Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast

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 [https://www.themovingarchitects.org/podcasts] For the latest, follow on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/moversandshaperspodcast/] & Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/moversandshaperspodcast]

We are back! This season we will focus on interviews and discussions with vibrant artists from cities across the United States. Up first - Clare Cook in Lafayette, Louisiana. Clare is the Founder and Creative Director of Basin Arts, a non-profit arts incubator dedicated to helping Louisiana artists develop sustainable creative practices. Basin Arts aims to expand access to professional contemporary arts experiences while fostering genuine connections between artists and the broader community. In our interview, we explore how dance was positively cultivated in different spaces throughout her life, what she’s grateful for, and unpack her decision to pursue a life in dance. She shares insights into being the youngest in her NYU Tisch Dance program, her passion for storytelling and collaboration, and her interest in the theatre-dance hybrid. We also discuss her experience with an observership, the decision to return to Lafayette, and go deeper into the heart and vision behind Basin Arts. For all this and much more, be sure to tune in!  Key Points From This Episode: ·       We’re introduced to our guest Clare Cook and her life and dance journey. ·       She reflects on how dance was cultivated in different spaces throughout her life and what she’s grateful for. ·       Clare unpacks her decision to pursue a life in dance. ·       How she thought of dance as a way to become more of herself. ·       Her love and interest in storytelling and collaboration. ·       How she got her first gig choreographing a musical. ·       She talks about her interest in the theatre-dance hybrid. ·       Clare shares about her opportunity to do an observership.  ·       The impetus to move back to Louisiana and what it was like navigating that transition. ·       How the concept for Basin Arts started to unfold. ·       She speaks to the idea of trajectory as continued evolution along the path of creative process, collaboration, and community.  ·       Clare breaks down what creating authentic relationships with the community looks like through Basin Arts. ·       Clare shares what she’s excited about and upcoming events. “[Basin Arts] was this idea of how can we, in the simplest, least encumbered way, find a space for people to come together and do their work.” — Clare Cook Clare Cook is a hyphenate artist working simultaneously as a choreographer, dancer, teacher, and arts administrator through her work as Founder & Creative Director of Basin Arts, a interdisciplinary arts incubator in Lafayette, La. Special thanks to season supporters: The Ohio State University Dance Preservation Fund and a special Anonymous Donor! For more on this episode: Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast [https://themovingarchitects.org/msp-176-clare-cook/] For the latest, follow on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/moversandshaperspodcast] & Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/moversandshaperspodcast/]

A special announcement from host and Artistic Director of The Moving Architects [http://ww.themovingarchitects.org], Erin Carlisle Norton. Support this one-of-a-kind inspiring podcast with a tax-deductible donation! themovingarchitects.org/support [https://www.themovingarchitects.org/support] Movers & Shapers has been podcasting interviews with those who shape the dance field since 2015. Connect with our archive of 175 interviews: themovingarchitects.org/podcasts [http://www.themovingarchitects.org/podcasts] Follow on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/moversandshaperspodcast/] and Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/moversandshaperspodcast] for the latest!

When Decisions are Commitments with Rachel Damon Joining us today is Rachel Damon, a choreographer, theatrical designer, performer, and co-founder and artistic director of Synapse Arts, a Chicago-based dance theater company. Rachel's self-made career is a testament to her multidisciplinary talents, blending onstage and backstage roles to create dynamic performance works through collaboration, improvisation, and teamwork. In this episode, Rachel shares her remarkable journey from lovable weirdo at musical theatre summer camp to internationally-renowned production stage manager and performer who lives her life by making decisions as commitments. Tuning in, you’ll discover how her dual passions for choreography and crafting have fueled her personal and professional growth, the power of educating performers to negotiate their value, ensuring that art is recognized as legitimate work, and why diversity is a cornerstone of Synapse Arts' identity. We also explore Rachel's love for theatre production, her innovative partnership with the Chicago Park District, and the unique site-specific performances born from this collaboration. Join us for an engaging conversation that covers all this and more! Key Points From This Episode: ·       An overview of Rachel’s background and what sparked her interest in dance and theatre. ·       The immediacy that she loves about theatre production work and stage management. ·       How Links Hall in Chicago acted as a springboard for her career. ·       Insight into Synapse Arts, how it got started, and how it has evolved since. ·       Synapse’s partnership with the Chicago Park District’s Arts & Culture Unit (ACU). ·       Rachel’s site-specific and outdoor performances that punctuate everyday life. ·       The significance of her interdisciplinary work, including her “textile dances.” ·       Challenges she has encountered in her onstage and backstage career. ·       How Rachel empowers artists and advocates for art to be valued as work. ·       Ways that you can contribute to Synapse’s 20th Birthday Bash Campaign. ·       Why a diversity of identities and lived experiences is important in the arts. “Being with the weird people who are risky, accepting, and idea-driven [is] where I feel safe and inspired.” — Rachel Damon Rachel Damon is a Chicago-based theatrical designer, choreographer, and performer whose self-made career bridges onstage and backstage. For more on this episode: Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast [http://www.themovingarchitects.org/podcasts] For the latest, follow on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/moversandshaperspodcast] & Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/moversandshaperspodcast/]

The Deeper Meaning of Dance, Dance and Emerging Technology, and Navigating an Economy that Exploits Dancers with Sydney Skybetter Creating a successful career as a dancer in a world where there are few opportunities to thrive is particularly challenging. However, today’s guest has created a fascinating career for himself in the world of academia, research, and even dancing robots! Sydney Skybetter joins us today to discuss his life as a dancer, dance educator, and entrepreneur. In this conversation, you’ll hear all about how Sydney was introduced to dance, the beauty in the chosen family he created at art school, and his incredible Conference for Research and Choreographic Interfaces (CRCI). After Sydney’s studies, he was forced to hustle his way through a variety of odd jobs to survive financially and he tells us all about the important lessons he has learned from every job he’s ever had. We also delve into why dance programs should consider the dangers of sending dancers out into a world and economy that isn’t built for them, the connection between dance and emerging technology, potential problems for dancers and AI, and much more. Tune in now! Key Points From This Episode: ·       An overview of Sydney’s life and how he got into dance.  ·       The connection between dance history and emerging technology.  ·       A commentary about the body-type expectations for dancers. ·       Insight into Sydney’s dance training and the chosen family he created.  ·       All about the Conference for Research and Choreographic Interfaces (CRCI) he started.  ·       Comparisons between writing and performance.  ·       Some of his “weird jobs” and why he did them.  ·       The danger of pumping out dancers into an economy that will not make good use of them.  ·       How Sydney got into academia and what his experience at Brown University has been like.   ·       What he is most excited about right now and the research he is currently doing.  ·       How artists and dancers are being exploited, especially when it comes to technology.  ·       What Sydney is excited about for his career in the near future.  “I came to realize that the academy was one of the few places where artists held longitudinal power.” — Sydney Skybetter Sydney Skybetter is the first choreographer to receive tenure at Brown University, where he serves as the Deputy Dean of the College for the Curriculum and Co-Curriculum. For more on this episode: Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast [http://www.themovingarchitects.org/podcasts] For the latest follow MSP on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/moversandshaperspodcast/] & Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/moversandshaperspodcast]