Five Voices, One City: Unpacking Chicago’s Dance Community, with Kristina Fluty, Alyssa Gregory, Rahila Coats, Michael McStraw, and Helen Lee
In this episode of Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast, we dive deeply into the vibrant and diverse world of Chicago’s dance scene. Joining Erin are five incredible voices, each bringing a unique perspective on what makes this city’s dance community so dynamic, expansive, and full of life. Featured in this episode are Kristina Fluty, Alyssa Gregory, Rahila Coats, Michael McStraw, and Helen Lee — five Chicago-based dance artists who capture the spirit and energy of this thriving artistic hub. Together, they share how living in Chicago has shaped their careers and creative journeys, and explore how the city’s geography influences its dance community. We explore the work being created there, the support systems and resources that have been most valuable in their growth, and delve into an overview of opportunities for residencies and funding. Plus, each artist reflects on what keeps them curious, inspired, and energized within the Chicago dance world. Tune in for a lively and insightful conversation that captures the essence of this incredible dance community. Enjoy!
Key Points From This Episode:
· Setting the scene for the Chicago-focused episode.
· We are introduced to our five guests: Alyssa Gregory, Kristina Fluty, Rahila Coats, Michael McStraw, and Helen Lee.
· How living in Chicago has influenced their careers and artistic journeys.
· Our guests help situate Chicago for listeners unfamiliar with the city and how it shapes the dance community.
· We dive in and discuss the Chicago dance scene and the work being made.
· Resources and support systems that have been the most valuable to our guests throughout their careers.
· An overview of the opportunities available for dance residencies and funding within the Chicago dance scene.
· Dance education hubs and the overall dance class vibe in Chicago.
· Each guest talks about what keeps them curious, interested, and excited about their dance lives in Chicago.
“In my time here in Chicago, I’ve just seen things grow, blossom, and then shift. That seems to be the rhythm in this community.” — Michael McStraw
Kristina Fluty, an Associate Professor at The Theatre School at DePaul University, has been dancing, teaching, consulting, and performing in Chicago since 2003, primarily with Molly Shanahan/Mad Shak.
Alyssa (Uhh-lee-sa) Gregory is a Chicago-based performing artist and cultural organizer who moves between the worlds of dance, arts administration, and podcasting, amplifying Black creativity and championing the brilliance of Chicago’s vibrant arts community. (she/her)
Rahila Coats is an improviser, dancer, musician and educator who loves to eat up space and eat with her community; her work focuses on black femme experiences and joy.
Michael McStraw, Executive Director of Chicago Dance History Project, is an outstanding advocate for the Chicago performing arts community and highly regarded as a positive and constant influence in the sector for 40 years.
Helen Lee is a Queer Asian Chicago-born interdisciplinary artist raised by immigrant parents from South Korea. They are the director for the project-based company, Momentum Sensorium, which often performs in unconventional spaces such as lighthouses, train stations, and homes.
For more on this episode and artists: Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast
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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