In this week’s episode, Award winning dancer and choreographer, Vikki Weinberger, discusses her love of teaching and gives tips on pre-school dance education, an area in which she continues to excel. Are your pre-school classes making you want to pull your hair out? This episode is for you! Vikki Weinberger has had a lifelong passion for rhythm and dance. Originally from Livingston NJ, Vikki grew up dancing competitively at her local home studio, while training profess...

In this week’s episode, recent college graduate and scholar Briana Cheng, discusses the importance dance played in her scholastic journey. This is a great episode for dancers struggling with pursuing artistic passion in the face of academic expectations. Briana Cheng’s dance journey started at Triangle Dance studio where she studied ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, and contemporary. After many years at Triangle, Briana moved to China where she studied dance at the Shanghai Amer...

In this week’s episode, recent EDC Alumni, Rachel Matson discusses how her unwavering love for dance helped her overcome her fear of failure. Rachel Matson started her dance journey many years ago at Ballet Petite, before seeing a Hip Hop dance class and deciding to leave the ballet slippers in the dust. Rachel has studied Hip Hop and Commercial dance at Joy of Motion in HYPE’s Company prep and Groove Elements teams, and is currently finishing up her 4th and final year of High Sc...

A very important conversation about creating healthy, brave spaces for dancers and teachers because we all need support! Dr. Damon Silas has been a psychologist for over 15 years, working with a wide range of populations and issues including but not limited to juvenile delinquents and at-risk youth; children and adolescents on the autistic spectrum; and the Active Duty military population. Anxiety and trauma (including PTSD) are his specialty areas, as well as grief and loss. In ...

Athlete, Steven Attah, discusses what made him decide to join a dance class and how what he learned made him a better athlete. Steven Attah’s exposure to the dance world consisted of studying in the Bullis Dance Ensemble during his high school years. An avid athlete, Steven benefited from the coordination and balance dance brought him during his varsity football and track & field seasons. Steven continued his athletic endeavors during his time at Dean College and Steven...

In this special episode, The Engaged Core Founder and Host shares more about her story and answers questions from listeners. This is a must-listen for dance teachers everywhere! Have a question or a topic you'd like covered in a future episode or is there a guest you want to hear on The Engaged Core? Leave us a message now on SpeakPipe! Interested in being a part of our NEW Facebook Group for Teachers? Check us out online at The Engaged Core Facebook Group

Dancer and College Student, Dani Seltzer, discusses how a diagnosis with POTS during her high school years threatened to interrupted her love of Hip Hop dance. This is a lively but important discussion for dancers and teachers seeking to establish healthy boundaries while navigating external expectations. Dani Seltzer started her dance journey at the Washington School of Ballet before discovering her love of Hip Hop dance at Joy of Motion Dance Center. During her time at Jo...

In this Season Two Premiere, Teacher and Dance Education Advocate, Nicole S. Robinson discusses some ways in which we, as educators, can make our classrooms more inclusive, equitable, and accessible. This is Part 2 of our discussion with Nicole. To hear Part 1, checkout Episode Six. Nicole S. Robinson is a dancer, teacher, choreographer and dance education advocate from Riverside, CA. Nicole received her undergrad degree in Kinesiology from California State University...

In the Season One Finale, dancer and college student, Asha Rosaline Yates, discusses how the sacrifices she made in her dance training provided a foundation for her dance career and beyond. Asha Yates started her dance journey at Joy of Motion Dance Center where she studied Hip Hop dance for many years. In addition to being in the youth performing companies, Groove Elements and Hype The company while at Joy of Motion, she was also Captain of Elements Dance Company in its in...

Gianna Moore, dancer and former competitive gymnast, discusses how dance gave her a place to express her emotions when words were too hard. Gianna spent the bulk of her primary school years training at Hill’s Gymnastics where she reached USAG’s Level 9. Upon retiring from Gymnastics, Gianna attended a summer dance program with Elite Dance Studio, before joining the Bullis Dance Ensemble in her freshman year of high school. Gianna flourished in the Bullis Dance program as a ...

In this episode, Marshall Scholar, writer and unlikely student of dance, Jack Chellman, recounts his time as a new dancer in an established dance program. Find out how he pushed pass his fears and captured moments that still stick with him today. Jack Chellman’s foray into the dance world consisted of studying in the Bullis Dance Ensemble in his high school years. Finding a groove in dance had an impression on Jack and he continued his studies by taking dance coursework at U...

Kelila shares how the many lessons learn inside her dance class helped to shape her identity and leadership style as a choreographer and co-director of Spirit of the Creative (Tufts Hip Hop Dance Team). Kelila Weiner started her dance journey at Joy of Motion Dance Center. During her high school years, she was a member of HYPE: The Company and served as Co-Captain for the Bomb Squad at School Without Walls. Kelila's passion and commitment for dance landed her a captain role in Hy...

In this two-part episode, Alana sits down with her dance mentor, Nicole S. Robinson, to discuss ways in which our traditions are limiting dancer growth and sustaining a culture of exclusion. Nicole S. Robinson is a dancer, teacher, choreographer and dance education advocate from Riverside, CA. Nicole received her undergrad degree in Kinesiology from California State University, San Bernardino, as well as a Master’s in Dance Education from California State University, Long Beach.&n...

Naya Alexis shares how her experiences navigating the world as a young BIPOC ballerina encouraged her to start a YouTube Channel dedicated to providing resources and representation for the everyday black dancer. Naya Hutchinson has danced since the age of 3, focusing mostly in ballet in her earlier years with Washington Ballet and Lilla Seber before joining the Bullis dance Ensemble and the Conservatory program at City dance. While in middle/high school, Naya spent her summers st...

Warning: This episode may result in uncontrollable laughter. In this hilarious episode, Mitchell spends 35 minutes roasting Alana in the most loving way possible and the other 7 minutes dishing about the community and connectedness he felt in dance companies. Triple Threat, Mitchell Costello, has been dancing and performing throughout the world most of his life. Mitchell was a member of Australia Dance Companies Project Beats Studio, before moving to the DMV where he danc...

In this heartfelt episode, Host, Alana Hill, and her dancing daughter, Kiara, discuss what drew Kiara to dancing, what pushed her to the point of almost giving up, and how her mom’s influence shows up in her own teaching. Kiara Hill has been dancing for over 20 years training at many studios and programs in the DMV such as Joy of Motion Dance Center, CityDance Conservatory, Future Shock and Culture Shock DC, plus was a student in the Performing arts programs at both Hyattsville M...

Episode Two: Finding Your Voice in Dance w/ Katelyn Foreman Katelyn Foreman is a versatile dance artist who has made her way through the competition, conservatory and academic dance worlds studying at C-Unit Dance studio, CityDance Conservatory as well as the Dance Program at both Bullis School and Duke University. Katelyn has had the opportunity to work with Koresh Dance Company and Gallim Dance, as well as participate in the CityDance Dreamscape Gala with companies including Rasta Tho...

Episode One: Dancing through Fear w/ Janae Holster Janae Holster started her dance journey in the DMV dancing with numerous studios and schools, including where we met Joy of Motion dance Center. While in DC, Janae danced with many youth dance companies including HYPE: The Company, Future Shock, CMI, and The Movement Studios before moving to the west coast at age 14 to pursue dancing more seriously. Since her move Janae has been killing it in the competition/convention circuit and...

Welcome to The Engaged Core! Host and veteran Dance Teacher Alana Hill introduces the podcast and lets you know what you can expect from the show! Spoiler Alert: It's going to be a hoot! The Engaged Core explores the symbiotic relationship between dance teachers and students. Through interviews with past students, dance parents, and peer teachers, The Engaged Core puts into perspective how vital teacher/student relationships are in the dancer’s success. New episodes will drop e...