"Dancers dance because we have to, I don't know how else to explain it." - Austin Hartel, MSP 142

Today's guest is Austin Hartel. Austin is a former longtime member of Pilobolus Dance Theater, and has been connected with the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond for almost 20 years as teacher and founder/artistic director of the University's School of Dance.

As Artistic Director of Dalton-Hartel Dance and Hartel Dance Group, he toured nationally and internationally to critical acclaim. His choreography has been presented on five continents and at prestigious festivals, including in Italy at The Vignale Dance Festival, The Florence Dance Festival, and the Versiliana Festival. He was presented in Brazil at the 5th Festival de Danca de Mercosul and the VI International Seminar de Danca. New York performances were produced at numerous popular dance venues, including The Kaye Playhouse, DTW, St. Mark's Church, Clark Studio Theater at Lincoln Center, and more.

Austin's honors include the U.S. Department of State naming him as a Cultural Specialist touring throughout Central and South American for ten years, and a 2009 Fulbright Scholar's Grant. Austin started the Oklahoma International Dance Festival in 2019.

For more on this episode: Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast

For more on the dance company behind the podcast: The Moving Architects