MOVERS & SHAPERS: A DANCE PODCAST

The personal stories, experiences, and ideas from those who shape the dance field. Available anywhere you get your podcasts.

 

“I love Movers and Shapers: it focuses my mind on the important things in life: I love the care with which it’s choreographed(!).” Review, Apple Podcasts

“This podcast sounds so vivid and interesting! I am really grateful to be able to hear all these stories from all of these artists. This podcast is a work of art.” Review, Apple Podcasts

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Apr 14
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PODCAST 186: Erin Carlisle Norton

Release Date: 4.14.25

TO DOWNLOAD PODCAST OR LISTEN:

    • Apple: Subscribe, Listen, Rate Us HERE

    • Spotify: Follow and Listen HERE

    • Any Smartphone Podcast app: Subscribe and Listen

Lessons from 10 Years of Dance Conversations with Erin Carlisle Norton

Episode 186: Show Notes

What does it take to lead a forward-thinking, boundary-pushing dance company in today’s ever-changing artistic landscape? After a decade of hosting Movers & Shapers and nearly 200 interviews, Erin Carlisle Norton, Artistic Director of The Moving Architects (TMA), steps into the guest seat for a special 10th-anniversary episode. In conversation with Megan Mizanty, Lead Editor of thINKingDANCE, Erin reflects on the podcast’s evolution, the inspiration behind it, and the guests and stories that have profoundly shaped her perspective. They explore the intersection of dance and community engagement, the role of adaptability and resilience in the arts, and how collaboration fuels creative growth. Erin also shares her dream interview guest, the unexpected insights and connections that have emerged from the podcast, and how these conversations have deepened her understanding of what it means to build a meaningful life in dance. Tune in for a behind-the-scenes look at the artistry, strategy, and vision that drive Movers & Shapers (and TMA) forward!

Key Points From This Episode:

  • An introduction to Erin and the story behind Movers & Shapers.
  • Insight into how the podcast has evolved over the past decade.
  • Memorable moments and some of Erin’s favorite guest interviews.
  • The biggest lessons Erin has learned from nearly 200 interviews.
  • Ways that the podcast has influenced Erin’s work and artistic vision
  • The importance of adaptability, resourcefulness, and resilience in the arts.
  • Exploring the intersection of dance, community engagement, and storytelling.
  • Reflections on recurring themes, shifting dance landscapes, and industry trends.
  • Unexpected connections and insights that have emerged from hosting the podcast.
  • Podcast hosts who have influenced Erin’s approach to storytelling.
  • The modern dance icon Erin dreams of interviewing and why.
  • What it means to build a rich life in dance and Erin’s advice for emerging artists.

ABOUT Erin

Erin Carlisle Norton is a dancer, choreographer, movement educator, and Artistic Director of The Moving Architects (TMA). Through TMA, she has performed, taught, and toured extensively—locally in New Jersey and New York City, presented by BAM Fisher, Arts on Site, SOPAC, and Triskelion Arts, among others; nationally, with recent projects in Kentucky, North Carolina, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Washington State; and internationally, in Morocco and Guatemala, as well as throughout Central Asia with the U.S. Department of State.

Creating dance works that explore feminist narratives and ideologies through collaborative and intergenerational processes, Erin has received numerous accolades, including two Fellowships in Choreography from the NJ State Council on the Arts. Her latest solo dance film, O my soul, was notably screened at Dance on Camera Film at Lincoln Center and the Seoul Dance Film Festival. Erin and TMA have been awarded creative residencies, including at Cedar Crest College/LVDE (PA), MOtiVE Brooklyn, Wilson College (PA), MANA Contemporary with Monira Foundation (Jersey City), Dancewave (Brooklyn), and Gardenship Experimental Film Residency (NJ). Praised by colleagues as “brave and bold and fearless” and by critics for a “fresh and daring aesthetic,” TMA’s 2025 projects include a new dance film set at Broadway Presbyterian Church (NYC) with support from Partners for Sacred Places and IndieSpace; the site-immersive Crane House & Historic YWCA Performance Project (NJ), which highlights the women who walked through the house from 1796-1965—including three generations of Cranes, enslaved people, and Irish servants, as well as its time as a YWCA for Black women—with support from the NJ Council for the Humanities; and Shapes of Movement, a transdisciplinary collaborative environmental project in Eastern KY, supported by the University of Kentucky.

 

Erin leads TMA initiatives offering pay-what-you-can classes and workshops for adult dancers and is the host and producer of TMA’s long-running popular interview podcast, Movers & Shapers: Dance Podcast. She holds a BFA and MFA in Dance from Ohio State University, is a Certified Laban Movement Analyst through Columbia College Chicago, and is a Certified Pilates instructor. Erin is also the former Executive Director of Dance New Jersey and owner of Align Pilates.

photo by: Whitney Browne

Connect:

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Megan Mizanty

thINKingDANCE

Eva Yaa Asantewaa

Body and Soul Podcast with Eva Yaa Asantewaa

Pentacle

Christina Carminucci

Dance Preservation Fund

Ep 184: Twin Cities with Joanna Lees, Jesse Schmitz-Boyd, Erinn Liebhard

Ep 65: Douglas Dunn

Ep 63: Lois Greenfield

Ep 62: Sara Rudner

Ep 1: Sidra Bell

Fresh Air Podcast with Terry Gross

Martha Graham

 

Podcast produced by: The Moving Architects
Interviewer: Erin Carlisle Norton

Mar 31
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MSP 185: Morgiana Celeste Varricchio & Samara Adell

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PODCAST 185: Morgiana Celeste Varricchio & 

Release Date: 1.20.25

TO DOWNLOAD PODCAST OR LISTEN:

    • Apple: Subscribe, Listen, Rate Us HERE

    • Spotify: Follow and Listen HERE

    • Any Smartphone Podcast app: Subscribe and Listen

Building the Mosaic Dance Theatre Company with Morgiana Celeste Varricchio & Samara Adell

Episode 185: Show Notes

Every dance company has its own unique journey and characteristics, from how it was founded to the style of dance it specializes in. Today, we’re joined by the Producing Artistic Director and Founder of the Mosaic Dance Theatre Company (MDTC), Morgiana Celeste Varricchio, and the Artistic Director for Dance and Choreographer, Samara Adell. MDTC showcases the vibrant dance and folkloric heritage of the Mediterranean, spanning North Africa, the Middle East, and Southern Europe. Through captivating performances and educational initiatives, MDTC brings to life the region’s music, myths, and traditions, preserving and sharing its cultural tapestry. In this conversation, Morgiana and Samara share how they discovered their affinity for Middle Eastern dance, why they felt it wasn’t adequately represented in the US, and how they formed the Mosaic Dance Theatre Company. We discuss the many shows they’ve produced, including their upcoming show Visions of the Near East, how they manage their creative partnership, and the challenges of running a nonprofit. Tune in to hear the full scope of Morgiana and Samara’s beautiful journey, from becoming friends to running a thriving company together!

Key Points From This Episode:

  • An introduction to Morgiana Celeste Varricchio and her dance journey.
  • Moving to New York and the various jobs she worked while she was there.
  • How she became involved with Middle Eastern dance and met Samara Adell.
  • The success of Morgiana’s production of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves.
  • What it was like to be part of the Lincoln Center Institute program.
  • How Morgiana and Samara founded the Mosaic Dance Theatre Company in 2005.
  • Their mission to ensure Middle Eastern Dance was properly represented in the US.
  • An overview of their productions, including their original show, Caravan to Cairo.
  • Their upcoming production, Visions of the Near East
  • Some background on Samara and how she became interested in dance.
  • Her time working in New York and the extensive global touring she did as a dancer.
  • The inner workings of Samara and Morgiana’s creative partnership.
  • How they prepare for, plan, rehearse, and arrange all the different elements of their shows.
  • Standout experiences during their two decades with Mosaic.

ABOUT Morgiana Celeste Varricchio

Morgiana Celeste Varricchio, Producing Artistic Director & Founder of Mosaic Dance Theater Company, is a classically trained actor, a storyteller, a dancer, and a director. Her works have been commissioned and performed internationally, in New York, and at regional and stock theaters throughout the U.S., including such venues as Lincoln Center, the Brooklyn Museum, Paper Mill Playhouse, the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts, the Nashville Institute for the Arts, the New York International Fringe Festival, and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland. An accomplished writer and producer, she has adapted and/or written for the stage, produced, performed, and toured in: Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves; Gypsy Tales; Ovid’s Metamorphoses; Banat El Emir or The Dancing Princesses; and for Mosaic Dance Theater Company, Tales from The Arabian Nights, Land of The Pharaohs, The Paradise of Children, La Lettera d’Isabella, Troy: Women & War, and Impressions of The Alhambra. In addition to her numerous acting credits, she worked as production assistant for several Broadway productions, was artistic consultant for the late film star Anthony Quinn, and is privileged to list on her resume the remarkable experience of working at the Dallas Theater Center (TX) during its leadership by the legendary Paul Baker. Morgiana teaches classes and workshops in Middle Eastern dance, and conducts workshops for storytelling and storytheater. She holds an MFA from Trinity University and a BA from Lehigh University.

photo: courtesy Mosaic Dance Theater Company

ABOUT Samara Adell

Samara’s hallmark style, a blend of serene elegance, spiritual grace, earthy passion, and technical prowess is the result of a life long commitment to Oriental Dance. Drawn to the dance since she was a child; via her Mediterranean heritage (Greek and Turkish), Samara’s background enhanced her organic sense of rhythm and her mastery of hip dynamics that characterize the dances of the Near East. Samara began dancing professionally in her teens, having already studied other dance forms extensively. Her exotic beauty and natural talent soon made her one of the most sought after dancers in the New York Area.

While some dancers might have been content to rest on their laurels, Samara chose instead to constantly challenge herself and pursue the art of Middle Eastern dance on it’s highest level. In this quest she was aided by her outstanding dance mentor, the late master dancer/teacher/choreographer IbrahimF.arrah. Samara studied with Mr. Farrah for over 15 years. As a member of his renowned Near East dance Group, Samara’s performed in some of America’s most prestigious concert halls, including Carnegie Hall, Avery Fischer Hall at Lincoln Center, Town Hall, The Triplex Theater, Theater of the Riverside Church and Merkin Concert Hall in New York, the Warner Theater in Washington D.C. and the Spoleto Festival in Charleston S.C.

After the untimely death of Ibrahim Farrah, Samara joined two of his other principle dancers, Phadrea and Jajouka, on a tour of various cities in the U.S. from October 1999 to July 2000. Together they taught the Ibrahim Farrrah method and performed his choreographies in such theaters as the Hart House Theater in Toronto, the Robert B Moore Theater in Costa Mesa California, On The Boards Theater in Seattle, Washington and the Da Capo Opera House in New York City.

In addition to her work with the Near East Dance Group, Samara has shared the stage with some of the most famous singing stars of the Middle East including, ( to name a few), Walid Tofic, Ragheb Alame, Sabah, and George Wassouf. Samara was a part of Warda’s dazzling show at Madison Square Garden, The Brooklyn Funk Essential at Irving Plaza and danced with famed pop-fusion star Alabina at the Beacon Theater. She co-produced and appeared as an original member of the World Beat Extravaganza Ballet Exotiqa and danced with Christine Aguillera at Radio City Music Hall for the MTV Music Awards. Samara was a 1998 inductee into the American Academy of Middle Eastern Dance Hall of Fame.

As a soloist, Samara has been engaged in Middle Eastern nightclubs and theaters throughout the United States and Abroad. Her dance journeys have taken her to Mexico, the Caribbean, France, England, China, Japan, Jordan, Egypt, Israel and West Africa. Samara performed in Greece three consecutive years and shortly after toured in Turkey, Greece, Russia, Bulgaria, Egypt and Israel. She has performed as a Guest Artist with the Kamatsu Kaoru Arabia Dance Company at the Kyurian Theater in Tokyo Japan and at the Ahlan Washalan Festival in Cairo Egypt June 2008.

For the past 22 years Samara has been the choreographer and Artistic Director of Dance for The Mosaic Dance Theater Company. For Mosaic she has choreographed numerous traditional and interpretive works including: Impressions Of The Alambra (2024), Alhayat Raksa (Life Is A dance) 2023, Troy: Women & War (2022), Four Women (2018) Tales From The Arabian Night (2014), MDTC 10th Anniversary Concert at The Martha Graham Theater (2013), The Art Of Sense & Soul (2013), MDTC at The Hudson Guild Theater (2011), MDTC at Westminster College (2011), MDTC At Westminster College (2010) ,Tradition Myth & Fantasy (2009), MDTC and Viva Flamenco (2009), Dances of Time and Tradition (2008), MDTC At Reinhardt College (2008), Dances of North Africa and The Middle East (2007), The Fisherman and The Djinni and The King of The Ebony Isles: Tales from The Arabian Nights (2006), Visions of The Near East (2005), and a Celebration of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean Dance (2003).

Additional choreographic credits include several Off Broadway productions: Banat El Amir or The Dancing Princesses in which she also performed, Caravan to Cairo critically acclaimed in it’s presentation at the New York International Fringe Festival, special choreographer for Broadway star Robert Cuccioli in Elvis Unbound, Veils (a serial comedy), and Kamatsu Kaoru Arabia Dance Company in Tokyo Japan.

At home in New York City, Samara has taught in a number of well known dance schools, among them The New Dance Group, Dance Concepts, The Ibrahim Farrah Near East Dance School, The YWCA of New York City, Hunter College Dance Department, The United Nations, Djiniba Dance and Drum Center, Fazils, Steps and Manhattan Movement and Arts Center. Samara now teaches at Dany Studios, Nola Studios and is a faculty member at The Alvin Ailey Extension. Samara also teaches at various cultural centers for the City Of New York.  As a Seminar Instructor Samara teaches regularly throughout the United States and Abroad.

Samara conducts a Weeklong Intensive Workshop every year in New York City where students come from all over to study her method. Her classes are noted for their emphasis on developing strong technical skills, expressiveness, spatial patterns and musical interpretation. Samara’s extensive background in Theater and Cabaret gives her students a very broad overview into this intricate and expressive dance form.

Samara’s talents are not limited to dance. She has studied acting at The Ernie Martin Studio Theater and The Actors Conservatory with Elaine Aiken and has appeared in Off Broadway productions. Samara has also studied writing and film making at the New School for Social Research. As a professional model, Samara has worked in the U.S. and Europe in runway, print, and fashion. As a producer, Samara has produced dance, theater, musicals and has recently produced her first Middle Eastern Dance CD “YA SAMARA “ A significant amount of Samara’s time and energy is also dedicated to humanitarian causes. She is particularly active in animal rescue, animal rights and environmental organizations.

Photo: Courtesy Mosaic Dance Theater Company/ Westminster Performing Arts

Connect:

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Paul Baker

Dallas Theater Center

Lincoln Center

Ibrahim Farrah

‘Visions of the Near East’ Reservations

 

 

Podcast produced by: The Moving Architects
Interviewer: Erin Carlisle Norton

Mar 17
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MSP 184: Twin Cities

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PODCAST 184: Twin Cities

Release Date: 3.17.25

TO DOWNLOAD PODCAST OR LISTEN:

    • Apple: Subscribe, Listen, Rate Us HERE

    • Spotify: Follow and Listen HERE

    • Any Smartphone Podcast app: Subscribe and Listen

 

Twin Cities with Joanna Lees, Jesse Schmitz-Boyd, Erinn Liebhard

 

Episode 184: Show Notes.

Nestled along the Mississippi River, Minneapolis and Saint Paul offer a unique mix of natural beauty and culture. Winters are harsh, but skyways provide warmth, and frozen lakes set the scene. When summer arrives, the cities buzz with life, from thriving arts and food scenes to passionate sports fans. Each season brings a fresh energy to this dynamic and welcoming community. Today, we’re joined by three dance artists who call the Twin Cities home—Joanna Lees, Jesse Schmitz-Boyd, and Erinn Liebhard. Together, we dive into the Twin Cities dance and arts scene, exploring how they found their way there, their roles in the dance world, and how the region’s geography (and harsh winters) shape the artistic landscape. They share insights on leading dance companies, navigating the audition scene, and the importance of carving out a niche. We also discuss the concept of “all-encompassing physicality,” available resources for artists, and the gaps they hope to see filled in the local dance community. Tune in for a rich conversation on what makes the Twin Cities such a unique and inspiring place for dance!

Key Points From This Episode:

  • Listeners are introduced to our three amazing guests: Joanna Lees, Jesse Schmitz-Boyd, and Erinn Liebhard.
  • Their roles in the dance world and what brought them (or kept them) in the Twin Cities.
  • What ‘Twin Cities’ means and how the geography influences the dance scene.
  • How the winter (with its snow and ice) impacts their art and dance-making.
  • They highlight their experiences leading dance companies in the Twin Cities.
  • We discuss the ins and outs of the audition scene in the Twin Cities.
  • Joanna expands on the concept of “all-encompassing physicality.”
  • Jesse touches on the necessity of moving towards a “niche” in the Twin Cities dance scene.
  • The vibe of the dance community and different dance hubs in the area.
  • They expand on the different resources available in the Twin Cities.
  • The gaps (or downsides): changes and developments they’d love to see.
  • Each guest expands on what makes their dance life in the Twin Cities special to them.

ABOUT Joanna Lees

Joanna Lees (she/her) is a choreographer, performer, producer, director, filmmaker, and educator based in Minneapolis, MN. Her current research involves cultivating empowerment and healing through trauma-informed artistic practices. Originally from the Washington, D.C. area, Joanna graduated cum laude with distinction with a BFA in Dance and a minor in Business from The Ohio State University (2007). There, she was an Arts Scholar and the recipient of the Denman Undergraduate Research Forum Scholarship. She also performed in Doug Varone’s Le Sacre du Printemps (The Rite of Spring) in collaboration with BalletMet Columbus.

Joanna moved to Minnesota in 2008 and showcased her own choreography independently before co-founding the Minneapolis dance company, Alternative Motion Project alongside Kristin Howe in 2011. Joanna serves as the Artistic + Executive Director and has led in creating performing opportunities for artists, educational outreach programs for public school students, and innovating within audience engagement initiatives. As a performer, Joanna has worked with a variety of local choreographers including, Body Watani (Noelle + Leila Awadallah), Alexandra Bodnarchuk, Khary Jackson, Erin Drummond, Penelope Freeh, Jennifer Glaws, Kristin Howe, Heather Klopchin, Erinn Liebhard, Blake Nellis, Darrius Strong, and Taja Will. 

In 2020, Joanna earned her Masters of Fine Arts degree in Modern Dance at The University of Utah (Salt Lake City). Whilst there, she served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant in the School of Dance and received the L. Scott Marsh Mentorship Award & a University Teaching Assistantship. Joanna performed works by Charles O. Anderson, Stephen Koester, Sara Pickett, and Christine McMillan. She performed in work by Doug Varone in collaboration with Doug Varone and Dancers and was selected as a choreographer for Varone’s DEVICES mentorship program, showcasing her work, Spiral Into Control, in New York City (2018). An excerpt of her MFA thesis, B E C O M I N G, was selected to represent the University of Utah in performance for the American College Dance Association Northwest Regional Conference at Gonzaga University (2020). Her work has also been presented in the Chicago area, Louisville, KY, and Kalamazoo, MI. 

Joanna served as a faculty member at Winona State University where her original work, Entropy, represented WSU at the 2024 Northwest-Central Regional Conference (Northfield, MN).

photo by: Bill Cameron

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ABOUT Erinn Liebhard

Erinn Liebhard (she/ her) is a Twin Cities, MN-based (traditional lands of the Dakota and Ojibwe people) dance artist making opportunities for people to experience the reflective and connective power of groove through performance and education. Having grown up dancing socially at her dad’s rock band’s gigs, she discovered young the exhilaration of playfully experiencing groove alongside others. Guided by this inspiration and a fondness for jazz and American social dance ideas, she’s worked with creatives as varied as hip-hop dance theater artist Rennie Harris and the Wild Goose Chase Cloggers Appalachian clogging company. She acknowledges that as a dance artist working in jazz and American social dances, forms with African diasporic roots and branches, anti-racism and intersectional justice efforts must also be central in her work. In performance, she makes and performs new staged works and presents those of others through her company Rhythmically Speaking, and performs freelance and as self-created character “Nerdette” for St. Paul Saints Baseball’s Entertainment Team. She also creates new works for high schools, colleges and professional companies. Her creative works emphasize groove, interaction and improvisation and are inspired by both social and concert dance movement while often driven by contemporary jazz music. In education, she has been faculty for many area arts high schools and universities and is currently teaching at Carleton College, St. Olaf College and Winona State University. She also conducts educational outreach through her company and is an active writer, residency artist and conference presenter. She is driven to help connect people to themselves, one another and the moment through rooted and innovative embodiment of groove.

photo by : Galen Higgins

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ABOUT Jesse Schmitz-Boyd

Jesse Schmitz-Boyd is a Twin Cities-based choreographer, dance artist, and educator known for his innovative approach to movement and performance. He is the founder and artistic director of Rogue & Rabble Dance and has been a company member of Alternative Motion Project (AMP) for over a decade. A dynamic collaborator, Jesse regularly works with Off-Leash Area, performing at venues like the Cowles Center and participating in the Neighborhood Garage Tour across Minnesota. His recent project, Dredged and Dammed: A Confluence, created with Elizabeth Flinsch, is an experimental dance exploring the history of the Mississippi River.

Jesse’s choreography is characterized by its unique blend of humor, emotional depth, and exploration of human connection. His movement language fuses flowing, off-kilter gesture with an emphasis on disruption and play, drawing from fall-and-recover techniques while embracing complexities and contradictions. His work often reflects a self-aware meditation on the futility of fully capturing these complexities, inviting audiences to engage with both the absurd and the profound.

In addition to his own compositions, Jesse has performed in works by a diverse group of accomplished choreographers, including Michael Estanich, Jennifer Glaws, Heather Klopchin, Brianna Rae Johnson, Erinn Liebhard, Brenna Mosser, Kristin Howe, and Joanna Lees.

Jesse’s choreography has been showcased at venues such as the Red Eye Theater, The Southern Theater, DanceBarn Festival (Battle Lake, MN), The Lab Theater, Minnesota Fringe Festival, The Ritz Theater, and Movement Arts Day (Eau Claire, WI). His piece 35 Different Angles From Which to Hate Yourself was named one of the Star Tribune’s “10 Must Sees” at the 2017 Minnesota Fringe Festival, with the paper praising it as “pretty darn funny”. In 2022, his work TRAITOR received a Golden Lanyard Award at the Minnesota Fringe Festival.

With a degree in Dance and Anthropology from the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point, Jesse’s interdisciplinary background informs both his creative process and his perspective on movement. He has taught dance, movement, and performance to students of all ages across Minnesota and Wisconsin since 2003 and currently serves on the faculty at The Children’s Theater Company in Minneapolis.

photo by: Bill Cameron

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Jan 21
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MSP 183: Heidi Henderson

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PODCAST 183: Heidi Henderson

Release Date: 1.20.25

TO DOWNLOAD PODCAST OR LISTEN:

    • Apple: Subscribe, Listen, Rate Us HERE

    • Spotify: Follow and Listen HERE

    • Any Smartphone Podcast app: Subscribe and Listen

Something About the Way She Moves with Heidi Henderson

Episode 183: Show Notes. 

Heidi Henderson teaches Modern Technique, Composition, Improvisation, Anatomy, and Dance Writing at Connecticut College. She’s also the artistic director of elephant JANE dance, where she brings her unique vision and creativity to the stage. Heidi grew up in Maine, spent some time in New York City, and now lives in Rhode Island. Heidi is a four-time recipient of the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts Choreography Fellowship. Her work has been performed internationally in London and Korea, as well as at renowned venues like Jacob’s Pillow, The Flynn Space, and the Bates Dance Festival. She has danced with acclaimed companies and artists, including Bebe Miller, Nina Weiner, Paula Josa-Jones, Colleen Thomas, Peter Schmitz, and Sondra Loring, and was a contributing editor at Contact Quarterly, a vehicle for moving ideas.  Join the conversation to hear what inspired her dance journey, what her experience was like in New York, what it was like to figure out the intricate logistics of performing in a roller-skating rink, and what inspired the name of her company. We highlight some of the challenges, benefits, and peaks of her journey, what’s next for her, and much more! Don’t miss out, tune in now.

Key Points From This Episode:

  • Heidi shares her dance journey throughout the years.
  • What ultimately sucked her into the world of dance.
  • She details her experience getting her M.F.A. at Smith.
  • Her plan after graduate school.
  • Heidi talks about her experience in New York with Bebe Miller, Nina Weiner, and more.
  • What Heidi did as a “job” during her time in New York (and how those skills are still in use!)
  • The logistics behind her recent show, Untitled Sad Piece, performed in a roller-skating rink.
  • Heidi’s journey as she started making her own work.
  • The story behind the name of her company, elephant JANE dance.
  • How her teaching career came together and evolved over the years.
  • She breaks down some of the challenges she’s faced over the span of her dance journey.
  • We discuss some of the benefits of starting a dance career later on.
  • Looking back, we highlight some of the peaks of her dance career.
  • What’s next for Heidi.
  • How Heidi finds artists to work with.

ABOUT Heidi

Heidi Henderson (she/her) lives and makes work in RI, is a Professor at Connecticut College, and danced in NYC (in the companies of Bebe Miller, Nina Wiener, Peter Schmitz, Sondra Loring, Colleen Thomas, Paula Josa-Jones, etc.) Her pickup company, elephant JANE dance, performs mostly in New England. She has received, five times, the Fellowship in Choreography from the Rhode Island State Council for the Arts. She was a frequent contributing editor for Contact Quarterly. Her process is made slightly more clear in a gracious interview by Sara Smith for Kinebago, republished in Critical Correspondence  by Movement Research.  She is most grateful for the folks at Motion State Arts and United Skates for allowing her to dance in a roller rink.

photo: courtesy Heidi Henderson

Connect:

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

elephant JANE dance

Connecticut College

‘Elsewhere: Heidi Henderson in conversation with Kinebago’s Sara Smith’

Jacob’s Pillow

The Flynn Space

Bates Dance Festival

Pitzer College

M.F.A. in Dance, Smith College

Bebe Miller

Sam and Dave

Nina Weiner

Paula Josa-Jones

‘Heidi Henderson’s elephant JANE dance untitled sad piece: A Post Modern Dance Work’
Peter Schmitz

Roger Williams University

Growing Place: Interviews with Artists: 25 Years at the Bates Dance Festival

Contact Quarterly

Sondra Loring

Colleen Thomas Dance

Pamela Vail

David Dorfman Dance

Edward Rice

 

Podcast produced by: The Moving Architects
Interviewer: Erin Carlisle Norton

Jan 06
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MSP 182: Jamila Glass

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PODCAST 182: Jamila Glass

Release Date: 1.6.25

TO DOWNLOAD PODCAST OR LISTEN:

    • Apple: Subscribe, Listen, Rate Us HERE

    • Spotify: Follow and Listen HERE

    • Any Smartphone Podcast app: Subscribe and Listen

A World Immersed in Art with Dancer, Filmmaker, Choreographer, and Artistic Director Jamila Glass

Episode 182: Show Notes.

Jamila Glass is a filmmaker, choreographer, and Artistic Director of L.A. Contemporary Dance Company (LACDC), where she has been a member since its founding in 2005. She has choreographed for Netflix, HBO, Hulu, BET, and PRADA, with her work featured in the NY Times, L.A. Times, Essence, and Ebony. In 2024, she co-founded the Los Angeles Choreographers Institute and has directed 21 short dance films, a TV pilot, and music videos through her production company, The Cutting Room. A graduate of USC’s School of Cinema-Television, her work blends movement, storytelling, and world-building to reflect the human experience. On this episode of Movers and Shapers: A Dance Podcast, Erin sits down with Jamila Glass to discuss her love for dance, her time at a performing arts high school, and her journey through USC’s School of Cinema-Television. Jamila explores how dance and film began to intertwine in her life, unpacking her powerful statement: “I’m a better dancer because I’m a filmmaker, and I’m a better filmmaker because I’m a dancer.” She reflects on nearly five years as Artistic Director of the L.A. Contemporary Dance Company (LACDC) and shares her current projects and excitement for what’s ahead. Don’t miss this insightful conversation with an inspiring artist. Thanks for listening!

Key Points From This Episode:

  • Jamila shares the origin story of her love for dance.
  • She reflects on her time in a performing arts high school (in Houston).
  • What she wanted to get into after high school and her first entry into film: video editing.
  • Jamila takes us through her USC journey and her plan for after graduation.
  • How her two worlds of dance and film began to merge.
  • She explains how she started and her experience choreographing for film and television.
  • Jamila delves into and unpacks her quote, “I’m a better dancer because I’m a filmmaker, and I’m a better filmmaker because I’m a dancer.”
  • Why she finds it interesting that people grapple with the idea that they need to choose one thing and stick to it for the entirety of their careers.
  • Jamila details her role and insights gained as Artistic Director of the L.A. Contemporary Dance Company (LACDC)
  • What she’s creating now and the energy behind her upcoming projects.

ABOUT Jamila

Filmmaker and Choreographer Jamila Glass is known for creating cinematic journeys of movement, shaping characters, and building worlds that reflect what make us human. In addition to creating work as the Artistic Director of L.A. Contemporary Dance Company (where she joined in 2005 as a founding member), she has choreographed extensively in film and television. Glass’ choreography work includes projects on Netflix, HBO, Hulu, BET, and Prada, and garnered mentions in the New York Times, L.A. Times, Essence Magazine, Ebony Magazine, and Mashable. A cinema-television graduate from the University of Southern California (with an advertising minor), she has spent the last 10 years bridging the world of film and movement, directing and producing 20 dance films.

photo: Photo by Malachi Middleton

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Video Clip:

Special Links:

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

LA Contemporary Dance

LA Contemporary Dance on Spotify

Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts

University of Southern California

University of Southern California’s School of Cinema-Television

Tribeca Film Festival

USA Film Festival

Mark Woollen & Associates

The Cutting Room on YouTube

 

Podcast produced by: The Moving Architects
Interviewer: Erin Carlisle Norton

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