What can leaders learn from dancers? A project working with a team of bankers sparks Shannon Litzenberger’s research into applying artistic structures in non-artistic spaces. Shannon speaks to the important processes of failing that build our capacity – capacity to think and dream anew. Shannon Litzenberger (she/her, Tkaronto) is an award-winning choreographer, director and embodiment…

Cassa Pancho, MBE and Founder and Artistic Director of Ballet Black, speaks to how her company has been changing the face of ballet. She shares the gutting and thrilling comments the company receives, calling forward the need for major change across the industry. Her efforts, such as the creation of two new tones for pointe…

As runner up of season 4 of Canada’s Drag Race, Aurora Matrix knows how to hold our attention. She spills the tea on her experiences as a drag queen in one of the top competitions and her hopes in pushing the industry forward in representation of queer asian drag queens. An ultimate form of transformation,…

Robin Lacambra shares her experiences of unease in Western wellness spaces, the power in affinity movement spaces and guidance on how to be a better leader within them. She blends psychotherapy and somatic movement in her practices in spaces such as GOODBODYFEEL and SACHA in Hamilton, Ontario. Robin Lacambra (she/they) is a queer Filipinx creative,…

Hosted by Aria Evans, Season 4 of The ‘D’ Word is focused on transformation – transforming the self, our relationships, our way of thinking and the social hierarchies we live within. We’ll be speaking with Robin Lacambra, Aurora Matrix, Cassa Pancho and Shannon Litzenberger about transformational experiences and how they are creating change locally, nationally…

On Episode Four of Season 3 of The ‘D’ Word, Aria Evans discusses the impact of music on babies with Laura Cirelli. Laura Cirelli is an assistant professor at the University of Toronto. Her research interests lie in infant development; music perception and cognition across infancy and childhood; rhythm-perception; pro-social development; and mother-infant song. Download…

On Episode Three of Season 3 of The ‘D’ Word, Aria Evans discusses the Dance for PD program at the Mark Morris Dance Group, and what dance can provide for folks with Parkinson’s Disease. David Leventhal is the director and a founding teacher of the Mark Morris Dance Group’s Dance for PD program. Founded in…

On Episode Two of Season 3 of The ‘D’ Word, Aria Evans discusses shifting trauma through movement with Snjezana Pruginic. Snjezana Pruginic is the founder of Circle Point Wellness, a business dedicated to contributing to social growth by elevating and prioritizing the well-being of people and systems. She is trained in body-based therapy, community justice…

On Episode One of Season 3 of The ‘D’ Word, Aria Evans discusses curiosity with Perry Zurn and Dani S. Bassett, authors of Curious Minds: The Power of Connection and what their research can mean for dance artists. Dani S. Bassett is a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, with appointments in the departments of bioengineering,…

Hosted by Aria Evans, the artistic director of Political Movement, Season 3 of The ‘D’ Word is all about science and the mind. This season we will be exploring how ideas like curiosity, embodied physics, and shifting trauma through movement influence and interact with dance artists.