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Artistic Director of American Ballet Theatre Susan Jaffe was a celebrated Principal Dancer with ABT for 22 years, before becoming a teacher and arts administrator. Susan sits down with Alicia to reveal her biggest talent, reminisce about struggling to sit at a piano as a young child, and recount joining the studio company of ABT at age 16. Our guest honestly talks about seeing a diet doctor, early challenges at the company, and dancing with Mikhail Baryshnikov. To close it out Susan discusses her life post retirement as a dancer, why it's always important to say yes, and how she is shifting power dynamics and creating a healthy environment for the next generation.
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The Moving Moments theme song was composed by Saul Guanipa for Videohelper.
Moving Moments was co-created by Alicia Graf Mack, Jessica Handelman, and David Krauss.
Photograph of Susan Jaffe in Swan Lake by Paul Kolnik.
This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.
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Artistic Director of the Limón Dance Company Dante Puleio is shaping the future of the modern dance world. To kick-off the conversation, Dante reminisces about his childhood choreographing to Donna Summer and Michael Jackson, discovering that a career in dance was a "thing," and his unconventional path to the stage. Alicia learns of the multiple times our guest auditioned for a job unbeknownst to him, why he left the company to pursue a higher education, and Dante's ultimate return to Limón in a leadership role. To close out the episode, Dante leaves us with his hope for his legacy.
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The Moving Moments theme song was composed by Saul Guanipa for Videohelper.
Moving Moments was co-created by Alicia Graf Mack, Jessica Handelman, and David Krauss.
This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.
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Two-time Bessie Award winner Hope Boykin is a performer, choreographer, educator, and the Director of a company that bears her name. An original member of Complexions, Hope spent many years as a dancer with Philadanco, and the world-renowned Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater where she and Alicia became dear friends. To kick off the conversation Alicia reflects on the first time she saw Hope dance and suggests that our guest was born a "mover." Hope reminisces about her love of action movies, how this led her to becoming a gymnast (and losing teeth!), and her ultimate love for dance, as well as what it meant to grow up in a house of educators. Alicia learns how Debbie Allen, Dwight Rhoden, Joan Myers Brown, Judith Jamison, and other dance greats influenced Hope's path. She shares how her career as a choreographer started to take shape, and how a series of connections (that didn't make sense at the time) prepared Hope for her life today.
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The Moving Moments theme song was composed by Saul Guanipa for Videohelper.
Moving Moments was co-created by Alicia Graf Mack, Jessica Handelman, and David Krauss.
This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.
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Eduardo Vilaro is a Cuban-American dancer, choreographer, educator, and the Artistic Director & CEO of Ballet Hispánico. To kick off the conversation, Eduardo tells Alicia why he fell in love with dance at a young age and reflects on the moment when he felt like he belonged thanks to an 8th grade teacher and a performance of "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown." The Artistic Director recalls auditioning for Ballet Hispánico, what he wore to his first class (it grabbed attention!), and how the company's founder Tina Ramirez influenced his life. To close it out Eduardo discusses how he built his entrepreneurial skills, what it means to be part of a company rooted in his own culture, and his ultimate return to Ballet Hispánico as a leader.
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Photograph of Eduardo Vilaro by Rachel Neville.
The Moving Moments theme song was composed by Saul Guanipa for Videohelper.
Moving Moments was co-created by Alicia Graf Mack, Jessica Handelman, and David Krauss.
This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.
Episode copyright © 2024 Artful Narratives Media.
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Steven Melendez's path to the stage is extraordinary. Alicia and the Artistic Director of New York Theatre Ballet discuss the Emmy-nominated documentary LIFT based on Steven's incredible life journey while experiencing homelessness and why he was "saved" by dance. Steven goes on to reflect on his early adulthood leaving the South Bronx to perform in South America and Europe and how it colored his perspective of the dance world, what brought him back to the states, and his ultimate return to NYTB. To close it out Steven discusses the importance of representation, why he loves a good spreadsheet, his biggest fear and ambitions, what he sees as the key to the future of classical dance, and how he keeps a balanced life.
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You can learn more about Steven's documentary LIFT here.
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We need your help to amplify artistic voices. Please consider supporting this show by making a tax-deductible donation here.
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Photograph of Steven Melendez by Rachel Neville.
The Moving Moments theme song was composed by Saul Guanipa for Videohelper.
Moving Moments was co-created by Alicia Graf Mack, Jessica Handelman, and David Krauss.
This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.
Episode copyright © 2024 Artful Narratives Media.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Artistic Director of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, former Principal Dancer with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and dance educator Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell embodies grace and grit. She sits down with Alicia to reflect on her early years as a natural mover and describes how she improvised (!!) her audition for the Baltimore School for the Arts. Talking about the many teachers who supported her dreams and prepared her for The Ailey School at age 16 and a life on stage, Linda-Denise goes on to share why she left Juilliard after a year to join Hubbard Street Dance Chicago as a dancer and then moved to AAADT. To close it out Alicia settles an urban-legend around Linda-Denise's return to dance after the birth of her first child.
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Photograph of Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell by Michelle Reid.
The Moving Moments theme song was composed by Saul Guanipa for Videohelper.
Moving Moments was co-created by Alicia Graf Mack, Jessica Handelman, and David Krauss.
This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.
Episode copyright © 2024 Artful Narratives Media.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
President of The Juilliard School, Artistic Director of the Vail Dance Festival, and retired Principal Dancer with New York City Ballet Damian Woetzel is a visionary and arts advocate bringing together today's most creative voices and unlikely pairings in dance and music. In this special episode of Moving Moments, recorded live at Lincoln Center, Damian discusses his early beginnings at age 7 as Fritz in The Nutcracker with the Boston Ballet, how he knew he was destined for a life on stage by age 11, and when he realized his dance career was real. Alicia and Damian reflect on their experiences with famed dancer and choreographer Arthur Mitchell, the sense of purpose they get from being artists, and the thrill of being on stage. To close it out Damian recounts how his work at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard, Aspen Institute, and the Jerome Robbins Foundation led to his current role at Juilliard and his vision for the institution.
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For more information about The Juilliard School, visit them on the web and on Instagram.
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The Moving Moments theme song was composed by Saul Guanipa for Videohelper.
Moving Moments was co-created by Alicia Graf Mack, Jessica Handelman, and David Krauss.
This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.
Episode copyright © 2024 Artful Narratives Media
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Principal Dancer with American Ballet Theatre Calvin Royal III is the third African American to hold this role in the company's 85-year history. Immersed in music from a young age, Calvin recalls how a tv commercial for a local production of The Chocolate Nutcracker introduced him to dance and how years later he deftly pivoted a last minute change in performance at the Youth America Grand Prix, which earned him a scholarship at ABT's Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School and altered the trajectory of his life. Alicia asks about Calvin's watershed moment, his newest work UNITE at The Joyce Theater, and his hopes for his legacy.
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For tickets to see UNITE August 13th through the 18th, visit The Joyce Theater.
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Photograph of Calvin Royal III by Karolina Kuras.
The Moving Moments theme song was composed by Saul Guanipa for Videohelper.
Moving Moments was co-created by Alicia Graf Mack, Jessica Handelman, and David Krauss.
This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.
Episode copyright © 2024 Artful Narratives Media.
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We're back with more inspiring conversations featuring American Ballet Theatre Principal Dancer Calvin Royal III, Artistic Director of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell, Artistic Director and CEO of Ballet Hispánico Eduardo Vilaro, Artistic Director of the Limón Dance Company Dante Puleio, and many more!
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Photograph of Calvin Royal III by Karolina Kuras, Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell by Michelle Reid, Eduardo Vilaro by Rachel Neville, and Dante Puleio by Kelly Puleio.
The Moving Moments theme song was composed by Saul Guanipa for Videohelper.
Moving Moments was co-created by Alicia Graf Mack, Jessica Handelman, and David Krauss.
This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.
Episode copyright © 2024 Artful Narratives Media.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hey listeners, I'm here with some super exciting news—Moving Moments is hosting a LIVE taping of the podcast and you're invited! Mark your calendars now:
When: Wednesday, April 17th at 7:30pm
Where: Lincoln Center's David Rubenstein Atrium on West 62nd Street in NYC.
And, best of all, it's FREE! No tickets are needed–just show up!
For more info, check out Lincoln Center's event page here.
I can't wait to see you there! 💜 Alicia
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The Moving Moments theme song was composed by Saul Guanipa for Videohelper.
Moving Moments was co-created by Alicia Graf Mack, Jessica Handelman, and David Krauss.
This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.
Episode copyright © 2023 Artful Narratives Media.
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Hey listeners! We're bringing you another podcast from Artful Narratives Media that we think you'll love: Speaking Soundly. This show is your ticket to backstage conversations with world-renowned musicians. Join Metropolitan Opera Principal Trumpet David Krauss for candid and compelling discussions with today's top performers as they speak about their creative process and lives as artists.
About this episode: Despite multiple injuries, a pivot to seek out a degree from Columbia University, and a burgeoning corporate career, Alicia Graf Mack was always destined to be in the dance world. As the youngest and first woman of color to be the Dean and Director of Dance at the Juilliard School, Alicia aims to break the cookie-cutter mold by embracing dancers of different body types and skin tones.
Be sure to check out more Speaking Soundly episodes wherever you get your podcasts!
Speaking Soundly and Moving Moments are productions of Artful Narratives Media. You can find out more about Artful Narratives Media on Instagram or the web.
The Speaking Soundly theme song is used by permission of Videohelper.
Speaking Soundly was co-created by Jessica Handelman and David Krauss.
This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.
Episode copyright © 2023 Artful Narratives Media.
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Israeli choreographer and dancer Ohad Naharin was the Artistic Director of the internationally celebrated Batsheva Dance Company for nearly three decades before assuming his current title of House Choreographer. During his tenure with Batsheva, he developed Gaga, the innovative movement language and pedagogy that has defined the company's training and characterizes Israeli contemporary dance. Ohad discusses his relationship to Maxim Waratt and creating music, describes what it was like to work with famed modern dancer and choreographer Martha Graham, and shares why he feels rehearsing in front of mirrors is not as helpful as many dancers think.
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The Moving Moments theme song was composed by Saul Guanipa for Videohelper.
Moving Moments was co-created by Alicia Graf Mack, Jessica Handelman, and David Krauss.
This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.
Episode copyright © 2023 Artful Narratives Media.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Artistic Director of Pacific Northwest Ballet and Director of the company's affiliated school, Peter Boal was a Principal Dancer with New York City Ballet for over 20 years. Peter shares with Alicia the importance of moving to Fleetwood Mac in his childhood living room, how he lived a "double life" until classmates saw him perform in The Nutcracker, and what it was like to learn from famed dancer, choreographer, and director Jerome Robbins. He also discusses his arrival at PNB, how he has worked to broaden audience involvement and widen the company's approach to inclusivity. Peter discusses his new memoir and gives Alicia a valuable parenting tip.
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To learn more about Peter, read his memoir Illusions of Camelot.
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The Moving Moments theme song was composed by Saul Guanipa for Videohelper.
Moving Moments was co-created by Alicia Graf Mack, Jessica Handelman, and David Krauss.
This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.
Episode copyright © 2023 Artful Narratives Media.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Second soloist with the Boston Ballet Michaela Mabinty DePrince has a personal journey to the stage that is nothing short of inspiring. Michaela describes her astonishing childhood in her homeland of war-torn Sierra Leone and how dance helped quiet the chaos of her life and ultimately gave her freedom. Michaela describes the importance of authenticity, what it means to wear tights of her own skin tone, and how she questioned her identity outside the dance world after an injury.
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To learn more about Michaela, read her memoir Taking Flight.
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The Moving Moments theme song was composed by Saul Guanipa for Videohelper.
Moving Moments was co-created by Alicia Graf Mack, Jessica Handelman, and David Krauss.
This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.
Episode copyright © 2023 Artful Narratives Media.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Founder and Artistic Director of the Evidence Dance Company, Ronald K. Brown deftly fuses traditional African dances with modern dance styles. Despite having suffered from a debilitating stroke in 2021, he continues to choreograph and teach, inspiring generations of artists. Alicia recalls the pivotal role Ron played in her career as a professional performer with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and he shares his memories of dancing everywhere as a child. Ron discusses how he went from wanting to be a journalist and a performer to becoming a choreographer, and reveals his love for telling stories and social dance.
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The Moving Moments theme song was composed by Saul Guanipa for Videohelper.
Moving Moments was co-created by Alicia Graf Mack, Jessica Handelman, and David Krauss.
This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.
Episode copyright © 2023 Artful Narratives Media.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Princess Grace Award winner Ashton Edwards was promoted to the corps at the Pacific Northwest Ballet in 2022. Ashton is challenging traditional gender roles at the professional level and shifting industry standards, paving the way for a new generation of dancers. Ashton recalls the first time they performed in the Balanchine style, the importance of meeting Peter Boal and joining PNB, and why Covid was the most consequential time in their training. Ashton also describes putting on pointe shoes and finding the right fit, the responsibility they feel to carry on the legacy of excellence in the field, and their hopes for the future of the ballet world.
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The Moving Moments theme song was composed by Saul Guanipa for Videohelper.
Moving Moments was co-created by Alicia Graf Mack, Jessica Handelman, and David Krauss.
This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.
Episode copyright © 2023 Artful Narratives Media.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
After two decades as an acclaimed dancer and star of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Jamar Roberts is one of today's most sought-after choreographers. The Bessie Award winner has created commissions for the Ailey company, New York City Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, and The Juilliard School, just to name a few. Jamar recalls how his early obsession with music made him want to move, candidly shares the challenges of learning to be an artist, and discusses how he developed his choreographic voice. Alicia surprises Jamar with a treasured gift he made for her years ago and explains her thoughts behind matching his energy when they were dance partners at Ailey.
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The Moving Moments theme song was composed by Saul Guanipa for Videohelper.
Moving Moments was co-created by Alicia Graf Mack, Jessica Handelman, and David Krauss.
This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.
Episode copyright © 2023 Artful Narratives Media.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Executive Director of the Baryshnikov Arts Center Sonja Kostich was a celebrated dancer at American Ballet Theatre and Mikhail Baryshnikov’s White Oak Dance Project. After 20 years as a professional dancer, Sonja shifted her focus to arts administration with roles at Mark Morris Dance Group, New York City Center, and Kaatsbaan Cultural Park. She shares with Alicia why she decided to go to business school and how leading an organization and being a dancer are quite similar in their collaborative nature.
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The Moving Moments theme song was composed by Saul Guanipa for Videohelper.
Moving Moments was co-created by Alicia Graf Mack, Jessica Handelman, and David Krauss.
This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.
Episode copyright © 2023 Artful Narratives Media.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Legendary dancer, choreographer, and Artistic Director Emerita of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Judith Jamison is a Kennedy Center Honoree and Time Magazine 100 Most Influential People in the World. She tells Alicia what it was like to work with Mr. Ailey, how she originated one of the most important and enduring works of modern and contemporary dance history, and one of her proudest accomplishments.
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The Moving Moments theme song was composed by Saul Guanipa for Videohelper.
Moving Moments was co-created by Alicia Graf Mack, Jessica Handelman, and David Krauss.
This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.
Episode copyright © 2023 Artful Narratives Media.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tony Award winner and Resident Choreographer at New York City Ballet Justin Peck is also a celebrated director, filmmaker, and dancer. Hailed as a prodigy, Justin has created over 50 dance works with more than 20 for City Ballet alone, as well as collaborated with Stephen Spielberg. Alicia and Justin talk about the New Dances program at Juilliard, Justin's connection to music in his work, and why he finds the Anytune Pro app so valuable in creating new dances. He shares how his position at City Ballet allowed him to take greater risks in his career, the differences between choreographing for film and for the stage, and the importance of learning something new when taking on new commissions.
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The Moving Moments theme song was composed by Saul Guanipa for Videohelper.
Moving Moments was co-created by Alicia Graf Mack, Jessica Handelman, and David Krauss.
This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.
Episode copyright © 2023 Artful Narratives Media.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.