Arts Interview with Nancy Kranzberg

Kirven Douthit-Boyd (Boston, MA) began his formal dance training at the Boston Arts Academy in 1999 and as a member of Boston Youth Moves under the artistic direction of Jeannette Neil and Jim Viera. Mr. Douthit-Boyd studied as a fellowship student at The Ailey School and on scholarship at the Boston Conservatory. He is a graduate of Hollins University where he earned an MFA in dance. ——— 

He began his professional career as a member of Ailey II from 2002–2004 and performed at Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival as a member of Battleworks Dance Company in 2003. In June 2004, Mr. Douthit-Boyd joined the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performing both nationally and internationally for 11 years. During his tenure with the company, he performed leading roles in works choreographed by Alvin Ailey, Judith Jamison, Robert Battle, Ron K. Brown, Geoffrey Holder, Jiri Kylian, David Parsons, Camille A. Brown, Ulysses Dove, Christopher Wheeldon, Hofesh Shecter, Twyla Tharp, Wayne McGregor and Ohad Naharin. He joined COCA-Center of Creative Arts in 2015 as Co-Artistic Director of Dance with his husband Antonio Douthit-Boyd. In 2016, Mr. Douthit-Boyd joined Ron K. Brown/Evidence, A Dance Company as a guest artist. ———

In 2010, Douthit-Boyd performed at the White House tribute to Judith Jamison hosted by then first lady Michelle Obama. He has also appeared as a guest artist in ballet and contemporary dance galas in Argentina, Mexico and Canada. He is the 2014 recipient of the "Black Theater Alliance Award" for his performance in Wayne McGregor's "Chroma," the 2015 recipient of the "Next Generation in Leadership Award" from the Freedom House in Boston, the 2016 recipient of the Boston Arts Academy's "Apollo Award" the 2021 recipient of the "Excellence in the Arts Award" from the Arts and Education Council in St. Louis, and the 2022 recipient of the Dance Teacher Magazine Award. ———

Douthit-Boyd has choreographed workshops for The Ailey School, The Juilliard School, Webster University, Boston Arts Academy, Boston Youth Moves and COCA. He has also choreographed works for Dallas Black Dance Theater and Ailey II. He is an ABT® Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 5 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum and has completed Lester Horton Pedagogy studies under Ana Marie Forsythe in New York and St. Louis. He has also served as Distinguished Performing Artist at Washington University in St. Louis, where he taught modern dance in the collaborative MFA program between the University and COCA. ———

Dr. Frances Levine has been appointed the Interim Executive Director for the St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum, the Museum. Dr. Levine will lead the Museum as it searches for a permanent Executive Director, to be selected in the coming months.  ------

"Although I retired a few short months ago, I could not pass up an opportunity to lead this incredible team and project," said Dr. Levine. "I was struck by the impact of the building, the excellence of the Museum exhibits, and the promise of the work we can do together in the St. Louis region and beyond."  -------   Dr. Frances Levine was the President and CEO of the Missouri Historical Society and Missouri History Museum from spring 2014 until summer 2022 when she retired. Dr. Levine led the successful reaccreditation of the Missouri Historical Society by the American Alliance of Museums in 2019, and the successful integration of the Soldiers Memorial Military Museum into the institutional organization of the MHS. Under her leadership, MHS received the first ever award for Diversity Equity and Inclusion awarded by the American Alliance of Museum in 2017. In 2019, she was named one of the most influential women in business by the St. Louis Business Journal and received a National Urban League Salute to Women Award in 2018. In 2021, she received the Norman A. Stack Award for Community Relations from the Jewish Community Relations Council in St. Louis.  ----- 

Carol Crouppen Schuchard has lived and worked as a studio artist in St. Louis for twenty five years – exhibiting work in galleries and museums in the U.S. and abroad. Her degrees include the University of Missouri, Columbia, and post graduate studies at Fontbonne College and Washington University. ———

Patrick Schuchard, in a vibrant, eclectic career for over forty years, is a painter, sculptor, portrait artist, muralist, architect, and designer.------

He has exhibited his paintings and sculpture in museums and galleries throughout the U.S. as well as Europe and Asia. His work also appears in major public, corporate and private collections throughout the U.S. and he is one of the most accomplished, sought after museum quality portrait artists working today. ———

He has designed and produced over a dozen large scale public projects and murals. He is a creator and consultant for light railsystems, community development, and artist housing as well as architectural projects throughout the U.S. and particulary enjoys work on restorations of historic properties. ———

Under the name of Boo Cat Projects, Carol and her artist husband Patrick Schuchard have restored, renovated and designed dozens of historic landmark buildings. The Schuchards' activities as painters and image makers center on the making, realization and uncovering peculiar beauty in the made object or built place. ———

A woman arrived in St. Louis in 1818. She was, in fact, a nun and a teacher. She came here to do good and to start up some schools, but she soon came across something that she felt needed to be addressed for the good of her female students. Just press play to hear the whole story. ———

Click on search links to see if there are episodes with related content: Katie Moon, Women's History, Education, Children, People of Note, Religion, ———

Podcast Transcript: I’m Katie Moon, Exhibits Manager at the Missouri Historical Society, and Here’s History on eighty-eight-one, K-D-H-X. ———

Most St. Louisans are familiar with the story of Sister Rose Philippine Duchesne, one of the first Catholic nuns to arrive in St. Louis in 1818 with the purpose of educating children in the area. She opened schools in St. Charles, Florissant, and the city of St. Louis before traveling to Kansas to work with Native Americans, her lifelong dream. Over 150 years later, she was canonized as a saint by Pope John Paul II. ———

As someone who dedicated her life to the church, it's easy to assume that Sister Duchesne spent her days in prayer and contemplation, unfazed and untouched by the frustrations of daily life. But that assumption would be wrong. In a letter from the Missouri Historical Society’s archives, Sister Duchesne writes to the Mayor of St. Louis, William Carr Lane, and expresses her horror at what her female students must deal with on a daily basis—walking by men and boys swimming in the creek near the school—a creek that also happened to be on Lane’s property. Public swimming was a whole different experience before swimsuits hit the scene, and she wasn’t having it. ———

She writes, “I have recourse to your authority for the redress of an abuse which I look upon as very much against the welfare of our establishment. You know, Sir, that our young ladies, day scholars, have to pass the creek that runs all around our house. The warm weather invites a number of men and boys to swimming in the creek, and every day our young ladies meet with that disagreeable sight, both coming [to] and leaving the house; and as I understand that some regulation of court forbids swimming in public places, I suppose that it is merely by some negligence of the sheriffs in discharge of their duty that it takes place. As you are Sir, the father of an amiable family I need not say how much that rudeness is against the delicacy of sentiments we strive to endow our young ladies with, and I am convinced that you will be so good as to use your power to remove that obstacle.” ———

Needless to say, Lane took care of the problem. ———

Here’s History is a joint production of K-D-H-X and the Missouri Historical Society. I’m Katie Moon, and this is eighty-eight-one, K-D-H-X, St. Louis.  ———

Teens have always needed a place to gather. There was one place in the 1980’s where they could go and meet and hear the music relevant to them. It was also a place where important connections were made between people of different racial backgrounds, and different musical genres. But there were forces against them. Just press play to hear the whole story. ———

Click on search links to see if there are episodes with related content: Andrew Wanko, Music, Pastimes and Leisure, Arts, Entertainment, and Culture, Politics and Government,-----

Podcast Transcript: I’m Andrew Wanko, Public Historian of the Missouri Historical Society, and Here’s History on 88-one, KDHX. ———

In the 1980s, punk rock and hip hop were simultaneously bringing new youthful voices to the landscape of American music.  While their respective music scenes rarely crossed paths, there was one local place that became a haven for St. Louis’s punk rockers and rap fans alike. Right next to North County’s unmissable Lewis and Clark Tower is a cavernous building that was once the Mark Twain Theatre. But through the 1980s, it was known to St. Louis teenagers as Animal House. ——— 

Animal House was opened in 1983 by Walter Lanham, who the club-going youth knew as “Uncle Walt.” One of a handful of under-21 night clubs anywhere in the region, the music at Animal House made it common ground for both Black and white St. Louis teenagers. Friday nights were set aside for punk and new wave music, while Saturdays were hip-hop nights. The club became one of the top local places to see nationally known hip hop stars - including LL Cool J, Whodini, and Eazy E - often with St. Louis dance groups as their opening acts. The crowd was always eclectic, and the excitement stretched into the early morning hours. ———

Animal House reminds us how music can connect, but its story also reminds us how music can become a flashpoint for divisions. By the late 1980s, Moline Acres aldermen and business owners moved to shut Animal House down. They claimed the club attracted supposed gang activity, while Lanham claimed the attempt was motivated by racism toward Black youth gathering around rap music. At one of the tense city council meetins, a defiant Lanham stated “The city and county say they need something for these kids to do, but they leave it to the other guy… well I’m the other guy.” ———

Local teens stood alongside Uncle Walt, speaking about the social importance that Animal House held in their lives. Exhausted by the constant defense, Lanham finally decided to close Animal House in 1989. Other clubs would appear, but for the 1980s St. Louisans who discovered like-minded friends and bonded over music, Animal House was a second home. ———

Here’s history is a joint production of the Missouri Historical Society and KDHX.  I’m Andrew Wanko and this is 88.1 KDHX St. Louis. ———

Larry Morris is the Director of Artists in Residency for the Kranzberg Arts Foundation. He is also the Vocalist/MC for St. Louis music legends, Illphonics. He stopped by to speak with Nancy about the program.

The Kranzberg Arts Foundation has long been a major patron of the arts in St. Louis and is committed to aligning their resources to aid in and advance the flourishing renaissance of the arts in the St. Louis area. Growth in the local arts community is now more vigorous than ever, however, the shortage of affordable artists' work and presentation spaces has been a clear obstacle in the path of our artists. In consideration of this problem and in support and recognition of St. Louis area artists, the Foundation  is redefining and expanding our short and long-term residency programs. ——— 

The Foundation hosts partnerships with over 150 arts organizations and presenters in the St. Louis region and provides an intersection of arts  venues and work environments that serve a full range of artistic processes.  ———

Most of their venues are located in the heart of the Grand Center Arts District in Midtown St. Louis and  are surrounded by some of  St. Louis' most distinguished cultural assets,  including the Fox Theater, St. Louis Symphony, Contemporary Arts Museum,  The Pulitzer Arts Foundation, Jazz St. Louis,  the home of Public Media and so much more. ———

Sarah Colby and Shevaré Perry, 2023 Visionary Award winners speak with Nancy about the awards and their lives. ------

The Saint Louis Visionary Awards is a 501(c)(3) organization that celebrates the numerous contributions and achievements of women who work in or support the arts in the greater St. Louis region. ------- 

The Saint Louis Visionary Awards is presented by an independent committee of women dedicated to promoting the arts in St. Louis. -------

From established working arts professionals and arts educators to emerging artists and community impact artists, each year's honorees are always truly "visionary". ------ 

Jessica Hentoff, Artistic Executive Director of Circus Harmony, stopped by to talk about the mission and works of the organization. ------

Circus Harmony is a non-profit social circus organization that uses circus arts to motivate social change. By inspiring individuals and connecting communities with our circus education and entertainment programs, we have a positive impact on the St. Louis area and beyond. ———

Our programs teach valuable life skills like perseverance, focus, and teamwork. Learning circus with others teaches trust, responsibility and cooperation. Perhaps the most important experience we give our participants is the opportunity to meet and interact with children from different socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds than their own. ———

We believe the path to peace is a path of cooperation and communication. Teaching children from different neighborhoods how to stand on each other's shoulders may seem like a strange way to take this path. But it's the technique we use! Circus Harmony promotes peace through pyramids, joy through juggling and harmony through handsprings. ———

About Jessica Hentoff: Jessica has been teaching and performing circus arts for over 40 years. Ms. Hentoff has been using circus arts to motivate social change since she founded the St. Louis Arches youth circus performance troupe in 1989. She created Circus Harmony in 2001 to expand youth circus opportunities for St. Louis youth. In 2009, Ms. Hentoff was named both St. Louis Arts Innovator of the Year and Outstanding Arts Educator of the Year. Ms. Hentoff is the only person to be a founding member of both the Big Apple Circus in NYC and Circus Flora in St. Louis. She serves as youth circus advisor to both the Circus Fans Association of America and the World Circus Federation. In 2014, she was honored to be the first person to receive the American Youth Circus Organization/American Circus Educators' Excellence in Circus Education Award. Jessica is the artistic/executive director of Circus Harmony where she uses her remarkable vision and use of circus arts to build character and community and to help children "defy gravity, soar with confidence and leap over social barriers."

Dawn Karlovsky, Founder and Director of Karlovsky and Company Dance and Yaseen Manuel and Marlin Zoutemn of New World Dance Theater speak with Nancy about their careers, as well as the collaborative dance presentation "Conversations" on March 24th and 25th of 2023.

Karlovsky & Company Dance was established as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization in 2012 by its Founder and Artistic Director, Dawn Karlovsky. Prior, the company operated as Dawn Karlovsky & Dancers from 2004-2012. Since the inception of the company, the work of Karlovsky & Company Dance has been commissioned internationally with tours to France and South Africa, and nationally presenting in New York City, Minneapolis and Duluth MN, Tulsa, and San Francisco-Bay Area. Karlovsky & Company Dance aspires to connect with audiences through the art of dance, and to provide an experience for the viewer that evokes personal reflection. ———

Through the company's investigative choreographic approach, Karlovsky & Company Dance reaches diverse audiences with opportunities to witness and experience dance in a distinctive, thought-provoking manner. This process-oriented, somatically-motivated approach generates dances that are visceral, poignant, and expressively stimulating. Karlovsky & Company Dance is committed to connecting with the community and offering educational outreach programs that helps to build more receptive and informed audiences. The works by Karlovsky & Company Dance bring depth and diversity to contemporary dance in St. Louis with an aim to make dance more accessible and to invigorate the artistic climate of our city. ———

The work of Karlovsky & Company Dance extends beyond the region with a long history of presenting site-specific community performances, concert work, and residencies nationwide and internationally. Karlovsky & Company Dance engages performing artists by promoting collaboration and facilitating employment opportunities for artists to cultivate and extend their own personal, artistic ambitions. ———

The company believes that the arts play an integral and vital role in our human existence and contributes to the cultivation of a healthy, evolving cultural future. Karlovsky & Company Dance is in residence at the Grandel Theatre in St. Louis, MO. ———

New World Dance Theatre is a Cape Town based contemporary dance company, with Celeste Botha and Marlin Zoutman at the helm of this exciting vibrant dance institution. Specializing in all facets of the entertainment and performing arts industry ------

The Rep is a live professional theatre company. Founded in 1966, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis is a fully professional theatrical operation belonging to the League of Resident Theatres, The League of St. Louis Theatres and is a constituent member of Theatre Communications Group, Inc., the national service organization for the not-for-profit professional theatre.-----

Danny Williams became The Rep's Managing Director in January 2022.  An experienced arts administrator, Danny has expertise in nonprofit accounting, senior management, and organizational development.  Prior to joining The Rep, Danny worked at The Public Theater in New York, where he served in various roles since 2006. Most recently, as Senior Director, Finance and Administration, he managed the daily and strategic financial operations of the $50 million nonprofit organization, successfully launched an organization-wide intranet, partnered with the development team to achieve fundraising goals, and collaborated on long-term financial planning and analysis, including cash investment strategies, budget analysis, and project management.  Noteworthy and favorite productions include Broadway productions of Fun Home, Eclipsed, Hamilton, and Hair along with Off-Broadway productions of Here Lies Love, Into the Woods, Twelfth Night, As You Like It, White Noise, and Rock Bottom. ------

As a performer, Danny was featured in the 2002 Westport Country Playhouse pre-Broadway production of Our Town starring Academy Award winner, Paul Newman. He also performed extensively as an improvisor at various venues in New York. Williams directed several NY Fringe Festival productions including Gated and Yellow Brick Wall, both written by Marisa Marquez.  For several years, Danny has been affiliated with the Warren Miller Performing Arts Center in Big Sky, Montana, bringing world class theater to the Treasure State.  Danny produced productions of Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale, directed by Laura Savia, the world premiere production of Levity by Stephanie DiMaggio, directed by Stella Powell-Jones, The Last Five Years directed by Jason McDowell-Green, and [title of show] directed by Danny Sharron. -----

Williams has held roles with Musical Theatre International and Manhattan Theatre Club and has served as an adjunct professor in the performing arts management master of fine arts program at Brooklyn College. He earned degrees in marketing and theater from Fairfield University and spent a semester abroad studying at Regents University in the United Kingdom.------