Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast

Now displaying: March, 2023

Mar 27, 2023

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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MSP 152: Renée Jaworski 0

Mar 10, 2023

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.