yearly salary, healthcare insurance, 401K and wellness offerings. Sydnie Liggett-Dennis is a true leader in every way.

Sydnie Liggett-Dennis, became Executive Director of A.I.M by Kyle Abraham in 2019 prior to the pandemic Shutdown. Despite the challenges faced in quarantine, Ms. Liggett-Dennis rose to the occasion not only in the demanding role of an Executive Director, but she embraced the core values of the company and brought them to fruition. Sydnie is known to be a dynamic leader, excelling at organizational skills and maintaining exceptional implementation and execution. She is well-versed in the performing arts as an administrator, teacher, and performer through with an extensive background in programming, coordination, and project management. She is also great fun to speak with!
Ms Liggett-Dennis has been the Director of Programs for Dance/USA, School Director and School Administrator of the Mark Morris Dance Group, and has worked at Dance New Amsterdam. Her love of dance drew her to make it her life's work.

Follow on Instagram @aimbykyleabraham

Find out more on the company's website

https://aimbykyleabraham.org/

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“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey

"Where the Dance World Connects, the Conversations Inspire, and Where We Are Keeping Them Real."

“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey and International Bharatanatyam performer and Scholar, Bala Devi Chandrashekar.

In this episode of  “Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey,  join host Joanne Carey as she chats with Special Guest: Bala Devi Chandrashekar. Listen in as we chat about this unique style of Indian Classical Dance, Bharatanatyam (the highest form of yoga). Hear Bala share about about the profound and spiritual wisdom of this style of dance and learn the meaning of what a Guru is and the humility needed to learn wisdom. Every movement, every gesture, every moment tells a story...

This dance style and the words of Bala not only leave you feeling inspired, but lifted and part of a united, loving and peaceful humanity.

Namaste.

Bala Devi Chandrashekar is a Bharatanatyam exponent and research scholar. Bala is known for her distinct scholarly style and takes on subjects based on ancient texts supported by intense research. She collaborates with renowned scholars in their respective fields, carving messages from scriptures relevant to the contemporary world and actively presenting this form worldwide.
Bala Devi's lineage is from a family of philosophers and literary scholars. Through her classical dance, she strives to interpret ancient philosophical and esoteric concepts and present them in a distinct classical style that is always contemporary in interpretation and communicates across cultures. Bala started her initial training under Guru Jayalakshmi Narayanan in Hyderabad and then went on to learn with Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam in Chennai.

Bala Devi Chandrashekar has given over 300 performances across 30 countries. Bala is an empaneled artist of the ICCR, New Delhi, and an approved artist by the Ministry of Culture, Govt, of India for overseas performances.

Bala is one of the few Bharatanatyam artists worldwide to have released nine critically acclaimed productions. These productions are Nandanar Charithram, MLV favorites, Krishnaarpanam, Vishwam: The Omnipresent, Uddhava Gita: Lord Krishna's last message, Tripura - Divine Feminine, Karna: Destiny's Child, Brihadeeswara: Form to formless & Padmavati - an Avatar. All her productions are accompanied by exceptional world-class music. Bala consistently performs at several prestigious venues across India, the USA, Europe, and the Middle East.

In a unique honor, Bala is one of the few Bharatanatyam dancers in the world to have presented her " Brihadeeswara - Form to formless, through eyes of a Devaradiyal " ( based on the 1000-year-old UNESCO Heritage site, The Thanjavur Big Temple) at the UNESCO head office in Paris in June 2019, as a part of the world heritage week celebrations. The show was attended by over 500 art enthusiasts, including ambassadors and dignitaries.

As a Professor of Practice, Bala is constantly developing “Performing studies” in collaboration with Theater and Dance, History, Philosophy, Linguistic anthropology, and South Asian Departments of various Universities in the United States and served as a Fellow and Artist in Residence at The Carl A fields Center@Princeton University. Bala Devi in partnership with Sangam festival - 501 c 3 not for profit charity, through art performances, has raised over $500,000 for various social and educational causes in the USA and India.

Follow on Instagram @baladevi_chandrashekar

Find out more on her website

https://www.baladevichandrashekar.com/

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“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey

"Where the Dance World Connects, the Conversations Inspire, and Where We Are Keeping Them Real."

Kick- Off Season 2 of “Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey and the Artistic Director of New York Theatre Ballet, Steven Melendez.

In this episode of  “Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey,  join host Joanne Carey as she chats with Special Guest: Steven Melendez. Listen in as we have a candid chat about where Steven's career began, where it is now and where it is going. We also talk about the full-length documentary film Lift based on his life and the Lift Program at NYTB that serves children living inside homeless shelters in NYC through the art of ballet. It was in that very program that Steven discovered ballet and ballet discovered him. This is a talent whose mission is to "Bring the Dance Where the People Are'" and his new program "Between the Acts" is doing that by addressing diversity, equity and inclusion by creating greater access to dance." For NYTB, "the future of our organization and the future of dance lie with new audiences. "

Steven Melendez, was born in New York City in 1986 and began his ballet training as part of the LIFT Scholarship Program at Ballet School New York at the age of seven. Later, he studied at the School of American Ballet and attended summer programs at San Francisco Ballet Academy, Houston Ballet Academy, and Kaatsbaan International School. 2001 Melendez joined New York Theatre Ballet (NYTB) as an apprentice and in 2006 was promoted to Principal. In 2004 he graduated from the American Ballet Theater Studio Company Associate Program. He was invited to Buenos Aires as a Guest Soloist for the 2006 season traveling and performing internationally. Melendez joined the Vanemuine Theater Ballet Company in Tartu, Estonia as a principal dancer in 2007 and in 2008 received a Diploma from the 5th Rudolf Nureyev International Ballet Competition in Budapest, Hungary, receiving special recognition for his secondround performance of Onegin. He was invited to perform in the gala entitled Celebrating the Classical Male Dancer and later represented Estonia at the 13th International Baltic Ballet Festival inRiga, Latvia.

Melendez returned to NYC in March 2010 to NYTB as a Principal Guest Artist and rejoined the company full-time for the following season. Steven is a Van-Lier Fellowship recipient and a 2012 Clive Barnes Foundation Award Nominee. In 2015 Melendez celebrated his 15th season with NYTB and was a frequent guest artist at the Teatro Nacional de Costa Rica and Ballet Palm Beach. Melendez co-choreographed his first large-scale work, Song Before Spring, for New York Theatre Ballet which was named a Dance Europe critic's choice “Best Premiere” of 2016. Melendez has served as a faculty member of Ballet School New York and the Joffrey Ballet School Summer Program in New York City and has held an annual summer workshop in Nagoya, Japan for over 10 years. Since 2018 Melendez has been a member of the alumni advisory committee on diversity and inclusion for School of American Ballet. From 2019, he has been the Hiland Artistic Director for National Dance Institute New Mexico where he created Vastness, a socially distanced dance film for a global pandemic, which aired on New Mexico PBS.

Steven is the subject of a feature-length documentary, LIFT, directed by Academy Award-nominated filmmaker David Petersen, with Executive Producers Sam Pollard and Jannat Gargi.

In May 2022, Melendez was named Artistic Director of New York Theatre Ballet. Melendez succeeds NYTB founder and Artistic Director Diana Byer who held the position for 44 years.

Follow on Instagram @nytheatreballet

To get involved, check out their website

https://nytb.org/⁠

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“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey

"Where the Dance World Connects, the Conversations Inspire, and Where We Are Keeping Them Real."

In this episode of  “Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey,  join host Joanne Carey as she chats with Special Guest: Gavin Larsen, retired professional ballerina, author, writer and teacher.

Gavin sits down with Joanne and talks about her career as a professional dancer, a writer and a teacher. Together they also reminisce; sharing dance stories from Gavin's book: Being a Ballerina, The Power and Perfection of a Dancing Life , and her career. The beauty that is ballet is not only evident in Gavin Larsen's writing, but in her conversation and her ability to make her words dance.

Gavin Larsen, Born and raised in New York City, Ms. Larsen received her professional dance training at the School of American Ballet, the Pacific Northwest Ballet School and the New York School of Ballet. In 1992, she joined Pacific Northwest Ballet under the direction of Kent Stowell and Francia Russell, leaving the company in 1999 to join the Alberta Ballet, directed by Mikko Nissinen. In 2002, she performed with the Suzanne Farrell Ballet as a soloist at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. In 2003 Ms. Larsen joined Oregon Ballet Theatre as a principal dancer under artistic director Christopher Stowell. Over the course of her career, Ms. Larsen danced prominent roles in ballets by George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, James Kudelka, Christopher Wheeldon and Paul Taylor, among others, and originated roles in numerous ballets. She retired from performing in 2010 to focus on teaching, coaching and writing about dance. She was a founding member of Incoroporamento, a collaborative trio combining dance, poetry, and music, producing several performances to critical acclaim. Ms. Larsen has taught and coached widely across the country and has been a guest teacher for schools in Japan and Canada. She has been a regular contributor for Pointe, Dance Teacher, and Dance Spirit magazines, and her essay “Why I Dance” appeared in Dance magazine in 2009. Her writing has appeared in Dance/USA’s In the Green Room, Oregon ArtsWatch, the Dancing Times, as well as the Threepenny Review, Page & Spine, and The Maine Review. In 2015 she was honored with a fellowship to the Helene Wurlitzer Foundation in Taos, NM, to pursue her work as a writer. Her memoir, Being a Ballerina: The Power and Perfection of a Dancing Life, was published by the University Press of Florida in 2021. She lives in Asheville, NC.

Follow @gavinlarsen on Instagram

Find out more about Gavin on her website

https://gavinlarsen.com/

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“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey

"Where the Dance World Connects, the Conversations Inspire, and Where We Are Keeping Them Real."

In this episode of  “Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey,  join host Joanne Carey as she chats with Special Guest: Aurélia Sellier, Founder and President of the International Organization, "The What Dance Can Do Project." 

Aurélia sits down with Joanne to discuss the reality that dance changes lives. Aurélia shares her everyday and firsthand witness of the work she is doing along with the volunteer artists she has gathered in her organization to bring dance to those who would not traditionally have access to dance on a regular basis. Her unshakeable belief that dance brings about positive change, giving hope to those without hope, is creating a ripple effect and becoming a growing worldwide movement.

Aurélia Sellier, French from origin, Aurélia lives in Zurich where she has worked in various roles for large multinational companies, mostly in the field of leadership and organization development. She now is working as a freelance presence and public speaking coach.

Initially from a Literature and Business academic background, a career break gave her the opportunity to make a dream come true: bring an artistic and philanthropic project to life. Passionate about dance, the topic came to her very naturally.

“The What Dance Can Do Project was born from the belief that dance can change lives. And that more people should know about it. Dance is empowering in so many ways, it can play an active role in driving positive change at individual, community and society levels. Dance programs are not a cost; they are an investment in the future of humanity.”

Follow @whatdancecando on Instagram

To get involved, check out their Website

https://thewhatdancecandoproject.com/

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“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey

"Where the Dance World Connects, the Conversations Inspire, and Where We Are Keeping Them Real."

In this episode of  “Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey,  join host Joanne Carey as she chats with Special Guest: Terry Hyde, Dancer's Psychotherpist and Workshop Presenter.

Terry sits down with Joanne to discuss to importance of dancer mental health and how important self-care is offering the tools necessary to help performers manage anxiety, stress, mental health and their overall well-being, while navigating the world of performing and beyond, something that wasn't fostered while he was in the business. Changing the narrative and removing the taboo of mental health has become his mission and purpose not only in the UK, but worldwide. Welcome Terry and this important conversation to Dance Talk!

Terry Hyde is a Registered Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP) and abides by their code for ethical practice. Terry has been a psychotherapist/counsellor since 2010.

He started ballet classes at the age of 6 and at age 10 was awarded a 5 year scholarship to the Royal Academy of Dance in London, later attending the Royal Ballet senior school. At 18 Terry joined the Royal Ballet and later moved to London’s Festival Ballet (now English National Ballet) as a soloist.  After 5 years, he moved to musical theatre, performing in London’s West End, Film and TV.

Because of his own experiences as a performer Terry brings a genuine understanding of the unique demands that are placed on dancers into his psychotherapy practice.

Follow Terry Hyde and Counselling for Dancers https://www.counsellingfordancers.com/

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“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey

"Where the Dance World Connects, the Conversations Inspire, and Where We Are Keeping Them Real."

In this episode of  “Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey,  join host Joanne Carey as she chats with Special Guest: Maeghan McHale, dancer, choreographer, mentor, coach, and YGAP judge. 

Maeghan sits down with Joanne to discuss the trajectory of her career that led her from a classical ballet career to one in the contemporary jazz dance world. Now as a choreographer and well respected YAGP judge, Maeghan talks about wanting to create opportunities for dancers and wants those she mentors to experience all the possibilities dance provides- anything is possible. Leading by her example of the one path you're on, may just be the stepping stone where you can make a long lasting difference. Stay the course.

(We share a good laugh during our interview when, for a few moments, the sound goes out. It was purposefully decided to leave those few moments in the episode to demonstrate how we were able to laugh through the situation and 'stand by' as we stayed true to our the show biz adage: The Show MUST Go On!)

MAEGHAN McHALE, named one of Dance Magazine’s Top 25 to Watch in 2010, was born in Baltimore, MD. She studied at the Baltimore School for the Arts where she performed works by David Parsons, David Grenke, and John Clifford. She received a scholarship to Dance Theatre of Harlem, where she performed with the Dancing Through Barriers Ensemble. While living in NYC Maeghan studied at Steps on Broadway and performed with Extended Dance Company, as well as Off-Broadway under the direction of Tony Award Winner Hinton Battle. She has also participated in The Chicago Dancing Festival, Jazz Dance World Congress, The Miss America Parade, and Dancers Responding to Aids Benefit. In 2005 Maeghan received a scholarship to the Giordano Dance School, and in 2006 became a performing apprentice. 2007 marked her first season with Giordano Dance Chicago, and she enjoyed 13 seasons performing in places such as Hawaii, Latvia, Germany, Luxembourg, Austria, Netherlands, Turkey, Guatemala, Italy and Israel. Along with establishing herself as a dancer, she has also had the opportunity to set her own work on the Giordano II Company. Just recently she had the honor of working with the dancers of First State Ballet Theatre setting her new work “Out of the Silence” which premiered in November 2022. Maeghan has had her work performed on the Joyce Theater Stage, through Dancin Downtown at The Joyce, as part of the DRA Benefit. In 2011 her piece “Angelica” won the Performance Award and performed in NYC for Central Park Summer Stage. Her piece “If” also part of the DRA Benefit in 2013 won the Performance Award and they performed for Central Park Summer Stage as well. Her Choreography has been recognized with awards such as Outstanding Choreography/Choreographer, Regional Ensemble Winner and Outstanding Choreography Award at Youth America Grand Prix and has placed First in the Ensemble Category at YAGP Finals in 2021. As well as 2018 YAGP National Choreographer Award with the opportunity to travel to Russia to set her work on the Bolshoi. Her Ensemble work had the honor of being part of YAGP “Stars of Today Meet the Stars of Tomorrow” tour. In the Summer of 2014 she was on the School Faculty at the USA International Ballet Competition in Jackson, MS and was invited to be on Faculty at CNADM in the Fall of 2015. She was a Full Time Faculty Member at The South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities for the 2021/2022 School Year. She also serves as a Judge/Teacher for Youth America Grand Prix. She continues to travel and teach Master Classes and Choreography.

Follow @maeghanmchale on Instagram

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“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey

"Where the Dance World Connects, the Conversations Inspire, and Where We Are Keeping Them Real."

Movement at the Still Point, An Ode to Dance

In this episode of  “Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey, join host Joanne Carey as she chats with Special Guest: Mark Mann, renowned Celebrity Photographer, who found himself, like all of us, silent and without a space to create during the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown. For an artist, not being able to create is lonely, for a dancer, not being able to move, is a daily death. Enter sister-in-law, Loni Landon, choreographer, dancer & movement director living in NYC who suggested to Mark to take some photographs of her community who were hurting as well. Together with Loni, Jacob Levy (Mark's producer) along with a host of other yes's, and over 140 dancers, a collaboration was born that transcends any photographic lens. Mark says it best: "In what had been my first moment of stillness, I discovered boundless humanity in their movement. This book is a testament to the power of their expression, in movement and stillness."

MARK MANN is a renowned celebrity and advertising photographer who originally hails from the sun-soaked streets of Glasgow Scotland. The countless list of famous faces photographed in Mann’s unique and recognizable style includes President Barack Obama, President Bill Clinton, Iggy Pop, Rihanna, Martin Scorcese, Jennifer Aniston, Stevie Wonder, Eartha Kitt, Robin Williams, Emma Stone, Bill Murray, Jessica Lange, Arthur Miller, Margot Robbie, Robert Redford, Queen Latifah, Michael Douglas, Gillian Anderson, Dave Chappelle, Olivia Wilde, Bradley Cooper, Willie Nelson, Sean Connery and many more. Mark’s editorial work has appeared in Esquire, Men’s Health, Vibe, Spin, Fortune, Billboard, Parade, and Complex, and his clients include Reebok, Adidas, Hennessy, Bombay Sapphire, Pepsi, Gillette, Vitamin Water, NHL, Zumba, Ford, Chrysler, and Svedka to name a few.

Always hungry for new subjects and challenges Mark has spearheaded his own projects over the years, one of which was creating a collection of LUCHA LIBRE wrestlers.  Where all the photographs were shot on a vintage Graflex camera using polaroid instant film. Most recently he was struck by the contrast of dancing bodies to his traditional portraits in a new body of work which culminated in a book titled Movement at The Still Point: an Ode to Dance published by Rizzoli International in March 2023. 

Mark was born in Glasgow, where he lived until he was accepted to the prestigious photographic program at Manchester Polytechnic. Upon graduating Mark was immediately taken under the wing by innovative fashion photographers, Nick Knight and Miles Aldridge, where he learned the ropes and quickly built his own body of work. Three years later, Mark started shooting on his own and relocated to New York City where 26 years later he still lives with his wife and son, and their recently adopted Chihuahua, Shaq.

https://movementatthestillpoint.com/

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“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey 

"Where the Dance World Connects, the Conversations Inspire, and Where We Are Keeping Them Real."

Join host Joanne Carey as she chats with Special Guest: Jacqulyn Buglisi, Artistic Director/Co-Founder of Buglisi Dance Theater

This episode of “Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey, is a part of an exciting series on the work of Artistic Directors.

Artistic Directors; "Creating the Torch: Legacy, Mission, Vision; Making and Keeping, History in the 21st Century"

Several guests join Joanne to dive into the responsibility of carrying on the mission and legacy of a dance company, dance institution or academy as well as the journey of artistic directors who have created new companies and institutions; paving the way in the dance world, for generations to come.

This episode, Joanne sits down, with Jacqulyn Buglisi,  sharing special moments about her career, life, the healing power of art as well as the exciting upcoming 30th Anniversary Season Celebration for the Buglisi Dance Theater.  Jacqulyn is "committed to creating theatrical dance works that enable us to pause to consider issues of peaceful coexistence, environmental conservation, empowerment of women, and social justice. To transcend all boundaries, and embolden audiences to recognize within themselves their own humanity.”

There are people who inspire you to be a better human being, Jacqulyn Buglisi is one of them!

Jacqulyn Buglisi has a five-decade career as a choreographer, artistic director, dancer, educator, and advocate, having made an indelible impact on the field of dance. She is the recipient of the 2022 Juilliard President’s Medal, cited by President Damian Woetzel as “a model of citizen artistry,” and a 2020 Bessie Award Special Citation for the Table of Silence Project; and is on the Advisory Boards of Kaatsbaan Cultural Park and vildwerk Foundation.

She cofounded Buglisi Dance Theatre in 1993 following a career as a principal dancer with the Martha Graham Dance Company. She danced in honor of Miss Graham for the CBS presentation of the Kennedy Center Honors, and is featured in the film “An Evening of Dance and Conversation with Martha Graham.” Her ballet Sospiri premiered on the 1989 MGDC NY City Center season.

Ms. Buglisi is co-founder of the Teatro Danza Contemporanea di Roma, Italy’s first contemporary dance company and school, and was a member of the Pearl Lang Dance Theatre, Mary Anthony Dance Theatre, a charter member of the Joyce Trisler Danscompany, and Stuart Hodes Dance Company, among others.

She has choreographed nearly 100 ballets for BDT and has been commissioned worldwide. 

Ms. Buglisi is deeply committed to dance education. As a master teacher of the Graham technique for 50 years, she is Chair Modern Department at The Ailey School/Fordham BFA program and a member of the faculty since 1987, teaches at the Martha Graham School and served on the faculties of the Juilliard School, Aspen Festival, Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival Contemporary Traditions, the famed Performing Arts H.S. (alumna), among others, and in educational residencies throughout the U.S. and abroad.

Her awards and honors: Artistic Director’s Council Chair, Dance/USA Board of Trustees, National Endowment for the Arts Choreographer fellowships and grants, American Dance Guild Award, Fini Italian International Lifetime Achievement Award, Kaatsbaan Playing Field Award, Fiorello LaGuardia Award for Excellence in Dance, Gertrude Shur Award for Dance, and interviews for inclusion in the Oral History Project by The Jerome Robbins Dance Division of the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, due to be completed in 2024. She has been featured on the cover of Dance Teacher magazine, in articles for Dance Spirit, Dance Magazine, and as an Arts & Leisure feature in The New York Times

https://www.buglisidance.org/

“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey 

"Where the Dance World Connects, the Conversations Inspire, and Where We Are Keeping Them Real."

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Join host Joanne Carey as she chats with Special Guest: Gina Tse, Artistic Director International dance School, Stockholm, Sweden

This episode of “Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey, is a part of an exciting series Joanne has created that is focusing on the work of Artistic Directors titled:

Artistic Directors; "Creating the Torch: Legacy, Mission, Vision; Making and Keeping, History in the 21st Century"

Within the series, several guests join Joanne to dive into the responsibility of carrying on the mission and legacy of well established and often world famous dance companies, dance institutions and academies as well as the journey of artistic directors who are forming and have created new dance companies and institutions; all whom are paving the way in the dance world, making their artistic mark for generations to come.

In this episode, Joanne sits down, across time zones, with Gina Tse, to discuss Gina's artistic vision and the freedom of creating a dance organization from the ground up and in doing so is instilling the mission of "giving back — teaching from the heart to spread the joy of dance". By keeping the love of the art form, the well-being of her students, and the leadership of her staff at the forefront, Gina has taken both her extraordinary dance and theater background as well as her professional career as a principal dancer with the Royal Swedish Ballet, to create a school where the joy of artistry is nurtured and the vehicle of dance is used as the building blocks of life.

Gina Tse began her ballet training at 3 years of age and commenced her pre-professional training at The Royal Ballet School in London seven years later. She was a dancer with English National Ballet before joining The Royal Swedish Ballet  in 2004. There, she was promoted to First Soloist in 2007 and Principal Dancer in 2011–– the same year she was awarded Dancer of the Year in Stockholm.

She danced with Stockholm 59°North soloists and was also nominated for Benois de la Dance in Moscow at the Bolshoi Theatre in 2016. Gina has danced for The Swedish Royal Family on numerous occasions, including The Nobel Banquet, and has performed Swan Lake for the Opening of Parliament.

Gina’s instrumental role in the development of The International Ballet School and Arts Centre has been constant. From teaching 3 year olds the thrill of movement within classical dance steps, to preparing her pre-professionals and Trainee Professionals for coming careers at the world’s leading ballet schools and companies, her infectious love of dance and performance is contagious. With a remarkable 100% graduate success rate, it’s no surprise that Gina Tse and the IBS teaching staff are in demand. Students and professionals from near and far regularly turn to IBS for masterful preparatory ballet training, and IBS senior associates have won scholarships from Carina Ari Foundation, as well as Gold and Silver Medals at the AED International Dance Competition held in Italy. Gina and her staff have taught at numerous summer dance workshops and schools across the globe.

You can find more information on the International Dance School, their programs and offerings, on their website

https://www.internationalballet.se/

Follow her on Instagram @balletiner

https://instagram.com/balletinter?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey 

"Where the Dance World Connects, the Conversations Inspire, and Where We Are Keeping Them Real."

Follow Joanne Carey on Instagram @westfieldschoolofdance

Tune in. Follow. Like us. And SHARE!

Please leave us review about our podcast! 

“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey and special guest, Michelle Leagans. 

In this episode of Dance Talk with Joanne Carey, Joanne is joined by Michelle Leagans, an educator, choreographer, and author of her newly released book, "Hey Dancers, Let's Talk About it!"

Michelle shares her background in dance, starting at a young age and eventually dancing for the NBA and NFL. She discusses her experiences in the dance team industry in Texas and her passion for creating a positive and inclusive environment for dancers. Michelle also talks about her book, 'Hey Dancers, Let's Talk About It,' which aims to open up discussions about important topics in the dance industry. In this part of the conversation, Joanne and Michelle discuss the importance of effective communication in the dance world. They emphasize the need for dancers to choose their words wisely and have open lines of communication with their teachers and peers. They also discuss the quote from Michelle's book that highlights the importance of understanding the why behind dancing, rather than focusing solely on winning trophies. They go on to discuss several chapters from Michelle's book, including why dancers love to dance, the importance of supporting and cheering on teammates, and the significance of taking corrections and being open to feedback.

The conversation between Michelle Leagans and Joanne Carey focused on the importance of communication and positive energy in the dance community. They discussed the need for dancers, teachers, and parents to have open and honest conversations to improve team culture. Michelle emphasized the value of journaling as a tool for self-reflection and communication. They also touched on the impact of negative energy and the role of mental health in the dance community.

Michelle Leagans Todero began her dance journey at Oklahoma City University, where she earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance Performance. Following her academic pursuits, Michelle embarked on a remarkable performance career, gracing stages for esteemed organizations such as the NBA, NFL, Busch Gardens, and Six Flags. Her talent and dedication soon led her to the realm of choreography, where she found her true calling. Settling in Houston, Texas, Michelle immersed herself in drill team choreography, becoming a sought-after name in the industry. Over the years, she has crafted award-winning contest pieces for over 100 high school teams and continues to choreograph for the NFL Texans Cheerleaders. In recognition of her exceptional skills, Michelle was honored as the Texas Dance Educators Association All State Choreographer in 2018, solidifying her reputation as a leader in her field. Most notably, she lent her expertise to the world-famous Kilgore Rangerettes for their 2024 Revel performances. Driven by her passion for nurturing young talent, Michelle founded Power Intensives, a revolutionary dance program that fuses intensive training with a vibrant party atmosphere. With Power Intensives now spanning 20 locations annually and attracting over 1,500 dancers, Michelle's impact on the dance world continues to grow. She recently published her first book, Hey Dancers Let's Talk About It! Outside of her bustling career, Michelle finds joy and support in her loving family. She resides in Houston with her husband Jaymie and their two shelties.

Information on Michelle's Power Intensives visit https://powerintensives.com/

To purchase the book https://www.amazon.com/dp/1998454061?ref_=cm_sw_r_apin_dp_B2M2NJMGE6WXQKEMA1MW&language=en-US

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 “Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey 

"Where the Dance World Connects, the Conversations Inspire, and Where We Are Keeping Them Real."

Join host Joanne Carey as she chats with Special Guest: Gina Tse, Artistic Director International dance School, Stockholm, Sweden

This episode of “Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey, is a part of an exciting series Joanne has created that is focusing on the work of Artistic Directors titled:

Artistic Directors; "Creating the Torch: Legacy, Mission, Vision; Making and Keeping, History in the 21st Century"

Within the series, several guests join Joanne to dive into the responsibility of carrying on the mission and legacy of well established and often world famous dance companies, dance institutions and academies as well as the journey of artistic directors who are forming and have created new dance companies and institutions; all whom are paving the way in the dance world, making their artistic mark for generations to come.

In this episode, Joanne sits down, across time zones, with Gina Tse, to discuss Gina's artistic vision and the freedom of creating a dance organization from the ground up and in doing so is instilling the mission of "giving back — teaching from the heart to spread the joy of dance". By keeping the love of the art form, the well-being of her students, and the leadership of her staff at the forefront, Gina has taken both her extraordinary dance and theater background as well as her professional career as a principal dancer with the Royal Swedish Ballet, to create a school where the joy of artistry is nurtured and the vehicle of dance is used as the building blocks of life.

Gina Tse began her ballet training at 3 years of age and commenced her pre-professional training at The Royal Ballet School in London seven years later. She was a dancer with English National Ballet before joining The Royal Swedish Ballet  in 2004. There, she was promoted to First Soloist in 2007 and Principal Dancer in 2011–– the same year she was awarded Dancer of the Year in Stockholm.

She danced with Stockholm 59°North soloists and was also nominated for Benois de la Dance in Moscow at the Bolshoi Theatre in 2016. Gina has danced for The Swedish Royal Family on numerous occasions, including The Nobel Banquet, and has performed Swan Lake for the Opening of Parliament.

Gina’s instrumental role in the development of The International Ballet School and Arts Centre has been constant. From teaching 3 year olds the thrill of movement within classical dance steps, to preparing her pre-professionals and Trainee Professionals for coming careers at the world’s leading ballet schools and companies, her infectious love of dance and performance is contagious. With a remarkable 100% graduate success rate, it’s no surprise that Gina Tse and the IBS teaching staff are in demand. Students and professionals from near and far regularly turn to IBS for masterful preparatory ballet training, and IBS senior associates have won scholarships from Carina Ari Foundation, as well as Gold and Silver Medals at the AED International Dance Competition held in Italy. Gina and her staff have taught at numerous summer dance workshops and schools across the globe.

You can find more information on the International Dance School, their programs and offerings, on their website

https://www.internationalballet.se/

Follow her on Instagram @balletiner

https://instagram.com/balletinter?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey 

"Where the Dance World Connects, the Conversations Inspire, and Where We Are Keeping Them Real."

Follow Joanne Carey on Instagram @westfieldschoolofdance

Tune in. Follow. Like us. And SHARE!

Please leave us review about our podcast! 

Join host Joanne Carey as she chats with Special Guest: Dante Puleio, Artistic Director of Limón Dance Company

This episode of “Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey, is a part of an exciting series Joanne has created that is focused on Artistic Directors titled:

Artistic Directors; "Creating the Torch: Legacy, Mission, Vision; Making and Keeping, History in the 21st Century"

Within the series, several guests join Joanne to dive into the responsibility of carrying on the mission and legacy of well established and often world famous dance companies, dance institutions and academies as well as the journey of artistic directors of newly established dance companies and institutions who are paving their own way in the dance world making their artistic mark for generations to come.

In this episode, Joanne sits down with fellow New Jersey-n, Dante Puleio, to discuss his vision and the mission of leading the historical legacy of one of the world's greatest modern dance companies while reimagining its timelessness. Not a small task, but one that Dante continues to show audiences that his artistic and technical mastery and authentic love of the Limón historical roots has so much to bring to the 21st century dance world and beyond.

Dante Puleio is the Artistic Director​ of the Jose Limón Dance Company. A widely respected former member of the Limón Dance Company for more than a decade, Puleio is the sixth Artistic Director in the Company’s 75-year history, a position that originated with Doris Humphrey. After a diverse performing career with the Limón Dance Company, touring national and international musical theatre productions, television and film, he received his MFA from University of California, Irvine. His research focuses on contextualizing mid 20th century dance for the contemporary artist and audience. He is committed to implementing that research by celebrating José Limón's historical legacy and reimagining his intention and vision to reflect the rapidly shifting 21st century landscape.

You can find information on the Limón Dance Company and all the performances and programs offered on their website https://www.limon.nyc/

Instagram @limondance

“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey 

"Where the Dance World Connects, the Conversations Inspire, and Where We Are Keeping Them Real."

Follow Joanne Carey on Instagram @westfieldschoolofdance

Tune in. Follow. Like us. And SHARE!

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Join host Joanne Carey as she is joined with Special Guest, Nicole Elaine Roque, of Nicole Elaine Tutus.

In this episode of “Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey, US Air Force Veteran turned bespoke costume designer, Nicole Roque, discusses the process behind her tutu designs and how each choice she makes in the construction of her designs, from fabric, to embellishments, to hook placement, will contribute to the success of each tutu. Tune in as we even get a pointe shoe ribbon tutorial!

Nicole designs tutus for individuals, groups and has a rental collection available.

Nicole Roque grew up in Greenwich, Connecticut and has a background in classical ballet. She was a student with the Connecticut Ballet, The Ballet Class in Rye, New York, and also attended a summer intensive with the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. After graduating in 2004 from Duquesne University, she joined the United States Air Force as a 2nd Lieutenant and was stationed overseas at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. Nicole took her first sewing class at Greenwich High School, Greenwich, CT and what was once a hobby, is now her passion. After taking design, pattern making, and color theory classes at the Art Institute of New York City, Nicole has come full-circle and answered her calling to classical ballet.

*You can also catch Joanne's IGLive interview with Nicole on Joanne's Instagram Page @westfieldschoolofdance

To contact Nicole, find her on Instagram @nicoleleainetutus to design your next tutu or to rent one of her beautiful designs!

"Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey "Where the Dance World Connects, the Conversations Inspire, and Where We Are Keeping Them Real."

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Join host Joanne Carey for this Special Episode of Dance Talk in honor of Autism Acceptance Month

In this Special Episode of “Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey , Joanne sits down with special guest, Dan Watt, producer of the film, "EVERYBODY DANCE", a beautiful and poignant documentary film, highlighting the importance of inclusion and acceptance, that follows 5 dancers with different disabilities, along with their families and their beloved dance teacher, Bonnie Schlachte, over the course of 10 months, culminating in their dance recital. Joanne and Dan not only discuss the making of the film, "EVERYBODY DANCE", but they discuss the vital importance of inclusion, the amazing and far reaching impact it has on everyone (including themselves) and just how essential it is. Dan also shares a bit of the divine intervention that inspired him to make this film. As he said to me, "April's goal is to help us move in the right direction towards realizing inclusion, and sustainability, leaving no one behind.  EVERYBODY DANCE documentary does just that, shining a light on kids, their families and an amazing teacher that are a beacon of this message."  "EVERYBODY DANCE" is a must see!

Dan Watt is an independent film maker who began his career as a dancer, then dance educator working in the industry. He spent several years working at Columbia Pictures and for Simon Cowell.  As a former dancer and dance teacher his knowledge of dance and history of teaching and choreographing brings a unique perspective to the making of this documentary.  Dan along with Bonnie were featured on the Kelly Clarkson Show, who loved the film so much she had to have them on.

The film EVERYBODY DANCE is available on Amazon Prime, AppleTV, iTunes, Google Play, Vimeo and Vudu.

You can continue to follow these kids stories on:

INSTAGRAM:  @everybodyDANCEdoc

Twitter:  @EveryDANCEdoc

Dan Watt on INSTAGRAM is:   @dancindanw

“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey "Where the Dance World Connects, the Conversations Inspire, and Where We Are Keeping Them Real."

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If you'd like more content and interviews, head over @westfieldschoolofdance INSTAGRAM page and follow Joanne Carey there!

Join host, Joanne Carey as she sits down with Special Guest, Emilie Gerrity, newly promoted Principal Dancer with New York City Ballet.

In this episode of "Dance Talk®" with Joanne Carey, Emilie candidly shares with Joanne her excitement surrounding her recent promotion to Principal Dancer and what that responsibility means to her. Emilie also shares that she continues to cherish her very first dance teacher who saw her promise as a young dancer and wants to be the best role model she can be for the new generation of dancers. Listen in as Emile talks about coming up through the ranks of New York City Ballet and the day she received the surprise announcement while waiting in the wings. Emilie wants people to know that hard work pays off, and this enchanting ballerina knows that her new role is just beginning.

It's always a delight to chat with Emilie and even her cherished doggies, Fred and Maisel, joined the conversation.

Emilie Gerrity was born in Danbury, Connecticut, and began her dance training at the age of five at Betty Jean's Dance Studio in Wappingers Falls, New York before studying at the New Paltz School of Ballet. Ms. Gerrity attended summer courses at the School of American Ballet, the official school of New York City Ballet, during the summers of 2004, 2005, and 2006, before enrolling as a full-time student in winter 2006. While at SAB, she performed George Balanchine's Concerto Barocco as part of Protégés II at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. in June 2008. Ms. Gerrity was named as an apprentice in 2009 and joined the Company as a member of the corps de ballet in September 2010.

In February 2023, Ms. Gerrity was promoted to principal dancer.

Ms. Gerrity was a recipient of the Mae L. Wien Award for Outstanding Promise in 2009.

You can also catch the January 2022 IGLive interview with Joanne Carey on Instagram @westfieldschoolofdance

"Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey “Where the Dance World Connects, the Conversations Inspire, and Where We Are Keeping Them Real."

Tune in, Follow, Like us and SHARE! And don't forget to leave us a review!

Join host Joanne Carey as she is joined by Autumn Eckman, Choreographer and Assistant Professor of Dance at Kennesaw State University.

In this episode of “Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey, you'll learn from Autumn how this seasoned choreographer teaches the importance of learning to see beyond the obvious both on stage and during the choreographic process. Autumn's approach to her teaching and classes, is gleaned from her many mentors along with her time spent with mentor and Master Teacher, Gus Giordano, honoring the responsibility of shaping future generations of artists, refining the details of movement and the idea of story telling.

Ms. Eckman is truly a master of movement refinement and whose work is a modern example of dance as a Living Document.

Autumn Eckman is an Assistant Professor of Dance at Kennesaw State University. She received her formative training from the Houston Ballet Academy. Autumn had the privilege to dance with Giordano Dance Chicago where she also served as Assistant Artistic Director, Resident Choreographer and Director Giordano II, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Luna Negra Dance Theatre, Lucky Plush Productions, Ron De Jesus Dance, State Street Ballet and The Cambrians.

Her choreographic commissions include original eleven original Giordano Dance Dance Chicago as well as for companies State Street Ballet (Artist-In-Residence), DanceWorks Chicago, Visceral Dance Chicago, The Cambrians, Chattanooga Ballet, Kit Modus, Big Muddy Dance Co., Wylliams-Henry Dance Company (supported by New Dance Partners), Missouri Contemporary Ballet, Gainesville Ballet, Washington & Lee University, Stephens College, Western Michigan University, Grand Valley State University, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and the University of Missouri-Kansas City. 

Her choreography has been presented at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Bates Dance Festival, Performática (Mexico), Solo Duo Dance Festival (NYC), Detroit Dance City Festival, Charlotte Dance Festival, Blackbox International Theatre & Dance Festival (Bulgaria), Dance Gallery Festival (TX), Men In Dance Festival (WA), as a Finalist of the McCallum Choreography Competition (CA) and with JUNTOS Collective (Guatemala) where she served as Outreach Choreographer in the summer of 2019. Autumn often collaborates with composers on original works.

She holds an MFA in Choreography from the University of Iowa and is certified in the Giordano Jazz Dance Technique through the Nan Giordano Certification Program and in Level One of Revolutionary Principles of Movement.  She is dedicated to sharing her experience of over 20 years of performing, choreographing and teaching/mentorship and has served as master faculty for organizations including The Ballet Alliance Festival, Open Doors Dance Festival, Vitacca Vocational School for Dance, the Bates Dance Festival. A former Instructor of Dance at Northern Illinois University and Assistant Professor of Dance at the University of Arizona, Autumn recently returned to Atlanta and served as inaugural faculty at the School of the Arts at Central Gwinnett High School for the 2021-2022 academic year.

You can also catch Autumn's IGLive interview with Joanne Carey on Instagram @westfieldschoolofdance

“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey "Where the Dance World Connects, the Conversations Inspire, and Where We Are Keeping Them Real."

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Join host, Joanne Carey as she sits down with Special Guest, Massimiliano Greco, composer, head pianist and head of the music department of the Princess Grace Academy and Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo in Monaco.

In this episode of "Dance Talk®" with Joanne Carey, you’ll discover Maestro Greco's theory and approach to musical accompaniment in the ballet classroom elevates both the dancer's and musician's experience creating an atmosphere of profound collaboration and a space that transcends the classroom, creating beauty and joy from the very first musical note.

Maestro Greco's expertise, style, and devotion to the art form creates within each musical composition a mini concert inside the dance classroom that is sure to develop a dancer's artistry and technique. Yet, it is his commitment to creating and spreading goodness, kindness and beauty through the art form that is exemplary and his life's work.

Massimiliano Greco, is a composer and pianist. He studied and graduated with the highest mark at the Conservatory “N.Piccinni” of Bari, studying with Maestro Hector Pell. He studied musical composition with Maestro Ottavio De Lillo, in Bari. Winner of several international piano competitions, he specialised in piano with Tito Aprea, Alexander Lonquich, Maria Golia, Carla Giudici and with Michele Campanella and Alexis Weissemberg at “ACCADEMIA CHIGIANA” of Siena. He did many recordings for RAI, Italian national Television.

For many years he specialized as pianist and composer for ballet and contemporary dance and is the author of a vast repertoire of compositions for classical and contemporary dance lessons as well as the author of a refresher course for dance piano accompanists and author of a project on the "knowledge and application of music in dance".

Maestro Greco has worked with the most world-renowned teachers, choreographers and balletmasters, playing for different classical and contemporary "techniques".

Since September 2010, he has been Chief Pianist and Head of Music at the Princess Grace Academy in Monaco.

You can also listen to Maestro Greco's IGLive interview with Joanne Carey on Instagram @westfieldschoolofdance

Maestro Greco's music can be found on Spotify, Band Camp and YouTube

"Dance Talk®" with Joanne Carey, "Where the Dance World Connects, the Conversations Inspire, and Where We Are Keeping Them Real."

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Special Guest: Jacqueline Green Miller 

In this episode,  “Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey, you'll listen in as Jacqueline Green Miller takes us through the journey of her dance career, recalling to mind her own mentors and teachers as well as the schools where she studied that laid a strong foundation for her career and who shaped her as an artist. She aspires to offer this same love and inspiration as she now guides the future generation of dancers as co-director with her husband of TDA Prep (The Dance Artist Prep) a cutting edge performing arts school based in Chicago. 

Listen in, as we can't help but geek out! about all things dance! And Jackie, as she is referred to by her friends, indulges me with a discussion about performing the iconic piece, "Revelations" , a legendary ballet created by Alvin Ailey for the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater in 1960, that is still transforming audiences all over the world.

Find her on Instagram @jagreen711 or @TDAPrep You can also listen to Jackie's previous IGLIVE interview with Joanne Carey @westfieldschoolofdance

Jacqueline Green began her dance training at the age of 13 at the Baltimore School for the Arts. From there she trained at the Ailey School, Pennsylvania Regional Ballet, the Chautauqua Institution for Dance, and Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival. In 2011, she joined the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, where she performed as a principal dancer. In her career, she has performed works by a range of choreographers, including Alvin Ailey, Wayne McGregor, Judith Jamison, Ronald K. Brown, Aszure Barton, and Kyle Abraham. In 2016 she performed as a guest artist with The Royal Ballet in London. 

Ms. Green is a 2018 Bessie nominee, a 2014 Dance Fellowship recipient of the Princess Grace Foundation-USA, a 2015 Clive Barnes Award nominee, a 2009 recipient of the Martha Hill Fund’s Young Professional Award, and a 2010 recipient of the Dizzy Feet Foundation Scholarship. 

She has modeled for Nine West, Dior, Temple St. Clair, and Ralph Lauren. In 2018 she performed on BET’s Black Girls Rock honoring Judith Jamison. She is also seen dancing in the 2020 film Really Love. Ms. Green is a two time New York Times featured dance artist.

Along with her husband Preston Miller, she is currently co-director of TDA Prep (The Dance Artist Prep), an in person and virtual pre-professional dance school dedicated to providing training for both dancers and dance parents navigating dance educational institutions, dance colleges, and the professional dance industry.

  “Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey 

"Where the Dance World Connects, the Conversations Inspire, and Where We Are Keeping Them Real. "

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Join host, Joanne Carey as she sits down with Special Guest, friend, dancer, choreography, curator , all around amazing human being! Claire Kretzschmar who recently retired as a soloist with New York City Ballet but not from the dance world!

In this episode of "Dance Talk®" with Joanne Carey, you’ll discover the beautiful story of healing depicted in ‘Rhaposide’ which is based on the history of St. Bernadette, the Lourdes Sanctuary and the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  Claire expresses the ability the language of movement and music has to depict the stories of the healing, wonder, faith and hope and how as dancers we reach into the human condition offering a place of solice and love.

Claire Kretzschmar is paving the way in the dance field as a woman of faith and we sit down to discuss how she has blended the two depicted in the ballet ‘Rhapsodie’ she choreographed at the NY Ballet Choreographic Institute during the COVID-19 Pandemic when she felt audiences needed hope and healing.

Claire Kretzschmar is a former soloist dancer with New York City Ballet (NYCB) and a native of Winston-Salem, NC.  As a child, she danced at Academy of Dance Arts, Wake Forest Community Ballet, and the University of North Carolina School of the Arts before continuing on to the School of American Ballet for her final year of high school. She joined NYCB as a corps member in 2011 and was promoted to soloist in 2018.  With NYCB, Claire has performed featured roles in works by George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, Alexei Ratmansky, Justin Peck, and Kyle Abraham. In 2018, she received a bachelor's degree in Communications from Fordham University, and she currently leads dance lectures, teaches ballet, and co-hosts "The Rosin Box" segment of NYCB's podcast. Claire also choreographs when the opportunities arise, and her most notable works include Rachmaninoff Suite and Rhapsodie for the New York Choreographic Institute and The Nutcracker Garage Show for the people of Winston-Salem. She is the recipient of the Janice Levin and Martin E. Segal Awards for rising artists, and she loves to spend her free time with family and friends.

You can also listen to Claire's IGLive interview with Joanne Carey on Instagram @westfieldschoolofdance

"Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey

“Where the Dance World Connects, the Conversations Inspire, and Where We Are Keeping Them Real."

Choreography: Claire Kretzschmar

Music Composition: Lauren Vandervelden

Film: Quinn Wharton.

Tune in, Follow, Like us and SHARE!

Join host, Joanne Carey as she sits down with Special Guest, friend, dancer, choreography, curator , all around amazing human being! Claire Kretzschmar who recently retired as a soloist with New York City Ballet but not from the dance world!

In this episode of "Dance Talk®" with Joanne Carey, you’ll discover the beautiful story of healing depicted in ‘Rhaposide’ which is based on the history of St. Bernadette, the Lourdes Sanctuary and the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  Claire expresses the ability the language of movement and music has to depict the stories of the healing, wonder, faith and hope and how as dancers, we reach into the human condition, offering a place of solice and love.

Claire Kretzschmar is paving the way in the dance field as a woman of faith and we sit down to discuss how she has blended the two here depicted in the ballet ‘Rhapsodie’ she choreographed at the NY Ballet Choreographic Institute in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic when she felt audiences needed to be uplifted with stories of hope and healing.

Claire Kretzschmar is a former soloist dancer with New York City Ballet (NYCB) and a native of Winston-Salem, NC.  As a child, she danced at Academy of Dance Arts, Wake Forest Community Ballet, and the University of North Carolina School of the Arts before continuing on to the School of American Ballet for her final year of high school. She joined NYCB as a corps member in 2011 and was promoted to soloist in 2018.  With NYCB, Claire has performed featured roles in works by George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, Alexei Ratmansky, Justin Peck, and Kyle Abraham. In 2018, she received a bachelor's degree in Communications from Fordham University, and she currently leads dance lectures, teaches ballet, and co-hosts "The Rosin Box" segment of NYCB's podcast. Claire also choreographs when the opportunities arise, and her most notable works include Rachmaninoff Suite and Rhapsodie for the New York Choreographic Institute and The Nutcracker Garage Show for the people of Winston-Salem. She is the recipient of the Janice Levin and Martin E. Segal Awards for rising artists, and she loves to spend her free time with family and friends.

You can also listen to Claire's IGLive interview with Joanne Carey on Instagram @westfieldschoolofdance

"Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey

“Where the Dance World Connects, the Conversations Inspire, and Where We Are Keeping Them Real." 

Choreography: Claire Kretzschmar 

Music Composition: Lauren Vandervelden 

Film: Quinn Wharton.

Tune in, Follow, Like us and SHARE!

“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne special guests, Michelle Loucadoux and Kristen Deiss- co-founders of Danscend

In this episode of  “Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey,  join host Joanne Carey as she chats with Special Guests, Michelle Loucadoux and Kristen Deiss  co-founders of Danscend, two women who are trail blazers when it comes to the care of dancers' mental health. Listen in as these three ladies discuss the importance of mental health within the dance world. Michelle & Kristin, each share their personal backgrounds in dance and education, how they met, and then came together to create their organization, Danscend that offers courses, workshop and support for the dance community.

You'll hear a discussion about the challenges faced by dancers; the negative self-talk, perfectionism, and body image issues. They also discuss the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on dancers' mental health and the importance of community support.

The conversation explores the importance of community, the struggles of advanced dancers, the impact of fear on the mind-body connection, tools for mental wellness, prioritizing self-care, and the power of validation and community. In Danscend, Deiss and Loucadoux have created a resource that they wish was available when they were beginning their dance careers, a resource that will benefit not only their students but also the dance industry as a whole.

Michelle Loucadoux and Kristen Deiss are the co-founders of Danscend, a mental health organization focused on the well-being of dancers. They started Danscend in response to the mental health struggles they observed in the dance community, particularly during the pandemic. Michelle has a background in ballet and musical theater, while Kristen started as a ballet dancer but shifted to teaching and higher education. They both have a passion for education and saw a need for mental health resources tailored to dancers. Danscend offers courses, resources, and workshops for dancers and dance teachers, with a focus on creating a supportive and inclusive environment. Dancers face challenges such as negative self-talk, perfectionism, and body image issues. The pandemic exacerbated feelings of isolation and stress. It is important for dancers to prioritize self-care and seek support from their community. Tools for dancers include reflection, journaling, and validating feelings.

Interested in the resources Danscend has to offer? Try it for 1 month free. Just enter the code freemonth24 at checkout.

⁠https://danscend.teachable.com/p/about-us⁠

Follow on Instagram @danscendoffical

Follow Joanne Carey on Instagram @westfieldschoolofdance

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“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey

"Where the Dance World Connects, the Conversations Inspire, and Where We Are Keeping Them Real."

Join host Joanne Carey and listen in with Special Guest, Lloyd Knight, Principal Dancer with the Martha Graham Dance Company.

In this episode of “Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey, Lloyd talks about his career with the company,  his rehearsal process, his gratitude for his dance dreams being fulfilled, and his hopes for the future.

2023 is a special year for both LLoyd and the company. This year marks Lloyd's 18th Anniversary with the Martha Graham Dance Company as well as the company's 100th Anniversary; truly, a moment in history. And a moment in his-story: a legacy of "opening the doors for others and being a good example of being an artist, of being somebody who had a dream and followed it."

LLoyd Knight was born in England and reared in Miami. He holds a BFA from the New World School of the Arts. Lloyd joined the Martha Graham Dance Company in 2005 and was promoted  to principal in 2014. LLoyd was recently the February 2023 Cover Story of  Dance Magazine. In 2010 he was also named by Dance Magazine the  "Top 25 Dancers to Watch" as well as "Best Performer of 2015".

*You can also catch LLoyd's IGLive interview with Joanne Carey on Instagram @westfieldschoolofdance

“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey

"Where the Dance World Connects, the Conversations Inspire, and Where We Are Keeping Them Real."

Subscribe, Follow, Like Us and SHARE!

Join host Joanne Carey and listen in with Special Guest, Lloyd Knight, Principal Dancer with the Martha Graham Dance Company.

In this episode of “Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey, Lloyd talks about his career with the company, his rehearsal process, his gratitude for his dance dreams being fulfilled, and his hopes for the future. 

2023 is a special year for both LLoyd and the company. This year marks Lloyd's 18th Anniversary with the Martha Graham Dance Company as well as the company's 100th Anniversary; truly, a moment in history.  And a moment in his-story: a legacy of "opening the doors for others and being a good example of being an artist, of being somebody who had a dream and followed it."

LLoyd Knight was born in England and reared in Miami. He holds a BFA from the New World School of the Arts.  Lloyd joined the Martha Graham Dance Company in 2005 and was promoted to principal in 2014.  LLoyd was recently the February 2023 Cover Story of Dance Magazine.  In 2010 he was also named by Dance Magazine the "Top 25 Dancers to Watch" as well as "Best Performer of 2015".

*You can also catch LLoyd's IGLive interview with Joanne Carey on Instagram @westfieldschoolofdance

“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey

"Where the Dance World Connects, the Conversations Inspire, and Where We Are Keeping Them Real."

Subscribe, Follow, Like Us and SHARE!

Welcome to “Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey

"Where the Dance World Connects, the Conversations Inspire, and Where We Are Keeping Them Real."

Join host, Joanne Carey, Wednesday, March 8th, as she brings her popular Instagram Live series Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey , that began in December 2021 , to the podcast airwaves!  Dance Talk®  welcomes dance artists from around the world each week to sit down and share their stories, goals and dreams for themselves, the dance community and future generations. Listen in, as we take a peak inside the career of each artist who shares their enthusiasm, wisdom, insight and inspiration, leaving you, the listener, with the transformative power of dance through each artist's voice.

Joanne Carey, dancer, author, artistic director, teacher, coach, entrepreneur, has been named one of the "Top 30 Inspiring Woman" two years in a row for 2022 & 2023 by Entrepreneurs Herald Magazine, is the recipient of the award "The Best of the Best Children's Dance Studio 2020", nominated for the "Readers Choice Award, by TCK Publishing in 2021 for her book, "The Other End of the Barrel, One Woman's Journey Back to a Life filled with Joy, Laughter and Love after the Tragic Loss of a Child, which rose to #2 on Amazon in one day for New Releases in the Psychology Reference Category.

Joanne Carey has been in the dance industry for over 30 years. She began her career as a modern dancer, dancing with a modern company in NYC.  Joanne spent 23 of those years as the owner and artistic director of a popular children's dance studio, where she brought dance to thousands of families in Central NJ and was one of the first local dance studios to implement a Special Needs Dance Program.  She was a board member of Dance New Jersey  for 5 years, representing the dance studio voice, successfully raising the level of conversation and collaboration between the neighborhood dance studio and the professional dance sector in NJ.  Joanne is also a member of NDEO and the Le Conseil International de la Danse.  Joanne holds a BA Degree from Rutgers College as a double major in French and Political Science, studied in the graduate program at NYU for Dance Education K-12, holds an AOA Degree in acting from The American Academy of Dramatic Arts and received her teacher certification from American Ballet Theater in the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 3 and is an ABT® Certified Teacher.

Welcome to the place "Where the Dance World Connects, the Conversations Inspire, and Where We Are Keeping Them Real."  Let's get this Dance Talk® started!

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“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne special guest, Teacher Terrel, creator and author of the Once Upon a Dance Book Series

In this episode of  “Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey,  join host Joanne Carey as she chats with Special Guest, Teacher Terrel.   

Listen in as we chat about how Terrel's love for dance and how dance contributes to the lives of others, making it her mission to spread its joy. The COVID-19 Pandemic lockdown was pivotal in inspiring Terrel to find new ways to keep dance alive and create- thus the Once Upon a Dance book series was born!

Terrel shares her love for dance and her motivation to be a positive force for dance through her work. She also talks about her process of creating the book series, which she created along with her ballerina daughter. Along with finding illustrators and handling the layout. All royalties from her books have been donated to nonprofit charity partners that support the arts.

Terrel's goals for the future are limitless so get in line to collaborate with her. The possibilities for this creator are endless!

Teacher Terrel arrived in Seattle after a Peace Corps stint teaching English and dance. Complementing decades of teaching dance, she worked in early childhood education and for non-profits supporting kids. Terrel was recognized by her local City Council for "embodying the spirit of partnership and commitment to children in our community" for her work with young dancers. She serves on Pacific Northwest Ballet's Board of Directors and on a National Dance Education Organization committee.

Once Upon a Dance offers movement, breath, joy, connection and imagination through stories. Their catalog (25 books across four series) offers positive role models, whimsical stories, and diverse characters. Alongside movement and dance, the books feature themes of empathy, friendship, the value of practice, self-acceptance, sibling relationships, anger management, and working toward goals.

Stories are lovingly crafted, and royalties are donated to charity partners. A few highlighted honors:

• 40+ Book Awards

• Family Choice Award

• Mom’s Choice Gold Award Recipient

• PenCraft Award: First Place

• Firebird Book Award: First Place

• Royal Dragonfly Book Award: First Place

• Pinnacle Book Achievement Award - Best Book Juvenile Fiction

• Outstanding Creator Awards: Best Children's Book, Top 10 Author of 2022

• Kirkus Reviews Starred Review

Follow on Instagram @once_uponadance

Visit  DanceStories.com to learn about the mother-daughter team, browse books, or discover learning resources.

https://onceuponadance.com/
www.CreativeMovementStories.com

Follow Joanne Carey on Instagram @westfieldschoolofdance

And follow  “Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey wherever you listen to your podcasts.

Tune in. Follow. Like us. And Share.

Please leave us review about our podcast! 

“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey

"Where the Dance World Connects, the Conversations Inspire, and Where We Are Keeping Them Real."