Inside the Dancer's Studio NCCAkron

In this episode, NCCAkron's Executive/Artistic Director, Christy Bolingbroke enters the 'studio' with Chicago IL-based dancemaker J'Sun Howard. Howard received the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events’ Esteemed Artist Award and was recognized as an Asian Cultural Council Fellow. His works have been showcased nationally and internationally and he has received commissions from Northwestern University, Columbia College Chicago, World Dance Alliance, and The Art Institute of Chicago.

In this episode, NCCAkron's Executive/Artistic Director, Christy Bolingbroke enters the 'studio' with New York City-based choreographer John Heginbotham. Originally from Anchorage, Alaska, Heginbotham graduated from The Juilliard School, was a member of Mark Morris Dance Group. In 2011, he founded Dance Heginbotham and has received a 2018 Guggenheim Fellowship and the 2014 Jacob’s Pillow Dance Award. Other awards include fellowships at New York City Center and at NYU’s Center for Ballet and the Arts.

In this episode, NCCAkron's Executive/Artistic Director, Christy Bolingbroke enters the 'studio' with Montréal, Québec and New York City-based Hélène Simoneau and Chicago IL-based dancer and collaborator, Connie Shiau. In addition to working with Simoneau, Shiau was recognized in Dance Magazine’s “25 To Watch” in 2018. Hélène Simoneau explores themes of intimacy, agency, identity, sexuality, and power in her work and has been commissioned by Oregon Ballet Theatre, The Juilliard School, and BalletX, among others. She was recently a Choreography Fellow at New York City Center and received a 2021 Guggenheim Fellowship.

In this episode, NCCAkron's Executive/Artistic Director, Christy Bolingbroke enters the 'studio' with New York City-based Visually Impaired choreographer, Christopher “Unpezverde” Núñez. Núñez has been awarded Fellowships by Princeton University, The Jerome Foundation, Dance/USA and Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art. His performances have been presented in New York by The Joyce Theater, The Brooklyn Museum, and The Kitchen, among others. While he received his American Citizenship in 2023, Núñez continues to be an advocate for the rights of undocumented disabled immigrants.

In this episode, NCCAkron's Executive/Artistic Director, Christy Bolingbroke enters the 'studio' with Tucson Arizona based flamenco movement artist Angelina Ramirez. Ramirez explores what it means to be a queer, latinx flamenca practicing in a traditional Roma/Gitano form of dance. As a teaching artist she is interested in the intersections of art and healing, focusing on work with elders of all abilities and integrated flamenco for neurodivergent participants. She has toured the world with renowned companies like Noche Flamenca and continues to produce events and festivals throughout Arizona.

In this episode, NCCAkron's Executive/Artistic Director, Christy Bolingbroke enters the 'studio' with Chicago Illinois-based, The Era Footwork Crew members Sterling “Steelo” Lofton and Brandon “Chief Manny” Calhoun. The Era Footwork Crew are pioneers of the battle dance known as Chicago footwork. They have performed from Japan to Peru, performing and choreographing alongside leading artists such as Chance the Rapper, DJ Rashad, DJ Spinn, and Theaster Gates. The Era's work has been in short documentaries by VICE, the Canadian Broadcast Company, and the Chicago Tribune.