5.6.7.EIGHT

This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Charlotte Landreau, Lead Dancer at the Martha Graham Dance Company. Originally from France, Charlotte trained as a rhythmic gymnast for a full decade before transitioning into dance. She is a graduate of the Béjart School in Switzerland and the Martha Graham School. Charlotte is currently with the Martha Graham Dance Company in New York, where she has been dancing for seven years. Now, as dance is on hiatus due to COVID-19, Charlotte is spending her time teaching and encouraging fellow artists online.

Landreau's pride in her dance company comes through early and often on the podcast — a dance company that is on the verge of celebrating its 95th birthday. On the podcast, Charlotte discusses the reasons why she's glad she landed at Martha Graham and how she navigated into her current role. She also shares some practical advice for dancers around preparing for rejection, surrounding yourself with positive role models, and getting (and keeping) women in positions of leadership.

Moving Quotes:

"I'm very proud of being in [the Martha Graham Dance Company] — one that allows us to be versatile, to grow as artists, and to keep working and be challenged every day."

"I am very fortunate to work for a company where every leading position is filled by a woman."

"[At dance school,] I did not know anything. It was so scary. And yet, so healthy. I just wanted to learn so much. It was an entire new world that I wanted to discover."

"In order to promote more women in the arts, we really have to recognize the women that are already in power and are doing such an amazing job."

"It is my responsibility to choose the mentor that I need. Depending on where I am in my career, my mentor will change."

"I arrived in America without any friends or family. It was very stressful. But that was a challenge that I really wanted to take on."

Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed:

2:47: Charlotte discusses her work with the Martha Graham Dance Company and the pride she feels in dancing with the oldest dance company in America.

5:40: Charlotte retells her journey as a dance and how early work in rhythmic gymnastics taught her a lot about mental toughness, priming her for a dance career.

12:02: Landreau describes her mindset and emotions in leaving home at a young age to travel across the world with a dance company.

13:49: Charlotte shares some important advice on being mentally prepared for rejection.

17:00: Landreau explores the significance of mentors and how mentors have personally impacted her life.

19:32: Landreau, a world traveler, shares some advice for dancers on preparing for long flights, time zone changes, and other factors.

23:53: Charlotte speculates on changes to dance post-pandemic and gives her thoughts on one way that dance should change to stay relevant.

26:28: Landreau discusses the importance of women in dance and gives some ideas on how women should promote successful women leaders.

28:08: Charlotte discusses what's next for her and explains her "go with the flow" attitude.

Bullet List of Resources –

Charlotte Landreau

• Personal Website
• Instagram
• LinkedIn

The Martha Graham Dance Company

• Company Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• YouTube

This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Mandy Yip, CEO and Founder of Acrobatic Arts, Inc. Yip's company runs training and certification courses for dance teachers in the art of AcroDance — a program that promotes flexibility, strength, balancing, limbering, and tumbling. Acrobatic Arts produces the most comprehensive, researched program available for AcroDance, which explains why the syllabus is followed in over 6,500 dance studios in over 30 different countries.

As a lifelong learner, Mandy has attended and achieved certification in countless courses, including contortion, hand balancing, inclusive learning, tap, jazz, gymnastics, and safe coaching, to name a few. And all of these courses have primed her to create her own dynamic training program. On the podcast, Mandy primarily discusses how learning is the key to success in any field — especially dance — and how individuals within the dance industry are particularly keen on being generous with their dance knowledge.

Moving Quotes:

"I think teachers would be surprised at how much others are willing to share and how generous the industry is with the information that we have. We tend to think of ourselves as a bunch of little islands, and we're really not. All it takes is a phone call to change that for yourself."

"What's so beautiful about the dance industry and about our industry is that we are so giving… I learned so much from mentors who were willing to let me come and sit."

"Mentorship opportunities aren't just in the phone book or on the Internet. You have to call people and ask, 'Would you be willing?'"

"Our society wants the results without the work. But I think that, as educators, we really need to stay focused on doing the work in order to get the results. That's in everything."

"If we had more women entrepreneurs in the world, we would see a whole rejuvenation of our communities."

"I'm just so passionate about making sure that every teacher on Earth has the tools necessary to give safe [acrobatics] instruction. Because it can be very dangerous if it's done incorrectly."

Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed:

3:43: Mandy describes Acrobatic Arts, including an overview of its instructional curriculum and how its program has evolved since the pandemic broke out.

9:09: As a trainer of dance educators, Mandy discusses what she believes are some of the most important parts of dance education.

11:53: Yip retells her story — how an early love of dance turned into two thriving self-owned businesses — and discusses the dance industry's beautiful willingness to teach each other.

17:11: Yip describes the joys and difficulties of entrepreneurship and shares some lessons about starting a business.

22:00: Mandy gives a rundown of the types of programs that Acrobatic Arts offers.

24:28: Mandy, who displays a remarkable business acumen, explains how she received her unconventional business training.

26:28: Yip discusses the importance of women entrepreneurs, particularly in the world of dance.

30:22: Yip shares one key to success for dance teachers, dancers, and general entrepreneurs.

32:31: Mandy explains her company's road forward, including a look at both short term and long term goals.

Bullet List of Resources –

Mandy Yip

• LinkedIn

Acrobatic Arts

• Company Website
• Facebook
• Instagram
• YouTube

This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Dr. Tina J. Wang, President at Tupelo Pointe Healing Arts. Dr. Wang spends her days as an Osteopathic physician but is not focused solely on simply treating ailments; she is focused on delivering the best care possible by meeting the functional, nutritional, and individual needs of the person seeking better health. Dr. Wang is also heavily involved in the American Medical Women's Association and the Performing Arts Medicine Association, where she is both a reviewer and a publisher of medical research articles.

Dr. Wang knows that the best care is only possible by taking care of the whole person — physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Through her time digging deep with patients, she has also learned not to put limits on people and knows that all people are capable of so much more than what they ever hoped or dreamed. On the podcast, Dr. Wang explores her philosophy on medicine, but also discusses the joys and pains entrepreneurship, the importance of learning, and how we all should set lofty goals because we truly can achieve them with the right mindset.

Moving Quotes:

"Anything is possible. Your life has a wide gambit of possibilities. Don't narrow yourself or pigeon-hole yourself based on everything you see around you."

"Ninety percent of knowledge is experiential. You don't learn it in a book. You don't learn it in a classroom. You learn it by doing. By being on stage. By practicing. Don't overestimate your own knowledge."

"The only way small businesses survive is by being ethical. By being honest. By allowing a business to reflect who we are. If we're not honest people that aren't dedicated to integrity, the business will reflect that and won't survive."

"As doctors, many times, we're pigeon-holed with what we're taught, and we don't look at the evidence that's widely available… But we have to move beyond what we're taught and question, so that we can improve."

"At the end of the day, as a female entrepreneur, we don't get to complain. We just have to find solutions. It's the same in business. You find solutions."

"That's part of the resiliency of being a dancer; you just have to find a way [to make aches feel better]. How are you going to make this feel better? How are you going to feel better? That's how my journey started."

"As one entrepreneur to another, you know that it is the biggest, wildest journey of your life."

Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed:

3:20: Dr. Wang discusses her practice — Tupelo Pointe Healing Arts — and the holistic approach it takes to treating dancers.

8:13: Dr. Wang explains how dancers can best know when something is wrong with their bodies and gives some advice on preventing injury.

11:27: Dr. Wang discusses the importance of dance teachers becoming educated on how to best support their dancers from a physiological perspective.

16:29: Dr. Wang shares some advice on finding and attaining a career in the dance industry, while not necessarily being directly on the stage.

20:37: Dr. Wang describes her involvement with the American Medical Women's Association — the oldest existing women in medicine foundation in the United States.

23:14: Dr. Wang explains her involvement with dance medicine journals and encourages listeners to read those articles and become educated on this high-quality research.

25:43: Dr. Wang describes the difficult and rewarding journey that is entrepreneurship and how building your own business directly impacts the lives of those who take that road.

28:38: Dr. Wang discusses the difficulties of being a female entrepreneur but explains the silver lining on this often-frustrating vocation.

32:59: Dr. Wang shares some aspirations for her own business and for dance medicine as a whole.

Bullet List of Resources –

Dr. Tina J. Wang

• LinkedIn

Tupelo Pointe Healing Arts

• Company Website
• Facebook

This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Jessica Chen, Artistic Director of the J CHEN PROJECT, a 501c3 nonprofit modern dance company based out of New York City that uses movement as a vehicle to heal wounds, share stories, and better understand our human existence. Chen is a seasoned dancer with a wide variety of dance and choreography credits. She has choreographed works for some of the biggest stages, including the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and the International Human Rights Arts Festival.

Jessica's story is an incredible one, and her journey to where she is today has not been an easy road. In the not-so-distant past, Chen was involved in a near-fatal car crash, resulting in eight straight hours of brain surgery and thirteen days in a medically induced coma. However, Jessica fought back to the stage, and her time without use of her limbs forced her to reevaluate her life's calling and priorities. On the podcast, Jessica retells this incredible story and discusses how she now uses lessons learned from this traumatic event to help others overcome hardships through the arts.

Moving Quotes:

"We're all experiencing this now. Taking a pause can be scary, but it also has so many insights when you just take the time to just breathe and think and meditate in a way that doesn't have any expectations. You're just being still."

"Learning without the expectation of it becoming something is important because you're using your creativity and your analytical skillsets."

"I want to be creative in how we see dance and how we structure artistic community. And I think it's the time to do that — the time to go outside your box, to do something different, and not be afraid to fail."

"The journey of my choreography and dance and movement life is to communicate to the world. To be in the world and to process all of the craziness that I personally experience or that I see in the world. And to put it into art so that we can digest it and process it before we can talk about it."

"Dance has always been my way to communicate in the world — my way to be in the world."

Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed:

3:38: Jessica discusses the J CHEN PROJECT, including the company's purpose and some recent expansion.

5:42: Jessica explores the different "legs" of her company pre-pandemic.

11:24: Chen walks through her creative process when designing pieces for extremely diverse audiences.

14:37: Chen, who was involved in a near-fatal car crash, walks through her incredible story of rehabilitation and having to rediscover her life purpose while lying in a hospital bed.

23:00: Jessica explains the different means by which she discovered her life's purpose and how learning is critical to success in any role or position.

26:19: Chen shares some wisdom on setting lofty goals then mapping out how to attain them.

28:59: Jessica looks into what's next for her in each of her life's callings, including having to pivot to adjust to the COVID-19 "new normal."

Bullet List of Resources –

Jessica Chen

• LinkedIn

J CHEN PROJECT

• Company Website
• Facebook
• Instagram
• YouTube
• Twitter

This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Kathleen Breen Combes, Executive Director of the Festival Ballet Providence. Prior to her current role, Kathleen was Principal Dancer at the Boston Ballet and was once hailed by the New York Times as a "ballerina of colossal scale and boldness." During her run as a dancer, Kathleen garnered several awards and accolades, including being featured on the cover of Dance Magazine. Kathleen also currently spends her time guest lecturing for Ted-Ed seminars and for top-tier universities.

More than anything, Kathleen Breen Combes wants people to know the value that dance brings to the world — a value that is so much more than what is displayed on stage. To Breen Combes, the lessons learned in dance training translate so well to our world today, and she has dedicated her life to instilling these truths into others' lives. On the podcast, Kathleen walks through her journey as a dancer, including lessons learned in her current run as Executive Director, and praises the art that has molded her life and the lives of millions around the world.

Moving Quotes:

"You can train to be a ballet dancer and not become a professional ballet dancer, yet still learn so much about life… Everything we learn in the studio translates to everything else in the world. A dance education is so much more than dance."

"Your imperfections are what make you more interesting… It's those people with quirks that really move you."

"It's really important for us to treat the women coming up in the dance field as collaborators. It's not just us yelling at them as teachers and coaches, but we're really on the same level, working together to create great art."

"Dancers today need to understand that there are so many different ways [to break into the dance industry]. No matter what way is yours, sometimes it will work out better for you in the long run."

"As young dancer, we try to emulate the stars… It's really important to remember that there's so much more to dance than that. It's how you move people."

"Our dance form has always been a reflection of what's going on in society. We want to honor our past but have to represent today's culture."

Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed:

3:01: Kathleen describes her role as Executive Director of Festival Ballet Providence and how the company is being forced to redefine itself in 2020.

6:57: Kathleen walks through her journey as a female into dance leadership and includes some advice on how to prime young female dancers to take these types of positions in the future.

10:04: Breen Combes discusses her participation in a TED-Ed conference and why ballet is so much more valuable than what is shown on the stage.

11:57: Kathleen, who has been the recipient of multiple career awards, shares her point of view on how these types of awards have played a role in her life.

13:25: Breen Combes, who frequently gives guest lectures at top-tier universities, gives a high-level view on the subject matter of her talks.

15:03: Breen Combes shares some advice for young dancers that are trying to break into the dance industry — advice that worked out well for her, personally.

18:53: Kathleen describes how she ensures that all of her staff at Festival Ballet Providence are aligned and moving towards the same direction and goals.

21:17: Kathleen discusses a couple of important and necessary changes that are happening inside of the dance industry that will greatly impact the art.

23:13: Breen Combes gives a couple of pointers that young dancers should keep in mind while training for a professional dance career.

24:49: Kathleen paints a picture of her future, both personally and professionally.

Bullet List of Resources –

Kathleen Breen Combes

• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• In Pointe magazine
• On Wikipedia

Festival Ballet Providence

• Company Website
• Instagram
• YouTube
• Twitter
• Facebook

This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Alicia Albright — a New York-based Broadway performing artist, choreographer, creator, educator, avid traveler, and meditation advocate. Albright's dance resume is extensive, having appeared on Broadway with productions of Disney's Frozen the Musical, Wicked, Jesus Chris Superstar, and various other notable titles. Albright loves the arts but is equally as passionate about yoga, meditation, and empowerment. She is currently the driving force behind LALUZ — a meditation app geared towards performance.

Even in the chaos, Alicia has remained unshaken in 2020 — remarkable, considering the impact to the arts world and, specifically, to Broadway. Alicia's anchor in this tumultuous year has been her ability to tap into her inner self — to remind herself that she is good and that she can share her inner-good with the world around her. And, now, Alicia is dedicated to teaching others to live out these same types of reminders. On the podcast, Alicia stresses the importance of reaching inside of yourself and staying grounded, especially when life is not easy.

Moving Quotes:

"Looking inside yourself is a practice, not a perfect."

"Looking into yourself is a remembering practice. Your heart light is always there; it just gets covered up by some stuff. So it's a process of remembering the you that's always there."

"The pandemic has been a doorway to learn about ourselves and learn that if we love ourselves first, then we can love others and show up for others and be a light in the world, through anything we do… I think this [pandemic] needed to happen for everyone, even though it's so hard."

"As artists, we can — in a beautiful way — become so focused on being an artist that we can let the rest of our life not focus on certain important things."

"Dance is what expresses what I can't say."

"I'm not perfect, but I do my best. And my heart is perfect."

"For any advice anyone gives, if it hits your heart, take it, play with it, and make it your own. Make it work for you. Then it has bigger impact than just doing it because someone told you to do it."

"Whenever I teach [meditation], I say that we are warriors of light. Once we tap into the light, it's our job to share that light with the world."

"[In the pandemic,] we've all faced our own shadow side. Slowing down and stopping, you may be confronted with things that you run away from through your busyness. It's a gift to look inside ourselves and show self-care."

"People say, 'Be kind at auditions because you never know what they're going to do.' No. Be kind at auditions because it's the right thing to do. For you. For them. For the highest good of people."

Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed:

4:46: Alicia — a Broadway performer — discusses her thoughts and feelings related to Broadway being closed through the calendar year and how to work through negative feelings.

10:26: Alicia explains how she believes the pandemic has helped humanity as a whole slow down and get right with their inner beings.

21:27: Albright shares the secret behind discerning your true purpose in life and discusses how consistent practice of meditation and yoga have helped her reach inside her inner self.

30:30: Albright shares some information about her meditation app geared towards performers and walks through a pre-audition meditation.

40:52: Alicia describes the joy of sharing this type of self-advice with the world and how remaining centered helps navigate the world's uncertainty.

Bullet List of Resources –

Alicia Albright

• On Playbill
• Instagram

LALUZ meditation app

• App Website
• Instagram
• Facebook

Rick Cowley + VysionQuest

• Company Website
• Instagram
• Facebook

This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Jolanta Oko — Founder and Director at Canada’s National Academy of Dance Education, which offers immense amounts of resources to empower dance educators. Jolanta boasts an impressive dance resume, having been a dance teacher for 22 years, a studio owner for 8 years, and a school teacher for 12 years. She holds a BFA and an MA in dance from York University and is a graduate of the National Ballet School’s Teacher Training Program in Canada. For her work with dance educators, Oko was nominated for the Hamilton Arts Innovator Award in both 2017 and 2018. 

Jolanta’s journey is the classic tale of being unable to shake a passion that’s inside of you. From a young age, Jolanta discovered the joy and therapy of being in dance yet decided to explore an alternate career path after experiencing some rejection. However, after feeling genuine sorrow at having to hang up what once provided her happiness, she has returned to the dance world, now enabling teachers to teach methods that work best and, in turn, encouraging students to pursue dance-related passions, even if they manifest in off-stage roles.

Moving Quotes:

“Teachers are always taking courses; the curriculum is always changing. I really loved that about teaching. The children are changing, the world is changing, and our teaching methods have to change."

“Why are the cognitive and physical abilities of different age groups important? They’re important so that you know what you’re teaching, why you’re teaching it, and how you’re going to teach it. You can’t teach the same thing the same way to a five-year-old as you can to a seven-year-old."

“If you can’t get the job you want, create the job you want."

“Never let the word ’no’ deter you. Use it as fuel for your drive. Be bigger. Be better."

“By allowing the student to examine, explore, and experiment, they’re more likely to retain the information that you’re teaching them… And not only retain and remember but be inspired by this new learning process."

“I love meeting people face-to-face. If you’re trying to make a change or send a message or inspire others, there’s no better way than to do it face-to-face."

“Growing up, the reason why I loved dance so much was because dance was my therapy."

Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed:

3:04: Jolanta discusses the events that drove her away from dance and, ultimately, left her with a sorrow that could only be aided by a return to dance.

7:06: Jolanta retells the turning point in her life where she discovered the need for an organization like hers and why this type of company is important for educators.

11:31: Oko explains how her company’s structure helps provide education to all teachers and how this structure was uniquely suited to handle a pandemic.

13:00: Oko deep dives on the types of education that her organization offers.

23:24: Jolanta gets vulnerable on her personal motivations behind becoming an entrepreneur and creating this company from scratch.

29:05: Oko explains how she hopes her organization will help curb negative perceptions of dance teachers.

32:20: Jolanta shares some encouraging advice for any students looking to pursue a career in dance.

Bullet List of Resources – 

Jolanta Oko

• LinkedIn

Canada’s National Academy of Dance Education

• Company Website
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Twitter
• Instagram
• YouTube

This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Mollie Sansone, an award-winning veteran dancer, teacher, and choreographer who is currently embarking on her seventeenth season dancing with the Nashville Ballet. Over these 17 seasons, Mollie has performed primarily under the direction of Paul Vasterling and has been featured in several notable roles such as Lizzie Borden, Lady Macbeth, and Juliet of Romeo and Juliet. While she's not on the stage, Mollie enjoys teaching and choreographing for various dance studios across Nashville.

Mollie's journey into dance success hasn't been an easy one, as she's constantly had to fight against the fact that her body doesn't fit the stereotypical ballet dancer mold. However, over the years, Mollie has learned to turn these perceived weaknesses into strengths. On the podcast, Sansone encourages fellow dancers — both young and old — to embrace the things that make you 'you' and leverage your unique attributes as ways to set yourself apart from the crowd.

Moving Quotes:

"There's only one 'you' in the entire universe. If you're not 'you,' the universe would suffer without that person. If you're trying to be something or someone that's not you, you're trying to offset the natural flow of life."

"You always have to work hard, no matter what. Even if you are blessed with a body that is very gifted and easy to work with, there's always something more you can do."

"What helps you sustain in this career is to constantly reinvent yourself. Because there are so many facets of the dance world... If you consider yourself a student of life or a student of the art form, you can persevere in it."

"I just love the research of a character — really digging into character development. How can I, as Mollie, make this role unique? What am I going to bring to that role?"

[On character-based roles] "To step into someone else's life is a very extraordinary experience to have. It gives you a sense of empathy towards other experiences in life."

"If you're auditioning, I would really advise to stay in connection with the director in a very productive way. Obviously, you don't want to hound them. But the more communication you have within the company you want to be with, the better."

"Wear something [to auditions] that you're most comfortable in and makes you stand out. Also, laugh and be comfortable, regardless of the nerves. We're human, and we sometimes make mistakes. That will show part of your personality and your character — how you handle setbacks."

Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed:

3:38: Mollie explains why she initially chose the Nashville Ballet and what has caused her to stay for seventeen seasons.

6:46: Mollie describes the feeling of dancing at the top of her career, with nothing more to prove.

8:54: Sansone, who has struggled with her "not ideal for ballet" body type, discusses how she's spent her life successfully turning this limitation into a strength.

10:53: Mollie reflects on some of her favorite roles and shares the joys of taking on character-based roles.

12:25: Sansone, as a veteran dancer, discusses the importance of networking and shares some key tips while auditioning.

15:16: Sansone explains how she's been somewhat organically preparing herself for the next stage of her career.

20:28: Mollie discusses her biggest career roadblock and reflects on the importance of continually reinventing yourself.

23:45: Mollie shares some expert tips on auditioning well.

26:06: Sansone explains the importance of embracing what makes you unique and turning even your perceived weaknesses into strengths.

27:52: Mollie, who has lived an extremely accomplished career, discusses what's next for her in the Nashville Ballet and beyond.

Bullet List of Resources –

Mollie Sansone

• On Nashville Ballet site
• Instagram

Nashville Ballet

• Company Website
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram
• YouTube

This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Larissa Saveliev — Founder and Artistic Director at the Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) — and Sergey Gordeev, who is the Founding Director of Communications and External Affairs at the Youth America Grand Prix. Larissa, who was trained at the Bolshoi Ballet, has received a mountain of accolades, including being named one of Dance Magazine's top 25 most influential people in dance. Sergey is an Emmy Award-winning broadcaster, actor, writer, jazz pianist, journalist, translator, and composer.

The Youth America Grand Prix has literally changed the dance industry since its founding in 1999 and has allowed young dancers from all areas of the globe to be celebrated for their talents, regardless of economic status. On the podcast, Larissa and Sergey dive deep into the fascinating (and funny) story of how the competition was born, discuss how coming up with "the big idea" is the easiest part of the process, and explain how life's real winners are the ones who are willing to put in the work to make their ideas a reality.

Moving Quotes:

"We didn't want to have a competition for the sake of competition. We wanted to have a competition with a purpose where the kids can receive something more than just a trophy."

"[YAGP] has created a different paradigm that dancers grow up in. The world is literally their oyster. They can go anywhere if they're good enough."

"The fact that Youth America Grand Prix is still here after 21 years shows that this is needed, this will go on. Whatever form this takes, this is here because people need it to be here."

"It's not enough to just have a good idea. It's the central ingredient — the necessary start — but it's not enough. You have to put in the work and be willing to literally go the distance to get there."

"Like any good idea, unless you can communicate the idea to other people in a way that they really can understand, it's just an idea."

"Success at any endeavor all depends on developing a great team."

"Even if you have nothing, if you have a good idea and the willingness to put the time, energy, and effort into the idea, it will for sure blossom. You just have to believe in it and keep working."

Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed:

4:05: Larissa and Sergey discuss the founding idea behind the Youth America Grand Prix and how they wanted to rethink the modern dance competition.

9:19: Sergey retells the funny story of how he and Larissa initially met and how the YAGP was born inside of a humble NYC café.

14:32: Larissa and Sergey explain how Youth America Grand Prix has grown and has literally changed the paradigm for young dancers.

19:20: Larissa and Sergey discuss the nature of ideas and how every idea — even the great ones — require hard work and grit to make a reality.

25:08: Larissa explains why she believes there is a discrepancy between males and females in dance leadership.

27:38: Larissa and Sergey share some ideas that could possibly help prepare and advance more women into dance leadership roles.

36:09: Sergey shares his vision for the future of YAGP, which includes using technology to reach an even broader audience.

Bullet List of Resources –

Larissa Saveliev

• On Wikipedia

Sergey Gordeev

• Personal Website
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Vimeo

Youth America Grand Prix

• Company Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Twitter
• YouTube

This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Miriam Barbosa, President and Artistic Director at Miriam Barbosa Dance. Miriam received Classical Ballet Training at the University of Fine Arts in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Barbosa is also an alumnus of the Martha Graham Dance Company and is a former Dance Professor with the University of South Carolina's Dance Program. In 2007, she founded Miriam Barbosa Dance, where she continues to practice her craft. Barbosa is also a Gyrokinesis and Gyrotonic Method Specialized Master Trainer, and her own life has been positively impacted by these unique exercise techniques.

On the podcast, Miriam discusses her many diverse passions — running a dance company, healing others through exercise, sharing her methods worldwide. But perhaps most notably, she discusses her passion for aerial dance and her introduction to that specific craft, and she does her best to describe the incredible experience of performing in the air.

Moving Quotes:

"When you create and put something on stage that is incredibly demanding physically, it has to look as effortless as possible. That way, the audience feels comfortable when they see it."

"When you look at a painting, it's a steady visual art. But when you put it into motion, it becomes something greater."

"There's more to all of us than what we think we have."

"Being creative, positive, and resilient are the most important qualities that I try to utilize in my life, in general."

"In my life, many times when things evolved, it was because of some kind of difficulty of the moment. It's important to maintain my resilience through it all."

"I never really just sat down and waited for things to get better. I was always doing something in order to get better."

Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed:

4:21: Miriam discusses the origins of Miriam Barbosa Dance and why she was initially drawn towards aerial dance.

7:56: Miriam explains how she first came in contact with aerial dance and the trick behind creating a pleasing experience for an audience.

11:17: Barbosa describes how your body feels as you're performing in midair.

13:47: Barbosa discusses her other passion — Gyrotonic — and how her life was personally impacted by this form of exercise.

22:04: Miriam speaks on the career opportunities for someone interested in Gyrotonic and the process by which one gets certified.

25:14: Miriam describes her experience dancing for the Martha Graham Dance Company back in the late 90s and how her run with the company came to a close.

29:58: Barbosa, who is no stranger to change, shares some wisdom on navigating life's evolutions and uncertainties with grace.

33:50: Miriam looks ahead and shares the next chapter in her journey.

Bullet List of Resources –

Miriam Barbosa

• LinkedIn

Miriam Barbosa Dance

• Company Website
• Facebook
• Instagram

Gyrotonic

• Company Website