Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast The Moving Architects

When Decisions are Commitments with Rachel Damon
Joining us today is Rachel Damon, a choreographer, theatrical designer, performer, and co-founder and artistic director of Synapse Arts, a Chicago-based dance theater company. Rachel's self-made career is a testament to her multidisciplinary talents, blending onstage and backstage roles to create dynamic performance works through collaboration, improvisation, and teamwork. In this episode, Rachel shares her remarkable journey from lovable weirdo at musical theatre summer camp to internationally-renowned production stage manager and performer who lives her life by making decisions as commitments. Tuning in, you’ll discover how her dual passions for choreography and crafting have fueled her personal and professional growth, the power of educating performers to negotiate their value, ensuring that art is recognized as legitimate work, and why diversity is a cornerstone of Synapse Arts' identity. We also explore Rachel's love for theatre production, her innovative partnership with the Chicago Park District, and the unique site-specific performances born from this collaboration. Join us for an engaging conversation that covers all this and more!
Key Points From This Episode:
·       An overview of Rachel’s background and what sparked her interest in dance and theatre.
·       The immediacy that she loves about theatre production work and stage management.
·       How Links Hall in Chicago acted as a springboard for her career.
·       Insight into Synapse Arts, how it got started, and how it has evolved since.
·       Synapse’s partnership with the Chicago Park District’s Arts & Culture Unit (ACU).
·       Rachel’s site-specific and outdoor performances that punctuate everyday life.
·       The significance of her interdisciplinary work, including her “textile dances.”
·       Challenges she has encountered in her onstage and backstage career.
·       How Rachel empowers artists and advocates for art to be valued as work.
·       Ways that you can contribute to Synapse’s 20th Birthday Bash Campaign.
·       Why a diversity of identities and lived experiences is important in the arts.
“Being with the weird people who are risky, accepting, and idea-driven [is] where I feel safe and inspired.” — Rachel Damon
Rachel Damon is a Chicago-based theatrical designer, choreographer, and performer whose self-made career bridges onstage and backstage.
For more on this episode: Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast
For the latest, follow on Facebook & Instagram

The Deeper Meaning of Dance, Dance and Emerging Technology, and Navigating an Economy that Exploits Dancers with Sydney Skybetter
Creating a successful career as a dancer in a world where there are few opportunities to thrive is particularly challenging. However, today’s guest has created a fascinating career for himself in the world of academia, research, and even dancing robots! Sydney Skybetter joins us today to discuss his life as a dancer, dance educator, and entrepreneur. In this conversation, you’ll hear all about how Sydney was introduced to dance, the beauty in the chosen family he created at art school, and his incredible Conference for Research and Choreographic Interfaces (CRCI). After Sydney’s studies, he was forced to hustle his way through a variety of odd jobs to survive financially and he tells us all about the important lessons he has learned from every job he’s ever had. We also delve into why dance programs should consider the dangers of sending dancers out into a world and economy that isn’t built for them, the connection between dance and emerging technology, potential problems for dancers and AI, and much more. Tune in now!
Key Points From This Episode:
·       An overview of Sydney’s life and how he got into dance. 
·       The connection between dance history and emerging technology. 
·       A commentary about the body-type expectations for dancers.
·       Insight into Sydney’s dance training and the chosen family he created. 
·       All about the Conference for Research and Choreographic Interfaces (CRCI) he started. 
·       Comparisons between writing and performance. 
·       Some of his “weird jobs” and why he did them. 
·       The danger of pumping out dancers into an economy that will not make good use of them. 
·       How Sydney got into academia and what his experience at Brown University has been like.  
·       What he is most excited about right now and the research he is currently doing. 
·       How artists and dancers are being exploited, especially when it comes to technology. 
·       What Sydney is excited about for his career in the near future. 
“I came to realize that the academy was one of the few places where artists held longitudinal power.” — Sydney Skybetter
Sydney Skybetter is the first choreographer to receive tenure at Brown University, where he serves as the Deputy Dean of the College for the Curriculum and Co-Curriculum.
For more on this episode: Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast
For the latest follow MSP on Instagram & Facebook

Dance for a Violence-Free Future with Giada Matteini
Today's guest, Giada Matteini, embodies the belief that artists have the extraordinary ability to shape a world free from violence. As a performer, educator, choreographer, and cultural producer, Giada founded WADE (Wandering Avian Dance Experience), a women-led performing arts company that brings awareness to gender-based violence and offers healing through the transformative power of dance. In this episode of Movers & Shapers, Giada shares a panoramic view of her international dance career, brimming with hope and inspiration for those driven by their passion for art, movement, and self-expression. She speaks candidly about her personal experience with domestic violence and the profound role that dance played in her healing process; emphasizing how WADE emerged as a platform to raise awareness, initiate important conversations, empower survivors, and build a compassionate community of creative minds. You’ll gain insight into Giada's journey, her dedication to her craft, and her unwavering commitment to using art as a catalyst for social change. This episode is a testament to the boundless potential of dance and resilience, so be sure to tune in today!
Key Points From This Episode:
·       Giada’s love for movement and teaching and an overview of her dance career.
·       The story of how she first came to the United States (and what made her stay).
·       How she learned English from The Cure and honed her American slang with TV.
·       Her early days in New York and how she began to build a career for herself.
·       Insight into her passion for learning and her formal dance education.
·       The haven that dance provided for Giada when life was difficult.
·       How WADE was born and how it became so much more than a dance company.
·       The bird that inspired the name and the four foundational pillars in the logo.
·       Touching stories about some of the most poignant moments from Giada’s career.
·       Why Giada refers to ballet as “the greatest equalizer” and her somatic approach to it.
·       Insight into her plans to use dance as a tool to build a violence-free future for all.
“My life was hard; emotionally hard, physically hard, financially hard. Dance was – my haven.” — Giada Matteini


Giada Matteini is an Italian performer, educator, choreographer, and cultural producer based in New York City, who is the Founder and Director of WADE (Wandering Avian Dance Experience), a women-led multifaceted performing arts company working at the intersection with social justice and focused on supporting the voices and artistic expressions of women and historically underrepresented artists.
More on this episode: themovingarchitects.org
For the latest from Movers & Shapers: Facebook & Instagram
 

The Journey of Creating Dance for Video with Mimi Garrard
Video dance work has become increasingly popular as technology has advanced, but not many dancers and choreographers have made it their primary medium of work. Today’s guest, Mimi Garrard, is the exception, having spent most of her extensive career focusing on video dance. In this episode of Movers & Shapers, we hear all about Mimi’s life, what led her to dance, her training under Alwin Nikolais, why she chose video dance, and what she loves about it. We delve into how she combines video and live dancing before Mimi expands on how technology has changed her work, the lighting system her husband designed for her, and some of her biggest influences throughout her career and life. Mimi feels that intuition has always been a driving force for her, and today, she tells us how that has served her work. We even discuss how AI might impact her work and what’s next for Mimi Garrard Dance Theatre. This is a fascinating episode filled with unique perspectives carved from Mimi’s special journey, so be sure to tune in!
Key Points From This Episode:
·       An overview of Mimi’s life and what led her to dance. 
·       Her training and touring program with Alwin Nikolais and the pieces she did with him.
·       Mimi’s move to the country, her outdoor work, and how madness is a theme of her work. 
·       What informed her decision to combine video with live dance and how it has been received. 
·       Who has influenced her work most throughout her career. 
·       What Alwin Nikolais was like (according to our guest!)
·       How Mimi got hooked on video dance and how her work has evolved with technology. 
·       The lighting system her husband came up with for her dance videos. 
·       How Mimi’s intuition has served her throughout her career. 
·       The importance of learning and continuously working as a beginner. 
·       What’s next for Mimi and her curiosity about how AI will affect her work. 
·       Why she doesn’t attend screenings of her own work. 
 
“If I don’t know what to do, it’s my intuition that tells me what to try next.” — Mimi Garrard
Mimi Garrard is an award-winning choreographer for the stage and for video.
 
For more on this episode: Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast
Follow for the lastest on Facebook and Instagram

Finding Your Artistry Beyond Words with Stefanie Nelson
One of the beautiful things about dance is the ability to express yourself without words. You can just dance. Joining Erin on the podcast today is Stefanie Nelson, Founder and Director of Stefanie Nelson Dancegroup (SND), a contemporary dance company based in NYC. Stefanie also established Dance Italia, an international summer dance program in Lucca, Italy. Today, she shares what kickstarted her lifelong love of dance and the influence that Alice Teirstein had on her journey. She also offers insight into her college journey and what it takes to make it as an artist in New York City. Tuning in, you’ll learn how she transitioned from dancer to choreographer and how 9/11 ultimately led her to Italy. She details her time dancing and choreographing in Italy before returning to America and shares her vision for Dance Italia. To learn more about Stefanie’s career highlights, challenges, and the different projects and initiatives that keep her busy, be sure not to miss this episode of Movers & Shapers. Thanks for listening in!
Key Points From This Episode:
·       How quitting piano led Stefanie to a lifelong love of dance.
·       Alice Teirstein and what led her to become a dancer.
·       What it means to “make it work” as an artist in New York City.
·       How Stefanie eventually transitioned into creating her own work as a choreographer.
·       Running away to Italy after 9/11 and how it played out.
·       Highlights from her time dancing and choreographing in Italy. 
·       Details about the Dance Italia festival and the vision behind it. 
·       How the organization and planning for Dance Italia have changed over the years.
·       The different projects and initiatives that Stefanie is busy with. 
·       Insight into her upcoming work in 2025 and beyond.
·       Highlights, challenges, and other obstacles from Stefanie’s career journey. 
·       Her hopes, aspirations, and dreams for the future. 
“There’s something very beautiful about being able to express yourself without having to articulate words, ideas, thoughts, and sentences in a linear way.” — Stefanie Nelson
Stefanie Nelson is the Founder and Director of Stefanie Nelson Dancegroup (SND), a contemporary performance group based in NYC; DANCE ITALIA, an international summer dance festival in Lucca, Italy; and Motore 592, a bold, new, center for contemporary movement practices in Lucca, IT. 
For more on this episode: Movers & Shapers
Follow for the latest on Facebook and Instagram

Creating a Modern Dance Culture and Community with Kathy Dunn Hamrick
Establishing a modern dance company is no easy feat, but today’s guest managed to create a successful organization and build a wonderful modern dance community in Austin, Texas. Today on Movers & Shapers, we welcome Kathy Dunn Hamrick, the Artistic Director of Kathy Dunn Hamrick Dance, to discuss her work and how she helps dance grow in Austin. Kathy found a love for dance at a young age and quickly decided that she needed to dedicate her life to it. In this episode, you’ll hear all about Kathy’s life and career, her decision to teach, and how her desire to be ‘in charge’ led her to start her company. We discuss the difficulty of balancing a family and career, her gorgeous piece choreographed on platforms on a lake, and starting the Austin Dance Festival. We delve into Kathy’s recent cancer diagnosis and how her community has showed up for her, and Kathy opens up about next steps of sharing her knowledge with the next generation of dancers and choreographers. Finally, we walk through Kathy’s career highlights and struggles. To hear all this and more, press play now!
Key Points From This Episode:
·       We delve into the who behind Kathy Dunn Hamrick and learn about how she got into dance.
·       The wonderful mentors Kathy has had and how they shaped her career. 
·       Kathy tells us about her move to New York and why she decided to get her MFA. 
·       Transitioning into the role of dance teacher and founding namesake company; Kathy Dunn Hamrick Dance.  
·       How Kathy balances her family and business while keeping her career interesting for herself. 
·       The incredible dance piece that was choreographed by Kathy and performed on a lake.
·       The modern dance culture in Austin and why Kathy started her dance festival. 
·       How COVID affected Kathy’s business and festival. 
·       Kathy’s diagnosis with stage four cancer and what’s next for her and the organization. 
·       Why finances have always been Kathy’s biggest business struggle. 
·       The highlights of Kathy’s career and the wonderful dance community she’s built. 
“From a very young age I knew I wanted a family and I knew I wanted to dance and I’ve achieved both of those [things] so I’m living my best life honestly.” — Kathy Dunn Hamrick 
Kathy Dunn Hamrick is the Artistic Director of Kathy Dunn Hamrick Dance Company and the Founder and Executive Producer of Austin Dance Festival.
For more on this episode: Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast
Check us out on Instagram and Facebook for more!