The Journey of Creating Dance for Video with Mimi Garrard
Video dance work has become increasingly popular as technology has advanced, but not many dancers and choreographers have made it their primary medium of work. Today’s guest, Mimi Garrard, is the exception, having spent most of her extensive career focusing on video dance. In this episode of Movers & Shapers, we hear all about Mimi’s life, what led her to dance, her training under Alwin Nikolais, why she chose video dance, and what she loves about it. We delve into how she combines video and live dancing before Mimi expands on how technology has changed her work, the lighting system her husband designed for her, and some of her biggest influences throughout her career and life. Mimi feels that intuition has always been a driving force for her, and today, she tells us how that has served her work. We even discuss how AI might impact her work and what’s next for Mimi Garrard Dance Theatre. This is a fascinating episode filled with unique perspectives carved from Mimi’s special journey, so be sure to tune in!
Key Points From This Episode:
· An overview of Mimi’s life and what led her to dance.
· Her training and touring program with Alwin Nikolais and the pieces she did with him.
· Mimi’s move to the country, her outdoor work, and how madness is a theme of her work.
· What informed her decision to combine video with live dance and how it has been received.
· Who has influenced her work most throughout her career.
· What Alwin Nikolais was like (according to our guest!)
· How Mimi got hooked on video dance and how her work has evolved with technology.
· The lighting system her husband came up with for her dance videos.
· How Mimi’s intuition has served her throughout her career.
· The importance of learning and continuously working as a beginner.
· What’s next for Mimi and her curiosity about how AI will affect her work.
· Why she doesn’t attend screenings of her own work.
“If I don’t know what to do, it’s my intuition that tells me what to try next.” — Mimi Garrard
Mimi Garrard is an award-winning choreographer for the stage and for video.
For more on this episode: Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast
Finding Your Artistry Beyond Words with Stefanie Nelson
One of the beautiful things about dance is the ability to express yourself without words. You can just dance. Joining Erin on the podcast today is Stefanie Nelson, Founder and Director of Stefanie Nelson Dancegroup (SND), a contemporary dance company based in NYC. Stefanie also established Dance Italia, an international summer dance program in Lucca, Italy. Today, she shares what kickstarted her lifelong love of dance and the influence that Alice Teirstein had on her journey. She also offers insight into her college journey and what it takes to make it as an artist in New York City. Tuning in, you’ll learn how she transitioned from dancer to choreographer and how 9/11 ultimately led her to Italy. She details her time dancing and choreographing in Italy before returning to America and shares her vision for Dance Italia. To learn more about Stefanie’s career highlights, challenges, and the different projects and initiatives that keep her busy, be sure not to miss this episode of Movers & Shapers. Thanks for listening in!
Key Points From This Episode:
· How quitting piano led Stefanie to a lifelong love of dance.
· Alice Teirstein and what led her to become a dancer.
· What it means to “make it work” as an artist in New York City.
· How Stefanie eventually transitioned into creating her own work as a choreographer.
· Running away to Italy after 9/11 and how it played out.
· Highlights from her time dancing and choreographing in Italy.
· Details about the Dance Italia festival and the vision behind it.
· How the organization and planning for Dance Italia have changed over the years.
· The different projects and initiatives that Stefanie is busy with.
· Insight into her upcoming work in 2025 and beyond.
· Highlights, challenges, and other obstacles from Stefanie’s career journey.
· Her hopes, aspirations, and dreams for the future.
“There’s something very beautiful about being able to express yourself without having to articulate words, ideas, thoughts, and sentences in a linear way.” — Stefanie Nelson
Stefanie Nelson is the Founder and Director of Stefanie Nelson Dancegroup (SND), a contemporary performance group based in NYC; DANCE ITALIA, an international summer dance festival in Lucca, Italy; and Motore 592, a bold, new, center for contemporary movement practices in Lucca, IT.
For more on this episode: Movers & Shapers
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Creating a Modern Dance Culture and Community with Kathy Dunn Hamrick
Establishing a modern dance company is no easy feat, but today’s guest managed to create a successful organization and build a wonderful modern dance community in Austin, Texas. Today on Movers & Shapers, we welcome Kathy Dunn Hamrick, the Artistic Director of Kathy Dunn Hamrick Dance, to discuss her work and how she helps dance grow in Austin. Kathy found a love for dance at a young age and quickly decided that she needed to dedicate her life to it. In this episode, you’ll hear all about Kathy’s life and career, her decision to teach, and how her desire to be ‘in charge’ led her to start her company. We discuss the difficulty of balancing a family and career, her gorgeous piece choreographed on platforms on a lake, and starting the Austin Dance Festival. We delve into Kathy’s recent cancer diagnosis and how her community has showed up for her, and Kathy opens up about next steps of sharing her knowledge with the next generation of dancers and choreographers. Finally, we walk through Kathy’s career highlights and struggles. To hear all this and more, press play now!
Key Points From This Episode:
· We delve into the who behind Kathy Dunn Hamrick and learn about how she got into dance.
· The wonderful mentors Kathy has had and how they shaped her career.
· Kathy tells us about her move to New York and why she decided to get her MFA.
· Transitioning into the role of dance teacher and founding namesake company; Kathy Dunn Hamrick Dance.
· How Kathy balances her family and business while keeping her career interesting for herself.
· The incredible dance piece that was choreographed by Kathy and performed on a lake.
· The modern dance culture in Austin and why Kathy started her dance festival.
· How COVID affected Kathy’s business and festival.
· Kathy’s diagnosis with stage four cancer and what’s next for her and the organization.
· Why finances have always been Kathy’s biggest business struggle.
· The highlights of Kathy’s career and the wonderful dance community she’s built.
“From a very young age I knew I wanted a family and I knew I wanted to dance and I’ve achieved both of those [things] so I’m living my best life honestly.” — Kathy Dunn Hamrick
Kathy Dunn Hamrick is the Artistic Director of Kathy Dunn Hamrick Dance Company and the Founder and Executive Producer of Austin Dance Festival.
For more on this episode: Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast
Enjoying the Art, Expression, and Freedom of Dance with Julie Lemberger
Welcome to the latest episode of the Movers and Shapers podcast, where today we're delighted to welcome our guest, Julie Lemberger. Julie is a multifaceted individual — she's had a life as a dancer, dance photographer, and educator. She has dedicated over 15 years to capturing the ephemeral beauty of concert dance. Her lens has encapsulated the essence of New York City's dance scene at the turn of the 21st century. Julie's stunning dance photography has graced the pages of prestigious publications like The New York Times, Dance Magazine, and numerous national and international journals and websites since 1993. Join the conversation to hear about what sparked her interest in dance, why she was initially turned off of modern dance, and how her ballet journey led her to places like The Netherlands, Germany, and New York. We delve into her diverse dance ventures and then pivot to hear about her transition to Plan B: starting college. Julie shares the fascinating intersection of her worlds; photography and dance, and articulates the emotions she experiences when capturing dance through her camera. Don't miss out on this intriguing discussion! Tune in now to hear all this and much more. Thanks for listening!
Key Points From This Episode:
· We discover how The Nutcracker sparked Julie’s interest in dance.
· Her thoughts on being more of an artist and enjoying ballet for the artistry of it.
· Why she decided to stick to the discipline of ballet while growing up.
· Julie shares a turning point, and realization, in her dance career.
· She delves into her time in Europe (The Netherlands, Germany, England).
· We are transported forward, back to New York, and her other endeavors at the Graham School, Jacob’s Pillow, and more.
· Her Plan B: starting college.
· Why starting college was the saddest day of her life.
· She recalls the time she got her first camera, at age 23.
· When the two worlds collide: dance and photography.
· What Julie enjoyed most about dance photography: her master’s degree experience.
· She expresses what taking photos of dance makes her feel.
· Julie highlights what she’s excited about, and what gives her energy, these days.
“I realized that having my photographs judged was so much easier than having my body and my dancing judged.” — Julie Lemberger
A former dancer, Julie Lemberger photographs dance in New York City for 30 years, and whose work has appeared in the New York Times, Dance Magazine and many other journals, books and digital platforms. Check out her coloring book Modern Women: 21st Century Dance.
More on this Episode: Movers & Shapers
Being part of the global dance community can be deeply rewarding but it also has the potential to be exceptionally challenging and toxic. Not only are you competing for highly limited resources, but you also need to contend with how your self-worth can become contingent on the opinion of others. Today’s guest, Betsy Miller, has experienced many of the highs and lows familiar to almost any dancer but ultimately counts herself blessed and deeply fortunate to have found genuine places of community within the dance world. Join us as we talk with Betsy about her early love of dance (and fashion!), her studies at Connecticut College, and how she uncovered her love of teaching while earning her MFA at The Ohio State University. She shares how establishing a collective with her former cohort allowed her to work in the collaborative models that would come to define her later approach to dance and how she earned her position as the Associate Professor of Dance at Salem State University, where she still finds herself today. We also learn about her ongoing american / woman dance project, and the circumstances that inspired it, before discussing how she chose to reorient the fundamental relationship between choreographer and dancer. For an expansive conversation on creative research, the beauty of being part of a dance community, and much more, be sure to tune in!
Key Points From This Episode:
· Betsy’s early love of ballet and fashion and her discovery of modern dance.
· The incredible faculty members and guest artists she studied under at Connecticut College
· How she co-founded the Propel-her dance collective with her former cohort and friends.
· How grad school helped her uncover her love of teaching.
· How she became a tenured professor
· The multitude of factors that led Betsy to start the american / woman project.
· How she has used the american / woman project to interrogate the title subject matter and reorient the choreographer-dancer relationship.
· Betsy shares the highs, lows, and biggest challenges of her career.
“It's always about community and the places in which I find community in the dance world. Something about the way that we bring our bodies into the spaces and that we are allowing ourselves to be vulnerable because we are embodied, makes this community really special.” — Betsy Miller
Based in Salem Massachusetts, Betsy Miller is a dance artist, educator and facilitator whose current mission is to collaborate with women-identifying dancers in every state of the country.
More on this episode: Movers & Shapers
Happy Holidays from Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast! Listen to a special announcement from Host and Artistic Director of The Moving Architects, Erin Carlisle Norton.
Support this podcast with a tax-deductible donation! themovingarchitects.org/support
Find Show Notes & More: themovingarchitects.org/podcasts
While dance is often underfunded and under-recognized, leaders in the field acknowledge the incredible talent that lives within every dancer, reminding them that they are, in fact, ‘Acrobats of God’. Today’s guest embodies the purpose of the Movers and Shapers: A Dance Podcast; to share insights from those who shape the dance field, and create an archive that preserves rich, personal experiences across generations. During this episode, Jeanne Ruddy shares what it was like to be a member of the Martha Graham Dance Company, and to work with Martha herself. You’ll also hear how she forged her own unique role in dance, how she encourages other artists to flourish, and her passion for nurturing future generations of dancers in Philadelphia. Tuning in, you’ll learn all about Jeanne’s journey as a dancer, and finding her way to creative expression thereafter. Join us to hear all about the highs and lows of our guest’s incredible career today.
Key Points From This Episode:
· Her first experiences of dance and her lifelong love of music.
· The changing dance scene of the 1960s.
· The pivotal period of time for a dancer between 16 and 21.
· Her experience at North Carolina School of the Arts and Utah Repertory Dance Theatre.
· Traveling to New York and starting a company with no capital.
· Getting a huge break with Yuriko Kikuchi after auditioning with Getting to Know You.
· Being chosen to be in the Martha Graham Dance Company and enjoying a ten-year career.
· Why Martha would sit in the second wing, stage right, in a director’s chair, during performances.
· The eventual decision to leave the company due to pain.
· The birth of the Performance Garage in Philadelphia.
· The program Jeanne currently facilitates for dancers.
· What Martha Graham taught: dancers are acrobats of God.
“I walked out of Deaths and Entrances, I was definitely a child of the 60s, and I didn’t like it. Seven years later, I was playing one of the sisters in that very piece in Lincoln Centre. I loved it.” — Jeanne Ruddy
Jeanne Ruddy is a former Principal Dancer with the Martha Graham Company where she performed throughout the World, on Broadway, served on the faculties of The Juilliard School, Alvin Ailey School, colleges and universities in the US and abroad, founded Jeanne Ruddy Dance, and a center for dance – the Performance Garage, in Philadelphia.
More on the episode: Movere & Shapers
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The organization behind the podcast: The Moving Architects presents "O my soul", where fierce femininity and intergenerational dance meet. Dec 1 in Montclair, NJ. For more info: The Moving Architects
Creating a Vision for Kathak with Rukhmani Mehta
Today on Movers & Shapers, we are joined by Rukhmani Mehta (previously Rina Mehta). Rukhmani is a choreographer, dancer, educator, Artistic Director of Leela Youth Dance Company, and the Co-Artistic Director of Leela Dance Collective, which brings together leading artists from around the world to advance a collective vision for kathak, a classical North Indian dance. In this episode, Rukhmani speaks about her love for creating community through dance and her deep interest in and curiosity for collaborative projects and processes. What stands out most is Rukhmani’s resounding passion for her work and art form, despite the struggles she has had along the way, as well as the thoughtfulness with which she has built her life in dance, from co-leadership of her company to teaching to creating the first-ever endowment to support kathak dance and music in the US and more. Tune in today for an inspiring conversation about the power of collaboration, community, and preserving culture!
Key Points From This Episode:
· How Rukhmani started dancing and when she fell in love with kathak.
· What she learned about the art form from kathak master, Pt. Chitresh Das.
· The profoundly transformational experience that studying kathak afforded her.
· How she learned to follow her heart and commit to starting a professional dance company.
· Steps Rukhmani took to build a life in dance, including teaching and the Leela Foundation.
· Audience development and creating a future for kathak as an educator.
· Unpacking Rukhmani’s belief in the power of collaboration.
· Where the name Leela comes from and how it speaks to spontaneous creativity.
· Insight into Rukhmani’s love for creating communities of young women through dance.
· The process of building Leela as a collective and how it was impacted by COVID.
· Joys and challenges of a dance career and what you can look forward to from Leela!
· The heartwarming story of why Rukhmani changed her name from Rina.
“My work is about being an artist and putting the art form out in the world but – it has also become about creating the infrastructure that the artists who are carrying these traditions forward need.” — Rukhmani Mehta
Rukhmani Mehta brings a singular voice and vision to the art form of kathak, a classical dance genre from North India; she is a dancer, choreographer, educator, and Co-Founder/Co-Artistic Director of Leela Dance Collective.
More on this episode: Movers & Shapers
Continuing a Modern Dance Legacy with Samantha Géracht
There are many legends in modern dance that are responsible for making the art form what it is today. But how do we continue their legacy? Today we hear from one of the people responsible for continuing the legacy of Anna Sokolow, Samantha Géracht. Samantha is the artistic director at the Sokolow Theatre/Dance Ensemble and in this episode, she tells us all about her incredible career, the multitude of amazing dance practitioners she has learned from and worked with, the difference between a Sokolow dancer and a Sokolow director, the challenges she faces in continuing Anna’s legacy, and so much more! From ballet to modern dance, Samantha has experienced it all as student, performer, and teacher. You don’t want to miss this one so tune in now!
Key Points From This Episode:
· Samantha tells us about her upbringing and what made her interested in dancing.
· What made her switch from ballet to modern dance and breaking the stigma about modern.
· Samantha shares her experience at the Nikolais/Louis Dance Lab and who taught her.
· Samantha’s early marriage and family life.
· Joining the Sokolow company and the teaching jobs she had while she was a dancer.
· Becoming a Sokolow artistic director and how it differed from being a Sokolow dancer.
· The legacy that Anna Sokolow left and Samantha’s special Sokolow choreography.
· Samantha shares the biggest struggles and challenges throughout her career.
· The support system Samantha has to help her continue Anna’s legacy.
· Some of the highlights of Samantha’s career and what she’s working on now.
· Where she sees the Sokolow Theatre/Dance Ensemble in the future.
“Being a dancer and a modernist in an era that’s not that interested in modernism is it’s own struggle…..[I’m] giving myself a voice and figuring out what it is I want to do with Anna’s legacy and what that means.” — Samantha Géracht
Samantha Géracht performed with Anna Sokolow’s Players’ Project for eleven years and is artistic director and a founding member of the Sokolow Theatre/Dance Ensemble. Catch In the Eye of a Dream, November 9-19, 2023 @ Theaterlab
Show Notes on this Episode: Movers & Shapers
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Translating Vision into Action with Alyssa Alpine
Whether it’s for communication, marketing, budgeting, scheduling, or meetings (and more!), we can attest to the level of detail, creativity, and make-it-happen-attitude required in the support to make dance happen! The role of the Arts Administration is dedicated to translating vision into action, and with great appreciation and admiration we introduce today’s guest, Alyssa Alpine. Alyssa, with her accompanying drive and passion, is the Founding Director of the CUNY Dance Initiative, a residency program for NYC choreographers on City University of New York (CUNY) college campuses. In our conversation with Alyssa today, we delve into the story of how her love for dance stems from both sides of her family and what has fueled her lifelong commitment. She takes us through her academic path and recounts the story of how she fell into a career as an Arts Administrator. Alyssa elaborates on the functioning of the CUNY Dance Initiative and highlights some of the challenges and peak moments she's encountered along her career journey. Tune in to this episode to hear more from Alyssa Alpine, a true master of wearing many hats (concurrently!) and doing them all successfully!
Key Points From This Episode:
· We get to meet Alyssa and explore her passionate journey in the world of dance.
· She talks about what got her started in dance and what made her stay
· Alyssa's perspective on the Midwest and why she’d find it difficult to replicate her current life elsewhere.
· Hopping from one school program to another and figuring out the dance world.
· Alyssa recounts the dream and plan she had had coming out of undergrad.
· We hear about her time at Columbia and her academic path.
· Her sentiments about living and working in New York.
· Where she went after the Limon Foundation (and having had enough of the Arts world!)
· She tells the tale of how she wound up at CUNY, managing the CUNY Dance Initiative.
· Her dance journey amidst working and what that looked like for Alyssa.
· The strengths and skills she brings to her role as an Arts Administrator.
· She elaborates on the inner functions (and systems) of the CUNY Dance Initiative.
· She highlights some of the challenges she’s had to overcome throughout her career.
· Alyssa shares some peak moments in her career journey.
· What Alyssa is energized for and currently looking forward to.
“Dance is a special thing. I think it grabs some people and others, of course, are like, ‘I don’t want to move I just want to sit and watch!’ But I think for those of us, as you know yourself, it touches something in you and it is just very compelling and it’s something unique.” — Alyssa Alpine
Alyssa Alpine, the founding director of the CUNY Dance Initiative, has spent two decades in NYC’s performing arts world, with a career that’s spanned everything from rolling out marley to rolling down the steps of the NYC Public Library.
More on this episode: Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast
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The Independent Thinker, Liz Lerman
Liz is a choreographer, performer, writer, teacher, and speaker. For the past forty years, she has infused her artistic exploration with a personal touch, humor, intellectual vibrancy, and a contemporary edge. Her choreography has delved into a wide spectrum of topics, ranging from her experiences as a go-go dancer to an exploration of the intricacies of choreography and connections with community. Today, she shares with us insights into what ignited her love for dancing and reflects on the abundant influences that have affected both her life and artistic career. She talks about the importance and complexities of our feelings and how she rode the wild waves of her 20s to discover, for herself, what dance could mean for her. We hear about the impact of her mother’s life and death on her stubbornness to figure life out for herself, why rehearsals should always matter, and the unfolding of events that surround the founding of The Dance Exchange. She expresses and reflects on how she views herself as more of an interdisciplinary artist and her eagerness to be generous about spreading her wealth of knowledge. She then details her passion for the Critical Response Process (CRP) and how that was formed over the years. Join in as we delve into the chronicles of her life and her pursuit of understanding. Tune in now!
“One of my deep interests is the way we tell stories and what stories, and whose stories, and how they come across, and who’s listening, and all those kinds of questions.” – Liz Lerman
Key Points From This Episode:
· Liz offers insight into where she comes from and what ignited her love for dancing.
· A wild ride in her 20s: riding the waves of figuring out what dance could be for her.
· The impact of her mother’s life and death on her stubbornness to figure life out for herself.
· How working intergenerationally moved and shifted her mindset.
· The response she experienced when she started making work/performances.
· Making rehearsals matter.
· More about the founding of The Dance Exchange.
· She goes into detail about how her different works unfolded uniquely.
· Her thoughts on the nomadic life and being an ethical visitor.
· How she began to extract herself from The Dance Exchange: composting Liz.
· Reflections on how she views herself as more of an interdisciplinary artist.
· She talks about the Critical Response Process (CRP).
· Liz delves further into her current projects and pursuits.
“There is so much pain and rudeness in the world of critique and what I have come to believe is that a lot of critique is just power. And if you actually want to – change the way power is absorbed and reignited in a different way in a circle then you should use CRP” — Liz Lerman
Liz Lerman uses dance to understand and change the world. Her relentless curiosity has transformed the field of contemporary dance with subject matter including aging, genetics, history, the ethics of justice, and the origins of the universe.
More on this episode: Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast
Building Community through Arts Education with Anna Pasternak and Blair Brown of Movement Exchange
Our guests today are passionate about dance, dance education, and serving communities. Join us today as we share a podcast with you featuring an interview with Anna Pasternak, the Founder of Movement Exchange, and Blair Brown, the organization's current Executive Director. During our conversation, we hear about their journeys with dance, what captivates them about the arts, and how their life paths led them to Movement Exchange. Movement Exchange is an international non-profit organization that provides accessible and sustainable dance education to youth of all ages. They share all about how it started, how it evolved, and their plans for expansion. We hear more about their university chapters and international volunteer dance exchanges and how they build leadership development, cultural awareness, and a passion for community building through arts education. To hear more about their year-round sustainable programs in underresourced communities, be sure not to miss out on today’s episode with Anna and Blair from Movement Exchange!
Key Points From This Episode:
· Anna shares her personal history and transformative journey with dance.
· She elaborates on her aspirations after high school and how getting into Harvard impacted her dance journey.
· Fly and be free; the pull to see and experience everything the world had to offer.
· Anna talks about the exciting journey of founding the Movement Exchange.
· Her biggest worry stepping down as Executive Director at Movement Exchange.
· We hear from Blair about who she is, where she’s from, and what brought her to dance!
· She elaborates on the biggest shift that altered her life as an artist: dance education.
· Meeting Anna and Movement Exchange; the second jump in her career.
· We discuss the realization of the barrier to dance, even in the USA.
· They talk about any pushback experienced with Movement Exchange (and how they counter it).
· How you can get involved in the Movement Exchange programs.
“There will be nothing in my life that will be as important or have made me as happy as running Movement Exchange.” — Anna Pasternak
Anna Pasternak founded the dance non-profit Movement Exchange in 2010 when she was 25 years old and living in Panama. She is a Fulbright Scholar, Harvard graduate, and currently supports Movement Exchange as a member of the board of directors.
“Dance is social. It’s all about community and how do we connect with that and make our communities stronger.” — Blair Brown
Blair Brown received her BA in Dance from Loyola Marymount University, her MFA in Dance from UC Irvine, and spent 10 years teaching dance in under-resourced schools and programs in California and New York before becoming the Executive Director for Movement Exchange.
Learn more about Movement Exchange!
More on this episode: Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast
Around the World with Mark Morris
From the age of seven, Mark Morris was enamored with dance. Immersing himself in everything from flamenco to Israeli folk to ballet to modern, Mark has lived, trained, and worked in many different parts of the world. In this episode, Mark takes us on a journey from the audition that signaled the start of his career to the Mark Morris Dance Company’s first show in 1980 to his years in Brussels, where he did his “grandest work.” We also take a look at the work that Mark devotes his time to these days, which involves choreographing “dances of the future” that are only intended to be seen by the public after his death. His life has been eventful, to say the least, and this episode will give you a taste of the passion and flair that epitomize Mark Morris!
Key Points From This Episode:
“I like excellence and I like surprise. I’m very interested in work that engages me and that’s not necessarily what everybody else agrees with.” — Mark Morris
Mark Morris is the founder and Artistic Director of the Mark Morris Dance Group for which he has choreographed more than 150 works since its founding in 1980, and has received numerous awards and honorary degrees for his achievements in the performing arts as choreographer, conductor, and director.
More on this episode: Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast
Take Up Your Space with Confidence with Artistic Director Melissa M. Young
Often, as dancers, we have a choice to take up space with confidence or feel defeated and hold back. Our guest on today’s episode is one that continuously chose to take up space and inspired others to follow their intuitions, pursue what they love, and embrace their curiosity. This is an inspiring interview with the Artistic Director of Dallas Black Dance Theatre (DBDT), Melissa M. Young. Our conversation with Melissa is incredibly touching as she talks about why she loved the exploration of dance and remembers certain key impressions that impacted her greatly throughout the years. She tells us why she always chose to dance to the beat of her own drum and why she pursues uncovering herself in the most authentic ways before sharing about her time spent in New York City and how she ultimately ended up dancing at the Dallas Black Dance Theatre. She’s an amazing individual with a passion for dance and holds the responsibility of being an artistic director with such fervor. Tune in now to hear about the pure joy derived from Melissa’s life in dance. Enjoy.
Key Points From This Episode:
· Melissa talks excitedly about who she is and where her love for dance ignited from.
· She talks about the impact of The Stack-Up by Talley Beatty (Alvin Ailey) on her life’s journey.
· Melissa remembers taking a class from Donald McKayle and the impression it left on her.
· Why Melissa never put a timeline on her career and allowed the journey to flow.
· Navigating the shoulds, the coulds, and the woulds, and why she chooses to dance to the beat of her own drum.
· How the culture shock of moving to New York City made her feel more alive.
· How she came upon the DBDT audition notice and took a chance.
· What it was like to move to Dallas: another culture shift.
· She shares information regarding the current dance and art scene in Dallas.
· Looking back at her career, she reflects on some challenges she’s faced and overcame.
· Things that are sparking excitement in Melissa for the future.
· Why she looks for great human beings first when looking at prospective dancers.
“What I love about dance is I look at it like professional problem-solving. The choreography is the problem and the equation of how you get there working with everyone else, that’s how you get to the “answer”.” — Melissa M. Young
Melissa M. Young is the Artistic Director of Dallas Black Dance Theatre, celebrating her 29th season with the company.
More on this episode: Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast
Creating a Technique that Honors the Individual with Susan Klein
Today’s guest Susan Klein is a true luminary, having shaped the modern dance landscape with her groundbreaking theories as creator of the renowned Klein Technique. In this episode, we explore her transformative journey as a movement pioneer, uncovering her dance background, the hurdles she overcame following a series of debilitating knee injuries, and her return to the world of movement. We discover how her experience ignited her passion for understanding the body and teaching others about movement, and how this ultimately led to the development of the Klein Technique. Susan recounts the pivotal moment she realized the limitations of imitation-based teaching and explains why she believes in nurturing individuality within dance. She opens up about her quest to safeguard her unique contributions, and why she decided to concede, despite her concern about the potential harm of her work being taught incorrectly. Join us as Susan shares her unique journey to quietly becoming one of the most valuable and influential players in the modern dance field.
Key Points From This Episode:
· Susan's dance background and training.
· Why she believes teaching through imitation to be ineffective.
· Her influences and how they shaped her journey.
· The series of knee injuries that temporarily derailed her dancing career and her return to dance, post-injury.
· How Susan’s experience ultimately led to the development of the Klein Technique.
· The importance of individuality in dance and Susan’s continued fascination with movement and teaching.
· Why she finds the widespread adoption of her work both gratifying and concerning.
· Challenges she’s faced in her dancing career and the various career paths she’s explored.
· Susan shares her plan to share her knowledge in book form.
“When I work with people, that's always exciting because their potential and what's going on in their lives or in their body is infinitely interesting.” — Susan Klein
Working and teaching in New York City, Susan Klein is the renowned creator of Klein
Technique™ and a practitioner of Worsley style 5-element acupuncture and Zero
Balancing.
More on this episode: Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast
Activism, Dance, and Co-Leadership with Hope Mohr
Dance, movement, performance, and art-making can play many roles in one’s life. And how they are expressed can change shape over the course of a career. Our guest today, Hope Mohr, has woven together a life of art and activism as a choreographer, curator, and advocate. She has had a fascinating career journey, dedicating herself to both dance and activism and finding new and innovative ways to integrate the two. We talk with Hope about the inexorable pull that dance has exerted on her throughout her life and how her feminist awakening in college inspired her activism. She tells us about the leave of absence she took from studying law (on more than one occasion) to pursue unmissable dance opportunities with legends like Lucinda Childs and Trisha Brown, and shares how she finally completed her law degree before founding a presenting platform called The Bridge Project. Hope goes on to describe the project’s transition to co-ownership, changing their name to Bridge Live Arts, why she chose to leave after 15 years, and what it’s been like returning to work as an independent artist after so many collaborative projects. Our conversation today covers urgent and meaningful topics, from dismantling existing power structures and redistributing power within dance to returning to yourself and learning how to listen to your inner voice as an artist. To learn more about Hope’s fascinating journey and bigger questions about dance and power, be sure to tune in today!
Key Points From This Episode:
· Hope’s dedication to dance and activism throughout her career.
· Learn about The Bridge Project, a presenting platform Hope started in 2010.
· How the project transitioned to a model of co-leadership and was renamed Bridge Live Arts.
· Her feminist awakening and how it led to her activism and work as a lawyer.
· The focus of Hope’s work as a choreographer: motherhood and navigating the world as someone who identifies as female.
· An overview of the curation and collaborative work Hope has done for Bridge Live Arts.
· What informed Hope’s decision to move away from Bridge Live Arts; tending to herself as an artist and making space for a more equitable distribution of power.
· Hope’s return to being an independent artist and her latest new work.
“I think I've always had a very hungry mind and a real passion for social justice work. So that has been a throughline. But dancing has always been my first love. So yeah, it's been a real calling for me. It still is.” — Hope Mohr
Hope Mohr (she/her) is an artist and advocate.
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Building a Dancer with Rosalynde LeBlanc
Rosalynde LeBlanc built her career dancing for some of the biggest names in dance. Today, she is Professor and Chair of Dance at Loyola Marymount University. Social justice awareness has always underpinned her work as a choreographer, which is why she creates pieces that are related to the world and not the mirror. During today’s conversation, she shares her perspective on what it truly means to build a dancer beyond just the physical. Tune in to hear the highlights of her incredible journey as the daughter of an accomplished dancer with Paul Taylor, applying to college early and completing her high school diploma alongside her studies, and her time dancing with Bill T. Jones that skyrocketed her career. She shares the story of being invited to dance with Baryshnikov, before burning out just three years later. Rosalynde offers her insights on doing the necessary inner work to succeed as a dancer before telling listeners all about her transition into the world of education. Tune in today to hear all this and more!
Key Points From This Episode:
· Rosalynde LeBlanc’s first experiences with dance and when she really fell in love with it.
· Her mom’s hands-off approach to managing her relationship with dance.
· Why she declined an invitation to dance with Paul Taylor.
· Her memory of Alvin Ailey’s death and the first World AIDS Day in 1989.
· Her experience at Purchase College and the social change that occurred while she was there.
· The duet she performed with Bill T. Jones which launched her career.
· Her experience of being in the work and touring with Still/Here.
· Being invited to dance with Baryshnikov.
· Her transition into education and sanctuary of the studio.
· The piece she is working on at the moment; Tomboy.
· The less talked about shadow of success.
“The other 50% of being a dancer is your psychological state of being and that shapes your body as much as all the other technique classes. So you have to deal with that.” — Rosalynde LeBlanc
Rosalynde LeBlanc is a Bessie-nominated dancer and the co-director of Can You Bring It: Bill T. Jones and D-Man in the Waters. A former dancer with the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company (1993 - 1999) and with Mikhail Baryshnikov’s White Oak Dance Project (1999 – 2002), LeBlanc is now a professor and Chair of Dance at Loyola Marymount University.
Can You Bring It: Bill T. Jones and D-Man in the Waters is streaming now as part of season 15 AfroPoP: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange. Audiences can stream it for free at worldchannel.org and on the YouTube Channels of WORLD (@worldchannel) and Black Public Media (@blackpublicmedia).
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Remembering Agnes De Mille with Elizabeth Ferrell and Jenna Rae Herrera
Today’s episode is a special one, where we look back and remember world-renowned dancer, choreographer, writer, lecturer, and director, Agnes De Mille. Agnes had a successful, yet tempestuous, career that spanned almost 70 years through the world of 20th-century American theater and ballet. We take a look at her through the eyes of Elizabeth Ferrell, formerly a member of the American Ballet Theater, and Jenna Rae Herrera, a principal artist with Ballet West. We hear their recollections of working with De Mille in the studio and performing her work, and we listen to their insights about how the course of American dance was forever changed by her. Stay tuned for a lively conversation about Agnes De Mille and her long-lasting impact; creating strong-willed American female roles. Enjoy!
Key Points From This Episode:
· Beth shares a short (but detailed) biography of Agnes De Mille; Agnes in a nutshell.
· More about Beth, her background, and how she became part of De Mille’s work.
· Beth tells listeners about De Mille’s personality (both in the studio and on stage).
· Jenna talks about her background in dance and career at Ballet West.
· Jenna tells us about learning her role in Rodeo and how it helped her grow as an artist.
· The process of learning the Rodeo material (and hearing the narrative from Agnes herself).
· Jenna shares her experience learning work that was made decades ago (and translating it to her body and the company).
· We hear Beth’s experience doing De Mille’s work, both the physical experience and the learning process.
· Jenna and Beth reminisce about their time performing The Cow Girl in the Rodeo ballet.
· Why Rodeo was set on ballet companies (as opposed to other genres of dance).
· Their thoughts on why De Mille’s work has become timeless and why it’s still being performed today.
“She was really ahead of her time, there’s still a real push to nurture and push female choreographers and women’s voices [today] — and here she is in the 1940s choosing her own music, dancers, costumes, set designs, and was calling the shots.” — Elizabeth Ferrell
Former member of American Ballet Theatre, Elizabeth Ferrell emerged as a major interpreter of the works of Agnes de Mille, having performed leading roles in De Mille’s Rodeo, 3 Virgins and a Devil, The Informer, and Brigadoon.
Jenna Rae Herrera is a Principal Artist with Ballet West in Salt Lake City and made her debut last year as The Cowgirl in Agnes de Mille’s Rodeo.
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Remembering Jennifer Muller (1944-2023)
Today’s podcast is a re-airing of an interview with Jennifer Muller on Movers & Shapers from September 2019. Jennifer was the Artistic Director/Founder of Jennifer Muller/The Works, and was an influence in the dance world for over 50 years. Jennifer passed away March 29 peacefully in her home.
A maverick in the dance field, in this episode you will hear from the determined, tenacious, and passionate Jennifer Muller of Jennifer Muller/The Works. From her early days dancing with Jose Limón, Pearl Lang, and Louis Falko, to touring the world and always pushing against the dance norms of the time to follow her own vision, hear how Jennifer made a life in dance. An influencer in the dance field for over 50 years, hear about her love for collaboration and how she made work in response to the world.
“This is what I do. I create work that is meaningful to me, no matter what anyone has to say about it. That’s just how stubborn I am.” - Jennifer Muller
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Fierce, Fragile, Empathetic, Political, and Poetic Art with Miguel Gutierrez
Our guest today, Miguel Gutierrez, is irrevocably passionate about making works of art and creates empathetic and irreverent spaces outside of traditional discourse. Our conversation starts with Miguel sharing more about his upbringing as the child of two immigrants, how he came to love the arts and dancing, and what he wanted to be when he grew up. He tells us about his time at Brown, Queer Activism, working with Paula Hunter, and later going full circle back to Brown. He also talks about his epic time in California in the 90s, what it was like to work with Joe Goode and John Jasperse, and what sparked his shift back to New York. This is a jam-packed episode so stay tuned for this candid, introspective, and inspiring interview.
Key Points From This Episode:
· Miguel gives us a short introduction of who he is and where he is from.
· How Miguel came to love dancing.
· What he wanted to be when he grew up.
· What happened when he showed up for school at Brown.
· He shares about his time doing Queer activism.
· He tells us about his time dancing with Paula Hunter.
· What compelled him to go back to Brown and finish his degree.
· He shares his Californian experience in the 90s.
· What sparked the shift back to New York (and why Europe didn’t work out).
· What it was like working with John Jasperse.
· Miguel tells us about his own choreography journey.
· The kinds of day jobs Miguel has had to support himself over the years.
· His experience of when things started to take off, his work, and what life looked like.
· Why he hates when propriety supplants honesty and when professionalism is used to maintain the status quo.
· Projects he is working on now and what life looks like.
“When you are younger, as a dancer, you think that if you aren’t dancing professionally by the age of nothing, you’re never going to make it. It’s like this BS idea of what dance is, and it’s fed to you from when you are little.” — Miguel Gutierrez
Miguel Gutierrez is a choreographer, music artist, writer, visual artist, educator, podcaster, and Feldenkrais Method practitioner based in Lenapehoking/Brooklyn, NY and Tovaangar/Los Angeles. His work creates empathetic and irreverent spaces outside of traditional discourse.
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The Art of Improvisation with Margaret Beals
For today’s guest, dancing without inhibitions is what has fed her soul for more than 8 decades. Joining us on Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast is the incredible dance improvisation innovator Margaret Beals to tell us all about her years of dancing and her new documentary, Dancing Without Steps. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about our guest’s privileged upbringing, her longing to be free, dancing in her home and the streets of New York City, and why she always stood out as a dancer. She walks us through her early adulthood, dance classes, club and cabaret days, and teaching before explaining how she dealt with being so different. With an amazing ability to perform improvised solo concerts that combined dance, text, music, and humor, she tells us how she realized she was so unlike others in her generation. Finally, Margaret shares her experience of creating her film with us. So to hear all about improvisation and to be inspired to embrace your authentic self, tune in now!
Key Points From This Episode:
· Margaret tells us about her upbringing and how she started dancing.
· How she knew her lifestyle was different and why she wanted to be free.
· Her experience of dancing in her front hall, moving to New York, and dancing in the streets.
· She tells us her opinion of the definition of ‘talent’ and why she always stood out.
· What Margaret wanted to do when she was in her 20s and her time doing cabarets and clubs.
· Margaret tells us about how she got started with teaching.
· She shares the secret to moving and talking at the same time.
· How she navigated the challenge of feeling like she doesn’t belong.
· Getting the rights to Sylvia Plath’s works and performing poetry in an original play.
· How Margaret shares her methodologies with dancers.
· Margaret shares what she is working on in her field now.
· How her movie, Dancing Without Steps, became a reality.
· The importance of accepting your unapologetically unique self.
“I don’t think I danced to please. I danced the way I danced and hoped everybody would see it.” — Margaret Beals
During her 50 year career, Margaret Beals pioneered the use of improvisation in dance performance, often using her speaking voice. In her new film, Dancing Without Steps: The Art of Improvisation with Margaret Beals, audiences are offered glimpses of Ms. Beals’ work along with insights into her philosophies on improvisation across artistic genres.
Learn more about Margaret Beals HERE and the film Dancing Without Steps
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The Magic of Creativity with Renée Jaworski
Being a successful dance performer requires a combination of technical skills, artistry, professionalism, dedication, and networking. In today’s episode, we sit down with Renée Jaworski, the Executive Director and Co-Artistic Director of the rebellious dance company, Pilobolus, as she shares her experience working there throughout her illustrious 20+ year career and unpacks the magic of creativity, risk, collaboration, artistic expression, and the value of hard work. Hear why she began pursuing dance and being a performer, the lessons she learned working for a company, the emotional struggles of learning the business end of dance, and how she forged ahead in her dance career while also a mother. We discuss how she integrates her various passions into dance, how Pilobolus acts as a gateway to the art form, why you should not take dance too seriously, her upcoming projects, and much more. Tune in, and discover industry insights and the value of pursuing your dreams with Renée Jaworski.
Key Points From This Episode:
· Background about Renée and how she became interested in dance.
· The influence attending the University of the Arts had on her.
· Why she chose to be a performer as opposed to continuing in academia.
· Her experience transitioning from being a student to working for a company.
· How she juggled pursuing a career with raising a family.
· The motivation behind joining the Pilobolus team.
· Find out why she has chosen to stay at Pilobolus for most of her career.
· We discuss Pilobolus’s reputation and the collaboration with the rock band OKGo.
· What it takes to make collaborations work and complete projects.
· The biggest challenges and highlights of her career.
· Learn about her past, current, and exciting upcoming projects.
“As I am getting older I am realizing that the more we can have those role models in place who have [raised a family while working] and want to support people who want to [have a family] the more the art form is going to thrive.” — Renée Jaworski
Renee Jaworski, Executive Director and Co-Artistic Director has had an extensive creative career with Pilobolus since 2000, and along with creative partner and Artistic Director Matt Kent, was chosen in 2011 by the founding Artistic Directors to lead the company.
Upcoming: Pilobolus at NJPAC (Newark, NJ) March 12, 2023, info HERE
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Sharing the Power of Dance with Lynn Peterson and Kate Sutter
The power of dance can be harnessed and shared with people from all walks of life. The connection facilitated by the art form is undeniable when witnessing the fortuitous friendship between Lynn Peterson and Kate Sutter. The two visionary leaders behind SYREN Modern Dance join us today to share their respective dance journeys, and the process of starting, sustaining, and now celebrating 20 years of SYREN. We learn about their roles in the organization and their principal source of inspiration, as well as their intention to share the value of modern dance as widely as they can. Lynn and Kate always have been and always will be dedicated to dance and, in this episode, we are reminded of the importance of placing creativity at the center of any art form, despite the distraction of building a business around it. Tune in for this inspirational conversation with two women who didn’t idly wait for opportunities to come their way, but rather seized the reins and did it their way!
Key Points From This Episode:
· Kate and Lynn’s respective dance backgrounds, and what initially drew them to dance.
· The process of starting SYREN Modern Dance together.
· The various jobs they’ve done along the way to support their dance careers.
· SYREN’s development over the years.
· How Kate and Lynn connected and how it transferred to their work.
· What caused them to make the intentional shift to stop auditioning and start SYREN.
· Their intention to share the value of modern dance.
· The story behind the name, SYREN.
· Their growth strategies for the organization and the challenges they’ve encountered.
· How they’ve merged dance and science.
· SYREN’s current projects and plans for the future.
· The power of dance and the source of Lynn and Kate’s inspiration.
“The past five years have really started to feel like we have this organization that is being supported by many different prongs of programming, and the cycles of inspiration and work continue to feed each other and grow.” — Kate Sutter
SYREN Modern Dance is a New York City based company co-founded by Lynn Peterson and Kate Sutter now celebrating its 20th year as a dance sharing organization. SYREN's artists are United States Cultural Ambassadors who share dance where people gather in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Maryland, North Carolina, Washington D.C., Texas, Rhode Island, Ohio, France, and the United Arab Emirates.
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A Legacy of Dance with Alessandra Corona
Today’s episode is sure to inspire you! Joining us in conversation today, we have a joyful spirit, Alessandra Corona. Tuning in, you’ll hear about her time as a principal dancer for Ballet Hispánico, overcoming a language barrier, and falling in love with modern dance. Alessandra shares how Ann Reinking was a revolutionary influence on her, and invited her to join the international Fosse tour. Alessandra’s life took an unexpected twist when she started her own dance company, Alessandra Corona Performing Works; hear the story of what motivated her to take the plunge, how her dancers made it possible, and so much more during this motivational episode. Thanks for listening!
“Fosse was something I never expected would happen in my career. All I wanted to be was a concert dancer, that’s it! In the modern company I was obsessed with contemporary work and modern work, but I was not thinking about Broadway!”
Key Points From This Episode:
Alessandra Corona, native of Italy, is a dancer, choreographer and artistic director/founder of Alessandra Corona Performing Works - a dance theater Company based in New York City, founded in 2012. Alessandra was a principal dancer with Ballet Hispánico for 15 years and was a principal dancer in the international tour company of the musical Fosse.
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Sustaining the Legacy of the Limón Dance Company with Dante Puleio and Michelle Preston
The Limón Dance Company is approaching its 75th anniversary and in today’s episode, we are joined by its Artistic Director, Dante Puleio, and Executive Director, Michelle Preston. Dante and Michelle’s passion for their work is palpable and over the next few years they plan to inject new energy into Limón while also preserving the company’s rich heritage. Tune in today to hear how dance changed the lives of these two guests, the journeys that led them to their current positions at Limón, and how, through marrying their different skill sets, they hope to enhance and empower the legacy of this institution.
“I wasn’t really taking good care of myself emotionally or physically and when I started dancing, that’s when I woke up and started to find that I had a purpose.” – Dante Puleio, MSP 149
Key Points From This Episode:
A former Company member for more than a decade, Dante Puleio was appointed Artistic Director in 2020, his work focuses on celebrating José Limón's historical legacy and reimagining his intention and vision to reflect the 21st century contemporary landscape. Michelle Preston, a NYC artist manager and leader with over 15 years experience, began as the Executive Director of the José Limón Dance Foundation in November 2022.
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