act/re/act

Join me for this engaging conversation with my friend and colleague Maria Gillespie. She and I have known each other for over 7 years, ever since I joined the faculty here at University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. We have also performed improvisationaly together on multiple occasions, so it was wonderful to dig into her thoughts about improvisation, performance and pedagogy. Enjoy!  Here's a bit more about Maria: Maria Gillespie is a choreographer, performer, dance and somatic educator. She is a CLMA Laban Bartenieff Movement Analyst and directs MG/The Collaboratory and Hyperlocal MKE, dedicated to interdisciplinary collaboration and improvised performance practice. She developed the community teaching project Parts of the Whole, sharing kinesthetic learning and expressive experiences with youth impacted by the carceral system to strengthen communities. She works with long time collaborators, Nguyễn Nguyên and Kevin Williamson, currently developing a new work, to get there from here. Regionally, Gillespie has collaborated with Present Music, Nirmal Raja, Portia Cobb, Sonja Thomsen, Glenn Williams, Nathaniel Stern, Joelle Worm, Christal Wagner, Tim Russell, and Mike Rea. Gillespie founded and directed LA-based Oni Dance (2003-2015) and was named one of Dance Magazine's "25 to Watch". Her work has been presented nationally and internationally at venues including The Ford Amphitheatre, The Getty Museum, REDCAT, UCLA, Cal Arts, The Fowler Museum, Highways Performance Space, Joyce SoHo and CounterPULSE. Gillespie has performed and taught in Beijing, Guangzhou, Tokyo, and Mexico City.  She has taught at UCLA Department of World Arts & Cultures, Cal Arts, Loyola Marymount University, University of Iowa, Dance New Amsterdam (NY), Beijing Modern Dance Festival and was a choreographic and teaching resident in Mexico City with Apoc Apoc. Choreographic commissions include Loyola Marymount University, Scripps College, Pomona College, Cal State Long Beach, Utah Valley University, University of Florida, and Santa Monica College dance departments. In 2019, received the 2019 Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching. She teaches dance at UW-Milwaukee.   To find out more about Hyperlocal MKE: hyperlocalmke.com  To find out more about Parts of the Whole: partsofthewhole.org  To find out more about Daniel Burkholder: https://www.danielburkholder.com/  

Join me to start a new season of act/re/act with this amazing conversation with Ruth Zaporah. Active in improvisational performance since the 1960s, Ruth shares her wealth of knowledge about improv, Zen Buddhism, and navigating the world as an improvisational artist. The creator of Action Theater, Ruth has a unique lens as an expert performance and a highly regarded teacher. Check out this conversation as I'm sure you'll find much to learn within.  

Joint host Daniel Burkholder for the primier episode of act/re/act, a podcast exploring improvisation through conversations with improvisationaly based artists.  In this first episode, Daniel is joined by musician and author Stephen Nachmanovitch, who you may know through his excellent book, Free Play. Daniel & Stephen discuss improvisation, the role of contraints and experience, as well as how an improvisational artistic practice relates to one's everyday life.  Find out more about Stephen Nachmanovitch at http://www.freeplay.com  Find out more about Daniel Burkholder at http://www.danielburkholdertheplayground.org You can also follow actreact on Twitter @actreactpodcast    Also available on Google Play Music, iTunes & Stitcher.  Please subscribe to get future episodes! 

Turning the Tables: Daniel Burkholder on Improvisation, Creative Process, and Building an Archive | act/re/act Podcast In this special episode of act/re/act, the script is flipped as host Daniel Burkholder, Chair of the Dance Department at UW-Milwaukee's Peck School of the Arts, sits in the hot seat. Recent BFA graduate and former podcast assistant Megan Holzhauer interviews Daniel about his improvisational practice, creative process, and the philosophy behind this very podcast. Daniel opens up about how improvisation shapes both his artistic work and daily life as an administrator, revealing how he navigates structure while remaining open to spontaneous opportunities. He discusses his approach to teaching improvisation—surprising students who expect to "just improvise" with carefully designed structures that serve as doorways rather than boxes, creating focus without limitation. In this conversation, we explore: How structure and spontaneity coexist in improvisational practice Daniel's creative process for developing new choreography, including his ongoing Wisconsin waterways series The role of somatic practices (Feldenkrais Method) and mindfulness in dance improvisation Making space for individual expression in ensemble work Teaching improvisation to students with diverse backgrounds and experience levels The research and discovery process behind site-specific dance works Why Daniel started the act/re/act podcast and how it has evolved The importance of contextualizing your improvisational lineage Creating long-form artistic archives in an era of short-form media Daniel shares insights from recent work including "Embodied Truth: Finding Ways to Move Together" and his Three Rivers piece, discussing how academic research, rehearsal discoveries, and performer individuality shape the final work. He reflects on interviewing artists across disciplines—from hip-hop and tap dancers to comedians and musicians—and what these conversations reveal about improvisation as a practice that pushes against established norms. This meta-conversation offers a rare glimpse into the mind of an artist-educator who believes every creative act is an act of improvisation, and that deep, sustained engagement—not snippets—is where real discovery happens. Keywords: dance improvisation pedagogy, choreographic process, somatic dance practice, Feldenkrais Method, teaching improvisation, contemporary dance education, site-specific choreography, improvisational lineage, dance podcast, artistic research methodology, embodied practice Perfect for dancers, choreographers, educators, and anyone interested in the intersection of structure and spontaneity in creative practice.

Conversation with Nina Martin on Ensemble Thinking, ReWire Movement States, Improvisation, and Performance TCU Dance Professor | Ensemble Thinking Founder | ReWire Movement States | Contact Improvisation Discover the groundbreaking work of Nina Martin, PhD, creator of Ensemble Thinking and ReWire Movement States, two revolutionary methodologies that have transformed contemporary improvisation. Host Daniel Burkholder explores Martin's 50 years of embodied research with this six-time National Endowment for the Arts fellowship recipient and true rebel of the dance world. Featured Artist: Nina Martin Bio Highlights Nina Martin, MFA, PhD is a choreographer, pedagogue, dance theorist, and performer whose work centers on perception, composition, and spontaneous movement states. With five decades of embodied research and applied dance practice, she has fundamentally shaped how improvisation is understood as viable performance, research methodology, and pedagogical framework. Major Recognition & Positions: Six-time NEA Choreography Fellowship recipient - National Endowment for the Arts TCU Professor of Dance Studies - Texas Christian University School for Classical & Contemporary Dance Former UCLA faculty - Department of World Arts and Cultures Former NYU faculty - Experimental Theatre Wing Board President of Marfa Live Arts - Dance Ranch Marfa workshops Lower Left Performance Collective - Artist member focused on cooperative inquiry International touring artist - Teaching and performing across Europe, Asia, Canada, and the US Revolutionary Methodologies: Ensemble Thinking - Clarification and advancement of improvisation as performance form ReWire Movement States - Therapeutic application of creative practice Contact Improvisation practice - Veteran practitioner and teacher 50 years of embodied research - Applied dance and spontaneous movement   Learn More: act/re/act Podcast Archive: https://www.danielburkholder.com/actreact-podcast Lower Left Performance Collective: www.lowerleft.org Marfa Live Arts - Dance Ranch Marfa workshops and programming TCU School for Classical & Contemporary Dance Keywords: #NinaMartin #EnsembleThinking #ReWireMovementStates #TCUDance #NEAFellowship #ContactImprovisation #LowerLeftCollective #MarfaLiveArts #DanceRanchMarfa #DanceTherapy #SomaticPractice #SpontaneousMovement #EmbodiedResearch #ContemporaryImprovisation #DancePedagogy #PerceptionComposition #ActReActPodcast  

Jonathan Morris Conversation: DC Composer on "Resonance: Time + Wood + Steel" & 25-Hour Duet Performance | act/re/act Podcast Hartt School Graduate | DC Improvisers Collective | Low End String Quartet Join accomplished composer and musician Jonathan Morris (Matis) in this reflective conversation about improvisation, collaboration, and his latest solo album "Resonance: Time + Wood + Steel" on Ramble Records. Host Daniel Burkholder reconnects with his longtime collaborator to explore their decade-long artistic partnership, including their legendary 25-hour duet performance "Unmapped". Featured Artist: Jonathan Morris Bio Highlights Jonathan Morris (Matis) is a Washington, DC-based composer and performer who has been professionally creating music since 1993. His innovative approach to combining improvisation and composition led him to founding and performing with numerous music ensembles. Performance Venues & Recognition: Kennedy Center - National performing arts venue CBGB's - Legendary New York music club National touring artist - Coast-to-coast performance experience Hartt School of Music graduate training in composition and improvisation Musical Projects & Leadership: DC Improvisers Collective - Founder and leader Low End String Quartet - Ensemble leadership Boat Burning - Member of instrumental rock guitar choir "Resonance: Time + Wood + Steel" - Latest commercial release on Ramble Records Collaborative History: 10+ year artistic partnership with host Daniel Burkholder Evening-length dance works composition Improv Arts non-profit co-founder and operator "Unmapped" 25-hour duet performance - Epic endurance collaboration Conversation Deep Dives: Improvisation meets composition - Bridging spontaneous and structured music "Resonance: Time + Wood + Steel" - Ambient guitar music creation process 25-hour performance endurance - "Unmapped" duet experience and insights Improv Arts non-profit - Building community arts organizations DC music scene leadership - Improvisers Collective impact Dance and music collaboration - 10+ years of interdisciplinary partnership Kennedy Center to CBGB's - Performing across diverse venues and audiences Hartt School methodology - Academic training in experimental music Ramble Records release - Independent music publishing and distribution This intimate conversation reveals how a composer has spent three decades pushing boundaries between improvisation and composition. From founding the DC Improvisers Collective to creating ambient soundscapes, discover how Morris has built bridges between experimental music, dance collaboration, and community arts organizing. Artistic Innovation: Morris represents a unique approach to contemporary composition, seamlessly blending academic training with experimental practice, solo artistry with collaborative leadership, and intimate recordings with epic durational performances. Historical Documentation: This episode provides rare insight into the behind-the-scenes development of a decade-long artistic partnership that produced both intimate collaborations and large-scale community initiatives. Host: Daniel Burkholder - Milwaukee-based dance artist and longtime collaborator   Listen & Learn More: act/re/act Podcast Archive: https://www.danielburkholder.com/actreact-podcast "Resonance: Time + Wood + Steel" - Available on Ramble Records DC Improvisers Collective - Washington area experimental music community Keywords: #JonathanMorris #JonathanMatis #DCImprovisersCollective #KennedyCenter #HarttSchool #ResonanceTimeWoodSteel #RambleRecords #BoatBurning #LowEndStringQuartet #Unmapped25Hour #ImprovArts #AmbientGuitar #WashingtonDCMusic #CBGBs #ImprovisationComposition #ActReActPodcast  

Ishmael Houston-Jones Interview: 4-Time Bessie Winner & Guggenheim Fellow on Improvisation | act/re/act Podcast Guggenheim Fellow | Four-Time Bessie Award Winner | American Dance Festival Chair | Postmodern Dance Pioneer Join legendary choreographer Ishmael Houston-Jones, 2022 Guggenheim Fellow and four-time Bessie Award winner, in this profound conversation about improvisation as performance art. Host Daniel Burkholder, who first witnessed Houston-Jones' groundbreaking work in the iconic trio *Unsafe/Unsuited* at Washington DC's Dance Place in the mid-1990s, explores the artistic evolution of one of postmodern dance's most influential figures.   Featured Artist: Ishmael Houston-Jones Bio Highlights Ishmael Houston-Jones is a distinguished choreographer, author, performer, teacher, and curator whose improvised dance and text work has been performed worldwide for over three decades. His innovative approach to movement, storytelling, and collaboration has positioned him as a central figure in contemporary dance and performance art.   Major Awards & Recognition: 2022 John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship recipient Four-time Bessie Award winner (New York Dance and Performance Awards):  Collaborations with writer Dennis Cooper  Work with choreographers Miguel Gutierrez and Fred Holland  Partnerships with composers Chris Cochrane and Nick Hallett  Contributions to the field of dance (lifetime achievement) 2024 Balasaraswati/Joy Ann Dewey Beinecke Endowed Chair - American Dance Festival Distinguished Teaching Award   Curatorial Leadership: Platform 2012: Parallels curator - African diaspora choreographers and postmodernism Platform 2016: Lost & Found co-curator with Will Rawls - Dance, New York, HIV/AIDS historical examination   Published Author: "FAT and Other Stories" (Yonkers International Press, 2018) - Debut book Essays, fiction, interviews published in multiple dance anthologies Performance texts documenting three decades of innovative work   Conversation Deep Dives: Improvisation as performance art - Pioneering approaches to spontaneous composition "Unsafe/Unsuited" legacy - Historic trio work with Keith Hennessy and Patrick Scully Postmodern dance evolution - 30+ years of artistic development and influence HIV/AIDS and dance history - Curatorial work documenting lost narratives African diaspora choreography - Platform programming and cultural representation Collaborative artmaking - Working with Dennis Cooper, Miguel Gutierrez, and others Dance writing and authorship - Bridging performance and literary expression American Dance Festival teaching - Distinguished pedagogy and mentorship This essential conversation captures insights from a four-time Bessie winner whose work spans performance, curation, and literature. From his legendary *Unsafe/Unsuited* performances to his groundbreaking Platform curatorial projects, discover how Houston-Jones has shaped contemporary dance while documenting its hidden histories.   Historical Significance: This interview connects contemporary practice with the seminal improvisation works of the 1990s, offering unique perspective on the evolution of postmodern dance and its intersection with social justice, identity, and artistic collaboration.   Host: Daniel Burkholder - Milwaukee-based dance artist, Chair of the UW-Milwaukee Department of Dance, exploring contemporary improvisation, somatics, and mindfulness --- Learn More: Ishmael Houston-Jones: https://www.ishmaelhouston-jones.com/ act/re/act Podcast Archive: https://www.danielburkholder.com/actreact-podcast Ishmael Houston-Jones' "FAT and Other Stories" - Available through Yonkers International Press   Keywords: #IshmaelHoustonJones #BessieAward #GuggenheimFellow #AmericanDanceFestival #UnsafeUnsuited #PostmodernDance #Platform2012 #Platform2016 #DennisCooper #MiguelGutierrez #DancePlace #HIVAIDSDance #AfricanDiasporaChoreography #ActReActPodcastv

Ann Cooper Albright Interview: Guggenheim Fellow on Simone Forti & Contact Improvisation | act/re/act Podcast Oberlin Dance Chair | Guggenheim Fellow | Contact Improvisation Expert | Dance Scholar** Join Oberlin College Dance Department Chair Ann Cooper Albright, 2019-2020 Guggenheim Fellow, in this illuminating conversation about improvisation, dance scholarship, and her latest book *Simone Forti: improvising a life. Following her inspiring UW-Milwaukee residency, host Daniel Burkholder explores how improvisation informs all aspects of Albright's multifaceted career as dancer, scholar, teacher, choreographer, and improviser. ## Featured Scholar: Ann Cooper Albright Bio Highlights Ann Cooper Albright is a distinguished dancer, scholar, and Professor/Chair of the Dance Department at Oberlin College. With degrees from Bryn Mawr College, Temple University (MFA Dance), and New York University (PhD Performance Studies), she bridges academic rigor with embodied practice. Major Recognition & Fellowships: 2019-2020 John Simon Guggenheim Fellow NEA, NEH, and ACLS grant recipient Jerome Foundation and Ohio Arts Council supported artist Oberlin College Department Chair - Dance Studies Essential Publications (among others): "Simone Forti: improvising a life"** (latest book, 2025) "How to Land: finding ground in an unstable world"** - Contemporary uncertainty guide "Engaging Bodies: The Politics and Poetics of Corporeality"** "Choreographing Difference: the Body and Identity in Contemporary Dance"** "Moving History/Dancing Cultures"** (co-editor with Ann Dils) "Taken by Surprise: Improvisation in Dance and Mind"** (co-editor with David Gere) "Encounters with Contact Improvisation"** Resistance and Support: Contact Improvisation @ 50"** (forthcoming) Conversation Highlights: Simone Forti biography insights** - Legendary improvisation pioneer Contact Improvisation mastery** - 50+ years of practice and teaching Academic dance scholarship** - Bridging theory and embodied practice UW-Milwaukee residency** - Teaching philosophy and student inspiration Improvisation methodology** - How spontaneity informs all artistic work Dance literacy education** - "Accelerated Motion" NEA project "Girls in Motion" program** - Award-winning middle school dance initiative Critical Mass facilitation** - Contact Improvisation @ 50 leadership This comprehensive conversation reveals how Ann approaches improvisation as both artistic practice and scholarly inquiry. From her groundbreaking Simone Forti biography to her leadership in Contact Improvisation's 50th anniversary celebrations, discover how Albright has shaped contemporary dance education and scholarship. --- Learn More: act/re/act Podcast Archive: https://www.danielburkholder.com/actreact-podcast Ann Cooper Albright's Books: Available through academic publishers Keywords: #AnnCooperAlbright #GuggenheimFellow #OberlandCollegeDance #ContactImprovisation #SimoneForti #UWMilwaukee #DanceScholarship #MovingHistoryDancingCultures #GirlsInMotion #CriticalMass #NEAGrant #PhDPerformanceStudies #ActReActPodcast

mayfield brooks:  "Improvising While Black"  Bessie Award Nominee | Princeton Fellow | UCLA Visiting Chair | Black Dance Methodology Discover the groundbreaking work of mayfield brooks, 2021 Merce Cunningham Award recipient and movement-based performance artist who created the revolutionary dance methodology "Improvising While Black" (IWB). Host Daniel Burkholder, Milwaukee-based dance artist, conducts an in-depth conversation exploring brooks' interdisciplinary approach to Black dance, ancestral healing, and what they call "composting dance." Featured Artist: mayfield brooks Bio Highlights mayfield brooks is a singular movement-based performance artist, vocalist, urban farmer, and writer based in Lenapehoking (New York City). Their innovative work spans multiple disciplines while staying deeply rooted in the body and Black dance traditions. Major Awards & Recognition: 2021 Merce Cunningham Award recipient from the Foundation for Contemporary Arts 2021 Bessie Award nominee for experimental dance film Whale Fall 2022 Danspace Project Platform artist 2022-23 Hodder Fellow at Princeton University 2024 Alma Hawkins Visiting Chair at UCLA World Arts and Cultures/Dance 2025 Creative Time Research & Development Fellow Conversation Deep Dives: "Improvising While Black" methodology - Revolutionary dance framework Decomposing dance concepts - Decomposed matter of Black life in performance Interdisciplinary performance practice - Movement, voice, farming, writing integration Urban farming meets performance - Unique artistic intersections This compelling artist conversations reveals how brooks defies artistic definition while maintaining deep roots in embodied practice. From their experimental film work to their innovative teaching methodology, discover how this dance artist is reshaping contemporary dance through Black cultural frameworks and ancestral wisdom.   Learn More: act/re/act Podcast Archive: https://www.danielburkholder.com/actreact-podcast mayfield brooks' work: https://www.improvisingwhileblack.com/ Keywords: #mayfieldbrooks #ImprvisingWhileBlack  #BessieAward #BlackDance #UCLA #Whalefall #CompostingDance #AncestralHealing #InterdisciplinaryPerformance #ActReActPodcast

Miguel Gutierrez Interview: Improvisation, Dance, Creative Process & Feldenkrais Method | act/re/act Podcast S5E1 Artist Interview | Dance Performance | Creative Process | Feldenkrais Method Discover the creative world of renowned dance artist Miguel Gutierrez in this intimate conversation exploring improvisation techniques, sexuality, and innovative performance methods. In Season 5, Episode 1 of the act/re/act podcast, host Daniel Burkholder conducts an in-depth conversation covering Gutierrez's unique approach to movement, creativity, performance, and The Feldenkrais Method. This comprehensive artist interview offers valuable insights for dancers, performers, creative professionals, and anyone interested in somatic practices, dance, and contemporary performance art. Miguel Gutierrez shares personal stories, creative methodologies, and professional wisdom gained through decades of innovative work. Featured Artist: Miguel Gutierrez Bio Highlights Miguel Gutierrez (he/him) is a distinguished artist and educator based between Brooklyn, NY and Los Angeles. His recent performance work Super Nothing, developed through New York Live Arts' prestigious residency program, represents cutting-edge approaches to queer survival through dance. As a 2014 Whitney Biennial selected artist, Gutierrez has presented work internationally at renowned venues including: Festival D'Automne, Paris Brooklyn Academy of Music REDCAT Los Angeles Festival Universitario, Colombia Currently serving as Associate Professor of Choreography in UCLA's Department of World Arts and Cultures/Dance, Gutierrez brings academic rigor to his artistic practice. Podcast: act/re/act with Daniel Burkholder - Conversations with contemporary artists and performers Connect & Learn More: Miguel Gutierrez Official Website: https://www.miguelgutierrez.org/ act/re/act Podcast Archive: https://www.danielburkholder.com/actreact-podcast Keywords: #dance #improvisation #performance #MiguelGutierrez #WhitneyBiennial #UCLA #QueerPerformance #FeldenkraisMethod #SuperNothing #ContemporaryDance #Improvisation #CreativeProcess #NewYorkLiveArts #BrooklynAcademyOfMusic #PerformanceArt

Join me for the final episode of this season, and my conversation with Baakari Wilder.  Baakari is one of the most dynamic tap dancers of his generation and is known for his musicality and subtly, as well as his ability to explore complex rhythms. It was a pleasure to finish this season of act/re/act with this thoughtful and insightful conversation.  Baakari's bio: Baakari Wilder is internationally known for starring in the Broadway musical Bring In Da Noise, Bring In Da Funk. He received a Bessie Award for his performance, and later assumed the lead role for a year. He received the Pola Nirenska Award for achievement in dance, and the “Hoofer Award” by the American Tap Dance Foundation. Baakari's dancing has delighted audiences around the world in places such as the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, France, Africa, Brazil, Germany, Japan, and Russia. He has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theatre from the University of Maryland at College Park. He shares his knowledge of tap dancing through his role as assistant artistic director of the Washington D.C. based companies Capitol Tap and District Tap. Find out more about Baakari here: https://www.baakariwilder.com/ And, here: https://www.capitoltap.com/ Find Daniel's website here: https://www.danielburkholder.com/ Stay tuned for more episodes coming this fall! Until then, take care, be well, and live spontaneously. 

Join me for this fascinating conversation with Elena Day about physical theater, clowning, the Jacques Lecoq method, teaching, performing, and, of course, improvisation. Elena offers a unique perspective on how one uses or employs improvisation in pedagogy, the creative method, and performance in a context previously unexplored on this podcast - circus.  Here's a bit about Elena: Elena Day is a physical theater teacher and director. Currently the Protrack Director and Head of Physical Theater at The New England Center for Circus Arts (NECCA) in Brattleboro, VT, Elena explores how play, presence, mask technique, and creativity intertwine as she supports the next generation of circus artists to reach their highest performance potential. A graduate of L'Ecole Internationale de Theatre Jacques Lecoq in Paris, Elena has performed with Cirque du Soleil & Cirque Mechanics, directed and movement-directed award-winning shows, and taught physical theater, including clowning and Lecoq technique, to people of all ages and backgrounds. She studied Lecoq-based pedagogy with Giovanni Fusetti. Other influential teachers include Ronlin Foreman, Gardi Hutter, Joy Zinoman, Shri Ekan, Nir-gun-ava-thi Ananda, Dody DiSanto, Beth Davis, Chris Bayes, Avner Eisenberg, & Philippe Gaulier. To increase your play quotient, check out www.elenaday.com. ou can find out more about Elena Day at the following links: Personal Website: https://www.elenaday.com/ New England Center for Circus Arts: https://necenterforcircusarts.org/ You can find my website here: https://www.danielburkholder.com/ Enjoy this conversation, please subscribe, and stay tuned for many more this season! Take care, be well, and live spontaneously! 

In this episode of act/re/act I had the opportunity to have a conversation with Andrew Suseno, a dancer and somatic practitioner who developed Parcon Resilience, and more recently Moving Rasa - a form of site-specific dance improvisation developed from his experience within the improv and dance community as a person of the Global Majority. I thoroughly enjoyed this conversation, I hope you do as well!  Here is Andrew's Bio: Andrew Suseno is a queer, Indonesian-Chinese American residing on the unceded land of Lenaphoking. He has a Physical Therapy doctorate, Laban Movement Analyst Certification, is a Feldenkrais Practitioner, and significant dance and Contact Improvisation experience. Andrew created Moving Rasa aka Parcon Resilience as  a form of site-specific movement improvisation and inquiry that centers his hybrid experiences as a diaspora person of the Global Majority. Rasa  is the Indonesian word for taste or discerning feeling through the heart. For Andrew, Moving Rasa is a dynamic connection to his Javanese, Indonesian roots leaning into the full extent of his somatic and improvisational background to dismantle internalized oppression and lift up hybrid practices that invite all people across ability, age, gender and sexuality to connect to their Rasa and roots. You can find out more about Andrew Suseno at the following links: Moving Rasa: https://movingrasa.com/ You can find my website here: https://www.danielburkholder.com/ Enjoy this conversation, please subscribe, and stay tuned for many more this season! Take care, be well, and live spontaneously! 

In this episode of act/re/act I have the pleasure of talking with Dr. S Ama Wray, a dance artist and founder of Embodiology - a dance improvisation practice developed from Dr. Wray's expertise in jazz dance, African arts, and creative practice. This was an exciting conversation that touched on many aspects of the importance of art making, and a wonderful expression of the breadth of dance improvisation out in the world.  Here’s a bit more about Dr. Way: Dr S. Ama Wray is the creator of Embodiology® - a movement method, based on West African principles of human communications, that leads to human flourishing. She is a Professor of Dance and founder of the Africana Institute for Creativity Recognition and Elevation at UC Irvine. Embodiology’s distinctive breath-informed, rhythmic movement and music concepts have shown evidence-based efficacy in elevating vitality, well-being, and resilience, along with emboldened activation of community responsibility. Her virtual classes, Joy in Motion, begin with breathwork, supporting everyday people to transform their indoor spaces into experiences of 'co-liberation'. Wray has been a guest speaker/lecturer at the United Nations, Institute of Advanced Studies, TEDx, and other globally renowned organizations. Her roots in art making have been informed by collaborations with artists including Wynton Marsalis, Bobby McFerrin, Mojisola Adebayo, and Derek Bermel. Embodiology®  is registered as a trademark, rendering its creator and beneficiaries’ ethical responsibility to reciprocally return acknowledgment and resources to the Ewe community in Ghana, where its principles were uncovered - each time this work is shared. Her writing about Embodiology is published in edited volumes by Routledge and Oxford Books. You can find out more about Dr. S Ama Wray at the following links: Embodiology: https://www.embodiology.com Joy In Motion: https://www.joyinmotion.io 2023 Summer Embodiology Intensive: https://events.embodiology.com You can find my website here: https://www.danielburkholder.com/ Enjoy this conversation, please subscribe, and stay tuned for many more this season! Take care, be well, and live spontaneously! 

Welcome to act/re/act podcast, where we explore improvisation through conversations with remarkable artists. In this episode I talk with Keith Hennessy, a dance artist who I have admired since I first saw him perform with Contraband, a seminal dance company from San Francisco, in the mid-1990s when I was working at Dance Place in Washington, DC. Keith is someone I’ve always seen as a visionary, provocateur, and really thoughtful and visceral artist. It’s really great to have him on the podcast. Here's a bit about Keith:  Keith Hennessy, MFA, PhD,  is a dancer, writer, choreographer, witch, and teacher. Raised in Canada, living in Ramaytush Ohlone territory (San Francisco) since 1982, he tours widely. Using improvisation, ritual, collaboration, and protest, Keith instigates queer embodied experiences that respond to political crises and heartbreak. Hennessy directs Circo Zero, co-founded the performance/culture spaces 848 and CounterPulse, and was a member of Sara Mann’s Contraband, 1985-1994. Awards include Guggenheim, NY Bessie, USArtist, and a few Bay Area Isadora Duncan Awards.   You can find out more about Keith Hennessy here: http://circozero.org/ You can find my website here: https://www.danielburkholder.com/ Enjoy this conversation, please subscribe, and stay tuned for many more this season! Take care, be well, and live spontaneously! 

I am than thrilled to share this conversation with K.J. Holmes. In many ways K.J. was my main teacher of contact improvisation, mostly while I was living in the San Francisco/Bay area, many years ago. K.J. is one of the most important contemporary improvisational based dancers working today, and I deeply respect her approach and love to see her in performance. In this conversation we get into her approach to creating work, her pedagogical approach, and the many artist that inform and influence her work. It is a really enlightening conversation.  Here is a quick biography about K.J.: K.J. Holmes, dance artist/performer/teacher has been exploring improvisation as process and performance since 1981, traveling nationally and internationally teaching, creating, directing. K.J. currently teaches at NYU/Experimental Theater Wing, Movement Research, the School for Contemporary Dance and Thought, and her own private classes in Yoga, Somatics and Ayurveda. Recent projects include performing in the film Redoubt and the performance installation Catasterism in 3 Movements of artist Matthew Barney; choreographing and directing Somatopia on the Polish dance theater group Living Space Theater, and continuing to develop her solo + immersion 900 Bees are Humming. I hope you find this conversation as delightful as I did. Enjoy. You can find out more about K.J. here: http://www.kjholmes.info/ You can find my website here: https://www.danielburkholder.com/ Enjoy this conversation, please subscribe, and stay tuned for many more this season! Take care, be well, and live spontaneously! 

Welcome to act/re/act podcast, where we explore improvisation through conversations with remarkable artists. I'm thrilled to introduce you to Stringz, as he is another artist I didn’t know before we sat down and had this conversation. It is always a pleasure to add another Detroit-based artist to the mix - since I grew up kind of half way between Detroit and Ann Arbor. So, nice to have another Michiginian in the mix. Earlier episodes of act/re/act featured three other artists with connections to Detroit and Ann Arbor - Alvin Hill, a DJ, composer and multi-media artist, Melanie George, a Jazz dance artist and dance dramaturge, and Ed Sarath, a jazz musician and professor at U of Michigan - so, you can make your Michigan artist experience complete by checking out those episodes as well. Here’s a bit about Stringz: Stringz began his dance career path in the early ‘90s focusing on Breaking, and his hometown dance form known as the Jit. He founded his company Hardcore Detroit in 2001. “Hardcore” is the success after the struggle and overcoming obstacles to achieve victory. He is a multiple artist-grant recipient, and travels worldwide as an official cultural ambassador through the U.S. State Department. His award-winning film documentary, The Jitterbugs: Pioneers of the Jit is on Amazon Prime and Tubi TV. You can find out more about Stringz here: https://hardcoredetroit.biz/ You can find my website here: https://www.danielburkholder.com/ Enjoy this conversation, please subscribe, and stay tuned for many more this season! Take care, be well, and live spontaneously! 

Welcome to act/re/act, a podcast exploring improvisation through conversations with remarkable artists. In this episode I had the pleasure of talking with vocal improviser Rhiannon, someone I did not know before this conversation, but someone I really enjoyed getting to know a bit and hearing about her improvisational practice. It is always illuminating to talk with improvisational-based artists who practice in different art forms than I, and this conversation is no different. Rhiannon is an extremely accomplished performer and teacher, and this conversation is filled with insights. I'm sue you'll be inspired by this conversation as much as I was.  Here is Rhiannon's bio: Rhiannon is a vocal artist with a vision of music as a vehicle for innovation, healing, transformation, and social change. A vibrant, gifted singer, performance artist, composer, and master teacher, Rhiannon has been bringing her unique and potent blend of jazz, world music, improvisation and storytelling to audiences for over four decades paving a unique path as an independent artist. Collaborations include the all-women’s jazz ensemble Alive!, a cappella ensembles SoVoSo and WeBe3, Bobby McFerrin - Voicestra and Gimme5, the instrumental trio Spontaneous, duets with pianist Laurence Hobgood, and improvised performance pieces with Japanese dancer Shizuno Nasu:The Ocean Regards Us All As One. Rhiannon’s book about her life and teaching methods, Vocal River, The Skill and Spirit of Improvisation, was published in 2013. Rhiannon lives and works on her farm on the Big Island of Hawai’i, currently building a teaching/performance space, Ha Lau Leo Nani, The Gathering Place, honoring culture and community. Find Rhiannon on the web here: https://www.rhiannonmusic.com/ You can find my website here: https://www.danielburkholder.com/ Enjoy this conversation and stay tuned for many more this season! Take care, be well, and live spontaneously! 

Welcome to the new season of act/re/act, a podcast exploring improvisation through conversations with remarkable artists. In this first episode I have the pleasure of talking with Chris Aiken, a wonderful dancer who has extensive experience in improvisational performance, contact improvisation, and improv pedagogy. He is truly an expert in weaving together the intellect and the visceral. I loved this conversation and I hope you do as well!  Here is Chris' bio: Chris Aiken is a leading international teacher and performer of dance improvisation and contact improvisation.  Over the past four decades his work has evolved through ongoing investigations of performance, composition, ecology, movement technique, the perception, and design. Chris has performed and collaborated with many renowned dance artists including Steve Paxton, Kirstie Simson, Nancy Stark Smith, Peter Bingham, Andrew Harwood, Patrick Scully, and Angie Hauser, among many others.  He has received numerous awards for his artistic work, including fellowships from the Guggenheim, the Bush and the Jerome foundations as well as commissions from the Walker Art Center, Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, Dance Theater Workshop, Bates Dance Festival and the National Performers Network. Find Chris on the web here: https://www.smith.edu/academics/faculty/chris-aiken You can find my website here: https://www.danielburkholder.com/ Enjoy this conversation and stay tuned for many more this season! Take care, be well, and live spontaneously!    Photo: Male dancer balancing on one hand with legs perpendicular to body, beige floor and background and wearing grey pants and long sleeve shirt. 

Join me for the final podcast of this season, where I featured 8 artists who approach improvisation in their own unique ways - from dance to music to theater to performance. It has been an exciting season with lots of new connections made, and fascinating perspectives explored. I hope you have enjoyed it as much as I have! In this episode I talk with Kata Kovacs, a Berlin-based sound artist and interdisciplinary artist who has presented work internationally. Her work ranges from performing in bands, to sound installations, to improvisational performance work. It was wonderful to get to know Kata and learn about her work, which is intellectually rigorous, but also deeply embodied. I'm sure you'll enjoy our conversation as well! Find more about Kata on the webs here: http://katakovacs.org/ Find me here: https://www.danielburkholder.com/ Until I return with more episodes (in the fall) - take care, be well, and live spontaneously!    Photo by Frank Nagel