Moving Moments

Artistic Director of American Ballet Theatre Susan Jaffe was a celebrated Principal Dancer with ABT for 22 years, before becoming a teacher and arts administrator. Susan sits down with Alicia to reveal her biggest talent, reminisce about struggling to sit at a piano as a young child, and recount joining the studio company of ABT at age 16. Our guest honestly talks about seeing a diet doctor, early challenges at the company, and dancing with Mikhail Baryshnikov. To close it out Susan discusses her life post retirement as a dancer, why it's always important to say yes, and how she is shifting power dynamics and creating a healthy environment for the next generation.  We need your help to amplify artistic voices. Please consider supporting this show by making a 100% tax-deductible donation here [https://www.artfulnarrativesmedia.com/donate]. Be sure to subscribe, leave us a rating, and share the podcast with your friends if you liked this episode! Check out Susan Jaffe on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/susanjaffeofficial/], Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/susan.jaffe.988], or LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanjaffe/]. To learn more about American Ballet Theatre visit them on the web [https://www.abt.org/]. Follow Moving Moments on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/movingmomentspodcast/]. Follow Alicia on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/aliciagrafmack/]. You can find out more about Artful Narratives Media on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/artfulnarrativesmedia/] or the web [https://www.artfulnarrativesmedia.com/]. The Moving Moments theme song was composed by Saul Guanipa for Videohelper [https://www.videohelper.com/]. Moving Moments was co-created by Alicia Graf Mack [https://www.aliciagrafmack.com/], Jessica Handelman [https://www.jessicahandelman.com/], and David Krauss [https://www.artfulnarrativesmedia.com/speaking-soundly-podcast]. Photograph of Susan Jaffe in Swan Lake by Paul Kolnik. This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format. Episode copyright © 2025 Artful Narratives Media. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Artistic Director of the Limón Dance Company Dante Puleio is shaping the future of the modern dance world. To kick-off the conversation, Dante reminisces about his childhood choreographing to Donna Summer and Michael Jackson, discovering that a career in dance was a "thing," and his unconventional path to the stage. Alicia learns of the multiple times our guest auditioned for a job unbeknownst to him, why he left the company to pursue a higher education, and Dante's ultimate return to Limón in a leadership role. To close out the episode, Dante leaves us with his hope for his legacy.  We need your help to amplify artistic voices. Please consider supporting Moving Moments by making a tax-deductible donation here [https://www.artfulnarrativesmedia.com/donate]. Check out Dante Puleio on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/dantepuleio/], Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/dante.puleio], or the web [https://www.dantepuleio.com/]. For more information about the Limón Dance Company you can visit them on the web [https://www.limon.nyc/]. Follow Moving Moments on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/movingmomentspodcast/]. Follow Alicia on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/aliciagrafmack/]. You can find out more about Artful Narratives Media on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/artfulnarrativesmedia/] or the web [https://www.artfulnarrativesmedia.com/]. The Moving Moments theme song was composed by Saul Guanipa for Videohelper [https://www.videohelper.com/]. Moving Moments was co-created by Alicia Graf Mack [https://www.aliciagrafmack.com/], Jessica Handelman [https://www.jessicahandelman.com/], and David Krauss [https://www.artfulnarrativesmedia.com/speaking-soundly-podcast]. This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format. Episode copyright © 2025 Artful Narratives Media. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Two-time Bessie Award winner Hope Boykin is a performer, choreographer, educator, and the Director of a company that bears her name. An original member of Complexions, Hope spent many years as a dancer with Philadanco, and the world-renowned Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater where she and Alicia became dear friends. To kick off the conversation Alicia reflects on the first time she saw Hope dance and suggests that our guest was born a "mover." Hope reminisces about her love of action movies, how this led her to becoming a gymnast (and losing teeth!), and her ultimate love for dance, as well as what it meant to grow up in a house of educators. Alicia learns how Debbie Allen, Dwight Rhoden, Joan Myers Brown, Judith Jamison, and other dance greats influenced Hope's path. She shares how her career as a choreographer started to take shape, and how a series of connections (that didn't make sense at the time) prepared Hope for her life today. We need your help to amplify artistic voices. Please consider supporting Moving Moments by making a tax-deductible donation here [https://www.artfulnarrativesmedia.com/donate]. Check out Hope Boykin on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/hbdance/], Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/HopeBoykinDance/], or the web [https://www.hbartscollective.org/]. Follow Moving Moments on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/movingmomentspodcast/]. Follow Alicia on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/aliciagrafmack/]. You can find out more about Artful Narratives Media on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/artfulnarrativesmedia/] or the web [https://www.artfulnarrativesmedia.com/]. The Moving Moments theme song was composed by Saul Guanipa for Videohelper [https://www.videohelper.com/]. Moving Moments was co-created by Alicia Graf Mack [https://www.aliciagrafmack.com/], Jessica Handelman [https://www.jessicahandelman.com/], and David Krauss [https://www.artfulnarrativesmedia.com/speaking-soundly-podcast]. This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format. Episode copyright © 2024 Artful Narratives Media. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Eduardo Vilaro is a Cuban-American dancer, choreographer, educator, and the Artistic Director & CEO of Ballet Hispánico. To kick off the conversation, Eduardo tells Alicia why he fell in love with dance at a young age and reflects on the moment when he felt like he belonged thanks to an 8th grade teacher and a performance of "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown." The Artistic Director recalls auditioning for Ballet Hispánico, what he wore to his first class (it grabbed attention!), and how the company's founder Tina Ramirez influenced his life. To close it out Eduardo discusses how he built his entrepreneurial skills, what it means to be part of a company rooted in his own culture, and his ultimate return to Ballet Hispánico as a leader. We need your help to amplify artistic voices. Please consider supporting Moving Moments by making a tax-deductible donation here [https://www.artfulnarrativesmedia.com/donate]. Check out Eduardo Vilaro on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/ervilaro/?hl=en] and Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/evilaro/]. For more about Ballet Hispánico, visit them on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/ballethispanico/], Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/ballethispanico/?ref=ts], or the web [https://www.ballethispanico.org/]. Follow Moving Moments on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/movingmomentspodcast/]. Follow Alicia on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/aliciagrafmack/]. You can find out more about Artful Narratives Media on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/artfulnarrativesmedia/] or the web [https://www.artfulnarrativesmedia.com/]. Photograph of Eduardo Vilaro by Rachel Neville [https://www.instagram.com/rachelnevillephoto_motion/?hl=en]. The Moving Moments theme song was composed by Saul Guanipa for Videohelper [https://www.videohelper.com/]. Moving Moments was co-created by Alicia Graf Mack [https://www.aliciagrafmack.com/], Jessica Handelman [https://www.jessicahandelman.com/], and David Krauss [https://www.artfulnarrativesmedia.com/speaking-soundly-podcast]. This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format. Episode copyright © 2024 Artful Narratives Media. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Steven Melendez's path to the stage is extraordinary. Alicia and the Artistic Director of New York Theatre Ballet discuss the Emmy-nominated documentary LIFT based on Steven's incredible life journey while experiencing homelessness and why he was "saved" by dance. Steven goes on to reflect on his early adulthood leaving the South Bronx to perform in South America and Europe and how it colored his perspective of the dance world, what brought him back to the states, and his ultimate return to NYTB. To close it out Steven discusses the importance of representation, why he loves a good spreadsheet, his biggest fear and ambitions, what he sees as the key to the future of classical dance, and how he keeps a balanced life.  Check out Steven Melendez on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/thestevenmelendez/], Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/steven.melendez.543], and on the web [https://stevenmelendez.com/]. You can learn more about Steven's documentary LIFT here [https://www.liftdocumentary.com/]. For more about New York Theatre Ballet, visit them on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/nytheatreballet?fbclid=IwY2xjawGYm9ZleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHQiVG2VASt3QC8Hypg9Xy87qcz8ix2Ep_lPYGZHcwXsDFGEA-Ymqa-ZRBA_aem_3jpPpwPgsMJKNXutmKXxlg], Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/NYTheatreBallet/], or the web [https://nytb.org/?fbclid=IwY2xjawGYm9pleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHcteyMnxtGo-8yxvfi3iPHDa1MC7BqoPFpnYsYnWfs9rsxhJ13lSgbHC3Q_aem_xS7kU-lnyePqhJmr9QknvQ]. Follow Moving Moments on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/movingmomentspodcast/]. Follow Alicia on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/aliciagrafmack/]. We need your help to amplify artistic voices. Please consider supporting this show by making a tax-deductible donation here [https://www.artfulnarrativesmedia.com/donate]. You can find out more about Artful Narratives Media on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/artfulnarrativesmedia/] or the web [https://www.artfulnarrativesmedia.com/]. Photograph of Steven Melendez by Rachel Neville. The Moving Moments theme song was composed by Saul Guanipa for Videohelper [https://www.videohelper.com/]. Moving Moments was co-created by Alicia Graf Mack [https://www.aliciagrafmack.com/], Jessica Handelman [https://www.jessicahandelman.com/], and David Krauss [https://www.artfulnarrativesmedia.com/speaking-soundly-podcast]. This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format. Episode copyright © 2024 Artful Narratives Media. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.