PODCAST 177: Pittsburgh
Release Date: 10.14.24
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Episode 177: Show Notes
Welcome to another episode of Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast! You’re in for a very exciting treat as we venture into interviewing dance professionals from across the USA. Today we are interviewing four dance figures from Pittsburgh about their careers and the dance culture in their city. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about our incredible guests, Shana Simmons, Peter Kope, Alan Obuzor, and Brittany Nettles’ careers, how they have navigated the dance scene in Pittsburgh, what resources have helped them, and so much more! We delve into how dance fits into Pittsburgh’s culture before discussing the competition and collaborative spirit in the city. They tell us about the struggles they face in their industry, why consistency is problematic, and how they need multiple jobs to be successful. We go on to talk about the incredible changes they have seen over the years in the Pittsburgh dance world and what they’d love to see happen in the future. Finally, they share beautiful moments that made them so passionate about working as dance professionals in Pittsburgh and why they love it so much. You don’t want to miss out on this inspirational episode, so be sure to press play now!
Key Points From This Episode:
- A brief overview of Pittsburgh’s history of dance.
- Introducing today’s guests: Shana Simmons, Peter Kope, Alan Obuzor, and Brittany Nettles.
- How they navigated dance careers in Pittsburgh and the resources that have helped them.
- Our guests tell us where dance fits into the culture of Pittsburgh.
- The collaborations and competition each of our guests experience.
- What kinds of classes they offer and the struggles they face when it comes to consistency.
- How they have seen the local dance community change over the years.
- The changes and collaborations they’d love to see in the Pittsburgh dance scene.
- Our guests tell us what they love about working in the dance industry in Pittsburgh.
ABOUT Alan Obuzor
Alan Obuzor was honored in 2013 by Dance Magazine by being named one of the “Top 25 to Watch”. In 2023-2024 he was selected as a School of American Ballet (SAB) National Visiting Fellow. Originally from Pittsburgh, Alan began dancing at the age of nine. Two years later he attended Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School(PBTS), where in 1998 he was a recipient of the prestigious Princess Grace Foundation Dance Honorarium. Alan received a contract to join Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s(PBT’s)professional company at the age of 17. During his seven years in PBT’s Company, he danced a wide array of ballets ranging from classical to neoclassical to contemporary, which included principal and soloist roles in ballets such as The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Symphony in C, Carmina Burana and Divertimento 15. In that time he also worked with many world renowned figures in dance, and was selected to originate soloist roles in new works by choreographers Dwight Rhoden, Derek Dean, Matjash Mrozewski and Jiabin Pan. Alan began teaching in 2002; from 2007-2012 Alan was on the faculty of PBTS as one of the primary Pre-Professional Division teachers and choreographers. In the fall of 2012, Alan joined the teaching faculty of Pittsburgh Youth Ballet. Alan choreographed his first work in 2002 on himself and a fellow dancer. Since that time he has choreographed over 120 new works for Texture Contemporary Ballet, Texture Ballet School, PBT, PBTS, Pittsburgh Youth Ballet Company, New Ballet Ensemble, Harvard Ballet Company, Point Park University, Dancers’ Trust, Canton Ballet, Pittsburgh High School for the Creative and Performing Arts and various independent projects. In 2011, Alan won first place in the Pittsburgh Chapter of the National Society of Arts and Letters Dance/Choreography competition. During 2014 Alan was awarded a BRAZZY Award – “Outstanding Male Dancer in Pittsburgh 2014”. In 2017 Mr. Obuzor received an “Outstanding Teacher Award” by Youth America Grand Prix. He is the founder and Artistic Director of Texture Contemporary Ballet 2011, and Texture Ballet School 2019.
Connect:
Texture Contemporary Ballet Facebook
Texture Contemporary Ballet Instagram
Texture Ballet School Facebook
Texture Ballet School Instagram
Head shot by Katie Ging
ABOUT Shana Simmons
Shana Simmons holds a BA in Dance from Point Park University (2003) and an MA in Choreography from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music & Dance (2009). Simmons has performed in her own works in New York City, Belgium, London, Chicago, Boston, and Pittsburgh. Traditionally trained in the Graham technique, Simmons expanded into release based movement during her New York City and London residencies before moving back to Pittsburgh. Performance credits include Noemie Lafrance “Agora” (NYC), Alexandra Beller(NYC), Artmongers(London), Flat Feet Dance Company (London), The Pittsburgh and Atlanta Operas, Staycee Pearl Dance Project(Pittsburgh), and Jamie Erin Murphy (Pittsburgh) to name a few.
SHANA SIMMONS DANCE (SSD, est 2009), creates immersive contemporary dance and is a Pittsburgh based dance organization. Simmons is a movement artist who creates immersive dance theatre works that have a heavy focus on research as practice. Her work aims to engage the viewer in thoughtful ways, encouraging active participation, and absorbing them into the piece as part of the final meaning of the work. SSD provides opportunities for outside choreographic voices to be heard as part of the collaborative process.
Connect:
Instagram: @shanasimmonsdance
ABOUT Peter Kope
Peter Kope is Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Attack Theatre. Peter began his dance career working with Dayton Contemporary Dance Company. He also toured internationally with Jacob Pillow’s “Men Dancers: The Ted Shawn Legacy.” Prior to founding Attack Theatre with his partner, Michele de la Reza, Peter danced with Pittsburgh-based Dance Alloy (Mark Taylor, Artistic Director) and NYC-based Perks DanceMusicTheatre (Rebecca Stenn, Artistic Director), creating and touring new works throughout the US with both companies for seven years. Together with Michele de la Reza, Peter is the recipient of three Pennsylvania Council on the Arts fellowships and the Hardie Educator of the Year award.
Peter’s work with Attack Theatre led the company to honors of “Best Dance Company” (Pittsburgh City Paper 2007-2011, 2016), “Best Dance Performance” (Post-Gazette 2006, 2010, 2011), and the National Dance Project touring award for Games of Steel. Peter is also on faculty Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Music, where Attack Theatre is the dance company in residence.
About Attack Theatre:
Founded in 1994 by Michele de la Reza and Peter Kope as a collaboration between two dancers and a city, Attack Theatre fuses modern dance, original live music, and interdisciplinary art forms to create engaging dance performances. We aim create work at the intersection of art and community, resulting in productions that are personal, authentic, welcoming, and fearless. It is our mission to explore artistic expression in our commitment to remain curious in our investigation of new ideas; to artistically collaborate through deliberate, interdisciplinary partnerships; to connect with local and global communities to provide accessible, creative learning opportunities.
Connect:
ABOUT Brittany Nettles
Brittany Nettles (she/they) is a freelance choreographer and dancer originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. They received their BFA in Dance from Point Park University, where they now find themselves as an adjunct faculty member. Brittany has also performed as a dancer with Shana Simmons Dance for the past 3 years. Recently, she has presented choreography with Shana Simmons Dance, PearlArts and inter PGH. They also work as a dance educator and choreographer for Act One Theater school, where they have the pleasure of choreographing/co-directing their 2nd-8th grade musical. Currently based in Pittsburgh, she continues to explore work that centers queer, femme identities through interdisciplinary theater for diverse audiences.
Podcast produced by: The Moving Architects
Interviewer: Erin Carlisle Norton