About today’s guests: Nashville Ballet’s Artistic Director and CEO, Nick Mullikin oversees all administrative staff, artistic productions, and School of Nashville Ballet programs, serving over 40,000 Middle Tennesseans and 1800 students. He has commissioned over 20 new works for the organization, choreographed several works for Nashville Ballet and NB2, and is highly sought after for teaching and judging international dance competitions. Prior to joining Nashville Ballet, Mullikin has worked wit...
Jul 19, 2023•29 min•Season 3Ep. 8
Nicole Ahima, affectionately known as Nicole la Bailarina, is a popular Salsa dance instructor in Nashville, helping organize the entire local Salsa Scene. Many in the area know her for her great instruction in the art of Salsa, for her women’s dance team, Music City Mambo, for her song-spinning and social planning skills. In this episode, Nicole talks about making shifts inside and outside of her main movement practice to deepen and inform her work. Her journey in dance began in childhood but i...
Jun 13, 2023•37 min•Season 3Ep. 7
Jackie Zarcone is originally from Nashville, Tennessee and grew up dancing at Franklin School of Performing under the direction of Kaylee Cahoon. She expanded her training in college, graduating from the University of Alabama with a BA in Dance and a minor in Biology. She completed an intensive workshop in the Progressive Ballet Technique (PBT) Junior, Senior & Advanced programs conducted and produced by Marie Walton-Mahon. Jackie is an ABT® Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed ...
Dec 27, 2022•29 min•Season 3Ep. 6
Amy Weber is the founder of THE pow{h}er METHOD and releve one foundation - a non-profit dedicated to helping ensure every woman has access to a safe place to begin and/or continue the journey of becoming healthy in a setting that believes in renewing the mind, body and spirit through movement, encouragement and prayer. THE pow{h}er METHOD online memberships help to fund the purpose of releve one foundation, which allows everyone to play a part in the healing journey of many women in need. Class...
Dec 15, 2022•33 min•Season 3Ep. 5
Megan Ciccoline White has been a movement educator for over 20 years. She specializes in teaching Classical Pilates, Restorative practices, and dance education. She lives in Columbia TN, with her husband and three kids, where she owns and teaches at Movement Lab. In her story, you'll hear about learning to listen to one's inner voice, observing and reflecting on every experience, and courageously creating opportunity. Learn more about Megan's work: https://movementlabtn.com/ Visit www.emceemovem...
Oct 17, 2022•28 min•Season 3Ep. 4
Founder and Executive Director of MOVE Inclusive Dance, Lauren Morris, shares about starting her organization with the mission to empower individuals of all ability levels to learn life skills through dance using the power of movement and music to transform students’ lives while providing a nurturing, inviting community for all. She has successfully grown her organization from a small summer camp with 13 students to a substantial year-round program serving individuals across the US. She has garn...
Oct 13, 2022•32 min•Season 3Ep. 3
Christi's decades of experience in arts management began from her own career as a performing artist in musical theatre across the country. She played all the parts from within; performing, choreographing directing, and producing before moving directly into management. A Nashville native, Christi has witnessed the growth of the industry from performing with Nashville Children's Theatre to rising through roles at Tennessee Performing Arts Center and Westport Country Playhouse. She now consults thr...
Mar 14, 2022•34 min•Season 3Ep. 2
Nashvillian Cortney Henry shares about her experiences in Music City's Swing Dance community. Upon moving to Nashville six years ago, she started dancing, taking classes, and volunteering with Swing Dance Nashville which includes planning Music City Exchange - a weekend of non-stop dancing. Cortney also started Jukebox Mondays at Bold Patriot Brewing Co. in Nashville. Cortney shares about the personal transformation and connections that take place in the partnership, improvisation, and spontanei...
Mar 01, 2022•31 min•Season 3Ep. 1
A graduate of Florida State University, Michelle Mercedes worked with Urban Bush Women and Dance Lab New York prior to being cast as Clarice in the 2020 West Side Story revival on Broadway. She appeared in New York productions of I Married an Angel and Samson et Dalila , and regional productions of The Wiz , Mary Poppins , Crazy for You , and Footloose . In addition to her performance career, she is an entrepreneur and MBA candidate at the University of Florida. She also worked in the fitness in...
Jul 09, 2021•28 min•Season 2Ep. 8
Melissa reflects on her experiences working in summer dance programs - including Boston Ballet, Miami City Ballet, & San Francisco Ballet - and how those programs opened up other opportunities. You'll be amused, recognize yourself at times, and inspired to think strategically about how you approach summer dance programs. Need more support? Check out En Pointe Parenting & Rock Summer Dance Programs to get started. Learn more and work with Melissa to plan your career in dance: https://www....
Jul 07, 2021•51 min•Season 2Ep. 6
Melissa reflects upon her first summer dance programs as a dancer and as an RA with Boston Conservatory (now part of Berklee College), Central Pennsylvania Youth, and Boston Ballet - lessons, losses, and living memories. You'll be amused, recognize yourself at times, and inspired to think strategically about how you approach summer dance program opportunities. Need more support? Check out En Pointe Parenting & Rock Summer Dance Programs to get started. Learn more and work with Melissa to pla...
Jun 17, 2021•33 min•Season 2Ep. 6
I met Maia Claire Garrison through our work at The Joyce Theater in the Dance Education Program. She is the Owner & Creative Director of Reel. Dance. Music. With a musician father and dancer mother, the arts were embedded in her upbringing. Maia Claire started in childhood as a competitive gymnast, at age 10 she was discovered by The Big Apple Circus. For two years she studied circus arts and joined The Back Street Flyers’ circus act, performing and touring as a child acrobat. She joined her...
Jun 17, 2021•25 min•Season 2Ep. 5
Becca Hoback joined me in advance of her program, Enactor, premiering at OZ Arts Nashville on June 24th with three solo dances that explore the relationship between the body, womanhood, and a rapidly changing society. She is a founding member of contemporary dance collective New Dialect, and featured in the company as a performer, outreach workshop team leader, community and company class teacher, and choreographic assistant to artistic director Banning Bouldin. She received an Individual Artist...
May 19, 2021•27 min•Season 2Ep. 4
Ashley Brown teaches dance and technical theatre at Brooklyn Prospect High School and is the K-12 Dance Coordinator for Prospect Schools Network. She collaborates with Shining Light as a teaching artist jail/prison facilities and as a way to process and bring awareness to those experiences, she performed at TEDxColumbiaUniversity2019. She's also served as Stage Manager for Off Broadway productions and as former director of BT Dance, a faith based dance company. She currently performs with The Dy...
Apr 22, 2021•33 min•Season 2Ep. 2
I briefly worked for Catherine Gallant several years ago assisting with event planning and grant writing on a freelance basis. She is a performer, choreographer and teacher - approaching 25 years with PS 89 in Manhattan. Catherine and her students appeared in the documentary PS DANCE. She served on the writing committee for the NYCDOE’s Blueprint for the Arts in DANCE and is on the faculty of the Dance Education Laboratory (DEL). She is a graduate of the Boston Conservatory and holds an MFA in D...
Apr 08, 2021•32 min•Season 2Ep. 3
Mollie Sansone, a dancer with Nashville Ballet since 2004, shares her 17 year history learning one ballet in the repertoire. As the company prepares to debut a digital reimagining of Artistic Director Paul Vasterling’s work, Seasons , Mollie reflects on how the work has transformed, what it’s like being back in the studio with her colleagues, and shares a glimpse of her process bringing her role in the Winter section to life. Mollie’s dance training began in North Carolina, and she continued to ...
Mar 29, 2021•19 min•Season 2Ep. 1
Christopher Rutt will be retiring this year from twenty years as the Dance Coordinator for New Trier High School in Illinois where he leads the Menz Dance program. He completed undergraduate studies in literature at Cleveland State University and graduate studies in dance at California State University-Long Beach. Chris shares about his start in dance, his love for movement, and anchoring his work in respect for every body in every kind of movement. He reflects on building a legacy through dance...
Mar 12, 2021•29 min•Season 1Ep. 20
Stefan Zubal, a dance educator and performing artist, joins Be En Pointe to share his expertise in crafting experiences for personal fulfillment. Stefan danced professionally with Richmond Ballet and Fort Wayne Ballet, completed undergraduate studies in Theatre at Purdue University Fort Wayne and his MFA in dance at Florida State University - where, you guessed it, we met. Stefan has worked as a choreographer, educator, and director for various organizations and acts a judge for Starquest Intern...
Jan 07, 2021•28 min•Season 1Ep. 15
Kathryn Avery Myers is a dancer, fitness trainer, and model based in New York City. As a former captain of the Brooklynettes Dance Team, she believes in the power of fitness to make you feel, operate, and love better. She is an Instructor with Obe Fitness which means you can take class with her from anywhere in the world. Kathryn shares her journey about overcoming self-doubt, establishing a powerful mindset - especially when it comes to auditions, and staying true to your values even when you’r...
Dec 15, 2020•29 min•Season 1Ep. 18
Mr. Pedro, as his dancers call him, holds space near to my heart as he became Artistic Director of Southwest Virginia Ballet, my former dance studio. A native of Venezuela, he performed with Ballet Nacional of Caracas, New York Dance Theatre, and with Richmond Ballet. He coached, taught, and choreographed for the School of Richmond Ballet, Chesterfield Ballet School, and Wheelchair Miss Richmond. For 14 years he worked with the Minds in Motion program in Richmond, Charlottesville, Martinsville, ...
Dec 02, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 17
For twenty years, Anni Luneau has focused her passion for the performing arts in non-profit management through planned and individual giving, with an emphasis on strategic planning. Her background includes working for institutions such as New York City Ballet, the 92nd Street Y, The Joyce Theater, PEN America, and now as CEO of her own consulting firm assisting small non-profits and philanthropists in making sound donor decisions. She is also an adjunct professor at Baruch College. Additionally,...
Oct 18, 2020•30 min•Season 1Ep. 17
Neme Alperstein, a recently retired gifted education teacher of 28 years with the New York City Department of Education and partner teacher in The Joyce Theater’s K-12 dance education program, shares her depth of co-curricular teaching and learning experience and her joyful tenacity in advancing educational standards. Her thirst for knowledge is ongoing as she is a doctoral student in Teaching and Learning with a specialization in Math, Science and Technology at Hofstra University. Additionally,...
Oct 04, 2020•25 min•Season 1Ep. 15
Dr. Yoav Kaddar shares his perspective on finding your path in dance. He stresses the importance of valuing the fullness of a dance education - it offers way more than just technique class. His experience in dance began with folk dance which defined his role in shaping community whether as the current director of the WVU Dance Program , founding its Summer Dance Academy, or as president of the WV Dance Education Organization. He received his BFA in dance from The Juilliard School, his MFA in dan...
Sep 29, 2020•30 min•Season 1Ep. 14
Be En Pointe host Melissa shares from her personal experience working for various organizational structures and how establishing value for herself translated to clarity in professional choices, improved compensation and working conditions. Ultimately, maintaining one's own value serves the value of the performing arts industry. If you haven't checked out Americans for the Arts' report on Arts & Economic prosperity, take a look now to see how arts and culture institutions generate revenue and...
Sep 19, 2020•32 min•Season 1Ep. 13
She’s the kind of dancer that will stop you in your tracks with her intensity, magnetic presence, and technical ease. Sheree Harper is a freelance performer, choreographer, teaching artist, and proud member of Actors’ Equity Association. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Dance from the University of Alabama and a Master’s Degree in Dance from Florida State University. She has studied under artists such as Dwight Rhoden, Desmond Richardson, Suzanne Farrell, Gerri Houlihan, Cornelius Carter, and J...
Aug 31, 2020•32 min•Season 1Ep. 12
Melissa shares her experiences moving through various performance and administrative roles. Promotions have purposeful meaning when they support your goals and values. Taking time to observe what the value system in place and at play in an organization will indicate where or how you’ll find success (or not).
Aug 16, 2020•48 min•Season 1Ep. 11
Barry Blumenfeld honors the joy and delight of moving with a dedication to creating spaces for students to express themselves. In this episode, he shares about integrity in dancemaking, defining one’s own path, and boldly embracing challenge. He has been a dance educator in a wide range of environments from pre-schools, studios, public and private K-12 schools to universities, including American University, Gallaudet University and New York University. Barry is currently on the faculty of Friend...
Aug 13, 2020•31 min•Season 1Ep. 10
While not a dancer, Megan is no stranger to high performance environments and pressures. She was a D1 track and field athlete at Penn State from 2004-2008. Through the personal experience of an eating disorder along with a passion and education in positive body image and eating disorder awareness in athletics, Megan co-founded The F.L.Y. Movement which provides educational workshops to cultivate safe spaces for athletic teams to discuss body image, self-talk, social media & how that relates ...
Jul 23, 2020•33 min•Season 1Ep. 9
What does it look like to establish safety and trust in a movement environment? Dancer, choreographer, and educator Rachel Rugh shares her process and experience with a perspective towards accessing agency, maintaining partnerships, and investing in one's creative practice. Learn more about Rachel: http://rachelrughdance.org/about-ba Questions about dance education and training? Visit https://www.emceemovement.com/.
Jul 15, 2020•31 min•Season 1Ep. 8
Bill Wade, founder and artistic director of Cleveland-based Inlet Dance Theatre, joins Be En Pointe. I first encountered Bill’s work through a mutual friend and have had the pleasure of seeing him at work in the studio with his company and seeing the premiere of his work in collaboration with author Kobi Yamada’s “What do you do with an idea?”a few years ago. Bill received the 2012 Cleveland Arts Prize and an award for Outstanding Contributions to the Advancement of the Dance Art Form from OhioD...
Jun 14, 2020•33 min•Season 1Ep. 7
