The Story Project – Details, episodes & analysis

In today’s episode, Dinah Hampson discusses:

• The importance of providing performers with the tools and resources to have sustainable career

• Challenging the narrative that dancers must suffer and have short careers

• Her online platform, Pivot Dancer, which offers resources and classes to help performers take care of their bodies and prevent injuries

• The need for empowerment and mental performance skills for dancers

• Abuse and unsafe practices in dance and the importance of creating a supportive community

• Injury prevention, the importance of sleep, and the need to normalize strength training in dance

Dinah Hampson is a Physiotherapist who is passionate about enjoying life and using her knowledge to promote high performance in others. Dinah holds many certifications including the Sport Physio Diploma and International Sports Physiotherapist qualification, the Diploma of Manual & Manipulative Therapy and Pelvic Health Physiotherapy.

Dinah is the Founder of Pivot Sport Medicine, a multidisciplinary clinic in Toronto, Canada and Pivot Dancer, a virtual dance injury prevention platform with worldwide membership. Dinah has been on the Canadian medical team for over 15 multisport games, including the Olympics, Youth Olympics, Paralympic, Pan American, World University and Commonwealth Games.

Dinah trained in classical ballet, and brings a technical eye to her treatment of dancers and artistic athletes. Dinah works regularly with professional dancers from companies such as the National Ballet of Canada, Joffrey Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre, Singapore Ballet and, Cirque du Solei. Dinah is active in dance science research and is a regular conference presenter.

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Follow along on Dinah’s journey: @dinahhampson @pivotdancer

Transcript available on our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!

In today’s episode, Jhansi discusses: 

• Her recent move from India to America 

• The process of creating her music video “We Break Up Because of Family Reasons”

• The challenges she faced as a musical theater artist in India 

• The cultural expectations and challenges of arranged marriages 

• Loneliness and struggling to find connection in New York City 

• Setting goals and exploring many interests 

Jhansi is a musical theater director, creator, performer, lyricist, and composer. She takes her audience through a range of emotions from unexpected laughter to abrupt tears. Her candid performances focus on the stirring themes of youth, marriage, women’s equality, aspirations, anxiety, desperation, and hope, something that the masses can relate to in their own lives. 

Jhansi was the First Indian to be accepted into the BA in Musical Theatre performance program at Lasalle College of the Arts in Singapore. She was also a part of Queens of Comedy, which aired on TLC, Netflix, and Amazon Prime. She performed in one of India’s biggest Broadway shows, Aladdin, as Iago. She has directed and created multiple Original Musical Theatre shows including "Don't Eat My Face Pizza" and "Terrified of Twenty-Five”, along with countless collaborations for Broadway style music videos and massive scale festivals. 

Jhansi moved to the United States to be a part of the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop in NYC as a lyricist and was also invited to become a permanent member of the American Comedy Group, Broad Comedy. 

Follow along on Jhansi’s journey: @thejhansiway

Transcript available on our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!

Kaia Goodenough is a freelance curator, writer and facilitator in London, particularly interested in interdisciplinary and collaboratively embodied practices. Kaia originally trained as a contemporary dancer at London Studio Centre and her choreography has been performed at Lillian Bayliss, Sadlers Wells, DanceEast, Battersea Arts Centre, The Place and the Point, and Eastleigh. She recently studied at the Royal College of Art graduating with a Masters in curating contemporary Art.

In today’s episode, Kaia discusses how she took her complicated relationship with dance and worked to reclaim it as her own, how being a dancer influences her art, producing, and curation, and the beauty of dancing explicitly to have a good time. 

She also shares how having her work funded was the least creative she’s ever been, how the choreographic project empowering students led to her never being asked to return,  and how she explores femininity and womanhood through movement.

Follow along on Kaia’s journey: kaiagoodenough.co.uk

Transcript available on our ⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠!

Lee Hubilla is an actor whose performances have graced the screen on Law & Order: SVU, Dash & Lily, and FBI: Most Wanted and on the stage at The Magnet, The PIT, and Ars Nova. She was an acting mentee under Lena Waithe’s Hillman Grad Mentorship Lab and had a writing mentorship under Giant Leap’s inaugural accelerator program.

In today’s episode, Lee and Jessica discuss the deeper rewards and empowerment that came from chopping their hair, the impact of dance on identity and self-perception, and the process of reconnecting with your body after trauma. 

Lee shares how she transitioned from dancer to actor and writer, what she learned from taking conscious breaks from her chosen crafts, and how to embrace the messiness of life. 

Follow along on Lee’s journey: @butactuallee

Transcript available on our ⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠!

Lexi Garcia-Toye is a distinguished dancer currently enchanting audiences with the Walt Disney World Company in Orlando, Florida. She previously performed in Broadway's "Hamilton," the touring productions of "Finding Neverland" and "Hamilton," as well as "Mamma Mia" at The Fireside Theater, "Whiskeyland" at the Orlando Fringe Festival, and "Le Cirque Bijou" on Norwegian Cruise Line. 

In today’s episode, Lexi talks about the onset and recovery of her eating disorder, her magical connection to Finding Neverland, and her experience auditioning and performing in Hamilton.  

She also discusses how the COVID pandemic altered the course of her life for the better, the difficulties and joys of working at Magic Kingdom, and how she is grateful and excited for the uncertainty of the future. 

Follow along on Lexi’s journey: @lexi_toye

Transcript available on our ⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠!

In today’s conversation, Thomas Hodges bravely shares his journey through the past six months of sobriety. He shares the impact it has had on his creative process, how we can become curious about toxic cycles and what no longer serves us, and what challenges have arose thus far.  

Thomas and Jessica discuss the power of creating art from the feelings you are currently struggling with, the ability for artists to create meaningful connections and impact other people’s lives through their work, and one surefire way to get yourself to write a cabaret. 

*Transcript available on our ⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠!

About Thomas Hodges:

Thomas Hodges is an award-winning composer and educator who received the 2018 Arch and Bruce Brown Foundation Grant and The Anna Sosenko Assist Grant for his musical Sonata 1962, which won the 2018 New York Musical Festival Award for “Outstanding Musical Arrangements and Orchestrations.''

His musical Underground was part of the 2019 NYMF Reading Series and he was most recently the Developmental Music Consultant for Life Jacket Theatre’s The Gorgeous Nothings.

Thomas’s score for Dear Harvey (Playscripts Inc.) has had 50 international productions, 3 language translations, earned him a commendation from the City of San Diego, and an award from the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. His Commissions include The Harvey Milk Foundation, Diversionary Theatre, and Borough of Manhattan Community College. 

In addition to performing his album release “Time Travelers” at Joes Pub, he’s performed across the country at notable venues including The Kennedy Center, California Center for the Arts, and 54 Below.

Ramita Ravi is a startup founder and artist. She is a professional dancer, choreographer, and educator with Bloc Talent Agency NY/LA. As a dancer, she’s worked on John Oliver and NYFW, and was one of the first South Asian dancers on So You Think You Can Dance and in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. Ramita’s choreography credits include Coachella, Miss America, and Lincoln Center. She is the co-founder of Artswrk - a tech platform that connects artists with flexible work. She is passionate about representation, equity, and innovation in the arts. 

In today’s episode, Ramita discusses the empowerment that comes with being a multi-hyphenate artist and entrepreneur, the importance of exploring multiple avenues of both employment and fulfillment, and how the company she built aims to disrupt the financial struggles that artist’s face.

She also shares what it means to be one of the first South Asian artists performing and choreographing in multiple spaces, the most empowering choreographers and directors she’s worked with, and what she’s most interested in diving into next. 

Follow along on Ramita’s journey: @ramita.ravi

Transcript available on our ⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠!

Honza is a professional dancer who traveled across the country as the Dance Captain on the Dirty Dancing National Tour and the Fiddler on the Roof National Tour. He’s performed with numerous dance companies in New York City and is now living in Charlotte, NC with his partner and puppy, where he is navigating the next stage of his career. 

In today’s episode, Honza shares the struggles in balancing personal and professional goals, how he chases his dreams while leaving room for those dreams to evolve, and his relationship with the natural craving for positive reinforcement as an artist. 

Honza and Jess discuss how success is defined by the individual, how navigating auditions requires finding a balance between authenticity and standing out, the challenges that comes with living in the United States as an artist (including visa limitations and financial constraints), and the hope that conversations and storytelling have the power to create change. 

(Part 2 of 2)

TW: Brief mention of sexual assault.

Follow along on Honza’s journey: @honzapelichovsky

Transcript available on our ⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠! 

Honza is a professional dancer who traveled across the country as the Dance Captain on the Dirty Dancing National Tour and the Fiddler on the Roof National Tour. He’s performed with numerous dance companies in New York City and is now living in Charlotte, NC with his partner and puppy, where he is navigating the next stage of his career. 

In today’s episode, Honza expresses how he brought his ballroom dance training into his college training and professional work and how he deals with criticism and disappointment as both a student and professional.  

Honza and Jess discuss how while college education in dance can be valuable it often does not align with the realities of the professional dance world and how words and feedback given to dancers can have a lasting impact on their self-confidence and artistic development.

(Part 1 of 2)

TW: Brief mention of sexual assault.

Follow along on Honza’s journey: @honzapelichovsky

Transcript available on our ⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠! 

Jessica emphasizes the importance of sharing stories and experiences as a way to connect and ignite empathy. She voices her belief that creating a supportive community is crucial for artists and humans to feel safe and well. Jessica also highlights the need for to take care of oneself holistically in order to sustainably fight for change.

Transcript available on our ⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠!

TW: Sexual assault, eating disorders