24 episodes

Your ticket to candid conversations featuring the dance world's most accomplished and groundbreaking artists. Join Dean and Director of Dance at The Juilliard School Alicia Graf Mack as she sits down with her closest colleagues and friends to discuss the creative process and living a purposeful life in dance.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Moving Moments Artful Narratives Media

    • Arts
    • 4.9 • 58 Ratings

Your ticket to candid conversations featuring the dance world's most accomplished and groundbreaking artists. Join Dean and Director of Dance at The Juilliard School Alicia Graf Mack as she sits down with her closest colleagues and friends to discuss the creative process and living a purposeful life in dance.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    BONUS — Save the date for a LIVE taping of Moving Moments!

    BONUS — Save the date for a LIVE taping of Moving Moments!

    Hey listeners, I'm here with some super exciting news—Moving Moments is hosting a LIVE taping of the podcast and you're invited! Mark your calendars now:
    When: Wednesday, April 17th at 7:30pm
    Where: Lincoln Center's David Rubenstein Atrium on West 62nd Street in NYC.
    And, best of all, it's FREE! No tickets are needed–just show up!
    For more info, check out Lincoln Center's event page here.
    I can't wait to see you there! 💜 Alicia
    Follow Moving Moments on Instagram.
    Follow Alicia on Instagram.
    You can find out more about Artful Narratives Media on Instagram or the web.
    The Moving Moments theme song was composed by Saul Guanipa for Videohelper.
    Moving Moments was co-created by Alicia Graf Mack, Jessica Handelman, and David Krauss.
    This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.
    Episode copyright © 2023 Artful Narratives Media.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    • 1 min
    BONUS — Introducing: Speaking Soundly featuring Alicia Graf Mack

    BONUS — Introducing: Speaking Soundly featuring Alicia Graf Mack

    Hey listeners! We're bringing you another podcast from Artful Narratives Media that we think you'll love: Speaking Soundly. This show is your ticket to backstage conversations with world-renowned musicians. Join Metropolitan Opera Principal Trumpet David Krauss for candid and compelling discussions with today's top performers as they speak about their creative process and lives as artists.
    About this episode: Despite multiple injuries, a pivot to seek out a degree from Columbia University, and a burgeoning corporate career, Alicia Graf Mack was always destined to be in the dance world. As the youngest and first woman of color to be the Dean and Director of Dance at the Juilliard School, Alicia aims to break the cookie-cutter mold by embracing dancers of different body types and skin tones.
    Be sure to check out more Speaking Soundly episodes wherever you get your podcasts!
    Speaking Soundly and Moving Moments are productions of Artful Narratives Media. You can find out more about Artful Narratives Media on Instagram or the web.
    The Speaking Soundly theme song is used by permission of Videohelper.
    Speaking Soundly was co-created by Jessica Handelman and David Krauss.
    This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.
    Episode copyright © 2023 Artful Narratives Media.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    • 31 min
    Ohad Naharin

    Ohad Naharin

    Israeli choreographer and dancer Ohad Naharin was the Artistic Director of the internationally celebrated Batsheva Dance Company for nearly three decades before assuming his current title of House Choreographer. During his tenure with Batsheva, he developed Gaga, the innovative movement language and pedagogy that has defined the company's training and characterizes Israeli contemporary dance. Ohad discusses his relationship to Maxim Waratt and creating music, describes what it was like to work with famed modern dancer and choreographer Martha Graham, and shares why he feels rehearsing in front of mirrors is not as helpful as many dancers think.
    Check out Batsheva Dance Company on Instagram or the web.
    Learn more about the Gaga movement language on Instagram and the web.
    Follow Moving Moments on Instagram.
    Follow Alicia on Instagram.
    You can find out more about Artful Narratives Media on Instagram or the web.
    The Moving Moments theme song was composed by Saul Guanipa for Videohelper.
    Moving Moments was co-created by Alicia Graf Mack, Jessica Handelman, and David Krauss.
    This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.
    Episode copyright © 2023 Artful Narratives Media.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    • 29 min
    Peter Boal

    Peter Boal

    Artistic Director of Pacific Northwest Ballet and Director of the company's affiliated school, Peter Boal was a Principal Dancer with New York City Ballet for over 20 years. Peter shares with Alicia the importance of moving to Fleetwood Mac in his childhood living room, how he lived a "double life" until classmates saw him perform in The Nutcracker, and what it was like to learn from famed dancer, choreographer, and director Jerome Robbins. He also discusses his arrival at PNB, how he has worked to broaden audience involvement and widen the company's approach to inclusivity. Peter discusses his new memoir and gives Alicia a valuable parenting tip.
    Check out Peter Boal on Instagram.
    To learn more about Peter, read his memoir Illusions of Camelot.
    Learn more about Pacific Northwest Ballet on Instagram and the web.
    Follow Moving Moments on Instagram.
    Follow Alicia on Instagram.
    You can find out more about Artful Narratives Media on Instagram or the web.
    The Moving Moments theme song was composed by Saul Guanipa for Videohelper.
    Moving Moments was co-created by Alicia Graf Mack, Jessica Handelman, and David Krauss.
    This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.
    Episode copyright © 2023 Artful Narratives Media.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    • 28 min
    Michaela Mabinty DePrince

    Michaela Mabinty DePrince

    Second soloist with the Boston Ballet Michaela Mabinty DePrince has a personal journey to the stage that is nothing short of inspiring. Michaela describes her astonishing childhood in her homeland of war-torn Sierra Leone and how dance helped quiet the chaos of her life and ultimately gave her freedom. Michaela describes the importance of authenticity, what it means to wear tights of her own skin tone, and how she questioned her identity outside the dance world after an injury.
    Check out Michaela Mabinty DePrince on Instagram or the web.
    To learn more about Michaela, read her memoir Taking Flight.
    Follow Moving Moments on Instagram.
    Follow Alicia on Instagram.
    You can find out more about Artful Narratives Media on Instagram or the web.
    The Moving Moments theme song was composed by Saul Guanipa for Videohelper.
    Moving Moments was co-created by Alicia Graf Mack, Jessica Handelman, and David Krauss.
    This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.
    Episode copyright © 2023 Artful Narratives Media.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    • 28 min
    Ronald K. Brown

    Ronald K. Brown

    Founder and Artistic Director of the Evidence Dance Company, Ronald K. Brown deftly fuses traditional African dances with modern dance styles. Despite having suffered from a debilitating stroke in 2021, he continues to choreograph and teach, inspiring generations of artists. Alicia recalls the pivotal role Ron played in her career as a professional performer with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and he shares his memories of dancing everywhere as a child. Ron discusses how he went from wanting to be a journalist and a performer to becoming a choreographer, and reveals his love for telling stories and social dance.
    Check out Ronald K. Brown and Evidence Dance Company on Instagram or the web.
    Follow Moving Moments on Instagram.
    Follow Alicia on Instagram.
    You can find out more about Artful Narratives Media on Instagram or the web.
    The Moving Moments theme song was composed by Saul Guanipa for Videohelper.
    Moving Moments was co-created by Alicia Graf Mack, Jessica Handelman, and David Krauss.
    This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.
    Episode copyright © 2023 Artful Narratives Media.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    • 21 min

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
58 Ratings

58 Ratings

DancerforGod ,

Excellent

Just as her career as a dancer, Alicia Graf moves in excellence. This podcast is great with great stories of life as a dancer and beyond. Thank you.

Adrrrienne ,

absolutely loving MM 👏

bravo!!! love this. every episode is so captivating.

ac9117 ,

Incredible conversations, not just for dance nerds!

This is such a phenomenal podcast, I look forward to each episode. First of all, the questions are on point—as in I often find myself saying “great question” out loud. They are a level beyond surface, and the research behind them combined with Alicia’s professional résumé I think really gets the guests to open up and enjoy the conversation in a magical way. It really makes the whole thing go.
Also their variety, including broad questions from a unique perspective, to well researched tidbits that the guest has probably never been asked before, to really touching anecdotes of how Alicia saw the guest perform once upon a time and how impactful their art was to her life in that moment- very special range of discourse.

The other thing that is special about this podcast is that it is approachable to an amateur fan like me, but gets into details of ballets or instructors that I’ve never heard of but I’m sure ring bells to people that are much deeper into the art. Not an easy balance! The convo stretches my knowledge while also surely being engaging for professionals. Even if you’ve never been to a performance, these artists share human stories that everyone should find engaging from the standpoint of persistence and achieving success.

Now, the guests: crazy good! We are so lucky to be a fly on the wall to hear these caliber of artists share their stories. The guests all really open up and I’d bet each one loved sitting for their talk. One of the things I love most as I’m learning about dance is how much of a grind it is and how much work artists put into making it look beautiful to an audience. Hearing how these elite dancers approach their presentation is eye opening. Also, even though they all have wildly successful careers, learning about their setbacks, periods of uncertainty, and persistence is valuable whether you’re a fan of dance or not. The depth that these conversations achieve while still being entertaining is such a joy.

Bottom line, A++ podcast. Do yourself a favor and consume every episode asap. Thanks so much to Alicia Graf Mack for this gift!!

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