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

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

Key Points From This Episode:

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

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

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

Follow the podcast on Instagram & Facebook

Check out The Moving Architects on State of the Arts on PBS

The Curiosity That Moves Us with Ann Carlson

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

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

Key Points From This Episode:

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

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

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

Follow the podcast on Instagram & Facebook

Crafting a Fulfilling Life In Dance with Tristan Ching Hartmann

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

Key Points From This Episode:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For the latest, follow on Instagram and Facebook

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For more info on this episode:

www.themovingarchitects.org/podcasts

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

For more info on Movers & Shapers and this episode:

themovingarchitects.org/podcasts

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

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

https://tickets.nyu.edu/10398

For more info on Movers & Shapers and this episode:

http://themovingarchitects.org/podcasts/

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

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

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

For more info on this episode:

themovingarchitects.org/podcasts

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

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

Key Points From This Episode:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Podcast Guests:

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

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

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

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

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

For the latest, follow on Instagram and Facebook

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

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

For more info on this episode and Movers & Shapers:

themovingarchitects.org/podcasts

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

For more info on this episode:

themovingarchitects.org/podcasts

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

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

http://themovingarchitects.org/podcasts/

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

Women/Create! A Festival of Dance

2018 Season New York Live Arts

Celebrating the Innovation of Women in Choreography

June 11-16, 2019

More Info: womencreatedance.org

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

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

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

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

April 19-20 / The Dance Complex (Boston)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Key Points From This Episode:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For the latest, follow on Facebook & Instagram

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Key Points From This Episode:

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

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

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

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

·       The collaborations and competition each of our guests experience. 

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

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

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

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

Podcast Guests:

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

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

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

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

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

For the latest, follow on Instagram & Facebook

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Key Points From This Episode:

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

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

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

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

·       Her love and interest in storytelling and collaboration.

·       How she got her first gig choreographing a musical.

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

·       Clare shares about her opportunity to do an observership. 

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

·       How the concept for Basin Arts started to unfold.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For the latest, follow on Facebook & Instagram

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

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

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