Two-time Bessie Award winner Hope Boykin is a performer, choreographer, educator, and the Director of a company that bears her name. An original member of Complexions, Hope spent many years as a dancer with Philadanco, and the world-renowned Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater where she and Alicia became dear friends. To kick off the conversation Alicia reflects on the first time she saw Hope dance and suggests that our guest was born a "mover." Hope reminisces about her love of action movies, how this led her to becoming a gymnast (and losing teeth!), and her ultimate love for dance, as well as what it meant to grow up in a house of educators. Alicia learns how Debbie Allen, Dwight Rhoden, Joan Myers Brown, Judith Jamison, and other dance greats influenced Hope's path. She shares how her career as a choreographer started to take shape, and how a series of connections (that didn't make sense at the time) prepared Hope for her life today.

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The Moving Moments theme song was composed by Saul Guanipa for Videohelper.

Moving Moments was co-created by Alicia Graf Mack, Jessica Handelman, and David Krauss.

This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

Episode copyright © 2024 Artful Narratives Media.

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Eduardo Vilaro is a Cuban-American dancer, choreographer, educator, and the Artistic Director & CEO of Ballet Hispánico. To kick off the conversation, Eduardo tells Alicia why he fell in love with dance at a young age and reflects on the moment when he felt like he belonged thanks to an 8th grade teacher and a performance of "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown." The Artistic Director recalls auditioning for Ballet Hispánico, what he wore to his first class (it grabbed attention!), and how the company's founder Tina Ramirez influenced his life. To close it out Eduardo discusses how he built his entrepreneurial skills, what it means to be part of a company rooted in his own culture, and his ultimate return to Ballet Hispánico as a leader.

We need your help to amplify artistic voices. Please consider supporting Moving Moments by making a tax-deductible donation here.

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Photograph of Eduardo Vilaro by Rachel Neville.

The Moving Moments theme song was composed by Saul Guanipa for Videohelper.

Moving Moments was co-created by Alicia Graf Mack, Jessica Handelman, and David Krauss.

This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

Episode copyright © 2024 Artful Narratives Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Steven Melendez's path to the stage is extraordinary. Alicia and the Artistic Director of New York Theatre Ballet discuss the Emmy-nominated documentary LIFT based on Steven's incredible life journey while experiencing homelessness and why he was "saved" by dance. Steven goes on to reflect on his early adulthood leaving the South Bronx to perform in South America and Europe and how it colored his perspective of the dance world, what brought him back to the states, and his ultimate return to NYTB. To close it out Steven discusses the importance of representation, why he loves a good spreadsheet, his biggest fear and ambitions, what he sees as the key to the future of classical dance, and how he keeps a balanced life. 

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You can learn more about Steven's documentary LIFT here.

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We need your help to amplify artistic voices. Please consider supporting this show by making a tax-deductible donation here.

You can find out more about Artful Narratives Media on Instagram or the web.

Photograph of Steven Melendez by Rachel Neville.

The Moving Moments theme song was composed by Saul Guanipa for Videohelper.

Moving Moments was co-created by Alicia Graf Mack, Jessica Handelman, and David Krauss.

This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

Episode copyright © 2024 Artful Narratives Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Artistic Director of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, former Principal Dancer with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and dance educator Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell embodies grace and grit. She sits down with Alicia to reflect on her early years as a natural mover and describes how she improvised (!!) her audition for the Baltimore School for the Arts. Talking about the many teachers who supported her dreams and prepared her for The Ailey School at age 16 and a life on stage, Linda-Denise goes on to share why she left Juilliard after a year to join Hubbard Street Dance Chicago as a dancer and then moved to AAADT. To close it out Alicia settles an urban-legend around Linda-Denise's return to dance after the birth of her first child.

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For more about Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, visit them on Instagram, Facebook, X, YouTube, or the web.

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Photograph of Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell by Michelle Reid.

The Moving Moments theme song was composed by Saul Guanipa for Videohelper.

Moving Moments was co-created by Alicia Graf Mack, Jessica Handelman, and David Krauss.

This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

Episode copyright © 2024 Artful Narratives Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

President of The Juilliard School, Artistic Director of the Vail Dance Festival, and retired Principal Dancer with New York City Ballet Damian Woetzel is a visionary and arts advocate bringing together today's most creative voices and unlikely pairings in dance and music. In this special episode of Moving Moments, recorded live at Lincoln Center, Damian discusses his early beginnings at age 7 as Fritz in The Nutcracker with the Boston Ballet, how he knew he was destined for a life on stage by age 11, and when he realized his dance career was real. Alicia and Damian reflect on their experiences with famed dancer and choreographer Arthur Mitchell, the sense of purpose they get from being artists, and the thrill of being on stage. To close it out Damian recounts how his work at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard, Aspen Institute, and the Jerome Robbins Foundation led to his current role at Juilliard and his vision for the institution.

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For more information about The Juilliard School, visit them on the web and on Instagram.

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The Moving Moments theme song was composed by Saul Guanipa for Videohelper.

Moving Moments was co-created by Alicia Graf Mack, Jessica Handelman, and David Krauss.

This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

Episode copyright © 2024 Artful Narratives Media

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Principal Dancer with American Ballet Theatre Calvin Royal III is the third African American to hold this role in the company's 85-year history. Immersed in music from a young age, Calvin recalls how a tv commercial for a local production of The Chocolate Nutcracker introduced him to dance and how years later he deftly pivoted a last minute change in performance at the Youth America Grand Prix, which earned him a scholarship at ABT's Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School and altered the trajectory of his life. Alicia asks about Calvin's watershed moment, his newest work UNITE at The Joyce Theater, and his hopes for his legacy.

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For tickets to see UNITE August 13th through the 18th, visit The Joyce Theater.

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Photograph of Calvin Royal III by Karolina Kuras.

The Moving Moments theme song was composed by Saul Guanipa for Videohelper.

Moving Moments was co-created by Alicia Graf Mack, Jessica Handelman, and David Krauss.

This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

Episode copyright © 2024 Artful Narratives Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're back with more inspiring conversations featuring American Ballet Theatre Principal Dancer Calvin Royal III, Artistic Director of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell, Artistic Director and CEO of Ballet Hispánico Eduardo Vilaro, Artistic Director of the Limón Dance Company Dante Puleio, and many more!

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Photograph of Calvin Royal III by Karolina Kuras, Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell by Michelle Reid, Eduardo Vilaro by Rachel Neville, and Dante Puleio by Kelly Puleio.

The Moving Moments theme song was composed by Saul Guanipa for Videohelper.

Moving Moments was co-created by Alicia Graf Mack, Jessica Handelman, and David Krauss.

This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

Episode copyright © 2024 Artful Narratives Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hey listeners, I'm here with some super exciting news—Moving Moments is hosting a LIVE taping of the podcast and you're invited! Mark your calendars now:

When: Wednesday, April 17th at 7:30pm

Where: Lincoln Center's David Rubenstein Atrium on West 62nd Street in NYC.

And, best of all, it's FREE! No tickets are needed–just show up!

For more info, check out Lincoln Center's event page here.

I can't wait to see you there! 💜 Alicia

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You can find out more about Artful Narratives Media on Instagram or the web.

The Moving Moments theme song was composed by Saul Guanipa for Videohelper.

Moving Moments was co-created by Alicia Graf Mack, Jessica Handelman, and David Krauss.

This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

Episode copyright © 2023 Artful Narratives Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hey listeners! We're bringing you another podcast from Artful Narratives Media that we think you'll love: Speaking Soundly. This show is your ticket to backstage conversations with world-renowned musicians. Join Metropolitan Opera Principal Trumpet David Krauss for candid and compelling discussions with today's top performers as they speak about their creative process and lives as artists.

About this episode: Despite multiple injuries, a pivot to seek out a degree from Columbia University, and a burgeoning corporate career, Alicia Graf Mack was always destined to be in the dance world. As the youngest and first woman of color to be the Dean and Director of Dance at the Juilliard School, Alicia aims to break the cookie-cutter mold by embracing dancers of different body types and skin tones.

Be sure to check out more Speaking Soundly episodes wherever you get your podcasts!

Speaking Soundly and Moving Moments are productions of Artful Narratives Media. You can find out more about Artful Narratives Media on Instagram or the web.

The Speaking Soundly theme song is used by permission of Videohelper.

Speaking Soundly was co-created by Jessica Handelman and David Krauss.

This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

Episode copyright © 2023 Artful Narratives Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Israeli choreographer and dancer Ohad Naharin was the Artistic Director of the internationally celebrated Batsheva Dance Company for nearly three decades before assuming his current title of House Choreographer. During his tenure with Batsheva, he developed Gaga, the innovative movement language and pedagogy that has defined the company's training and characterizes Israeli contemporary dance. Ohad discusses his relationship to Maxim Waratt and creating music, describes what it was like to work with famed modern dancer and choreographer Martha Graham, and shares why he feels rehearsing in front of mirrors is not as helpful as many dancers think.

Check out Batsheva Dance Company on Instagram or the web.

Learn more about the Gaga movement language on Instagram and the web.

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You can find out more about Artful Narratives Media on Instagram or the web.

The Moving Moments theme song was composed by Saul Guanipa for Videohelper.

Moving Moments was co-created by Alicia Graf Mack, Jessica Handelman, and David Krauss.

This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

Episode copyright © 2023 Artful Narratives Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.