Shows
5.6.7.EIGHTFrom National Gymnastics Team to Cirque du Soleil — DuoRingsThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Flor Aracama and Nico Busso of DuoRings. Flor and Nico’s unique creation — DuoRings. — is a unique aerial rings duo which combines gymnastics athleticism and performance and, since 2016, has been regularly featured on tour with Cirque de Soleil. After spending a decade together on the Argentinian national gymnastics team, Flor and Nico got married and kickstarted their acrobatics duo. When not on tour or in residency with Cirque, Flor and Nico live in Rome, Italy. Cirque du Soleil is one of the greatest arts achievements of the last century, and, this wee...2022-01-2639 min5.6.7.EIGHTDance Research and Injury Prevention — Nico KolokythasThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Nico Kolokythas, Founder of strengthmotionmind and Strength and Conditioning Coach at the Birmingham Royal Ballet. Nico has an extensive two-decades-long background in elite sports, focusing predominately on judo, netball, basketball, football, taekwondo, and tennis. Nico eventually completed a PhD in injuries and the adolescent ballet dancer through the Elmhurst Ballet School in the UK. He now leads strengthmotionmind — a group focused on educating dancers and dance instructors on strength training and injury prevention. Nico carries a unique perspective, having pivoted his research career from athletics to dance. Upon entering the arts, Nic...2022-01-1243 min5.6.7.EIGHTEpisode 129: How New York City Woke Me Up — Alexandra DamianiThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Alexandra Damiani, Artistic Director at BJM-Les Ballets Jazz De Montréal. Alexandra was classically trained in dance in and around her home country of France. After winning the jeune ballet d’Aquitaine de Bordeaux competition in France, she received a scholarship to the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in the US and has since danced at a variety of companies — including the company where she is now Artistic Director. Alexandra also has experience in the music and film industries, including an appearance in the acclaimed film Black Swan. For Alexandra, some of her m...2021-12-2943 min5.6.7.EIGHTAddicted to Entrepreneurship — Julie CartwrightThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Julie Cartwright, President at P.volve. P.volve is an omnichannel fitness brand featuring a global on-demand platform, a growing line of patented equipment, and several franchise studios in New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Since its founding in 2018, P.volve has grown from a few employees to over 75 employees — and counting. Julie, herself, is a graduate of Ohio University and held a variety of executive-level marketing positions before becoming president at her current company.When Julie stepped away from her comfortable corporate job and shifted towards entrepreneurship, she knew that her lif...2021-12-0847 min5.6.7.EIGHTSaving Ballet from Itself — Dr. Chloe AngyalThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Dr. Chloe Angyal, an accomplished journalist and published author. Most recently, Chloe released Turning Pointe: How the New Generation of Dancers is Saving Ballet from Itself. Her book focuses on the future of ballet and reckons with all the forces that endanger its future — whether that be racism, sexism, elitism, or many others. Dr. Angyal holds a bachelor’s degree from Princeton University and a doctorate from the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. Some of Chloe’s earliest ballet journalism centered around the bullying of young boys who par...2021-11-1740 min5.6.7.EIGHTAction Equals Change — Erin PrideThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Erin Pride, Founder and CEO at Dancepreneur Academy and host of The Dance Boss Podcast. Erin holds a BFA in dance from Montclair State University and a master’s in dance education from New York University. Her company helps dance professionals launch and scale online dance businesses. Erin is also the host of the Dance Boss Podcast, where she gives tips and strategies on building online businesses on a weekly basis. Erin spends her days coaching others on the ins and outs of business building; however, Erin would be the first to...2021-10-2740 min5.6.7.EIGHTLearning to Say “Yes” — Sonja McCordThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Sonja McCord, Chief Executive Officer at The Sonja McCord X. Sonja — who is based in New York City — has had opportunities to perform with a myriad of top dance companies and boasts 15+ years of agency and in-house marketing experience. Now, Sonja combines both careers at her company, where she coaches dancers to amplify their brand, monetize their art, increase visibility, and put their best foot forward from a marketing perspective. Sonja, whose path to her current destination has been far from linear, is a firm believer in having the right mindse...2021-10-1338 min5.6.7.EIGHTHarnessing Energy through Movement — Billy SiegenfeldThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Billy Siegenfeld, Founder of Jump Rhythm, creator of the Standing Down Straight technique, and a myriad of other things — playwright, choreographer, music arranger, performer, director, professor, and much more. Billy received his undergraduate degree from Brown University and a graduate degree in jazz studies from New York University. As a professor at Northwestern University, Billy is a Charles Deering McCormick Professor of Teaching Excellence in the Department of Theatre. Jump Rhythm is a multiple-Emmy Award winning performance and teaching company that is a manifestation of Billy’s Standing Down Straight technique. This...2021-09-2247 min5.6.7.EIGHTImprove Your Dance by Mastering Your Mind — Clare Guss-WestThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Clare Guss-West — a published author, choreographer, teacher, Committee Chair at the International Association for Dance Medicine & Science, and Co-Founder and Director of the Dance & Creative Wellness Foundation. Clare’s resume is extensive and varied, but most of her work seeks to apply scientific research into professional, vocational, and inclusive dance practice. Supported by her Eastern movement practice, she provides mindful attention and focused strategies that harness the mind, energy, and effort to empower dancers. These practices allow dancers to optimize their own physical and mental performance. Clare travels the world, shar...2021-08-3147 min5.6.7.EIGHTThe Business of Building Businesses — Betsy McBrideThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Betsy McBride, Co-founder and Director of Marketing at Rezonance Athletics — a sustainable athletic wear line that she started alongside her fiancé. In addition to her career as an entrepreneur, McBride is a performer with the American Ballet Theater (ABT). This incredible combination of careers has landed her on the cover of Pointe Magazine and has garnered her multiple dance-related accolades. In addition to all of this, McBride is a fully certified teacher through the ABT National Training Curriculum. Betsy’s story is a story of resilience and grit. As if a full-t...2021-08-1734 min5.6.7.EIGHTBodily Flexible; Mentally Strong — Andrea OrrisThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Andrea Orris, a seasoned gymnast and veteran collegiate gymnastics coach who is now using her experience to teach the “ins and outs” of effective stretching and to advocate for the fair treatment of gymnasts around the country. Orris, a Los Angeles native, competed in Division 1 collegiate gymnastics before turning her attention towards coaching. She is also a fitness model and a flexibility instructor. In fact, her flexibility courses blossomed during the pandemic, due in large part to her expert social media presence. Andrea is passionate about physical fitness, but she know...2021-08-1046 min5.6.7.EIGHTHow to Sell a Business — Michelle Seiler TuckerThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Michelle Seiler Tucker, the Founder and CEO of Seiler Tucker Incorporated. She and her firm have sold over a thousand businesses in nearly every vertical. She has spent two decades in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and holds the title of Mergers and Acquisitions Master Intermediary, as well as being a Certified Mergers and Acquisitions Professional and a Certified Senior Business Analyst. She also, herself, owns multiple businesses. Michelle is a seasoned M&A professional and, on the podcast, offers nearly an hour of free M&A consulting for anyone who...2021-08-0354 min5.6.7.EIGHTBringing Dance to America’s Heartland — Gil BoggsThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Gil Boggs, Artistic Director at Colorado Ballet. Boggs began his career with the Atlanta Ballet before joining American Ballet Theatre, where he served a remarkable 17-year tenure. Boggs has also performed with the Twyla Tharp Dance Company, Baryshnikov and Company, Nureyev and Friends, and has made several guest appearances around the world. Boggs has also presented 15 world premieres and 15 Colorado Ballet premieres by renowned choreographers such as Twyla Tharp and Lar Lubovitch. From the outset, Gil has been in love the state of Colorado. Having lived and worked in the N...2021-07-2732 min5.6.7.EIGHTLearning from My Students — Jeffrey EdwardsThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Jeffrey Edwards, dance professor at The Juilliard School. During his run as a performer, Jeff was a leading dancer for the New York Ballet, the Zurich Ballet, and the Lyon Opera Ballet. Edwards, who holds a degree from Brown University, has taught for conservatories and professional ballet companies around the world and has taught ballet at Harvard, Cornell, Princeton, Yale, and Brown. Additionally, he’s been able to choreograph various works, including the Broadway musical Billy Elliot. Jeff knows that, for the truly successful, learning never ends. And, if any group ha...2021-07-2034 min5.6.7.EIGHTMore Necessary Than Ever — Roberto Campanella and Kelly ShawThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Roberto Campanella and Kelly Shaw of ProArteDanza. At the company, Roberto and Kelly serve as artistic director and dance artist, respectively. Roberto — a native of Rome, Italy — trained at some of Italy’s finest schools before having a successful career as a professional dancer. Roberto also has extensive experience working in film. Kelly, who is also a choreographer, is well respected around Toronto for her art and works as a Pilates, Barre, and dance instructor in addition to her on-stage work. Both Roberto and Kelly feel pandemic pains — being absent from the s...2021-07-1347 min5.6.7.EIGHTEvery Dancer Dies Twice — Benjamin GoodlyThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Benjamin Goodly, the host of The Count 9 Podcast and a senior process engineer at a Fortune 100 company based out of Cincinnati, Ohio. Prior to his current work, Goodly was a performer, boasting a diverse career. Benjamin’s move from the stage to the office was a smooth transition; however, he’s fully aware of the myths surrounding career transitions for dancers. And, now, he’s looking to debunk those myths via his podcast. For an artist, leaving the stage is like dying a death — a death that sometimes feels as painful as actual...2021-07-0627 min5.6.7.EIGHTBeauty is Experience — Emmaly WiederholtThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Emmaly Wiederholt, Founder and Editor of Stance on Dance — an online publication that interviews dancers who are members of marginalized groups. Wiederholt, a veteran dancer, holds a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Southern California. She is also a published author, whose book features the stories of dancers over the age of fifty. She’s currently working on her second book that focuses on dancers with disabilities. Emmaly understands the value of gathering multiple perspectives in the arts and has dedicated her life to doing so. Emmaly knows t...2021-06-2932 min5.6.7.EIGHTIn the Business of Celebrating — TaKiyah WallaceThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews TaKiyah Wallace, Founder and Executive Director at Brown Girls Do Ballet. In 2012, TaKiyah, who is a former gifted-education teacher, shifted her life’s mission to empowering women and girls through the arts. Her nonprofit organization — Brown Girls Do Ballet — began as a photo project after searching for diverse classical ballet programs in Dallas, Texas. This small project has now grown into a full-blown organization. She was the recipient of the Girls Rising Creative Challenge Award and has been featured as a 2020 Adidas Gamechanger. Takiyah — who has been featured in the Huffington Post, the W...2021-06-2242 min5.6.7.EIGHTBreak the Rules and Be Polite — Val SyganevichThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Val Syganevich, Producer and Owner at Freckled Sky — a nationally renowned multimedia creative agency. Val opened his first creative agency in Ukraine in 2002, and in 2010, his group did their first ever project with multimedia. In 2013, upon a move to the United States, he established his current agency, Freckled Sky. In 2015, they partnered with America’s Got Talent to produce a one-of-a-kind interactive water projection performance and advanced to the finals in New York City. Val has worked with a variety of clients including Pink, James Arthur, Mercedes Benz, Ferrari, and many more. 2021-06-1535 min5.6.7.EIGHTComing Full Circle — Deanna SeayThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Deanna Seay, ballet instructor at the School of the Richmond Ballet. Deanna was trained at the School of Richmond Ballet and the North Carolina School of the Arts. Upon graduation, Deanna joined the Miami City Ballet, where she enjoyed an incredible 21-year tenure and was promoted to Principal Dancer of the ballet in 1998. In 2010, Deanna began teaching full-time at the Cary Ballet Conservatory and, later, at the Boston Ballet School. Now, she has come full circle and is investing in students at the School of the Richmond Ballet, where her entire journey began.2021-06-0833 min5.6.7.EIGHTJoffrey for All — Raymond RodriguezThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Raymond Rodriguez, Abbott Academy Director at The Joffrey Ballet. Raymond, a New York City native, was trained at the American Ballet Theater on full scholarship and eventually led a high-profile career at the Cleveland Ballet. Upon retirement from the stage, Rodriguez moved into a dance education career with The Joffrey Ballet. In addition to his dance work, Raymond is a Screen Actors Guild member and has appeared in films and TV shows such as Rent, The Smurfs, and Dancing with the Stars. As academy director, Raymond is looking to make...2021-06-0136 min5.6.7.EIGHTDancers are Athletes— Dr. Sheyi OjofeitimiThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Dr. Sheyi Ojofeitimi — Interim Director of Therapy Services at Alvin Ailey American Dance Foundation, CEO and Owner of Synthesis Physical Therapy, and Co-Founder of the Dance Ready Project. Dr. Sheyi is working on her third decade of licensed physical therapy and, in addition to her many job roles, has provided backstage coverage for several Broadway shows. She has also researched and authored or co-authored 18 journal articles and has served as a reviewer for the Journal of Dance Medicine and Science. Dr. Ojofeitimi was first introduced to professional dance at age 16, when she...2021-05-2553 min5.6.7.EIGHTStanding at the Forefront of Change — Clara SuperfineThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Clara Superfine, a dancer with the Dutch National Ballet in Amsterdam. Clara, a North Carolina native, attended the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School and danced with the American Ballet Theater Studio Company for one year prior to joining the Dutch National Ballet. Clara is also an avid illustrator and showcases her work through the Superfine Collective, which merges design and ballet. Over the past year, Clara has realized that dancers must exercise their voices as well as they do their bodies...2021-05-1831 min5.6.7.EIGHTRace, Ballet, and Creating Opportunity — Virginia JohnsonThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Virginia Johnson — artistic director at Dance Theatre of Harlem. Prior to taking over as the artistic director, Virginia’s run with Dance Theater of Harlem spanned 28 long years. In fact, she was one of the founding members of the company in the late 60s. Upon retirement, she returned to university to pursue a degree in journalism — a step that led to the creation of Pointe Magazine, where she was the magazine’s first editor-in-chief from 2000 to 2009. And, in 2010, at the request of Harlem’s co-founder Arthur Mitchell, she took over as artistic director. Virgin...2021-05-1135 min5.6.7.EIGHTKeep Making Things — Julia RhoadsThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Julia Rhoads — founder, director, and producer at Lucky Plush Productions and lecturer and dance advisor at the University of Chicago. Julia is a seasoned dancer and artist, having danced and choreographed at a wide variety of companies. Her work has been featured in Dance Magazine and other prominent publications. Now, Julia leads her dance company — Lucky Plush Productions — which offers a unique blend of different arts disciplines and has toured globally, including performances in New Zealand and Cuba. Julia is a lover of all different types of art, and that love is...2021-05-0431 min5.6.7.EIGHTWhat’s the Pointe? — Janice BarringerThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Janice Barringer, a veteran dancer, teacher and author of The Pointe Book — the world’s quintessential book on pointe training and pointe shoes. The Pointe Book has printed and sold many tens of thousands of copies since it was first written and just released its fourth edition. Janice is also currently a baller teacher and consultant, most notably with the Los Angeles-based company, Music Works. Janice knows that there is more to a ballet shoe than meets the eye and has made it her life’s goal to uncover and solve all po...2021-04-2739 min5.6.7.EIGHTTeaching My First Love — Alysia JohnsonThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Alysia Johnson — a dancer at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, a co-founder of Black Dance Change Makers, an entrepreneur, a thought-leader, and so much more. A Dallas native, Alysia has been dancing at a competitive level since the age of twelve and ultimately enrolled at The Juilliard School, where she earned a BFA in Dance. While getting her degree, Alysia developed an affinity for community engagement and secured two grants to help create dance education for students and parents in the Dallas area. As mentioned, she is co-founder of Black Dance Change Makers, whi...2021-04-2040 min5.6.7.EIGHTThe Creative Process in Action — Susan McGreevy-NicholsThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Susan McGreevy-Nichols, Executive Director at the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO). Prior to her current role, she taught part-time at Loyola Marymount University and was a national consultant on Arts Education. Also, as a three-decades-long teacher at Roger Williams Middle School in Providence, Rhode Island, Susan founded and developed that institution’s nationally renowned middle school dance program. On top of all of this, she is an author who has written and published five books. As an arts educator, Susan realizes the value of harnessing the creating process, both ins...2021-04-1334 min5.6.7.EIGHTGus Giordano and the Joy of Generosity — Amy GiordanoThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Amy Giordano, Founder and Executive Director at The Gus Giordano Jazz Legacy Foundation and Executive Director at Gus Giordano Dance School. Growing up, Amy danced and trained in all styles, while assisting her parents – Gus and Peg Giordano — as they ran the school. However, after a car accident shattered her kneecap, she was forced away from the stage. Amy went on to pursue a Bachelor of Arts from Tulane University and, upon her mother’s passing in 1993, assumed all of her mother’s responsibilities at the school. On her fathe...2021-04-0631 min5.6.7.EIGHTMusic to a Dancer’s Ears — Damien SimonThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Damien Simon, a renowned musical composer, author, and guest lecturer who has written dozens of scores for multiple genres and sizes of groups around the world. Damien is a graduate of the Purchase Conservatory in New York and the University College of Dublin in Ireland. Damien guest lectures at dance conservatories, consulting his audiences on how to best collaborate when creating art. Damien consolidated these lectures into his published book — The Collaboration — which seeks to help others create well together. When Damien began composing scores for dance and ballet, his music pass...2021-03-3027 min5.6.7.EIGHTThe Numbers Don’t Lie — Elizabeth YntemaThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Elizabeth Yntema — the President and Founder of the Dance Data Project, which provides helpful resources and studies of the world of dance, all in an effort to inform gender equity and level the playing field. Elizabeth holds a law degree and serves on multiple nonprofit boards — arts-related and otherwise. Additionally, two years ago, she was one of 450 global participants selected to the final full year training cohort of The Philanthropy Workshop, where she spent a year honing her skills as a philanthropist. The Dance Data Project is a collision of two...2021-03-2340 min5.6.7.EIGHTFind Your Thumbprint — Jimmy LocustThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Jimmy Locust — an artistic director, entrepreneur, dance educator, and philanthropist who has spent his career rubbing shoulders with some of the entertainment industry’s top stars, including Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Paula Abdul, Justin Bieber, and Joe Jonas, to name a few. Jimmy has also starred in a number of iconic music videos and films and helped choreograph the opening and closing ceremonies at the 1996 Olympic Games. He is currently the founder and owner of Locust Dance Academy and Locust Performing Arts Center. Throughout Jimmy’s incredible career, he has found himsel...2021-03-1632 min5.6.7.EIGHTHonoring My Ancestors — Tony DuncanThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Tony Duncan — who is also known as Yellow Bird Dancing. Tony is an award-winning Native American flute player and hoop dancer who has performed on some of the world’s biggest stages, including the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, The Tonight Show, and even The White House. As a hoop dancer, Duncan is among the best in the world, winning the title of “World Champion Hoop Dancer” five times. Duncan is also an award-winning flute player, who is currently signed to the largest and oldest Native American music label, Canyon Records. Fo...2021-03-0938 min5.6.7.EIGHTWhistle While You Work — Frances Chiaverini and Robyn DotyThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews both Frances Chiaverini and Robyn Doty, co-founders of Whistle While You Work — an organization dedicated to raising awareness around sexual harassment, discrimination, and workers’ rights in dance. Prior to COVID-19, Frances was a Fellow at the Center for Ballet and the Arts at New York University, where she and Robyn held “messy talks” to discuss working conditions and how to include consent and boundaries into these environments. The pair has curated this content into material to help dancers on a wider scale. Both Robyn and Frances are passionate about the good work that...2021-03-0234 min5.6.7.EIGHTThe Healing Hands of Art and Movement — Azizi MarshallThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Azizi Marshall — the Founder and CEO of the Center for Creative Arts Therapy, an art-based psychotherapy practice and training center in Chicago. The center has launched such programs and companies as Psychology Arts, Arts Playschool, Artful Wellness, and the Therapeutic Performance Initiative model. She has been featured in Oprah Magazine, Thrive Global, CNN, NBC News, Bustle, Reader’s Digest, The Huffington Post, Chicago Tribune, and Glancer Magazine. Marshall is also an award-winning presenter, author, and teacher. Marshall firmly believes in the power of movement to heal the deepest of wounds for...2021-02-2329 min5.6.7.EIGHTHealing the Flexible— Dr. Linda Bluestein, M.D.This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Dr. Linda Bluestein, M.D., Founder at both Hypermobility MD and the Bendy Bodies Podcast. As a former ballet performer and instructor, Dr. Bluestein has a special interest in treating flexibility since athletes and artists are at increased risk of hypermobility disorders. Dr. Bluestein’s unique approach to evaluation and treatment enables patients to have less pain and be more accurately diagnosed. On top of practicing medicine, Dr. Bluestein is also an international speaker and podcaster on the forefront of research on pain, hypermobility and dance medicine. Linda’s passion for treat...2021-02-1634 min5.6.7.EIGHTOur People is Our Work — Kevin Iega JeffThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Kevin Iega Jeff — Artistic Director, Executive Director and Cofounder at Chicago’s Deeply Rooted Dance Theater. Throughout his career, Jeff has collaborated on a wide range of professional and community-based projects, including Spike Lee’s She’s Gotta Have It; The Academy Awards; and The Wiz on Broadway. Kevin has received countless accolades for his work, including being named one of Julliard School’s top 100 Outstanding Alumni. For Kevin, a dance company is only as good as its people. And, as an artist in dance leadership, it is his responsibility to look aft...2021-02-0938 min5.6.7.EIGHTBe Empowered for your Journey — Ingrid SilvaThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Ingrid Silva, an internationally-recognized dancer and serial philanthropist who has founded two empowerment-centric organizations — EmpowHer New York and Blacks in Ballet. Born in Rio de Janeiro, Ingrid’s first exposure to ballet was actually at a social project in a nearby slum. Ingrid eventually found her way to New York City, where she’s currently dancing her seventh season for the Dance Theater of Harlem. Ingrid’s story has been featured in movies and publications such as Vogue and Glamour, Teen Vogue, The New York Times, ESPN Women, and many more. On the po...2021-02-0238 min5.6.7.EIGHTBeing a Utility Player — Ali GeraetsThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Ali Geraets of Just for Kix. You may remember Just for Kix from Episode 48 of the podcast, where Aleksandra interviewed the company’s founder and executive director, Cindy Clough. Just for Kix is a youth dance organization that offers dance classes, summer camps, and special events to tens of thousands of youths around the country. Ali Geraets — Cindy Clough’s daughter — has been a part of the organization for many years and has designed costumes, led virtual dance classes, and has carried out a myriad of other jobs for the company. For Ali...2021-01-2634 min5.6.7.EIGHTDance and Making the World Better — Kia SmithThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Kia Smith, founding Executive Artistic Director at the South Chicago Dance Theatre. Kia, a Chicago native, trained at various notable Chicago institutions such as Story Catchers Theatre, ETA Creative Arts Foundation, Hyde Park School of Dance, and the Joel Hall Dancers and Center. Her training launched her into national and international tours, including runs with the Lula Washington Dance Theatre and the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company. And, of course, she has a wide variety of dance credits with Chicago-based dance companies. Considering her extremely accomplished career, Kia has ample room to...2021-01-1929 min5.6.7.EIGHTBetter Than Technique — Ryan Jolicoeur-NyeThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Ryan Jolicoeur-Nye, Ballet Master at the Oklahoma City Ballet. Originally from central Maine, Ryan began his training at the age of 16. During his run as a professional dancer, he danced for ballet companies across the continent and with some of the most sought-after choreographers in the industry. Most recently, Jolicoeur-Nye left his position as Artistic Director of the NWA Ballet Theatre. Now, he and his wife both hold leadership roles at the Oklahoma City Ballet. On top of all of this, Ryan is an award-winning choreographer, who has created numerous works for...2021-01-1237 min5.6.7.EIGHTLights. Camera. Action! — Damani PompeyThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Damani Pompey, an NYC-based lighting designer, movement artist, and choreographer. Additionally, Damani has been involved in a great deal of TV and film work, and his credits include notable festivals like Sundance. Pompey is also the architect of Magnus Works — a continuous archive of his own creative and choreographic projects, which ultimately seeks to investigate the many different languages of movement and expression, from generation to generation. Pompey is a renaissance man and deep thinker, and, on the podcast, he discusses the origin stories of some of his most renown works. He...2021-01-0528 min5.6.7.EIGHTRep Your Womanhood — Erica HoodThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Erica Hood, Chief Executive Officer at HoodFit, a fitness company that features Erica’s signature method in live and online classes and is all about promoting strong women. In fact, the company boasts a tagline encouraging women to Rep Your Womanhood. With a background in professional dance, Erica builds her effective workouts by focusing on energy, rhythm, and choreographed precision — all of which connects the body with the soul. Erica’s energy is extremely contagious and made for a fun, entertaining conversation spanning a wide variety of topics. On the podcast...2020-12-2937 min5.6.7.EIGHTWithin the Oldest American Dance Company — Charlotte LandreauThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Charlotte Landreau, Lead Dancer at the Martha Graham Dance Company. Originally from France, Charlotte trained as a rhythmic gymnast for a full decade before transitioning into dance. She is a graduate of the Béjart School in Switzerland and the Martha Graham School. Charlotte is currently with the Martha Graham Dance Company in New York, where she has been dancing for seven years. Now, as dance is on hiatus due to COVID-19, Charlotte is spending her time teaching and encouraging fellow artists online. Landreau’s pride in her dance company comes thr...2020-12-2232 min5.6.7.EIGHTTeachers Teaching Teachers — Mandy YipThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Mandy Yip, CEO and Founder of Acrobatic Arts, Inc. Yip’s company runs training and certification courses for dance teachers in the art of AcroDance — a program that promotes flexibility, strength, balancing, limbering, and tumbling. Acrobatic Arts produces the most comprehensive, researched program available for AcroDance, which explains why the syllabus is followed in over 6,500 dance studios in over 30 different countries. As a lifelong learner, Mandy has attended and achieved certification in countless courses, including contortion, hand balancing, inclusive learning, tap, jazz, gymnastics, and safe coaching, to name a few. And a...2020-12-1535 min5.6.7.EIGHTAnything is Possible — Dr. Tina J. Wang, M.D.This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Dr. Tina J. Wang, President at Tupelo Pointe Healing Arts. Dr. Wang spends her days as an Osteopathic physician but is not focused solely on simply treating ailments; she is focused on delivering the best care possible by meeting the functional, nutritional, and individual needs of the person seeking better health. Dr. Wang is also heavily involved in the American Medical Women’s Association and the Performing Arts Medicine Association, where she is both a reviewer and a publisher of medical research articles. Dr. Wang knows that the best care is...2020-12-0837 min5.6.7.EIGHTFrom Car Crash to Choreography — Jessica ChenThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Jessica Chen, Artistic Director of the J CHEN PROJECT, a 501c3 nonprofit modern dance company based out of New York City that uses movement as a vehicle to heal wounds, share stories, and better understand our human existence. Chen is a seasoned dancer with a wide variety of dance and choreography credits. She has choreographed works for some of the biggest stages, including the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and the International Human Rights Arts Festival. Jessica’s story is an incredible one, and her journey to w...2020-12-0133 min5.6.7.EIGHTSo Much More Than Dance — Kathleen Breen CombesThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Kathleen Breen Combes, Executive Director of the Festival Ballet Providence. Prior to her current role, Kathleen was Principal Dancer at the Boston Ballet and was once hailed by the New York Times as a “ballerina of colossal scale and boldness.” During her run as a dancer, Kathleen garnered several awards and accolades, including being featured on the cover of Dance Magazine. Kathleen also currently spends her time guest lecturing for Ted-Ed seminars and for top-tier universities. More than anything, Kathleen Breen Combes wants people to know the value that dance brings to t...2020-11-2428 min5.6.7.EIGHTTapping Into Yourself — Alicia AlbrightThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Alicia Albright — a New York-based Broadway performing artist, choreographer, creator, educator, avid traveler, and meditation advocate. Albright’s dance resume is extensive, having appeared on Broadway with productions of Disney’s Frozen the Musical, Wicked, Jesus Chris Superstar, and various other notable titles. Albright loves the arts but is equally as passionate about yoga, meditation, and empowerment. She is currently the driving force behind LALUZ — a meditation app geared towards performance. Even in the chaos, Alicia has remained unshaken in 2020 — remarkable, considering the impact to the arts world and, specifically, to Broadway...2020-11-1750 min
5.6.7.EIGHTLearning to Teach; Teaching to Learn — Jolanta OkoThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Jolanta Oko — Founder and Director at Canada’s National Academy of Dance Education, which offers immense amounts of resources to empower dance educators. Jolanta boasts an impressive dance resume, having been a dance teacher for 22 years, a studio owner for 8 years, and a school teacher for 12 years. She holds a BFA and an MA in dance from York University and is a graduate of the National Ballet School’s Teacher Training Program in Canada. For her work with dance educators, Oko was nominated for the Hamilton Arts Innovator Award in both 2017 and 2018. Jolan...2020-11-1036 min5.6.7.EIGHTEmbrace You — Mollie SansoneThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Mollie Sansone, an award-winning veteran dancer, teacher, and choreographer who is currently embarking on her seventeenth season dancing with the Nashville Ballet. Over these 17 seasons, Mollie has performed primarily under the direction of Paul Vasterling and has been featured in several notable roles such as Lizzie Borden, Lady Macbeth, and Juliet of Romeo and Juliet. While she’s not on the stage, Mollie enjoys teaching and choreographing for various dance studios across Nashville. Mollie’s journey into dance success hasn’t been an easy one, as she’s constantly had to fight...2020-11-0330 min5.6.7.EIGHTThe Birth of the Youth America Grand Prix — Larissa Saveliev and Sergey GordeevThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Larissa Saveliev — Founder and Artistic Director at the Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) — and Sergey Gordeev, who is the Founding Director of Communications and External Affairs at the Youth America Grand Prix. Larissa, who was trained at the Bolshoi Ballet, has received a mountain of accolades, including being named one of Dance Magazine’s top 25 most influential people in dance. Sergey is an Emmy Award-winning broadcaster, actor, writer, jazz pianist, journalist, translator, and composer. The Youth America Grand Prix has literally changed the dance industry since its founding in 1999 and has allowed...2020-10-2740 min5.6.7.EIGHTDancing in the Sky — Miriam BarbosaThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Miriam Barbosa, President and Artistic Director at Miriam Barbosa Dance. Miriam received Classical Ballet Training at the University of Fine Arts in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Barbosa is also an alumnus of the Martha Graham Dance Company and is a former Dance Professor with the University of South Carolina’s Dance Program. In 2007, she founded Miriam Barbosa Dance, where she continues to practice her craft. Barbosa is also a Gyrokinesis and Gyrotonic Method Specialized Master Trainer, and her own life has been positively impacted by these unique exercise techniques. On the po...2020-10-2038 min5.6.7.EIGHTCreate. Perform. Teach. Promote. — Paul VasterlingThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Paul Vasterling — Artistic Director at Nashville Ballet. As a choreographer with a deep affinity for music, Paul has created over 40 works, ranging from classical, full-length story ballets to contemporary one-acts. Since becoming Nashville Ballet’s Artistic Director in 1998, the company has commissioned 22 original scores for brand-new ballets under Vasterling’s direction. Vasterling has also grown the Nashville Ballet from 12 to 25 professional dancers and has led the company to its Kennedy Center debut. Paul is a Fulbright Scholar and was selected as one of the Fellows in residence at The Center for Ballet and Arts at...2020-10-1343 min5.6.7.EIGHTThe Ballet Dancing Quantum Physicist — Dr. Merritt MooreThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Dr. Merritt Moore — an absolutely remarkable woman who is both a professional ballet dancer and a quantum physicist. Dr. Moore holds a degree in Physics from Harvard University and a PhD in Quantum Optics from the University of Oxford and combines her expertise as a quantum physicist and professional ballet dancer throughout her creative practice. Dr. Moore has also been featured on the Forbes 30 under 30 in Arts and Culture and has spoken at the Forbes Women’s Summit. Most recently, Dr. Moore has been honored as an artist-in-residence at the Harvard ArtLab, where...2020-10-0634 min5.6.7.EIGHTDancers Can Do Anything — LaMar BaylorThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews LaMar Baylor, an award-winning dancer and Broadway performer who is also a Board Member and Cultural Ambassador for MindLeaps. LaMar holds a BFA from The University of the Arts and recently completed his Master of Science in Arts Administration from Drexel University. As mentioned, he is a performer with Disney’s The Lion King on Broadway and is an alumnus of Philadanco, the Eleone Dance Theater, and the Rebecca Davis Dance Company.Baylor, who himself was a “renaissance man” in high school before finding his niche, is a firm believer that dance equips its ar...2020-09-2944 min5.6.7.EIGHTHow to Be Successful — Jim CooneyThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Jim Cooney, a New Yorker who has collaborated with multiple Tony, Grammy, and Emmy Award winners in his career as an award-winning director, choreographer, and educator. Jim’s work spans both national and international audiences, and he has been praised by The New York Times for training performers with “audition must haves: character, motivation, and endurance.” Most recently, Cooney has developed a curriculum to help artists integrate their artistry, finances, and health and take charge of their careers. Jim is a wealth of knowledge, both around the art and technique of dance...2020-09-2248 min5.6.7.EIGHTDance for All — Alex SvobodaThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra welcomes Alex Svoboda, Founder at freedomDANCE and all-around renaissance man. Alex, who currently hails from London, has lived in three different countries, studied at five different universities, and holds a Ph.D. in history and sociology. Over the course of his career, he has worked as an analyst and manager at some of the world’s leading consulting firms and is a former university instructor. He currently sits at the helm of freedomDANCE, where he teaches his conscious dance methods alongside over 30 other teachers and trainees. Alex is a firm believer that ev...2020-09-1537 min5.6.7.EIGHTImproving Lives through Movement Therapy — Erica HornthalThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Erica Hornthal, a therapist that makes lasting changes in clients by harnessing the power of the body for improved mental health. Erica — otherwise known as “the therapist who moves you” — is the Founder and CEO of Chicago Dance Therapy. Her methods, which can be labeled as dance or movement therapy, are for those that are struggling with mental health, have exhausted talk therapy options, or are seeking a holistic approach to emotional well-being. To Erica, the key to unlocking a healthy mental and emotional state is by being fully in tune with y...2020-09-0842 min5.6.7.EIGHTThe Sky is the Limit — Kelly MaryanskiThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Kelly Maryanski, who is currently primarily working as a freelance aerialist. Historically, Kelly has been a dancer, aerialist, choreographer, actor, singer, musician, and even sometimes dabbles in freelance illustration. Prior to the COVID outbreak, Kelly was preparing to perform as an aerialist and actor in the Lyric Opera’s RING Cycle. Kelly also works as a Circus Coach with Circeseem, which teaches circus skills to underprivileged youth to promote teambuilding and camaraderie. Being a freelance performer and illustrator has allowed Kelly to pave her own way to career success; how...2020-09-0136 min5.6.7.EIGHTExercising your Right to Move — Sherry ZunkerThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Sherry Zunker — Artistic Director, Choreographer, Creative Director, Theater Director and Founder of BeMoved® Dance based out of Chicago, Illinois. Sherry has a stunning resume, boasting a 35-year-long run as a dance teacher and working as a creator, director, and choreographer on over 35 productions for Royal Caribbean International. Sherry also has had an extensive career as a dancer and, now, runs BeMoved Dance, which is founded on the belief that dance and music has the transformative power to enrich lives. Sherry firmly holds to the idea that all people should be allo...2020-08-2537 min5.6.7.EIGHTStunning Dancer; Serial Entrepreneur — Kate JablonskiThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Kate Jablonski, owner and artistic director of Beyond Words Dance Company, The Kate Jablonski Statement, and Camp Kate. Jablonski — a graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago — has danced for some of the greatest teachers and choreographers on the East Coast and has garnered several accolades such as a Gold Leo’s Award and a Capezio A.C.E. Award. Kate’s entrepreneurial endeavors have even expanded internationally, opening Camp Kate locations in London and Italy. Kate would be the first to admit that, to grow big, she had to sta...2020-08-1838 min5.6.7.EIGHTGiving Hope, Around the World — Rebecca Davis and Bashir KarenziThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Rebecca Davis and Bashir Karenzi of MindLeaps — a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the education of vulnerable children around the world through creative arts. Davis, who is the Founder and Executive Director of MindLeaps, holds several degrees and had an extensive dance career prior to taking over the nonprofit. Karenzi, who is Technical Director at MindLeaps, hails from Rwanda, holds a degree, boasts an accomplished dance resume, and speaks five different languages. Both Davis and Karenzi have witnessed first-hand the lifechanging impact of dance on societies and the world and ha...2020-08-1143 min5.6.7.EIGHTArts for the Underserved — Reesie DavisThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Reesie Davis, CEO and Founder of Praize Productions. Davis, who holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in education from Indiana University, taught for five years in public education prior to establishing her company. In her current role, Davis uses her platform to create award-winning productions infused with socially conscious messaging and to harness the arts to enrich underserved communities. As a trained educator, Reesie believes that art should make people feel, think, and ultimately act to make society better, and being on the southside of Chicago, she has witnessed firsthand the positive...2020-08-0441 min5.6.7.EIGHTMinding the Mental Health Gap— Kathleen McGuire GainesThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Kathleen McGuire Gaines, founder at Minding the Gap, fundraising consultant, and contributing writer at Dance Magazine. As a dancer, Kathleen trained at various dance academies, before circumstances forced her to pivot her career towards writing. As a writer, she has published countless articles for prominent dance publications, mostly revolving around mental health issues. Her most recent and foremost effort — Minding the Gap — is a social good organization, dedicated to making mental health a higher priority in the dance world. Dance is more than physical. Having dealt with mental health issues in t...2020-07-2845 min5.6.7.EIGHTInside the Mind of a Choreographer — Christopher StuartThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Christopher Stuart, Resident Choreographer for the Nashville Ballet. Stuart, a graduate of the North Carolina School of the Arts, spent an astounding 16 seasons at the Nashville Ballet, ultimately rising to the ranks of principal dancer. Christopher describes his choreography as “free and limitless,” and his work has been featured in many companies across the American Southeast, while being praised by various dance publications. As a choreographer of seven years, Stuart has learned much about the nature of dance — lessons which retroactively shine light on his experiences as a dancer — and, on the podca...2020-07-2132 min5.6.7.EIGHTFinding Good in the Time Away — Alicia Graf MackThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Alicia Graf Mack — a veteran dancer, the director at the world-renowned Juilliard School, and the co-founder of the D(n)A Arts Collective, which seeks to enrich the lives of young dancers through master classes and intensives. Graf Mack’s accolades include being named American Innovator of the Arts and Sciences by Smithsonian Magazine, receiving the Columbia University Medal of Excellence, and delivering the keynote address at the Columbia University’s School of General Studies graduation ceremony. Alicia is no stranger to adversity, as her thriving dance career was put “on pause...2020-07-1431 min5.6.7.EIGHTBecoming Well-Rounded — Jessica DeahrThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Jessica Deahr, who is currently in her eighth season as Artistic Director at Chicago Dance Crash. Her work includes lengthy story ballets such as the award-winning The Bricklayers of Oz, which was named Chicago Tribune’s Best Dance in 2017 and Dance Magazine’s Most Inventive New Work. Towards the beginning of her career, Jessica also did commercial work for the World Wildlife Fund, Vital Proteins, and Royal Caribbean Productions, to name a few. Jessica took the nontraditional route into professional dance, but she’d be the first to say that she has no...2020-07-0732 min5.6.7.EIGHTFlexibility in Dancing Internationally — Elena VostrotinaThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Elena Vostrotina, principal dancer at the Zurich Ballet. Since 2003, Elena has been internationally performing for some of the world’s most esteemed dance companies and choreographers. Having been formally trained at the famous Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet, Elena went on to achieve her dream of dancing at the Mariinsky Ballet, as well as the Semperoper Ballett Dresden and, currently, the Zurich Ballet. Elena knows that flexibility is key for international ballet — both of the mind and of the body. It goes without saying that physical flexibility is necessary for ballet, but w...2020-06-3037 min5.6.7.EIGHTBuilding a Dance Brand — Paige & Kunal MoudgilThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Paige and Kunal Moudgil, a husband-and-wife duo who have combined their business acumen and dance expertise to create PointePeople — a company that is building products and a community to enrich the lives of dancers, globally. Paige is a seasoned dancer who holds a BFA in Dance from the prestigious Tisch School of the Arts at NYU. Kunal spent over eight years in the financial services industry, prior to pursuing his MBA at the University of Pennsylvania’s prestigious Wharton School of Business. Paige and Kunal are the dance industry’s “power couple”...2020-06-2346 min5.6.7.EIGHTDancer-in-Chief — Jennifer StahlThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Jennifer Stahl, Editor-in-Chief of Dance Magazine. Jennifer holds a bachelor’s degree of fine arts in dance and journalism from New York University. As a dancer, Stahl has danced for a number of well-known choreographers such as Karole Armitage and Gali Hod. As a journalist, she has written for a number of well-known publications such as The Atlantic and Runner’s World, prior to her current role. As editor-in-chief of a 100-year-old dance magazine, Jennifer sits in a difficult position — trying to drive innovation in the midst of two extremely traditi...2020-06-1642 min5.6.7.EIGHTChanging Dance through Technology — Caitlin TrainorThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Caitlin Trainor, Founder of Dancio and Artistic Director at Trainor Dance, Inc. Trainor, a Rhode Island native, received a Masters of Fine Arts in dance before moving to New York City to work with various companies and choreographers. In 2011, Caitlin founded her own company — Trainor Dance — where she currently serves as Artistic Director. Caitlin also founded Dancio, which provides online dance classes with some of the best teachers around the world. Additionally, in 2016, she was voted into Dance Magazine’s “Top 25 to Watch.” Trainor would be the first to admit that her journey...2020-06-0938 min5.6.7.EIGHTThe Joy of Dance Journalism — Margaret FuhrerThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Margaret Fuhrer, Editor in Chief of Dance Spirit magazine. Margaret holds a bachelor’s degree from Princeton University and a master’s degree in journalism from New York University. Margaret went on to be a dance writer and editor for various publications, including The Huffington Post. She is now the Editor in Chief of Dance Spirit magazine, Content Director for The Dance Edit podcast, and Digital Content Director for Dance Media Publications. She is also the author of American Dance: The Complete Illustrated History. Being in the dance journalism world, Marg...2020-06-0238 min5.6.7.EIGHTThe Discipline of Ballet — Terry HydeThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Terry Hyde, a psychotherapist at Counselling for Dancers, where he offers support specifically for dancers dealing with emotional and mental health issues. Terry’s journey into psychotherapy has been extremely unique. Upon retiring from a seasoned dance career, Terry successfully sold two businesses that were linked to the performance industry. Terry went on to pursue an education in psychotherapy and now hosts workshops, Skype sessions, phone, and face-to-face meetups to support dancers, wherever they are. Terry understands the value of a healthy mental state in the performance world, where rejection and he...2020-05-2642 min5.6.7.EIGHTTeaching Much More than Dance — Darla HooverThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Darla Hoover, who is currently the Artistic Director of both the Ballet Academy East and the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet (CPYB). Hoover received training from both the CPYB and the School of American Ballet, prior to accepting an invitation to become a member of the New York City Ballet in 1980. After 11 years, Darla retired from the stage and is now staging ballets for the George Balanchine Trust, as well as teaching internationally. She is also the director for the CPYB’s Teachers’ Workshop, where dance educators can learn from methodologies developed by Marc...2020-05-1940 min5.6.7.EIGHTInstagram Influence and the Exciting Unknown — Elise SwopesThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Elise Swopes, an Instagram superstar who currently boasts over 282,000 followers, has been featured on billboards and commercials, and has partnered with some of the world’s biggest brands, including Adidas, Adobe, and Apple. Recently, Swopes has become committed to sharing her methods with the world and encouraging other photographers through her SWOPES SO DOPE podcast, newsletter, and tutorial video channel. Elise lives the “rags to riches” story, as this college dropout used her phone and some free apps to share her art through a relatively new medium at the time — Instagram...2020-05-1241 min5.6.7.EIGHTStand by Your Values — Darla LemayThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Darla Lemay, who has spent nearly three decades as Artistic Director of Stageworks Academy of the Performing Arts, which offers performing arts education to all people, no matter their gender, abilities or financial status. On top of her nearly 28-year-run with Stageworks, Lemay has also directed many different Broadway Productions — such as Annie, the Sound of Music, the King and I, Hairspray, and Mamma Mia — and has been extensively involved community projects. Lemay teaches dance for the love of dance, and her pursuit in life is to share that joy with...2020-05-0535 min5.6.7.EIGHTLearning, Connecting, Succeeding — Terence MarlingThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Terence Marling, Artistic Director at COMMON conservatory. A Chicago native, Terence trained at the Ruth Page School under the direction of Larry Long. Upon leaving, Marling danced and choreographed at a wide variety of both domestic and international dance companies, including serving as Rehearsal Director at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and Director at Hubbard Street 2. In September of this past year, Terence became Founder and Artistic Director of COMMON conservatory, which hopes to serve as a launching pad for the future dancers of tomorrow. Terence is a seasoned dancer and...2020-04-2835 min5.6.7.EIGHTSeek Out Good Leaders — Alexander MacFarlanThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Alexander MacFarlan, a First Soloist with Ballet West and a lover of learning who is proactively finding ways to help dance professionals that are seeking a career change. MacFarlan, who joined Ballet West in 2007, has enjoyed a number of exciting roles within the company. MacFarlan also holds a bachelor’s degree in Consumer Studies from the University of Utah and is passionate about helping fellow dancers gracefully exit the dance industry by promoting higher education. On the podcast, Alexander covers a wide array of topics, including his first forays into th...2020-04-1433 min5.6.7.EIGHTMaking Something Out of Nothing — Judi LudovicoThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Judi Ludovico, Head of Entertainment at JudiLudi Productions. Judi is an accomplished live entertainment industry veteran with over 20 years’ experience in marketing and producing large-scale shows and events for iconic entertainment and tourism brands. Some of Judi’s biggest accomplishments include organizing two free concerts featuring Blake Shelton and Lady Antebellum, which drew 130,000 attendees and $23 million in economic impact to Atlantic City, New Jersey. Judi is a master of being resourceful, sometimes making a lot out of very little. For example, one of Judi’s biggest accomplishments was her creation of the...2020-04-0736 min5.6.7.EIGHTOvercoming the Disorder — Meredith StarrThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Meredith Starr, a professional dancer and dietitian who uses her platform to empower individuals to promote a healthy relationship with food and with their bodies. Starr — a graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago — currently dances with the Outlet Dance Company and the Kate Jablonski Statement and works as a Registered Dietician, focusing on eating disorders, at the Insight Behavioral Health Center in Chicago. Meredith — who describes herself as an “anti-diet dietitian” — understands that food is not the enemy and has chosen to spend her life helping people understand and apply the phy...2020-03-3139 min5.6.7.EIGHTChoreography and Purpose — Ariel RoseThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Ariel Rose, a dancer and choreographer at the Miami City Ballet. Rose, who hails from New York City, trained at multiple arts and dance schools before training at the Boston Ballet School on full scholarship. Rose has since danced professionally with a number of renown ballet companies, yet his true passion is for choreography. Ariel’s education was tailor-made to foster a love of choreography inside of him from a young age, and his works have been featured at a number of ballet companies and schools across two continents. Ariel is...2020-03-2435 min5.6.7.EIGHTResilience: The Trademark of Success — Cindy CloughThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Cindy Clough, the Founder and Executive Director of Just for Kix — a business that, over nearly 40 years, has instructed over 95,000 children through its dance classes, summer camps, and special events. Since its humble beginnings in a single location, Clough’s business has since expanded to 2,148 locations nationwide. Cindy is also the award-winning four-decades-long coach of the Brainerd High School Warrior Dance team, which has amassed 8 state championships, Top 5 in the state for 25 consecutive years, and a National High Kick Championship. Like so many of our podcast guests, Cindy is no stranger to s...2020-03-1734 min5.6.7.EIGHTDance Because You Love It — Katrina RathboneThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Katrina Rathbone, Artistic Director and Co-Founder at Outlet Dance Company. Katrina is a graduate of Illinois State University and has danced for both film and the stage. In 2013, Katrina and one of her childhood friends began entertaining thoughts of achieving one of their dreams — opening their own dance company. And, in August of 2014, they did just that. To date, her company has doubled in size, growing from 14 company members to over 30, and has recently opened up its second location. On the podcast, Katrina discusses her journey from dancer to business owner an...2020-03-1033 min5.6.7.EIGHTPeace on the Inside — Jenelle FigginsThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Jenelle Figgins — an award-winning dancer, choreographer, and teacher, who is using her talents to help engage with schools and outreach to communities. Figgins, who currently dances for the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, uses her platform for good through teaching both domestically and internationally and through community outreach and dance advocacy. Her passion for choreography has also led her to produce original performances in partnership with schools through the United States. Recently, Jenelle was honored to take part in the NYC Dance Project, alongside her twin sister Samantha. Jenelle is all to...2020-03-0336 min5.6.7.EIGHTFinding Purpose, Off of the Stage — Lawrence M. JacksonThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Lawrence M. Jackson — a university professor, respected author, guest performer, and seasoned choreographer, who has created over 75 original works for the concert stage. Jackson currently serves as Associate Chair and Associate Professor of Dance at the University of Alabama, and, while not in the classroom, is an esteemed chorographer, having choreographed a number of works, including performances for the award-winning off-Broadway production Separate but Equal. When it comes to dance, Jackson finds joy in riding in the background — in enabling others to be their best on stage, in mapping out steps and...2020-02-2534 min5.6.7.EIGHTCarrying on their Grandfather’s Legacy — Lauren Giordano Whittington + Sarah Giordano CurranThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Lauren Giordano Whittington and Sarah Giordano Curran — the two granddaughters of the late American jazz dancer, teacher, choreographer, and icon, Gus Giordano. While Lauren and Sarah journeyed different paths, both are now faculty members at Gus Giordano Dance School, where they are honored to carry on the legacy of their grandfather, alongside their mother and brother. On the podcast, both Lauren and Sarah spend time admiring their grandfather and the work that he has done for the dance community and describe the ongoing work that Gus Giordano Dance School is doing to...2020-02-1834 min5.6.7.EIGHTPeople First; Dance Second — Diane RawlinsonThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Diane Rawlinson — a dance educator, nonprofit founder, director, yoga teacher, published author, consultant, and Interplay Leader — whose influential role in the lives of students has earned her top recognition across multiple states. Rawlinson has been investing in the lives of Wheeling High School students for going on three decades, and her investment in the arts has garnered her a slew of awards, including a Ruth Page Award. Additionally, Diane is also a published writer, having written over 100 articles for Dance Spirit and Dance Teacher Magazine, and is the founder of Dance for Life...2020-02-1139 min5.6.7.EIGHTDance is your Birthright — John SchmitzThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with John Schmitz, Co-Founder and Artistic Producer of Dance Chicago. John — a decades-long arts icon within the Chicago arts community — has been producing dance events for 35 years, helping build bridges between artists and dance organizations both domestically and internationally. He has also been the recipient of Chicago Tribune’s “Chicagoan of the Year” award, a Ruth Page Award for “Outstanding Contribution to the Dance Community,” and several others. Schmitz also serves as President of the Board of Athenaeum Theatre Productions. John’s driving force in all he does is the belief that dance can dr...2020-02-0432 min5.6.7.EIGHTIn Search of Artistic Freedom — Wade SchaafThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Wade Schaaf, Founder and Artistic Director at Chicago Repertory Ballet. Wade — a Chicago native and graduate of Northern Illinois University — is a veteran ballet dancer who has danced for a number of ballet companies such as the Ohio Ballet, Thodos Dance Chicago, and others. Upon retiring from the stage, Wade went on to establish his very own ballet company, which debuted in 2011 to glowing reviews and has since become a staple of the Chicago arts community. Additionally, Wade is an experienced and passionate Pilates instructor. To Wade, dance is all about the...2020-01-2832 min5.6.7.EIGHTPerforming for an Audience of One — Jonathan DoleThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Jonathan Dole, a dance prodigy, YAGP champion, and current member of The Joffrey Ballet’s main company. Growing up on the western coast of the United States, Jonathan was introduced to ballet at age 15 and immediately discovered a love for the art. Jonathan moved quickly through some of the nation’s top dance schools before joining the Joffrey Academy and, ultimately, The Joffrey Ballet. During his time with the Joffrey, Jonathan has danced in various performances, including this year’s season-opening production of Jane Eyre. On the podcast, Jonathan speaks to a w...2020-01-2132 min5.6.7.EIGHTLife Beyond the Mirror — Elna MatamorosThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Elna Matamoros, Ballet Mistress at Ballet Nacional de España. Born and raised in Madrid, Elna was trained in dance by her mother, following the Danish National Ballet School. Elna then moved to the United States to attend the Joffrey Ballet School, prior to spending a decade with Ballet Nacional de España. After a stint with Compañia Nacional de Danza, Matamoros rejoined Ballet Nacional de España in 2019. In addition to her accomplishments with dance companies, Elna is the published writer of three books and holds a PhD in Aesthetics from...2020-01-1430 min5.6.7.EIGHTOne Step at a Time — Donielle RichmondThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Donielle Richmond — dancer, choreographer, teacher, and owner of Activate Your Artistry, which hosts nationwide conventions focused on empowering the next generation of dancers. Donielle — a Chicago native — has over 15 years of teaching experience, in addition to her performance resume. Donielle’s on-stage work has opened for famed musician Calving Harris and has been featured on ABC’s Extreme Home Makeover, among many other places. Donielle is a proud entrepreneur, and her zeal for “being your own boss” shines through the entire conversation with Aleksandra. On the podcast, Donielle discusses what ultimately drove her to entr...2020-01-0733 min5.6.7.EIGHTDon’t Give Up on Yourself — Chase JohnseyThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Chase Johnsey, award-winning dancer and Artistic Director at Ballet de Barcelona, who is using his influence in the ballet world to advocate for LGBTQ+ gender issues. Johnsey has danced for some high-profile ballet companies, including a lengthy stint with the world renown Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo and the English National Ballet. While at the latter, Chase was nominated by the UK’s National Dance Awards for Best Male Performance and Best Male Dancer, ultimately winning the latter. Chase’s story is one of perseverance and determination. Being the first gend...2019-12-1735 min5.6.7.EIGHTListen to your Body — Antonio CarmenaThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Antonio Carmena, an international dance teacher and adjunct ballet professor who, prior to teaching, spent 19 years as a professional dancer, mostly as a soloist. Born and raised in Spain, Carmena spent no time making a splash in the dance community, winning a scholarship at the Prix de Lausanne to attend the School of American Ballet. After finishing, Antonio began performing with the New York City Ballet, where he spent the majority of his 19-year career before retiring in 2017. On the podcast, Antonio and Aleksandra discuss a wide array of topics...2019-12-1030 min5.6.7.EIGHTQuick Success is Fleeting — Heather IlerThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Heather Iler, ballet director for the internationally recognized Cary Ballet Conservatory (CBC), associate artistic director for the non-profit Cary Ballet Company and lead faculty member of CBC’s professional training program. In all of her roles, Heather brings her 20 plus years of teaching experience to the table, giving Cary Ballet an edge unlike many others. Over the past three years, Cary Ballet has earned three outstanding school awards from the Youth America Grand Prix and two outstanding school awards from the ADC Youth International Ballet Competition. On the podcast, Heather un...2019-12-0329 min5.6.7.EIGHTHow to Build a Dance Company — Melissa ThodosThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Melissa Thodos, owner of Thodos Dance Chicago — a dance company who, for over a quarter of a century, has performed in over 25 states and 6 different continents. Her school not only trains dancers but also nurtures these dancers to eventually become choreographers and educators, handing down dance expertise from generation to generation. Through Thodos Dance Chicago, Melissa has collaborated with notable artists such as Ann Reinking, Yoko Ono, and Jeanne Gang, to name a few. On the podcast, Melissa retails the incredible 27-year history of her company, including her company’s inception, how h...2019-11-2635 min5.6.7.EIGHTEmbrace Your Body — Candy TongThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Candy Tong — dancer, model, and social media influencer who is using her platform to help young dancers overcome self-doubt. Tong, a former Miss Dance of California, has gained accolades both on- and off-stage, including awards from the most esteemed dance competitions and various off-stage recognitions, such as being named one of the top ten most inspiring dancers to follow on Instagram. Candy is currently modeling for some of the world’s top brands and is touring with Complexions Ballet out of New York City. Candy, whose muscular body type doesn’t matc...2019-11-1928 min5.6.7.EIGHTFinding Art in Vulnerability — Derrick AgnolettiThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Derrick Agnoletti, an accomplished dancer who is a veteran with the Joffrey Ballet in Chicago, going on his 17th season. Derrick is a “student of the game,” having studied at the San Francisco Ballet, the School of American Ballet, and various other international exchange programs. Derrick is also an accomplished athlete, having competed at a collegiate level in competitive swimming at the University of California at Irvine. By combining his athletic and artistic abilities, Derrick brings a high degree of energy into his work and is able to embrace multiple styl...2019-11-1232 min5.6.7.EIGHTBallet Across the Globe — Casey HerdThis week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra sits down with Casey Herd, a former principal dancer and now the founder and director of a documentary film series — Ballet Rising — about the rise in popularity of classical ballet around the world. Originally from Utah, Casey danced for a number of well-known ballet companies before becoming a principal dancer for the Dutch National Ballet. His exceptional performances captured the attention of dance publications such as Dance Europe, who once ranked Herd 19th of the top 100 international dancers who have made outstanding achievements. Herd’s passion for ballet is unmatched and has pushed...2019-11-0531 min