Dancing Diasporas: Tracing Migration Through Movement with Dr. Hannah Kosstrin

Dancing Diasporas: Tracing Migration Through Movement with Dr. Hannah Kosstrin

This month's guest is Hannah Kosstrin. Dr. Kosstrin is a dance historian and movement analyst. Her scholarship focuses on Jewish dance in global contexts including dance histories of the United States, Israel and the Jewish diaspora, Latin America, Europe, South Asia, and the African diaspora; gender and queer theory; nationalism, migration, and diaspora studies; Laban movement notation and analysis; and digital humanities.  She is Director of Ohio State's Melton Center for Jewish Studies, Associate Professor in the Department of Dance, and has appointments in the Department of Near Eastern and South Asian Languages and Cultures, and is affiliate faculty with the Center for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies and the Mershon Center for International Security Studies. Her new book Kinesthetic Peoplehood: Jewish Diasporic Dance Migrations (Oxford University Press) examines Jewish diasporic dance practices of choreographers who migrated between Israel and the United States between the Cold War and Covid. Her article “Whose Jewishness? Inbal Dance Theater and Cold War American Spectatorship” (American Jewish History, 2020) was awarded a Gertrude Lippincott Award Honorable Mention from the Dance Studies Association. Dr. Kosstrin’s work also appears in Dance Research Journal, Dance Chronicle, The International Journal of Screendance, Journal of Jewish Identities, Dance on Its Own Terms: Histories and Methodologies, Queer Dance: Meanings and Makings The Futures of Dance Studies and the Oxford Handbook of Jewishness and Dance She is project director for KineScribe, a Labanotation app supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities, Reed College, and Ohio State, and Faculty Lead for LabanLens, a Laban-based HoloLens application supported by Ohio State. Links: Kinescribe [http://kinescribe.org/] Kinesthetic Peoplehood: Jewish Diasporic Dance Migrations [https://global.oup.com/academic/product/kinesthetic-peoplehood-9780197696804?q=kosstrin&lang=en&cc=us] - Discount code for 30% off: AUFLY30 Honest Bodies: Revolutionary Modernism in the Dances of Anna Sokolow [https://global.oup.com/academic/product/honest-bodies-9780199396931?q=kosstrin&lang=en&cc=us] - Discount code for 30% off: AAFLYG6 OhioDance: A State of Dance is a six-part series coming out the fourth Friday of  each month through November 2026. This podcast is driven by the OhioDance mission to secure the foothold of dance in Ohio through  increasing visibility, firming viability, and elevating the position of  dance in Ohio. In  2016, a five-person team set out on a mission to capture the  achievements of persons and institutions who have shaped the intricate  diversity of dance history and practice within the state of Ohio and  weave them together in an easily accessible digital format. This we call this the OhioDance Virtual Dance Collection. As of 2026 we have highlighted  46 individuals and institutions. The team has traveled over 5000 miles and interviewed hundreds of individuals in all five regions of Ohio.⁠ vdc.ohiodance.org⁠ [https://us2.mailchimp.com/mctx/clicks?url=http%3A%2F%2Fvdc.ohiodance.org&xid=7457ab4d48&uid=6658474&iid=0aa4c26b4e&pool=cts&v=2&c=1690495018&h=3d08a0a96f0253c527182e727095a91239c27228891ad793c1d128808ab1f4d3] If you like what you are listening to and are not a member of OhioDance, you can go to⁠ ohiodance.org⁠ [https://ohiodance.org/] and  click the membership button to join and receive the many benefits that  come with your membership. You can also donate through our purple donate  button.

David Choate: A Revolution Comes Full Circle

This month's guest is David A. Choate, Jr., Founder  and Producing Artistic Director of Revolution Dance Theatre. David is an African American public speaker, dancer/choreographer, lighting designer, writer, director and theatrical producer. In his current role, he has written, choreographed and produced several original performances including the region's only African American Nutcracker experience, "Hot Chocolate". He has participated in several tours, had his work displayed on nationally syndicated television and is proud to be responsible for Emmy nominated choreography. An alumnus of Cincinnati's School of Creative and Performing Arts, Mr. Choate later attended Union Institute and University, where he majored in Business Administration. Most recently, he graduated from the Executive Business Accelerator, of the Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky African American Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Choate considers himself passionate about two things, the arts and people, using a passion for one to fuel the other. The mission of his work remains to advance equity, tell marginalized stories and uplift African American culture and experiences. OhioDance: A State of Dance is a six-part series coming out the fourth Friday of  each month through November 2025. This podcast is driven by the OhioDance mission to secure the foothold of dance in Ohio through  increasing visibility, firming viability, and elevating the position of  dance in Ohio. In  2016, a five-person team set out on a mission to capture the  achievements of persons and institutions who have shaped the intricate  diversity of dance history and practice within the state of Ohio and  weave them together in an easily accessible digital format. This we call  the OhioDance Virtual Dance Collection. As of 2025 we have highlighted  44 individuals and institutions. The team has traveled over 5000 miles  and interviewed hundreds of individuals in all five regions of Ohio.⁠ vdc.ohiodance.org⁠ [https://us2.mailchimp.com/mctx/clicks?url=http%3A%2F%2Fvdc.ohiodance.org&xid=7457ab4d48&uid=6658474&iid=0aa4c26b4e&pool=cts&v=2&c=1690495018&h=3d08a0a96f0253c527182e727095a91239c27228891ad793c1d128808ab1f4d3] If you like what you are listening to and are not a member of OhioDance, you can go to⁠ ohiodance.org⁠ [https://ohiodance.org/] and  click the membership button to join and receive the many benefits that  come with your membership. You can also donate through our purple donate  button.

Rhythm Revival: Lynn Dally's Journey to the Global Stage

This month's guest is Lynn Dally. Lynn is a pioneering tap dancer, choreographer, and educator whose artistry helped define the modern tap renaissance. A co-founder of the groundbreaking Jazz Tap Ensemble in 1979, Dally fused the improvisational spirit of jazz with the rhythmic precision of tap, bringing the form to concert stages around the world and re-establishing tap as a serious contemporary art. In 2001, Dally became the first tap dancer ever awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in Choreography, affirming her trailblazing role in expanding the boundaries of rhythm dance. Her choreography celebrates musical collaboration, syncopation, and the voices of women in tap—work that includes the acclaimed documentary Gotta Move: Women in Tap and the nation’s first conference dedicated to female tap artists. Through her performances, teaching, and global outreach, Lynn Dally has preserved tap’s lineage while propelling it forward. Her legacy continues to inspire generations of dancers who see in her career a bridge between tap’s vernacular roots and its vibrant, evolving future. OhioDance: A State of Dance is a six-part series coming out the fourth Friday of   each month through November 2025. This podcast is driven by the OhioDance mission to secure the foothold of dance in Ohio through  increasing visibility, firming viability, and elevating the position of  dance in Ohio. In  2016, a five-person team set out on a mission to capture the  achievements of persons and institutions who have shaped the intricate  diversity of dance history and practice within the state of Ohio and  weave them together in an easily accessible digital format. This we call  the OhioDance Virtual Dance Collection. As of 2025 we have highlighted  44 individuals and institutions. The team has traveled over 5000 miles  and interviewed hundreds of individuals in all five regions of Ohio.⁠ vdc.ohiodance.org⁠ [https://us2.mailchimp.com/mctx/clicks?url=http%3A%2F%2Fvdc.ohiodance.org&xid=7457ab4d48&uid=6658474&iid=0aa4c26b4e&pool=cts&v=2&c=1690495018&h=3d08a0a96f0253c527182e727095a91239c27228891ad793c1d128808ab1f4d3] If you like what you are listening to and are not a member of OhioDance, you can go to⁠ ohiodance.org⁠ [https://ohiodance.org/] and  click the membership button to join and receive the many benefits that  come with your membership. You can also donate through our purple donate  button.

Deep Roots, Strong Branches: Raising Community with Suzan Bradford Kounta

This month's guest is Suzan Bradford Kounta. Suzan is a dancer, choreographer, educator, and cultural leader dedicated to the preservation and celebration of West African traditions. She is the first African American woman to serve as Executive Director of Columbus’s historic Lincoln Theatre, where since 2009 she has guided its vision and operations while championing its role as a cultural anchor for the community. As co-founder and Artistic Director of the Thiossane West African Dance Institute—now celebrating 25 years—Suzan has built a nationally respected company and educational program devoted to passing on the dance, music, and cultural heritage of West Africa to future generations. Her work emphasizes not only cultural preservation but also physical and mental wellness, youth empowerment, and community building. Suzan’s artistic and academic contributions extend into higher education and public life. She has served nearly a decade as adjunct faculty in The Ohio State University’s Department of Dance, previously taught at Antioch College, and is regularly invited to share her expertise at universities, conferences, and community gatherings across the country. Her dedication to the Central Ohio arts community spans more than 25 years of nonprofit leadership, arts advocacy, and intergenerational mentorship. Having studied extensively in Senegal, Suzan continues to travel biannually to deepen her knowledge of traditional West African dance and culture. She has taught and choreographed for countless schools, community centers, treatment programs, and professional stages, fostering spaces where the arts are a constant source of resilience and connection. Forward-thinking and committed to collective action, Suzan embodies the belief that “as the world turns, the arts remain the constant variable for humanity.” OhioDance  A State of Dance is a six-part series coming out the fourth Friday of   each month through November 2025. This podcast is driven by the OhioDance mission to secure the foothold of dance in Ohio through  increasing visibility, firming viability, and elevating the position of  dance in Ohio. In  2016, a five-person team set out on a mission to capture the  achievements of persons and institutions who have shaped the intricate  diversity of dance history and practice within the state of Ohio and  weave them together in an easily accessible digital format. This we call  the OhioDance Virtual Dance Collection. As of 2025 we have highlighted  42 individuals and institutions. The team has traveled over 5000 miles  and interviewed hundreds of individuals in all five regions of Ohio.⁠ vdc.ohiodance.org⁠ [https://us2.mailchimp.com/mctx/clicks?url=http%3A%2F%2Fvdc.ohiodance.org&xid=7457ab4d48&uid=6658474&iid=0aa4c26b4e&pool=cts&v=2&c=1690495018&h=3d08a0a96f0253c527182e727095a91239c27228891ad793c1d128808ab1f4d3] If you like what you are listening to and are not a member of OhioDance, you can go to⁠ ohiodance.org⁠ [https://ohiodance.org/] and  click the membership button to join and receive the many benefits that  come with your membership. You can also donate through our purple donate  button.

From Havana to the Heights: Dancing in Community with Cervilio Miguel Amador

This month's guest is Cervilio Miguel Amador. Cervi  is a multifaceted artist, entrepreneur, and transformative figure in  the dance world. He received his education and training at the  Vocational Ballet School in Camagüey, Cuba, and the National Ballet  School of Cuba. Cervi began his professional career with the National  Ballet of Cuba, starting as a Corps de Ballet dancer and later advancing  to the role of Corifeo (demi-soloist). In 2004, he joined Cincinnati  Ballet as a Soloist, and in 2006, he was promoted to Principal Dancer,  becoming one of the youngest in the company’s history. After  retiring as a Principal Dancer during the 2019-2020 season, Cervi  transitioned to the role of Rehearsal Director, where he focused on  coaching and mentoring dancers both inside and outside the studio. He  also played an active role in the Cincinnati Ballet’s Diversity, Equity,  Inclusion, and Accessibility Task Force, advocating for sustainable  change for current and future dancers. In  September 2023, the Cincinnati Ballet Board of Trustees appointed Cervi  as Interim Artistic Director. In this capacity, he actively planned the  repertoire for upcoming seasons, curated and commissioned new works,  and collaborated with the leadership team to shape his artistic vision  for the company. Cervi has been instrumental in fostering community  partnerships and broadening the reach of the art form both locally and  internationally. The Cincinnati Ballet Board of Trustees appointed Cervi  as permanent Artistic Director in December 2024. OhioDance  A State of Dance is a six-part series coming out the fourth Friday of   each month through November 2025. This podcast is driven by the OhioDance mission to secure the foothold of dance in Ohio through  increasing visibility, firming viability, and elevating the position of  dance in Ohio. In  2016, a five-person team set out on a mission to capture the  achievements of persons and institutions who have shaped the intricate  diversity of dance history and practice within the state of Ohio and  weave them together in an easily accessible digital format. This we call  the OhioDance Virtual Dance Collection. As of 2025 we have highlighted  42 individuals and institutions. The team has traveled over 5000 miles  and interviewed hundreds of individuals in all five regions of Ohio.⁠ vdc.ohiodance.org⁠ [https://us2.mailchimp.com/mctx/clicks?url=http%3A%2F%2Fvdc.ohiodance.org&xid=7457ab4d48&uid=6658474&iid=0aa4c26b4e&pool=cts&v=2&c=1690495018&h=3d08a0a96f0253c527182e727095a91239c27228891ad793c1d128808ab1f4d3] If you like what you are listening to and are not a member of OhioDance, you can go to⁠ ohiodance.org⁠ [https://ohiodance.org/] and  click the membership button to join and receive the many benefits that  come with your membership. You can also donate through our purple donate  button.