By Elyse Vonne
The podcast currently has 13 episodes available.
In episode 3 of 3 for our mini transition season, professional photographer Shoccara Marcus, who specializes in dance photography, joins the Techniquely Speaking Dance Podcast. We speak about how she has utilized her dance experience to her benefit as a photographer, the reasoning behind her choosing to specialize in dance photography, her mission to bring black female dance photographers to the forefront of the field, her response as a photographer to the constant evolution of the smart phone camera and her new dance photography posing cards product (pointe now flex).
With a BFA in Dance and a MFA in Photography, Shoccara has merged these two fields to create exceptional art. Working nationally and internationally, she has had the opportunity to showcase her work from China to France and back to her home base in Atlanta. Her published work includes Inspired Georgia, a book featuring many of Georgia’s best poets and photographers, Dance Atlanta!, a postcard set of images commissioned by Brown Girls Do Ballet capturing iconic locations around Atlanta, her own Dance Photography calendars produced yearly and most recently, her Dance Posing Cards titled “Pointe Now Flex” which includes 52 foundational dance photographs to enhance your own dance photography experience.
This episode concludes our mini transition season. Please remember to provide us with your feedback about the episodes. We'll be back in 2022!
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We're looking for Black women dance entrepreneurs willing to share their journeys for the upcoming season of the Techniquely Speaking Dance Podcast. Please complete our interest form if you'd like to share your story.
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Would you be willing to take THIS 3-4 Minute Survey to help transform the Techniquely Speaking Dance Podcast?
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Connect with Shoccara & Shocphoto:
@shocphoto
Purchase Pointe Now Flex posing cards
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Connect with the US:
@techniquelyspeakingdancepod
In episode 2 of 3 for our mini transition season, Jamia Ramsey, CEO & Founder of Blendz Apparel joins the Techniquely Speaking Dance Podcast. With over 29 years of experience in the dance industry, Jamia has committed herself to promoting inclusivity and diversity through dance, dance education and outreach. Through Blendz Apparel, she aims to fill the void of diversity in dancewear by offering a diverse selection of high-quality, professional dancewear and shoes for all skin tones.
We speak about the catalyst for her inspiration that prompted her to create Blendz Apparel, the journey from the company’s early days in 2016 to now, and her plans for the future of the company.
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We're looking for Black women dance entrepreneurs willing to share their journeys for the upcoming season of the Techniquely Speaking Dance Podcast. Please complete our interest form if you'd like to share your story.
--
Would you be willing to take THIS 3-4 Minute Survey to help transform the Techniquely Speaking Dance Podcast?
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Connect with Jamia Ramsey & Blendz Apparel:
@blendzdanceapparel
Shop Blendz
Forbes Next 1000 List
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Connect with the US:
@techniquelyspeakingdancepod
In episode 1 of 3 for our mini transition season, Erin Pompa joins the Techniquely Speaking Dance Podcast to talk about her journey from dance educator within the public school education system to a dance specialist who helps dance professionals create consistent 5K months by honing in on their dance speciality.
We dive into mindset around positioning yourself as a dance specialist, clearing out the outside noise to listen to your inner voice about the direction for your life, how she is showing up as a Black woman dance specialist in the online space and making her imprint, and the importance of educating yourself on how to operate your business.
Erin has a B.F.A. in Dance and a Masters in Dance Education. She is the host of the Dance Boss Podcast, founder of DancePreneur Academy and has been featured in Dance Magazine, Dance Business Weekly and Dance Media. Erin is on a mission to help dance professionals build wealth financially, spiritually and emotionally.
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We're looking for Black women dance entrepreneurs willing to share their journeys for the upcoming season of the Techniquely Speaking Dance Podcast. Please complete our interest form if you'd like to share your story.
--
Would you be willing to take THIS 3-4 Minute Survey to help transform the Techniquely Speaking Dance Podcast?
--
Connect with Erin Pompa:
@erinpride
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Connect with the US:
@techniquelyspeakingdancepod
We've shifted gears and are excited to bring you the NEW Techniquely Speaking Dance Podcast, a corner of the dance industry for Black women dance entrepreneurs.
Stay tuned for our upcoming episodes which we're calling our "mini transition season." It will give you a taste of what's to come for the future of the Techniquely Speaking Dance Podcast. Get excited!
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Are YOU the one?
We're looking for Black women dance entrepreneurs willing to share their journeys for the upcoming season of the Techniquely Speaking Dance Podcast. Please complete our interest form if you'd like to share your story.
--
Would you be willing to take THIS 3-4 Minute Survey to help transform the Techniquely Speaking Dance Podcast?
--
Connect with us:
Website
@techniquelyspeakingdancepod
Lauren E.J. Hamilton wraps up season 1 by inviting us into her world of often being the only Black person and Black woman in a broadway production and her role in working to dismantle white supremacy within Broadway theatre.
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Lauren E. J. Hamilton hails from St. Petersburg, FL and is the daughter of former business executive & current senior consultant, Lawrence W. Hamilton and former Broadway performer & television/film actress, Karen E. Fraction. She began her training at the age of two, beginning at Judith Lee Johnson's Dance Studio and later Soulful Arts Dance Academy.
Lauren spent consecutive summers, from the age of 12 to 21, at Debbie Allen’s Dance Academy, The Ailey School, Broadway Theatre Project, The Performing Arts Project, and Broadway Dance Center. A proud alumna of thespian Troupe 4127, Lauren graduated from St. Petersburg Catholic High School in 2011. She was persistent in attending an HBCU & thrilled to be accepted to the incomparable Spelman College, where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Drama with a concentration in Dance and Spanish minor in 2015. Her junior year at Spelman, she was initiated into Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and maintains an active membership.
Post graduation, Lauren moved to New York City and began her career as an assistant to former Broadway performer & current NYU Tisch Drama professor & award-winning choreographer Byron Easley.
In 2017, she became a member of Actors Equity Association, and in 2018, signed with CESD Talent Agency. Lauren is currently in the ensemble of DIANA The Musical on Broadway. Check out the musical on Netflix!
Connect with Lauren E.J. Hamilton
Instagram: @laurenejhamilton
Purchase tickets to Diana the Musical: https://thedianamusical.com/
Diana The Musical Instagram: @dianaonbroadway
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Connect with the Techniquely Speaking Dance Podcast:
Website
Instagram @techniquelyspeakingdancepod
Making It On Broadway with Lauren E.J. Hamilton from Diana The Musical. Lauren recounts her journey to making her broadway debut in Diana The Musical.
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Lauren E. J. Hamilton hails from St. Petersburg, FL and is the daughter of former business executive & current senior consultant, Lawrence W. Hamilton and former Broadway performer & television/film actress, Karen E. Fraction. She began her training at the age of two, beginning at Judith Lee Johnson's Dance Studio and later Soulful Arts Dance Academy.
Lauren spent consecutive summers, from the age of 12 to 21, at Debbie Allen’s Dance Academy, The Ailey School, Broadway Theatre Project, The Performing Arts Project, and Broadway Dance Center. A proud alumna of thespian Troupe 4127, Lauren graduated from St. Petersburg Catholic High School in 2011. She was persistent in attending an HBCU & thrilled to be accepted to the incomparable Spelman College, where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Drama with a concentration in Dance and Spanish minor in 2015. Her junior year at Spelman, she was initiated into Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and maintains an active membership.
Post graduation, Lauren moved to New York City and began her career as an assistant to former Broadway performer & current NYU Tisch Drama professor & award-winning choreographer Byron Easley.
In 2017, she became a member of Actors Equity Association, and in 2018, signed with CESD Talent Agency. Lauren is currently in the ensemble of DIANA The Musical on Broadway. Check out the musical on Netflix!
Connect with Lauren E.J. Hamilton
Instagram: @laurenejhamilton
Purchase tickets to Diana the Musical: https://thedianamusical.com/
Diana The Musical Instagram: @dianaonbroadway
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Connect with the Techniquely Speaking Dance Podcast:
Website
Instagram @techniquelyspeakingdancepod
Lauren E. J. Hamilton hails from St. Petersburg, FL and is the daughter of former business executive & current senior consultant, Lawrence W. Hamilton and former Broadway performer & television/film actress, Karen E. Fraction. She began her training at the age of two, beginning at Judith Lee Johnson's Dance Studio and later Soulful Arts Dance Academy.
Lauren spent consecutive summers, from the age of 12 to 21, at Debbie Allen’s Dance Academy, The Ailey School, Broadway Theatre Project, The Performing Arts Project, and Broadway Dance Center. A proud alumna of thespian Troupe 4127, Lauren graduated from St. Petersburg Catholic High School in 2011. She was persistent in attending an HBCU & thrilled to be accepted to the incomparable Spelman College, where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Drama with a concentration in Dance and Spanish minor in 2015. Her junior year at Spelman, she was initiated into Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and maintains an active membership.
Post graduation, Lauren moved to New York City and began her career as an assistant to former Broadway performer & current NYU Tisch Drama professor & award-winning choreographer Byron Easley.
In 2017, she became a member of Actors Equity Association, and in 2018, signed with CESD Talent Agency. Lauren is currently in the ensemble of DIANA The Musical on Broadway. Check out the musical on Netflix!
Connect with Lauren E.J. Hamilton
Instagram: @laurenejhamilton
Purchase tickets to Diana the Musical: https://thedianamusical.com/
Diana The Musical Instagram: @dianaonbroadway
Connect with the Techniquely Speaking Dance Podcast:
Website
Instagram @techniquelyspeakingdancepod
Jaivyn “Jai” Beauford has been dancing since the age of 3 years old and has participated in countless dance exhibitions, conventions, competitions, intensives and performances in states and cities nationwide. She was accepted into the Alvin Ailey School Summer Program, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Contemporary West Dance Theatre, Cleo Parker-Robinson, and Debbie Allen Academy Summer Intensives along with being invited into the Joffrey Ballet School Ballet Trainee Program.
She has received multiple scholarships for her dancing, all while excelling academically. She was nominated to the Governor’s Honors Program, accepted into the National Beta Club, selected as a 2020 Global Youth Ambassador scholarship recipient, and is an Honor Roll student.
Jai was featured in the 2017, 2018, and 2019 Curtain Call Dance and Performance Catalog/Magazine, serves as a Brown Girls Do Ballet Ambassador and was recently selected as a Brand Ambassador with Blendz Apparel Inc. Jaivyn also created a program initiative called DanceShoez that focuses on empowering young dancers by collecting and donating gently used shoes to dancers who may not have the resources they need to pursue dance.
Connect with Jaivyn "Jai" Beauford
Instagram: @amazingjai
Program Initiative: DanceShoez
Ambassador Programs: Brown Girls Do Ballet & Blendz Apparel
Connect with the Techniquely Speaking Dance Podcast:
Website
Instagram @techniquelyspeakingdancepod
Rachel Lockhart is a native of Birmingham Alabama. She began her training at the J. Lockhart Performing Arts Institute at the age of 2, where she trained in many genres. Rachel graduated from the Alabama School of Fine Arts where she studied dance and currently attends The Juilliard School in New York as a BFA dance major.
Her list of credits includes performing the lead role, Marie, in Alabama Ballet’s production of the George Balanchine Nutcracker (2010 & 2011) and Young Nettie in Red Mountain Theatre’s 2012 production of The Color Purple. Rachel has received numerous summer scholarships in dance to attend prestigious institutions such as Dance Theatre of Harlem, The Juilliard Summer Intensive, Joffrey Ballet, Anthony Burrell’s Breaking Barriers, International Ballet Intensive, Atlanta Dance Connection, and many more. In 2019, Rachel performed at the renowned Koch Theatre in Manhattan for a tribute to the late Donald Mckayle.
Connect with Rachel Lockhart:
Instagram - @bernards.babygirl
Facebook - @RachelLockhart
Youtube - @BornRachel
Apple Music - @RàiMusic
Spotify - @RàiMusic
Connect with the Techniquely Speaking Dance Podcast:
Website
Instagram @techniquelyspeakingdancepod
Youtube @techniquelyspeakingdancepodcast
Taylor Mackenzie Smith is back to talk about her experience growing up training at an all Black dance studio in Atlanta, GA.
Taylor Mackenzie Smith is an Atlanta native who received her Bachelor of Arts in Drama with a Dance Concentration from Spelman College. Most recently, she worked as Assistant Movement in the Broadway debut of Slave Play, choreographed by Byron Easley. Taylor Mackenzie Smith also happens to be one of Elyse Vonne's best friends!
Follow Taylor Mackenzie Smith on Instagram @taylormackenziesmith
Connect with the Techniquely Speaking Dance Podcast:
Website
Instagram @techniquelyspeakingdancepod
The podcast currently has 13 episodes available.