In this episode of Passion for Dance, host Dr. Chelsea interviews Julie Opiel, Director of Education and Community Engagement at Body Traffic, an LA-based contemporary dance company. They discuss overcoming career challenges, the importance of community engagement, and the benefits of experienced teachers working with beginners. Julie shares insights on Body Traffic's whole dancer approach, which nurtures dancers as artists and humans, and talks about finding a balance between rigor and compassion in our training.

Learn More About Body Traffic: https://www.bodytraffic.com/

Other Episode Resources: https://passionfordancepodcast.com/213

Episode Breakdown

00:09 Introducing Julie Opiel and Body Traffic

01:36 Julie's Dance Journey

02:50 Overcoming Career Challenges

07:41 The Importance of Teaching Beginners

11:40 Finding Passion and Motivation

16:04 The Power of Community in Dance

17:33 Measuring Growth in Dance

19:34 Empowering Dancers with Leadership Opportunities

21:14 The Whole Dancer Concept

24:36 Balancing Rigor and Compassion in Dance

30:09 Practical Curriculum for Whole Dancer Approach

35:54 Advice for Dance Educators

38:16 Conclusion and Resources