MSP 186: Erin Carlisle Norton
Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast
Lessons from 10 Years of Dance Conversations with Erin Carlisle Norton What does it take to lead a forward-thinking, boundary-pushing dance company in today’s ever-changing artistic landscape? After a decade of hosting Movers & Shapers and nearly 200 interviews, Erin Carlisle Norton, Artistic Director of The Moving Architects (TMA), steps into the guest seat for a special 10th-anniversary episode. In conversation with Megan Mizanty, Lead Editor of thINKingDANCE, Erin reflects on the podcast’s evolution, the inspiration behind it, and the guests and stories that have profoundly shaped...
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MSP 185: Morgiana Celeste Varricchio & Samara Adell
Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast
Building the Mosaic Dance Theatre Company with Morgiana Celeste Varricchio & Samara Adell Every dance company has its own unique journey and characteristics, from how it was founded to the style of dance it specializes in. Today, we’re joined by the Producing Artistic Director and Founder of the Mosaic Dance Theatre Company (MDTC), Morgiana Celeste Varricchio, and the Artistic Director for Dance and Choreographer, Samara Adell. MDTC showcases the vibrant dance and folkloric heritage of the Mediterranean, spanning North Africa, the Middle East, and Southern Europe. Through captivating...
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MSP 184: Twin Cities
Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast
Twin Cities with Joanna Lees, Jesse Schmitz-Boyd, Erinn Liebhard Nestled along the Mississippi River, Minneapolis and Saint Paul offer a unique mix of natural beauty and culture. Winters are harsh, but skyways provide warmth, and frozen lakes set the scene. When summer arrives, the cities buzz with life, from thriving arts and food scenes to passionate sports fans. Each season brings a fresh energy to this dynamic and welcoming community. Today, we’re joined by three dance artists who call the Twin Cities home—Joanna Lees, Jesse Schmitz-Boyd, and Erinn Liebhard. Together, we dive into the...
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MSP 183: Heidi Henderson
Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast
Something About the Way She Moves with Heidi Henderson Vibrant, humble, and down-to-earth, Heidi Henderson is a Professor at Connecticut College and also the artistic director of elephant JANE dance, where she brings her unique vision and creativity to the stage. From Maine, to New York City, to Rhode Island, Heidi is a four-time recipient of the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts Choreography Fellowship. Her work has been performed internationally in London and Korea, as well as at renowned venues like Jacob’s Pillow, The Flynn Space, and the Bates Dance Festival. She has danced with...
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MSP 182: Jamila Glass
Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast
A World Immersed in Art with Dancer, Filmmaker, Choreographer, and Artistic Director Jamila Glass Jamila Glass is a filmmaker, choreographer, and Artistic Director of L.A. Contemporary Dance Company (LACDC), where she has been a member since its founding in 2005. She has choreographed for Netflix, HBO, Hulu, BET, and PRADA, with her work featured in the NY Times, L.A. Times, and more. In 2024, she co-founded the Los Angeles Choreographers Institute and has directed 21 short dance films, a TV pilot, and music videos through her production company, The Cutting Room. A graduate of USC’s School...
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MSP 181: Chicago
Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast
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...
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MSP 180: Tristan Ching Hartmann
Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast
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...
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MSP 179: Durham
Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast
The Durham Dance & Arts Community with Anna Barker, Jessi Knight, Kristin Taylor Duncan, and Stacy Wolfson Durham, North Carolina, is a mid-sized city known for its vibrant mix of innovation, collaboration, and creativity. Frequently ranked as one of the best places to live in the US, it boasts a thriving arts, culture, and culinary scene. With a strong sense of community, Durham takes pride in its commitment to inclusivity and diversity. In this episode, we shine a spotlight on four inspiring Durham-based dance artists: Anna Barker, Jessi Knight, Kristin Taylor Duncan, and Stacy Wolfson....
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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...
info_outlineWhen 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