Founded in 1987, California-based AXIS Dance Company has long been at the forefront of redefining dance and disability. Through world-class productions that challenge perceptions, AXIS quickly established itself as one of the first contemporary dance companies to integrate disabled and non-disabled dancers. AXIS has since toured extensively, performing in over 100 cities across the US, Europe, the UAE, and Russia, while also earning nine prestigious Isadora Duncan Dance Awards.

Current Artistic Director, Nadia Adame, began her international career as a disabled artist with AXIS in 2001 and has now returned to lead the company. An actress, writer, award-winning dancer, and choreographer, Nadia trained in flamenco and ballet at the Royal Conservatory of Dance and Drama in Madrid, Spain, before earning her BA in Theatre at the University of Colorado. Nadia was a company member with CandoCo, AXIS, and Compañía Y in Spain, further solidifying her reputation as a champion for inclusivity in dance.

Kickstarting a brand new season and month of Dance Politics, this episode explore the mission and vision of Nadia and the pioneering work of AXIS, uncovering the potential of the dance world to embrace diversity and inclusion more fully. Join us as we foreground dance in the background!

• Nadia Adame
• AXIS Dance Company
• Candoco Dance Company
• Origins of AXIS

Soundtracks:

1. Birds - Tyler Twombly
2. Poison Ivy Yard Work - Uncle Milk
3. Harmony - Serge Pavkin
4. Upbeat Emotive - u_968xy4i23x
   
   

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One of the most persistent misconceptions surrounding classical ballet is the notion that they are too old-fashioned and rigid. However, true arts enthusiasts recognize its inherent diversity and multi-disciplinarity even in the so-called "olden days." A prime example is the Ballet Russes, one of the greatest ballet troupes of all time, led by the legendary impresario Sergei Pavlovich Diaghilev. Fast forward a hundred years, and the landscape has evolved, yet the core principles of collaboration and innovation remain unchanged. My curiosity about the craft of producing and curation has led me to one of the most influential ballet impresarios in Europe today: Paul Seaquist.

Paul is a visionary in dance, having founded Seaquist Dance Marketing, one of the first dancer and choreographer management companies globally. He has played a pivotal role in developing and directing the careers of some of the most celebrated ballet stars, including Aurélie Dupont, Vladimir Malakhov, Polina Semionova, Carlos Acosta, Daniil Simkin, and Iana Salenko, to name just a few. More recently, he created and directed the “Grand Prix Vladimir Malakhov,” the first ballet competition in Cuba's history, as well as the “Gala de Estrellas de Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic,” both charity-driven dance competitions. Now, he is the CEO of SwanSea Productions

Continuing a brand new season and month of Dance Interdisciplinarity, this episode explore the nuances of working with the world's biggest stars and the challenges of being at the forefront of modern day performing arts. Ready to discover the producer within you? Join us as we foreground dance in the background!

• Paul Seaquist
• Interview En Lair
• Interview Ballet Rising
• SP Records & Music Management

Soundtracks:

1. Birds - Tyler Twombly
2. Poison Ivy Yard Work - Uncle Milk
3. Ballerina Shoes - Geoffharvey
4. Free Love Story Clavinet - Lobo_Loco
   
   

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The memory of my first-ever invert on a pole — when I hung upside down—remains vivid as if it happened yesterday. That experience with the circus arts community in Malaysia opened my eyes to a vast and captivating genre that thrives on its interdisciplinarity. So, when the opportunity arose to delve into this season's exploration of interdisciplinarity, I was fortunate enough to discover CircusTalk, an international online platform previously led by Canadian Casting Director and Career Coach, Stacy Clark.

Stacy Clark is a seasoned professional in the circus and performing arts industry, and she’s no stranger to the stage herself. Before making a name in the circus world, Stacy worked in marketing and communications. Eventually, she left that behind to perform and teach circus arts across the globe, on stage, at festivals, and even on screen. Her career trajectory then led her to become a talent scout and eventually the Director of Casting at the renowned Cirque du Soleil. In 2021, Stacy joined CircusTalk as CEO, determined to help a small but ambitious team transform the platform into a global hub for the circus arts community.

Kickstarting a brand new season and month of Dance Interdisciplinarity, this episode explores the intricate world of circus arts, challenges of managing an all-encompassing online platform and the essence of interdisciplinary arts. Ready to discover the circus within you? Join us as we foreground dance in the background!

• Stacy Clark
• CircusTalk/StageLync
• Jamargig

Soundtracks:

1. Birds - Tyler Twombly
2. Poison Ivy Yard Work - Uncle Milk
3. Chaos in the Mouse Kingdom - SergeQuadrado
4. The circus marched down bourbon street - Melodyayresgriffiths

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Positioned as a pre-seed collaborative social enterprise, DanceGRiST was established with the noble objective of elevating the income and status of dancers, multi-skilled artists, and other professionals in the movement arts sector. Led by the visionary Carole Edrich, a former tango dancer and bodybuilder turned project manager and writer, DanceGRiST has cultivated an international team and forged fruitful commercial collaborations all while challenging the prevailing misconception that dancers possess limited value beyond the stage.

Carole's portfolio career spans roles as an arts programmer, activist, and communicator, demonstrating a relentless commitment to advocating for artists' rights and advancing the cultural sector. Simultaneously, she has also provided thought leadership and consultancy in risk management to financial, insurance, public and NGO organisations, won prizes for her journalistic photography, and become a sole dance consultant to the American Express’s Bon Vivant Magazine.

Continuing a brand new season and month of Dance Business, this episode delves into the inner workings of cultural accelerators, running a pre-seed business, and Carole's vision for the future of arts entrepreneurship. Ready to discover the accelerator within you? Join us as we foreground dance in the background!

• Carole Edrich
• DanceGRIST
• Carole's substack
• What is a business accelerator?
• The Joy of Dance
• What is cultural entrepreneurship?

Soundtracks:

1. Birds - Tyler Twombly
2. Poison Ivy Yard Work - Uncle Milk
3. Ethereal Vistas - Denys Brodovskyi
4. Titanium - AlisiaBeats

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• Join the Facebook group and introduce yourself as a member of our community

Shifting from performer to entrepreneur requires not just passion but also a high tolerance for risk and uncertainty. Without a strong appetite for the unpredictable journey ahead, many dancers shy away from the entrepreneurial path. Yet, those who do take the leap often become the industry's trailblazers, using their vision and tenacity to spark meaningful change.

One such trailblazer is Danny Hindmarsh, an Australian dancer turned business innovator who is already making a global impact. As the CEO and co-founder of Industry Auditions, Danny has developed an online platform that addresses a critical gap in the performing arts: talent sourcing and recruitment. His cutting-edge mobile app offers performers a centralized hub to find auditions that perfectly match their skills and interests.

Kickstarting a brand new season and month of Dance Business, this episode explores the lessons of building a tech business, navigating career transitions, and leveraging industry knowledge to enhance the performing arts. Ready to discover the businessperson within you? Join us as we foreground dance in the background!

• Danny Hindmarsh
• Industry Auditions
• Hindmarsh Productions
• How to acquire industry knowledge

Soundtracks:

1. Birds - Tyler Twombly
2. Poison Ivy Yard Work - Uncle Milk
3. Tokyo Cafe - TVARI
4. Spring Inspiring Ambient - Makesoundmusic

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Dance education is often likened to a Chinese proverb: 'A minute of work seen on stage takes 10 years of work off stage.' And while talent plays a role, education stands as the primary pillar shaping a dancer's journey. In our exploration of dance education during our first season, we delved into academia and the art of learning. Now, we take a closer look at the business of education, focusing on the creation of teaching resources essential for dance educators in the form of Dance Ed Tips.

Enter Olivia Mode-Cater, the visionary behind DET, founded in 2017 to empower dancers and dance teachers across the nation with a rich array of teaching resources and learning materials. With a solid background as a seasoned dance educator and entrepreneur, Olivia is a sought-after presenter, sharing her expertise on both national and international platforms. Her journey as Director of Dance Education at Hofstra University established the institution's dance education program among the Top 30 in the United States, recognized for its high-quality teacher preparation training.

Continuing a brand new season and month of Dance Education, this episode explores Olivia's trailblazing journey while unveiling the secrets behind her innovative transformation in dance education. Ready to discover the educator within you? Join us as we foreground dance in the background!

• Dance Ed Tips
• Olivia Mode-Cater
• Mosston's Spectrum
• Dance Studio Pro
• Hosftra University

Soundtracks:

1. Birds - Tyler Twombly
2. Poison Ivy Yard Work - Uncle Milk
3. Morning garden acoustic chill - Olexy
4. Waterfall - Roman Senyk Music

Send us a text

Support the show

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• Visit AXIS
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A personal story told many times over on this podcast is my journey into dance which commenced gradually through the popular reality TV series, So You Think You Can Dance. While the show's drama took center stage for many, what captivated me was the dancers' adaptability across various styles and techniques. It revealed that each dance style was rooted in fundamental technique, a pivotal aspect for any dancer unlocking their physicality.

One recent development in the vast history of dance techniques is Countertechnique, a mischievously named yet transformative approach developed by Anouk van Dijk. With over 25 years of experience as a dancer, choreographer, and teacher, she gradually transformed her insights and dancer dialogues into a comprehensive teaching method. Countertechnique challenges the traditional notion of technique as rigid and prescriptive. It's a dynamic system that encompasses diverse skills to deepen self-awareness, expand physical possibilities, and inform creative choices.

Kickstarting a brand new season and month of Dance Education, this episode explores the intricate process of developing a dance technique, the mindset required, and what the future holds for techniques shaped across time. Ready to discover the pedagogue within you? Join us as we foreground dance in the background!

• Anouk van Dijk
• Countertechnique
• Developing a contemporary dance technique
• Copyright a dance?

Soundtracks:

1. Birds - Tyler Twombly
2. Poison Ivy Yard Work - Uncle Milk
3. Background Fashionable Deep House - Ivymusic
4. Chill Fashion House - Stock_music

Send us a text

Support the show

Like our offers?

• Visit AXIS
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Like what we do? Help us grow by

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• Email me at backgrounddancer.jy@gmail.com
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• Join the Facebook group and introduce yourself as a member of our community

When Boston Dynamics, an engineering and robotics design company went viral for successfully creating the now famous Atlas dancing robots video, it caught more than a few people in the world of dance by storm. Would our jobs be threatened by robots too now? Enter the fascinating world of Choreorobotics, a field that explores the convergence of dance choreography and robotics technology.

At the forefront of this interdisciplinary domain is Dr. Kate Sicchio, a choreographer, media artist, performer and Assistant Professor in Dance and Media Technology at Virginia Commonwealth University, whose groundbreaking work has garnered international acclaim. Dr. Sicchio's pioneering research delves into the creative possibilities of integrating technology into dance performance, pushing the boundaries of what is possible when humans and machines collaborate on stage. Sicchio's contributions to the field of dance and technology have earned her recognition as a leading figure in the emerging field of "digital dance" or "dance and technology.''

Continuing a brand new season and month of Dance Technology, this episode investigates Choreorobotics, dancers’ attitudes towards technology and what the future holds for aspiring tech enthusiasts in the world of arts and culture. Ready to discover the roboticist within you? Join us as we foreground dance in the background!

• Kate Sicchio
• Virginia Commonwealth University
• Origins of Choreorobotics
• Atlas dancing robots
• Dancing with Robots
• Inverse magazine

Soundtracks:

1. Birds - Tyler Twombly
2. Poison Ivy Yard Work - Uncle Milk
3. Whipped-cream - WatR
4. Ambient Technology - Mapa Music
   
   

Send us a text

Support the show

Like our offers?

• Visit AXIS
• Try Nord VPN

Like what we do? Help us grow by

• Visiting The Background Dancer
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• Rate and review here
• Email me at backgrounddancer.jy@gmail.com
• Answer a survey
• Sign up here to receive future updates
• Leave a thought on Facebook and Instagram
• Join the Facebook group and introduce yourself as a member of our community