In this episode of the Hard Corps Podcast, host Romy speaks with Elizabeth 'Liza' Yntema, founder of the Dance Data Project.

https://dancedataproject.com/

They discuss the economic implications of dance, particularly for women, and the importance of data in understanding the industry's dynamics.

Liza shares her journey from dancer to advocate, the challenges faced by dancers in securing fair contracts, and the role of AI in gathering and analysing data. The conversation also touches on the relevance of dance in society, the future of ballet, and advice for young dancers entering the profession.takeaways

• Dance is not just an art form; it's real work.
• Women make up a significant portion of the dance workforce but face economic challenges.
• Data is crucial for understanding and improving the dance industry.
• AI can enhance data collection and analysis in dance.
• The funding landscape for dance is changing, with less interest from major donors.
• Young dancers should advocate for themselves and seek information about their contracts.
• Unions play a complex role in the dance industry, sometimes protecting the wrong interests.
• The relevance of dance in society is being questioned as funding decreases.
• Collaboration and resource pooling can benefit smaller dance companies.
• Curiosity and a willingness to learn can lead to better opportunities in dance.