Welcome to another episode of Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast! You’re in for a very exciting treat as we venture into interviewing dance professionals from across the USA. Today we are talking with four dance figures from Pittsburgh, PA about their careers and the dance culture in their city. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about our incredible guests, Shana Simmons, Peter Kope, Alan Obuzor, and Brittany Nettles’ careers, how they have navigated the dance scene in Pittsburgh, what resources have helped them, and so much more! We delve into how dance fits into Pittsburgh’s culture before discussing the competition and collaborative spirit in the city. We go on to talk about the incredible changes they have seen over the years in the Pittsburgh dance world and what they’d love to see happen in the future. Finally, they share beautiful moments that made them so passionate about working as dance professionals in Pittsburgh and why they love it so much. You don’t want to miss out on this inspirational episode, so be sure to press play now! 

Key Points From This Episode:

·       A brief overview of Pittsburgh’s history of dance. 

·       Introducing today’s guests: Shana Simmons, Peter Kope, Alan Obuzor, and Brittany Nettles. 

·       How they navigated dance careers in Pittsburgh and the resources that have helped them. 

·       Our guests tell us where dance fits into the culture of Pittsburgh. 

·       The collaborations and competition each of our guests experience. 

·       What kinds of classes they offer and the struggles they face when it comes to consistency. 

·       How they have seen the local dance community change over the years. 

·       The changes and collaborations they’d love to see in the Pittsburgh dance scene. 

·       Our guests tell us what they love about working in the dance industry in Pittsburgh. 

Podcast Guests:

Shana Simmons is the Founder and Artistic Director of Shana Simmons Dance, a contemporary dance organization and company whose mission is to bring high quality dance experiences through performance, education, and community building.

Peter Kope is Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Attack Theatre, which fuses modern dance, original live music, and interdisciplinary art forms to create engaging dance performances.

Alan Obuzor was born in Pittsburgh, he trained predominantly at Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre's school before joining their company for 7 seasons. After that he taught at PBT school before founding Texture contemporary ballet in 2011 and Texture Ballet School in 2019. 

Brittany Nettles (she/they) is a Pittsburgh based freelance dancer, choreographer and educator, who has worked with groups such as Shana Simmons Dance, Point Park University, PearlArts, and InterPGH.

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

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