October 2016

MOVERS & SHAPERS:
Podcast No.34 – SHANNON HUMMEL

Photo: Kamau Ware

Release Date: October 25, 2016

Download Episode on iTunes, Subscribe, and Rate Us HERE
Download Episode on Stitcher HERE
Join our Facebook Community HERE
Twitter follow @ShapersPodcast HERE

ABOUT SHANNON HUMMEL

Shannon Hummel is a choreographer, arts educator and Founding Artistic Director of Cora Dance. Driven to create access to the arts for all people, she opened The Cora Studio in Red Hook, Brooklyn in 2009 as a home for her professional company and their education programs. The space strives to create exceptional dance experiences while addressing the impediments that restrict many people from the art-form. Equal parts professional choreographer and community artist, Hummel’s work has been seen as much in church basements, public parks and community spaces as on some of the country’s finest stages. She has been repeatedly critically acclaimed by Style Magazine, Village Voice, Richmond Times Dispatch, and The New York Times where she has been a Top 10 Critics Pick for Dance and had her “finely wrought dances” called “poignant, funny, vivid and true, remarkably assured and perceptive” and most recently “a rare gem.” While her choreography has been presented in over 30 NYC venues (including the 92nd Street Y, BAM, BAX, Brooklyn Museum of Art, DTW, Danspace Project, La MaMa, LMCC, among others) she is also known for creating accessible grassroots performances in off-the-beaten-path places in KY, NY, NJ, OK, VA, VT and WV. She has been an educational advisor, mentor or faculty member for hundreds of institutions including her alma mater James Madison University; enjoyed significant residencies in support of her choreography from Vermont Performance Lab, BAX/Brooklyn Arts Exchange among others; and guest taught and lectured widely for ADF’s January Intensive, American College Dance Festival’s Mid-Atlantic Conference, NYLA’s Fresh Tracks Program, and dance programs at Rutgers, William & Mary, Marlboro College, Virginia Commonwealth University, Washington & Lee, among many others.  She is most proud to be the mom of a lively, lovely, hilarious dancing boy named Henry.

MORE ON SHANNON HUMMEL

• Cora Dance

PODCAST INTERVIEW LINKS

Scott Smith

James Madison University

Donna Costello

Peggy Peloquin

DTW – Fresh Tracks

BAX – Brooklyn Arts Exchange

Marya Warshaw

Rebekah Windmiller

Podcast produced by: The Moving Architects
Interviewer: Erin Carlisle Norton
Intro Music: “Singing Distance” by Elijah Aaron

MOVERS & SHAPERS:
Podcast No.33 – Your Move Dance Festival and Heather Warfel Sandler

Release Date: October 11, 2016

Download Episode on iTunes, Subscribe, and Rate Us HERE
Download Episode on Stitcher HERE
Join the Movers and Shapers Facebook Community HERE
Follow on Twitter @ShapersPodcast HERE

ABOUT YOUR MOVE DANCE FESTIVAL FOUNDERS: MORGAN HILLE REFAKIS AND MEAGAN WOODS

Morgan Hille Refakis

Morgan Hille Refakis, originally from Indiana. graduated from Rutgers University with degrees in Dance and Journalism, where she received a Jerome and Lorraine Aresty Research Scholarship for choreography. After college, Morgan studied choreography with Ballet Prelocaj in France. Representing Northeast Indiana, she performed in Mexico on a Performing Arts Cultural Exchange with Rotary International. Morgan has performed professionally with Liz Lerman, Nancy Nowacek, Dance Exchange, Isabel Lewis, The Dancing Georgina Project, Daniel Flores Dance, Insurgo Stage Project, and Meagan Woods & Co. She has presented work at Movement Research Judson Church, Your Move Dance Festival, Lowe’s Theatre STAGEfest, Museiam Showcase, Amalgamated Artist Series and Erarta Gallery. Morgan is an Area Pilates Manager and Instructor for Equinox Health Clubs and a founding Co-Producer of Your Move Dance Festival.

Meagan Woods

Meagan Woods graduated with a BFA in dance from Rutgers University, earning the Margery Turner Award for choreography. She has performed professionally with Liz Lerman, Sarah Skaggs, Orit Ben-Shitrit, SHUA Group and Insurgo Stage Project. Meagan Woods & Company has presented original work at NJPAC, Ailey Citigroup Theater, Grounds for Sculpture, George Street Playhouse, Crossroads Theater, Scheide Hall, and The Historical Loew’s Theater. She has performed for TEDx, and her worked can be viewed at TED.com. Meagan is the originator of Dance Within the Art at the Zimmerli Art Museum. She is choreographer for the musical theater program STAGES! at Art House Productions. Meagan choreographs, costume designs, and guest lecturers for Rutgers University and choreographs for St. Peter’s University. meaganwoodsandcompany.com

MORE ON YOUR MOVE DANCE FESTIVAL:

• Your Move on Facebook

• Your Move 2016 Tickets

ABOUT HEATHER WARFEL SANDLER: 

Heather Warfel Sandler

Heather Warfel Sandler graduated cum laude with a BA in Modern Dance from Point Park University, and has continued to study dance/education at the American Dance Festival, VCU, Dance Education Laboratory at 92 St.Y, and studios throughout NYC. Ms.Warfel served as Adjunct Professor of Dance at NJCU, and is also a certified yoga instructor and member of Dance NJ/NDEO.She has shown her choreography throughout the NY/NJ area, including the Outlet Dance Project and Your Move Modern Dance Festival. In her performance career Ms.Warfel has worked professionally as a tap, West African, and modern dancer, most recently with SHUA Group. Locally she co-wrote and performed the lead role in Heavy Craft, Soft Landing at ArtHouseProductions, enjoyed many years as a professional clown, and is proud to be an active member of the Jersey City artist community as both performer and visual artist.  She was a founding member of an inter-disciplinary improvisation company, and continues to perform regularly in dance, theater, and music – most often with her fun-fabulous band The Ukuladies. Because of these varied artistic experiences, Ms.Warfel strongly values creativity, individuality, and open-mindedness as both a dancer and a teacher.  She founded the dance program at County Prep High School in Jersey City 16 years ago. Her students have since won numerous awards, and gone on to study at renowned colleges such as Rutgers/Mason Gross, Virginia Commonwealth University, and NYU.  In addition to directing the dance program at County Prep, Ms. Warfel produces school performances, and moderates the CP Artist Collective, where she demonstrates the importance of creative play in education and personal development.

MORE ON HEATHER WARFEL SANDLER 

• HCST ONLINE – County Prep High School

• YouTube, “Revealed” Trailer

• YouTube, “The Two Duets”

• This Learning TV

• The Ukuladies

PODCAST INTERVIEW LINKS

Luigi Jazz 

Virginia Commonwealth University – Dance

Point Park University – Dance

Judith Leifer-Bentz

Kevin Quigley

Maureen Glennon

JC Fridays

Podcast produced by: The Moving Architects
Interviewer: Erin Carlisle Norton
Intro Music: “Singing Distance” by Elijah Aaron