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

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