Dance Behind The Screen; Process, Production, Social Media

On our fourth episode of World Dance month your co-host Reyna interviews Ana Maria Alvarez the Founding Artistic Director and Choreographer of CONTRA-TIEMPO. In this episode we go behind the screen in celebration of CONTRA-TIEMPO’s 15th anniversary and talk about Ana Maria’s career rooted in politics and dance, advice and questions to consider for starting a dance company, collaboration and crediting dancers, using Patreon to facilitate a deeper level of connection with the company, and practices for nourishing oneself and manifesting ideas.  https://www.knowboxdance.com/post/38-anamariaalvarez-contra-tiempo

On our third episode of World Dance month your co-hosts Reyna and Martheya interview Yoni Avital the International Director of Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company (KCDC). In this episode we go behind the screen and talk about and the history of Israel and the Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company, the International Dance Village, KCDC programming, innovative and primal work of Artistic Director Rami Be’er, and advice for emerging artists interested in auditing for the summer programs or KCDC.  https://www.knowboxdance.com/post/37-kibbutzcontemporarydancecompany-kcd

On our second episode of World Dance month your co-hosts Azaria and Reyna interview Judith Sánchez Ruíz (CU-US-GE) Director of JSR Company. In this episode we go behind the screen and talk about Judith’s labyrinth of a career path across Cuba, America, and Europe. She shares the impact of dancing for Trisha Brown Dance Company, why organizing a company was a practical solution for acquiring funds and researching with collaborators, the value of framing learning outcomes for classes, and strategies for following your artistic voice.  *44:02 explicit language  https://www.knowboxdance.com/post/36-judiths%C3%A1nchezru%C3%ADz-jsr-company

On our first episode kicking off World Dance month your co-hosts YeaJean and Reyna interview Bettina Wagner-Bergelt the Intendant and Artistic Director of the Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch. In this episode we go behind the screen and talk about Bettina’s career negotiating abstract dance and contemporary storytelling, the meaning and process of Pina Bausch’s courageous, innovative, and provocative artistry, and what we can learn from the Coronavirus and social distancing.  https://www.knowboxdance.com/post/35-bettinawagnerbergelt-tanztheater-wuppertal-pina-bausch

On our fourth episode in celebration of Women’s History Month your co-hosts Martheya and Azaria interview Elizabeth ‘Liza’ Yntema the President and Founder of the Dance Data Project® (DDP). In this episode we go behind the screen and talk about the influence of Liza’s family on her career, how questioning the dominant paradigm led to creating DDP, her non-traditional approach to creating a non-profit, ballet as a business, the philanthropy spending down approach, and advice for women leaders.  https://www.knowboxdance.com/post/34-elizabethyntema-dance-data-project

On our third episode in celebration of Women’s History Month your co-hosts Azaria and Reyna interview Susan McGreevy-Nichols the Executive Director of the Nation Dance Education Organization (NDEO). In this episode we go behind the screen and talk about Susan’s career and expertise as strategic planner. She shares tips for bringing the dance sectors together to improve dance education for all, her experience with royalties and state adoptions for dance textbooks, NDEO services and membership breakdowns, and leadership strategies grounded in listening and grit. https://www.knowboxdance.com/post/33-susanmcgreevynichols-ndeo

On our second episode in celebration of Women’s History Month your co-hosts Martheya and Azaria  interview Roxana Barba. In this episode we go behind the screen and talk about Roxana Baraba’s career as a dance choreographer, arts administrator, and filmmaker/producer/director. She shares her creative process for dance films, important tips to consider when working with collaborators, and the value of clarity in vision when creating work. Special thanks to Sandra Parks and the Women in Dance Leadership Conference for connecting us for this in-person interview.  https://www.knowboxdance.com/post/32-roxanabarba

On our first episode in celebration of Women’s History Month your co-host YeaJean interviews Na-ye Kim. In this episode we go behind the screen and talk about Na-ye Kim’s career as a professional; dancer for Trisha Brown Dance Company and Mikhail Baryshnikov among others, choreographer, and international educator. She shares advice for emerging artists using social media, learning how to take rejection, understanding the ecology of a country when working internationally, and the importance of having an artistic voice in order to survive.  https://www.knowboxdance.com/post/31-na-yekim-na-ye-kim-movement-collective

On our fourth episode in celebration of Black History Month your co-host Azaria interviews Denise Saunders Thompson. In this episode we go behind the screen and talk about Denise Saunders Thomposon’s career as the President and Chief Executive Officer for the International Association of Blacks in Dance (IABD). She shares her love for working behind the scenes merging business and performing arts, her career in arts administration, IABD programming and how to get involved, her thoughts on the future of IABD and dance inclusivity, and the importance of correcting the narrative of blacks in dance.  https://www.knowboxdance.com/post/30-denisesaundersthompson-iabd

On our third episode in celebration of Black History Month your co-host Azaria interviews Theresa Ruth Howard of MoBBallet. In this episode we go behind the screen and talk about Theresa Ruth Howard’s beginnings with Dance Theatre of Harlem, the creation of MoBBallet/interactive digital resource for educators, roll call, her viral article ‘Is Instagram Changing the Dance World’s Value System’, and strategies  for navigating the world in a black body.  https://www.knowboxdance.com/post/29-theresaruthhoward-mobballet

On our second episode in celebration of Black History Month your co-hosts Martheya and Azaria interview McKinley Willis. In this episode we go behind the screen and talk about McKinley’s career as a professional dancer. She shares why pursuing a BFA in Modern Dance is a way of preparing for the future, the importance of considering location when picking a school, tips for creating your network, black female artists to follow, and how she thinks about body image. https://www.knowboxdance.com/post/28-mckinleywillis

On our first episode in celebration of Black History Month your co-hosts Martheya and Azaria interview Brenda Dixon Gottschild. In this episode we go behind the screen and talk about Brenda Dixon Gottschild’s career as creator, author, scholar, educator, and leader in the dance world. She shares what it was like growing up in the revolutionary community of Harlem, New York through the 1930’s-1960’s, the difference between activist vs. hater, the importance of having a supportive network of people as your allies, and tips for writing and staying present in the moment. Special thanks to Sandra Parks and the Women in Dance Leadership Conference for connecting us for this in-person interview.  https://www.knowboxdance.com/post/27-brendadixongottschild

On this episode your co-host YeaJean interviews Yin Yue the Artistic Director of YY Dance Company. On this episode we go behind the screen and talk about Yin Yue’s career as a choreographer. She shares how she gets inspired, tips for emerging choreographers, the difference in responsibilities between artistic director vs. choreographer, the importance of editing your social media, and how she developed a hybrid of contemporary dance language called FoCo Technique.  Detailed showkNOwtes: https://www.knowboxdance.com/post/26-yin-yue-yy-dance-company

On this episode your co-hosts YeaJean and Reyna interview Miguel Gutierrez. Miguel is a choreographer, composer, performer, singer, writer, educator and advocate who has lived in New York for over twenty years. He has been presented in venues such as at Centre National de Danse, Centre Pompidou, ImPulsTanz, American Realness, among others. He has received support from Creative Capital, MAP, National Dance Project, National Performance Network, and Jerome Foundation. He is the recipient of an award from The Foundation for Contemporary Art, a 2016 Franky Award from Prelude Festival, and four Bessies. He is a 2016 Doris Duke Artist. On this episode we go behind the screen and talk about Miguel’s approach to creating and performing, advantages/disadvantages of social media, the audience as a group of individuals who are ready for an experience, creative process tips for tricking yourself into different mental states, and teaching practices. Special thanks to the Texas Dance Improvisation Festival on connecting us

On this episode your co-host Martheya interviews Elijah Alhadji Gibson the Founder and Artistic Director of Social Movement Contemporary Dance. He is a performer, choreographer, teacher, and professor. Gibson's choreography reflects his belief that dance mirrors how people embrace and/or resist the cultural boundaries, limitations, and expectations laid upon them by social constructs. This conviction motivated Gibson's creation of We Are Greenwood, which received critical acclaim and has been performed both at the Kennedy Center and Jacob's Pillow. He has performed work by the late Gus Giordano, Billy Seigenfeld, Christopher Huggins, Mia Michaels, and many others. On this episode we go behind the screen and talk about Elijah’s academic and professional career, the importance of preparedness and recognizing the source of things, his identity in relation to performance and choreography, and the human condition.  *30:03 Trigger Warning Conversations on Race Riots/Massacres  Detailed showkNOwtes: https://www.kno

Matt Kent has worked with Pilobolus since 1996 as a dancer, collaborator, creative director, and choreographer. Additionally Matt’s work has been seen on the Sports Emmy-nominated teaser created in collaboration with the NFL network, Late Night with Conan O’Brien and AMC’s hit series The Walking Dead. On this episode we go behind the screen and talk about the value of synchronicity and working collaboratively in the creative process, the challenge of managing logistics and creativity, ‘neural mirroring’, and a surprise contribution from Emily Kent, Pilobolus’ Education Director, on what Pilobolus looks for at company auditions.  Detailed showkNOwtes: https://www.knowboxdance.com/post/23-mattkent-pilobolus

On this episode your co-hosts Martheya, YeaJean, Azaria, and Reyna wrap up 2019 and season 1 of Dance Behind the Screen Podcast. On this episode we have an open conversation between the co-hosts sharing what we think about social media and its influence on the dance world, what we have learned from our conversations, define digital dance company, and what our audience can expect for season 2 in 2020. Detailed showkNOwtes: https://www.knowboxdance.com/post/22-teamdbs-season-1-wrap-up

On this episode your co-hosts Azaria and Martheya talk with the founder of the Women in Dance Leadership Conference, Sandra Parks. Originally from Taiwan, Sandra danced as a soloist with Four Seasons Ballet and Wu-I Dance Company in Taipei. She toured nationally and internationally with a Broadway production of the King And I. While directing her own production, she danced and choreographed over 80 live concerts. After moving to Boston, she danced with Bosoma Dance Company, Dance Collective, and Impulse Dance Company. Sandra was a member of the faculties at Boston University, Bridgewater State College, Colleges of Fenway, Kennesaw State University, Regis College, Smith College, National Taiwan University of Arts, the Head of Dance Program and assistant professor at Louisiana State University, and is currently on the faculty at Drexel University in Philadelphia. In 2013, Sandra founded Women in Dance L.L.C. to celebrate and promote female leadership in dance, and she is the director of the international confer

On this episode your co-hosts YeaJean and Reyna interview artists, teachers, performers, and attendees at the annual Texas Dance Improvisation Festival (TDIF). Initially conceived of by Jordan Fuchs with the mission to share, inspire and challenge the improvisational dance community of Texas, TDIF was first co-hosted at TWU in 2009 by Fuchs and Sarah Gamblin. Since that first year TDIF has grown to include over 200 participants a year, including students, professors and professional dance artists from across Texas, the United States and as far away as Germany and Taiwan. Relying on a Coordinating Committee of university faculty and professional dance artists to produce the annual weekend festival, TDIF is hosted by a different Texas university each year. Through a lean organizational structure and the leveraging of university resources for the benefit of the wider university and improvisational dance communities, TDIF emphasizes financial accessibility, with participant registration fees for the three-day fes

On this episode your co-hosts Martheya and Reyna interview Lynn Lane. Lynn Lane is the founder/artistic director/sound artist of The Transitory Sound and Movement Collective (TSMC). Lynn has had a long history in the arts and is currently the official photographer for the Houston Grand Opera and the Alley Theatre. His work has been shown nationally and internationally in galleries/museums as a photographer, filmmaker and artist. His history of performance began in the early 90’s in the gallery scene and well as creating many site-specific pieces which now carries on through the TSMC. He is represented in New York for his furniture design and has served on the Advisory Board for the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (NYC). He has curated projects at the Anthology Film Archives (NYC), taught documentary filmmaking in conjunction with the NYC school district, written for International Documentary Magazine and was represented in London/NYC for his documentary work. Currently, Lynn’s focus is solely on his