MSP 178: Alice Gosti
Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast
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...
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MSP 177: Pittsburgh
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...
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MSP 176: Clare Cook
Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast
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...
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MSP: Special June Announcement from Erin Carlisle Norton
Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast
A special announcement from host and Artistic Director of , Erin Carlisle Norton. Support this one-of-a-kind inspiring podcast with a tax-deductible donation! Movers & Shapers has been podcasting interviews with those who shape the dance field since 2015. Connect with our archive of 175 interviews: Follow on and for the latest!
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MSP 175: Rachel Damon
Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast
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...
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MSP 174: Sydney Skybetter
Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast
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...
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MSP 173: Giada Matteini
Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast
Dance for a Violence-Free Future with Giada Matteini Today's guest, Giada Matteini, embodies the belief that artists have the extraordinary ability to shape a world free from violence. As a performer, educator, choreographer, and cultural producer, Giada founded WADE (Wandering Avian Dance Experience), a women-led performing arts company that brings awareness to gender-based violence and offers healing through the transformative power of dance. In this episode of Movers & Shapers, Giada shares a panoramic view of her international dance career, brimming with hope and inspiration for those...
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MSP 172: Mimi Garrard
Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast
The Journey of Creating Dance for Video with Mimi Garrard Video dance work has become increasingly popular as technology has advanced, but not many dancers and choreographers have made it their primary medium of work. Today’s guest, Mimi Garrard, is the exception, having spent most of her extensive career focusing on video dance. In this episode of Movers & Shapers, we hear all about Mimi’s life, what led her to dance, her training under Alwin Nikolais, why she chose video dance, and what she loves about it. We delve into how she combines video and live dancing before Mimi expands on...
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MSP 171: Stefanie Nelson
Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast
Finding Your Artistry Beyond Words with Stefanie Nelson One of the beautiful things about dance is the ability to express yourself without words. You can just dance. Joining Erin on the podcast today is Stefanie Nelson, Founder and Director of Stefanie Nelson Dancegroup (SND), a contemporary dance company based in NYC. Stefanie also established Dance Italia, an international summer dance program in Lucca, Italy. Today, she shares what kickstarted her lifelong love of dance and the influence that Alice Teirstein had on her journey. She also offers insight into her college journey and what it...
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MSP 170: Kathy Dunn Hamrick
Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast
Creating a Modern Dance Culture and Community with Kathy Dunn Hamrick Establishing a modern dance company is no easy feat, but today’s guest managed to create a successful organization and build a wonderful modern dance community in Austin, Texas. Today on Movers & Shapers, we welcome Kathy Dunn Hamrick, the Artistic Director of Kathy Dunn Hamrick Dance, to discuss her work and how she helps dance grow in Austin. Kathy found a love for dance at a young age and quickly decided that she needed to dedicate her life to it. In this episode, you’ll hear all about Kathy’s life and career,...
info_outlineThe Magic of Creativity with Renée Jaworski
Being a successful dance performer requires a combination of technical skills, artistry, professionalism, dedication, and networking. In today’s episode, we sit down with Renée Jaworski, the Executive Director and Co-Artistic Director of the rebellious dance company, Pilobolus, as she shares her experience working there throughout her illustrious 20+ year career and unpacks the magic of creativity, risk, collaboration, artistic expression, and the value of hard work. Hear why she began pursuing dance and being a performer, the lessons she learned working for a company, the emotional struggles of learning the business end of dance, and how she forged ahead in her dance career while also a mother. We discuss how she integrates her various passions into dance, how Pilobolus acts as a gateway to the art form, why you should not take dance too seriously, her upcoming projects, and much more. Tune in, and discover industry insights and the value of pursuing your dreams with Renée Jaworski.
Key Points From This Episode:
· Background about Renée and how she became interested in dance.
· The influence attending the University of the Arts had on her.
· Why she chose to be a performer as opposed to continuing in academia.
· Her experience transitioning from being a student to working for a company.
· How she juggled pursuing a career with raising a family.
· The motivation behind joining the Pilobolus team.
· Find out why she has chosen to stay at Pilobolus for most of her career.
· We discuss Pilobolus’s reputation and the collaboration with the rock band OKGo.
· What it takes to make collaborations work and complete projects.
· The biggest challenges and highlights of her career.
· Learn about her past, current, and exciting upcoming projects.
“As I am getting older I am realizing that the more we can have those role models in place who have [raised a family while working] and want to support people who want to [have a family] the more the art form is going to thrive.” — Renée Jaworski
Renee Jaworski, Executive Director and Co-Artistic Director has had an extensive creative career with Pilobolus since 2000, and along with creative partner and Artistic Director Matt Kent, was chosen in 2011 by the founding Artistic Directors to lead the company.
Upcoming: Pilobolus at NJPAC (Newark, NJ) March 12, 2023, info HERE
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