This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Jeffrey Edwards, dance professor at The Juilliard School . During his run as a performer, Jeff was a leading dancer for the New York Ballet, the Zurich Ballet, and the Lyon Opera Ballet. Edwards, who holds a degree from Brown University, has taught for conservatories and professional ballet companies around the world and has taught ballet at Harvard, Cornell, Princeton, Yale, and Brown. Additionally, he’s been able to choreograph various works, inc...
Jul 20, 2021•34 min•Ep. 118
This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Roberto Campanella and Kelly Shaw of ProArteDanza . At the company, Roberto and Kelly serve as artistic director and dance artist, respectively. Roberto — a native of Rome, Italy — trained at some of Italy’s finest schools before having a successful career as a professional dancer. Roberto also has extensive experience working in film. Kelly, who is also a choreographer, is well respected around Toronto for her art and works as a Pilates, Barre, a...
Jul 13, 2021•48 min•Ep. 117
This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Benjamin Goodly, the host of The Count 9 Podcast and a senior process engineer at a Fortune 100 company based out of Cincinnati, Ohio. Prior to his current work, Goodly was a performer, boasting a diverse career. Benjamin’s move from the stage to the office was a smooth transition; however, he’s fully aware of the myths surrounding career transitions for dancers. And, now, he’s looking to debunk those myths via his podcast. For an artist, leaving t...
Jul 06, 2021•27 min•Ep. 116
This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Emmaly Wiederholt, Founder and Editor of Stance on Dance — an online publication that interviews dancers who are members of marginalized groups. Wiederholt, a veteran dancer, holds a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Southern California. She is also a published author, whose book features the stories of dancers over the age of fifty. She’s currently working on her second book that focuses on dancers with disabilities. Emmaly und...
Jun 29, 2021•32 min•Ep. 115
This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews TaKiyah Wallace, Founder and Executive Director at Brown Girls Do Ballet . In 2012, TaKiyah, who is a former gifted-education teacher, shifted her life’s mission to empowering women and girls through the arts. Her nonprofit organization — Brown Girls Do Ballet — began as a photo project after searching for diverse classical ballet programs in Dallas, Texas. This small project has now grown into a full-blown organization. She was the recipient of th...
Jun 22, 2021•43 min•Ep. 114
This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Val Syganevich, Producer and Owner at Freckled Sky — a nationally renowned multimedia creative agency. Val opened his first creative agency in Ukraine in 2002, and in 2010, his group did their first ever project with multimedia. In 2013, upon a move to the United States, he established his current agency, Freckled Sky. In 2015, they partnered with America’s Got Talent to produce a one-of-a-kind interactive water projection performance and advanced...
Jun 15, 2021•36 min•Ep. 113
This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Deanna Seay, ballet instructor at the School of the Richmond Ballet . Deanna was trained at the School of Richmond Ballet and the North Carolina School of the Arts. Upon graduation, Deanna joined the Miami City Ballet, where she enjoyed an incredible 21-year tenure and was promoted to Principal Dancer of the ballet in 1998. In 2010, Deanna began teaching full-time at the Cary Ballet Conservatory and, later, at the Boston Ballet School. Now, she has...
Jun 08, 2021•34 min•Ep. 112
This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Raymond Rodriguez, Abbott Academy Director at The Joffrey Ballet . Raymond, a New York City native, was trained at the American Ballet Theater on full scholarship and eventually led a high-profile career at the Cleveland Ballet. Upon retirement from the stage, Rodriguez moved into a dance education career with The Joffrey Ballet. In addition to his dance work, Raymond is a Screen Actors Guild member and has appeared in films and TV shows such as R...
Jun 01, 2021•36 min•Ep. 111
This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Dr. Sheyi Ojofeitimi — Interim Director of Therapy Services at Alvin Ailey American Dance Foundation , CEO and Owner of Synthesis Physical Therapy , and Co-Founder of the Dance Ready Project . Dr. Sheyi is working on her third decade of licensed physical therapy and, in addition to her many job roles, has provided backstage coverage for several Broadway shows. She has also researched and authored or co-authored 18 journal articles and has served as...
May 25, 2021•53 min•Ep. 110
This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Clara Superfine, a dancer with the Dutch National Ballet in Amsterdam. Clara, a North Carolina native, attended the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School and danced with the American Ballet Theater Studio Company for one year prior to joining the Dutch National Ballet. Clara is also an avid illustrator and showcases her work through the Superfine Collective, which merges design and ballet. Over t...
May 18, 2021•32 min•Ep. 109
This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Virginia Johnson — artistic director at Dance Theatre of Harlem . Prior to taking over as the artistic director, Virginia’s run with Dance Theater of Harlem spanned 28 long years. In fact, she was one of the founding members of the company in the late 60s. Upon retirement, she returned to university to pursue a degree in journalism — a step that led to the creation of Pointe Magazine , where she was the magazine’s first editor-in-chief from 2000 to...
May 11, 2021•36 min•Ep. 108
This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Julia Rhoads — founder, director, and producer at Lucky Plush Productions and lecturer and dance advisor at the University of Chicago. Julia is a seasoned dancer and artist, having danced and choreographed at a wide variety of companies. Her work has been featured in Dance Magazine and other prominent publications. Now, Julia leads her dance company — Lucky Plush Productions — which offers a unique blend of different arts disciplines and has toure...
May 04, 2021•32 min•Ep. 107
This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Janice Barringer, a veteran dancer, teacher and author of The Pointe Book — the world’s quintessential book on pointe training and pointe shoes. The Pointe Book has printed and sold many tens of thousands of copies since it was first written and just released its fourth edition. Janice is also currently a baller teacher and consultant, most notably with the Los Angeles-based company, Music Works. Janice knows that there is more to a ballet shoe tha...
Apr 27, 2021•39 min•Ep. 106
This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Alysia Johnson — a dancer at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, a co-founder of Black Dance Change Makers , an entrepreneur, a thought-leader, and so much more. A Dallas native, Alysia has been dancing at a competitive level since the age of twelve and ultimately enrolled at The Juilliard School, where she earned a BFA in Dance. While getting her degree, Alysia developed an affinity for community engagement and secured two grants to help create dance e...
Apr 20, 2021•40 min•Ep. 105
This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Susan McGreevy-Nichols, Executive Director at the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO). Prior to her current role, she taught part-time at Loyola Marymount University and was a national consultant on Arts Education. Also, as a three-decades-long teacher at Roger Williams Middle School in Providence, Rhode Island, Susan founded and developed that institution’s nationally renowned middle school dance program. On top of all of this, she is an ...
Apr 13, 2021•35 min•Ep. 104
This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Amy Giordano, Founder and Executive Director at The Gus Giordano Jazz Legacy Foundation and Executive Director at Gus Giordano Dance School. Growing up, Amy danced and trained in all styles, while assisting her parents – Gus and Peg Giordano — as they ran the school. However, after a car accident shattered her kneecap, she was forced away from the stage. Amy went on to pursue a Bachelor of Arts from Tulane University and, upon her mother’s passing...
Apr 06, 2021•31 min•Ep. 103
This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Damien Simon, a renowned musical composer, author, and guest lecturer who has written dozens of scores for multiple genres and sizes of groups around the world. Damien is a graduate of the Purchase Conservatory in New York and the University College of Dublin in Ireland. Damien guest lectures at dance conservatories, consulting his audiences on how to best collaborate when creating art. Damien consolidated these lectures into his published book — T...
Mar 30, 2021•28 min•Ep. 102
This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Elizabeth Yntema — the President and Founder of the Dance Data Project , which provides helpful resources and studies of the world of dance, all in an effort to inform gender equity and level the playing field. Elizabeth holds a law degree and serves on multiple nonprofit boards — arts-related and otherwise. Additionally, two years ago, she was one of 450 global participants selected to the final full year training cohort of The Philanthropy Works...
Mar 23, 2021•40 min•Ep. 101
This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Jimmy Locust — an artistic director, entrepreneur, dance educator, and philanthropist who has spent his career rubbing shoulders with some of the entertainment industry’s top stars, including Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Paula Abdul, Justin Bieber, and Joe Jonas, to name a few. Jimmy has also starred in a number of iconic music videos and films and helped choreograph the opening and closing ceremonies at the 1996 Olympic Games. He is currently t...
Mar 16, 2021•33 min•Ep. 100
This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Tony Duncan — who is also known as Yellow Bird Dancing. Tony is an award-winning Native American flute player and hoop dancer who has performed on some of the world’s biggest stages, including the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, The Tonight Show, and even The White House. As a hoop dancer, Duncan is among the best in the world, winning the title of “World Champion Hoop Dancer” five times. Duncan is also an award-winning flute player, who i...
Mar 09, 2021•39 min•Ep. 99
This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews both Frances Chiaverini and Robyn Doty, co-founders of Whistle While You Work — an organization dedicated to raising awareness around sexual harassment, discrimination, and workers’ rights in dance. Prior to COVID-19, Frances was a Fellow at the Center for Ballet and the Arts at New York University, where she and Robyn held “messy talks” to discuss working conditions and how to include consent and boundaries into these environments. The pair has cu...
Mar 02, 2021•34 min•Ep. 98
This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Azizi Marshall — the Founder and CEO of the Center for Creative Arts Therapy , an art-based psychotherapy practice and training center in Chicago. The center has launched such programs and companies as Psychology Arts, Arts Playschool, Artful Wellness, and the Therapeutic Performance Initiative model. She has been featured in Oprah Magazine, Thrive Global, CNN, NBC News, Bustle, Reader’s Digest, The Huffington Post, Chicago Tribune, and Glancer Ma...
Feb 23, 2021•29 min•Ep. 97
This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Dr. Linda Bluestein, M.D., Founder at both Hypermobility MD and the Bendy Bodies Podcast . As a former ballet performer and instructor, Dr. Bluestein has a special interest in treating flexibility since athletes and artists are at increased risk of hypermobility disorders. Dr. Bluestein’s unique approach to evaluation and treatment enables patients to have less pain and be more accurately diagnosed. On top of practicing medicine, Dr. Bluestein is a...
Feb 16, 2021•34 min•Ep. 96
This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Kevin Iega Jeff — Artistic Director, Executive Director and Cofounder at Chicago’s Deeply Rooted Dance Theater . Throughout his career, Jeff has collaborated on a wide range of professional and community-based projects, including Spike Lee’s She’s Gotta Have It ; The Academy Awards; and The Wiz on Broadway. Kevin has received countless accolades for his work, including being named one of Julliard School’s top 100 Outstanding Alumni. For Kevin, a d...
Feb 09, 2021•38 min•Ep. 95
This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Ingrid Silva, an internationally-recognized dancer and serial philanthropist who has founded two empowerment-centric organizations — EmpowHer New York and Blacks in Ballet . Born in Rio de Janeiro, Ingrid’s first exposure to ballet was actually at a social project in a nearby slum. Ingrid eventually found her way to New York City, where she’s currently dancing her seventh season for the Dance Theater of Harlem. Ingrid’s story has been featured in m...
Feb 02, 2021•39 min•Ep. 94
This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Ali Geraets of Just for Kix . You may remember Just for Kix from Episode 48 of the podcast, where Aleksandra interviewed the company’s founder and executive director, Cindy Clough. Just for Kix is a youth dance organization that offers dance classes, summer camps, and special events to tens of thousands of youths around the country. Ali Geraets — Cindy Clough’s daughter — has been a part of the organization for many years and has designed costumes...
Jan 26, 2021•34 min•Ep. 93
This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Kia Smith, founding Executive Artistic Director at the South Chicago Dance Theatre. Kia, a Chicago native, trained at various notable Chicago institutions such as Story Catchers Theatre, ETA Creative Arts Foundation, Hyde Park School of Dance, and the Joel Hall Dancers and Center. Her training launched her into national and international tours, including runs with the Lula Washington Dance Theatre and the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company. And, of ...
Jan 19, 2021•30 min•Ep. 92
This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Ryan Jolicoeur-Nye, Ballet Master at the Oklahoma City Ballet . Originally from central Maine, Ryan began his training at the age of 16. During his run as a professional dancer, he danced for ballet companies across the continent and with some of the most sought-after choreographers in the industry. Most recently, Jolicoeur-Nye left his position as Artistic Director of the NWA Ballet Theatre. Now, he and his wife both hold leadership roles at the ...
Jan 12, 2021•37 min•Ep. 91
This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Damani Pompey, an NYC-based lighting designer, movement artist, and choreographer. Additionally, Damani has been involved in a great deal of TV and film work, and his credits include notable festivals like Sundance. Pompey is also the architect of Magnus Works — a continuous archive of his own creative and choreographic projects, which ultimately seeks to investigate the many different languages of movement and expression, from generation to genera...
Jan 05, 2021•29 min•Ep. 90
This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Erica Hood, Chief Executive Officer at HoodFit , a fitness company that features Erica’s signature method in live and online classes and is all about promoting strong women. In fact, the company boasts a tagline encouraging women to Rep Your Womanhood . With a background in professional dance, Erica builds her effective workouts by focusing on energy, rhythm, and choreographed precision — all of which connects the body with the soul. Erica’s energ...
Dec 29, 2020•37 min•Ep. 89
