The Dance Union

Reflecting on our experiences in dance industries outside of major arts cities like New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Atlanta. The Dance Union TheDanceUnionPodcast.com IG: @thedanceunion FB: www.facebook.com/TheDanceUnion/ *SUPPORT THE DANCE UNION PODCAST* Patreon: www.patreon.com/danceunion Venmo: @Dance-Union HOSTS j. bouey www.jbouey.com/ IG/Twitter: @j_bouey Patreon: patreon.com/S_A_T_U_R_N Veronica Jiao veronicaraejiao.com/ IG: @vrjiao Edited By: Jon Reyes Recording date: 27 November 2025

Shining some light on what whiteness is. It’s only the beginning because whiteness really needs to be studied. The Dance Union TheDanceUnionPodcast.com IG: @thedanceunion FB: www.facebook.com/TheDanceUnion/ *SUPPORT THE DANCE UNION PODCAST* Patreon: www.patreon.com/danceunion Venmo: @Dance-Union HOSTS j. bouey www.jbouey.com/ IG/Twitter: @j_bouey Patreon: patreon.com/S_A_T_U_R_N Veronica Jiao veronicaraejiao.com/ IG: @vrjiao Edited By: Jon Reyes Recording date: 27 November 2025

Remembering Alice Wong, exploring the choreography of Wicked: One Wonderful Night, and naming how whiteness moves through space. Yay. The Dance Union TheDanceUnionPodcast.com IG: @thedanceunion FB: www.facebook.com/TheDanceUnion/ *SUPPORT THE DANCE UNION PODCAST* Patreon: www.patreon.com/danceunion Venmo: @Dance-Union HOSTS j. bouey www.jbouey.com/ IG/Twitter: @j_bouey Patreon: patreon.com/S_A_T_U_R_N Veronica Jiao veronicaraejiao.com/ IG: @vrjiao Edited By: Jon Reyes Recording date: 18 November 2025

Zorhan Mamdani is the next Mayor of these United States and j. (they/them) and Veronica (she/her) bask in the optimism of the many wins this election season. *Correction: Zohran Mamdani is a Leo rising and has a Scorpio stellium* The Dance Union TheDanceUnionPodcast.com IG: @thedanceunion FB: www.facebook.com/TheDanceUnion/ *SUPPORT THE DANCE UNION PODCAST* Patreon: www.patreon.com/danceunion Venmo: @Dance-Union HOSTS j. bouey www.jbouey.com/ IG/Twitter: @j_bouey Patreon: patreon.com/S_A_T_U_R_N Veronica Jiao veronicaraejiao.com/ IG: @vrjiao Edited By: Jon Reyes Recording date: 6 November 2025

j. (they/them) and Veronica (she/her) return from their summer hiatus and get cauught up on some of the latest news in dance. The Dance Union TheDanceUnionPodcast.com IG: @thedanceunion FB: www.facebook.com/TheDanceUnion/ *SUPPORT THE DANCE UNION PODCAST* Patreon: www.patreon.com/danceunion Venmo: @Dance-Union HOSTS j. bouey www.jbouey.com/ IG/Twitter: @j_bouey Patreon: patreon.com/S_A_T_U_R_N Veronica Jiao veronicaraejiao.com/ IG: @vrjiao Edited By: Jon Reyes Recording date: 29 October 2025

Antuan Byers (he/him) led a reflective conversation with Nile Ruff (she/her) and Terrell Rogers (he/him), two members of DancersDeserveBetter (formerly Dancers of Dance Black Dance Theater), on their journey to unionize after being unjustly terminated and later coming to a settlement agreement with Dallas Black Dance Theater. (recorded: January 6, 2025) Hosts: Antuan Byers (he/him) IG: @antuanbyers Nile Ruff (she/her) IG: @nile.thelionking Terrell Rogers (he/him) IG: @terrellrogersjr The Dance Union TheDanceUnionPodcast.com IG: @thedanceunion FB: www.facebook.com/TheDanceUnion/ . *SUPPORT THE DANCE UNION PODCAST* Patreon: www.patreon.com/danceunion Venmo: @Dance-Union

Angel Glasby (she/they) and Ke’Ron J. Wilson (she/they) hold a tender conversation about creating environments of care for trans dance artists in rehearsal, and how that care enriches art. Through their lens, we begin to see where the intersection of Black trans and non-binary experiences is situated in the larger landscape of dance. Though transphobia and real tangible harm are inflicted on trans people, Angel and Ke’Ron hold the joy that persists just as close and tenderly. (recorded: April 15, 2025) Hosts: Angel Glasby (she/they) IG/TikTok: @delicatedelusion Ke’Ron J. Wilson (she/they) IG/TikTok: @keronjwilson The Dance Union TheDanceUnionPodcast.com IG: @thedanceunion FB: www.facebook.com/TheDanceUnion/ . *SUPPORT THE DANCE UNION PODCAST* Patreon: www.patreon.com/danceunion Venmo: @Dance-Union

j. (they/them) and Veronica (she/her) reflect on the harms of entering the role of a dance educator without the proper knowledge and community understanding of the culture that surrounds the dance form being taught, especially in relation to underground dance styles. How has the structure of a dance lesson changed with time? What are the repercussions of centering ballet in the professional dance industry? The Dance Union TheDanceUnionPodcast.com IG: @thedanceunion FB: www.facebook.com/TheDanceUnion/ *SUPPORT THE DANCE UNION PODCAST* Patreon: www.patreon.com/danceunion Venmo: @Dance-Union HOSTS j. bouey www.jbouey.com/ IG/Twitter: @j_bouey Patreon: patreon.com/S_A_T_U_R_N Veronica Jiao veronicaraejiao.com/ IG: @vrjiao Edited By: Jon Reyes Recording date: 18 April 2025

This week, we are grateful to be joined by Bex Ferrell (they/she), Assistant Professor in Arts Management at the College of Charleston, and Candace Thompson-Zachery (she/her), the Co-Executive Director for Dance/NYC! What is happening to dance funding right now, both in the micro- and macrosphere? Where is there funding still? While the funding from the NEA is a concern for many industries, how does that funding compare to that of private donors? What would it mean to have wage and working standards in the arts? Why is data important for funding and how do we create a narrative out of it that will appeal to our local governments? Join us for this episode for an insider’s perspective on advocacy for arts funding! (recorded: March 19, 2025) Hosts: Bex Ferrell (they/she) SM: @fdance Candace Thompson-Zachery (she/her) SM: @candacecreates The Dance Union TheDanceUnionPodcast.com IG: @thedanceunion FB: www.facebook.com/TheDanceUnion/ . *SUPPORT THE DANCE UNION PODCAST* Patreon: www.patreon.com/danceunion Venmo: @Dance-Union . EPISODE RESOURCES Executive Summary Support - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AWe6PFkmveMdwzRlyT4wULuhVWupJ-2n/view NYSCA - https://arts.ny.gov/nysca-grant-opportunities NEA - https://www.arts.gov/grants/grants-for-arts-projects NEFA NDP - https://www.nefa.org/NationalDanceProject MAP Fund - https://mapfund.org/ Cultural Development Fund https://www.nyc.gov/site/dcla/cultural-funding/programs-funding.page Cultural Assembly - https://theculturalassembly.com/ CUNY Dance Initiative https://www1.cuny.edu/sites/dance-initiative/ Find Your Representatives - https://www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member SC Arts Alliance - https://scartsalliance.com/ Performing Arts Alliance (their website is currently down) Dance/USA - https://www.danceusa.org/ Book: Careers in Dance - https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/careers-in-dance-best-practices-and-strategies-for-a-fulfilling-professional-life_ali-duffy/26194271/item/83599055/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=pmax_non_scarce_used_nca_22292660096&utm_adgroup=&utm_term=&utm_content=&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw-e6-BhDmARIsAOxxlxXbiV07RfHtp8yJVj4QvjfQe2qu3iWaqba8rvwPGTO07h9TkH9uTyAaAugkEALw_wcB#idiq=83599055&edition=29147672 Dance/NYC Campaign - hub.dance.nyc - Our NYC Dance Resource: Contract language - Dance/USA - https://www.danceusa.org/technical-and-standardization-documents NYC Dance 2023 Report: https://hub.dance.nyc/state-of-nyc-dance-2023-report/

TRIGGER WARNINGS: CULTS AND GROOMING In what ways can we identify dance and entertainment industries as cults? How do these industries groom us to accept a specific type of abuse or neglect while working in those industries? Veronica and j. discuss what constitutes a cult and grooming, their own experiences with it in and outside of these industries, and the importance of also anchoring ourselves in communities outside of the dance and entertainment industries as we are navigating them. The Dance Union TheDanceUnionPodcast.com IG: @thedanceunion FB: www.facebook.com/TheDanceUnion/ *SUPPORT THE DANCE UNION PODCAST* Patreon: www.patreon.com/danceunion Venmo: @Dance-Union HOSTS j. bouey www.jbouey.com/ IG/Twitter: @j_bouey Patreon: patreon.com/S_A_T_U_R_N Veronica Jiao veronicaraejiao.com/ IG: @vrjiao Edited By: Jon Reyes Recording date: 11 March 2025

In this episode, j. and Veronica are joined by Stacey Badgett Jr. to talk about funding and community in the arts. With funding being rescinded for the arts, how will the structures that the dancers in the dance industry, having some of the smallest amounts of funding, be adapted to other sectors of the arts and entertainment industries? In what ways has the dance community been the backbone for the arts industry as a whole? How do you protest in these industries with the constraints of capitalism? And why is learning to be conscious and intentional about your relationships intrinsically linked to community building? The Dance Union TheDanceUnionPodcast.com IG: @thedanceunion FB: www.facebook.com/TheDanceUnion/ *SUPPORT THE DANCE UNION PODCAST* Patreon: www.patreon.com/danceunion Venmo: @Dance-Union HOSTS j. bouey www.jbouey.com/ IG/Twitter: @j_bouey Patreon: patreon.com/S_A_T_U_R_N Veronica Jiao veronicaraejiao.com/ IG: @vrjiao Edited By: Jon Reyes Recording date: 3 March 2025

Recorded the day after the Super Bowl, Veronica and j. share their own definitions and experiences of community, building on the work done by others long before the January inauguration, in response to the fear expressed and the calls for community that have spread across social media. They then analyze Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl performance, immediately posing the critical question: What did Kendrick mean when he said, “the revolution WILL be televised”? Through this central question, they unpack what it means to understand systems of oppression, especially in the context of cultivating relationships. The Dance Union TheDanceUnionPodcast.com IG: @thedanceunion FB: www.facebook.com/TheDanceUnion/ *SUPPORT THE DANCE UNION PODCAST* Patreon: www.patreon.com/danceunion Venmo: @Dance-Union HOSTS j. bouey www.jbouey.com/ IG/Twitter: @j_bouey Patreon: patreon.com/S_A_T_U_R_N Veronica Jiao veronicaraejiao.com/ IG: @vrjiao Edited By: Jon Reyes

We passed the mic to Mario Ismael Espinoza (they/them), who is part of the Entertainment Community Fund, and David Herrera (he/him), who discussed the creation and evolution of Herrera’s Latinx Hispanic Dancers over the last 20 years. Through this discussion, they unravel how Herrera’s perspective of his future career evolved as he began to envision the inception of Latinx Hispanic Dancers and began to understand what holes in the dance community he wanted the company to fill, especially in the Latinx community. All of these leads back to revisiting the question: Can the master’s tools dismantle the master’s house? (recorded: March 3, 2025) Kayla Hamilton is a performance maker, dancer, educator, and consultant, who is a current Jerome Hill and Pina Bausch Fellow and is the founder of the recently formed “Circle O”, an organization centering BIPOC Disabled creatives. She is the co-developer of “Crip Movement Lab”, described as “pedagogical framework centering cross-disability movement practices for every-body” and has developed access center programming for several dance organizations in NYC. Jerron Herman is a dancer/writer, who has premiered works at Danspace Project, Baltimore Museum of Art, LIncoln Center (digital), among others. His writings, including Art Papers and 3 Bodies, have been published across both nationally and internationally. Jerron is currently a part of INTERIM, described as “a boutique centering joy for disabled artists”, and has recently received the 2024 USA Fellowship and the 2023-24 Fellowship at NYU Center for Ballet and the Arts. Hosts: David Herrera https://www.dhperformance.org/the-directors- Mario Ismael Espinoza The Dance Union TheDanceUnionPodcast.com IG: @thedanceunion FB: www.facebook.com/TheDanceUnion/ . *SUPPORT THE DANCE UNION PODCAST* Patreon: www.patreon.com/danceunion Venmo: @Dance-Union . Artists and Organizations Mentioned: https://www.dhperformance.org/ https://lovedancemore.org/ https://www.paramardance.com/ https://www.stephaniegarcia.art/ https://www.instagram.com/primerageneraciondance/ https://www.gabrielmatamovement.com/about-5 Yvonne Montoya - https://www.yvonnemontoya.co/ Dancers Group - https://dancersgroup.org/ Bridge Live Arts - https://www.bridgelivearts.org/ Omar Roman de Jesus/Bocatuya - https://www.bocatuya.com/ Rosie Herrera - https://www.rosieherrera.dance/ Vanessa Sanchez - https://lamezclasf.net/about/

Town Hall - Surviving Fascism by J. Bouey Dance Projects

From fires signifying the acceleration of the climate disaster to Trump’s inauguration and subsequent executive orders, 2025 is already giving us a premonition of what is to come. Join V and j. as they unpack what this might mean for our near future and how we can rely on community to keep a sound mind. Most of all, with how quickly AI becomes integrated into our everyday lives, how will AI shape a different reality via social media and how can we distinguish between AI and real humans? The Dance Union TheDanceUnionPodcast.com IG: @thedanceunion FB: www.facebook.com/TheDanceUnion/ *SUPPORT THE DANCE UNION PODCAST* Patreon: www.patreon.com/danceunion Venmo: @Dance-Union HOSTS j. bouey www.jbouey.com/ IG/Twitter: @j_bouey Patreon: patreon.com/S_A_T_U_R_N Veronica Jiao veronicaraejiao.com/ IG: @vrjiao Edited By: Jon Reyes

THERE ARE WICKED SPOILERS IN THIS EPISODE BEGINNING AT 21:30 AND CONTINUING UNTIL THE END OF THE EPISODE. In this episode, j. and Veronica analyze the lyrics of “Defying Gravity”, reflecting on their experiences as and understanding with Elphaba and Glinda. From scrutinizing the memes that are being made about Nessarose as a disabled character to discussing their own experiences with losing friends or attracting scrutiny because of being the person in the room to stand up against clear abuses of power, they peel back the layers of the story of Wicked, unfolding how experiences in their lives mirrored themes imparted from “Defying Gravity”. **TW for eating disorders starting at 53:00 and ending at 56:50 The Dance Union TheDanceUnionPodcast.com IG: @thedanceunion FB: www.facebook.com/TheDanceUnion/ *SUPPORT THE DANCE UNION PODCAST* Patreon: www.patreon.com/danceunion Venmo: @Dance-Union HOSTS j. bouey www.jbouey.com/ IG/Twitter: @j_bouey Patreon: patreon.com/S_A_T_U_R_N Veronica Jiao veronicaraejiao.com/ IG: @vrjiao Edited By: Jon Reyes

j. and Veronica geek out over Wicked (spoiler free), and use inspiration from the movie’s themes and release to dive into the beauty of trying new things throughout adulthood, Veronica’s experience being signed (congrats!!!), and their vulnerable moments they have experienced in the dance studio. How has Qigong helped Veronica through her journey with depression? What is the emotional journey that we embark on when we learn new skills, or, in the case of injury, have to relearn a passion? And, as we try to handle an increasingly unstable political reality, how can weightlifting, pilates, and other forms of strength training be useful to us both for our present and future mental and physical healths? For those who own LLCs and nonprofits: (1) j. and Veronica discuss the “Nonprofit Killer” Bill and its associated implications, and (2) j. gives a brief overview of the necessity of completing the beneficiary ownership information report (due December 27th!) for your businesses. The Dance Union TheDanceUnionPodcast.com IG: @thedanceunion FB: www.facebook.com/TheDanceUnion/ *SUPPORT THE DANCE UNION PODCAST* Patreon: www.patreon.com/danceunion Venmo: @Dance-Union HOSTS j. bouey www.jbouey.com/ IG/Twitter: @j_bouey Patreon: patreon.com/S_A_T_U_R_N Veronica Jiao veronicaraejiao.com/ IG: @vrjiao Edited By: Jon Reyes

Veronica is joined by guest Jonathan Smith (he/him) to scrutinize the modes of gatekeeping enacted by sign up sheet culture for open call auditions, union access, and casting directors. How can casting directors who are unknowledgeable about the dance forms they are casting in become gatekeepers, despite good intentions? In the age of technology, are casting directors even needed anymore or do they add an extra barrier for access into the dance industry? And, the question to close us out as we inch closer to January 2025: what will theater and Broadway shows look like if we enter four years under Trump? Jonathan McClinton Smith (he/him, IG: @jonathannsmith) was most recently seen on Broadway in Disney's Aladdin. Smith has danced with Step Afrika!, The 7 Fingers, Telemundo, Cirque du Soleil’s Cirque Dreams, Les Farfadais, and many more. Smith was also in two world premieres in 2023: Malvolio (Classical Theatre of Harlem) and Watch Night (Dir & Choreo: Bill T. Jones, PAC NYC). (recorded: November 19, 2024) The Dance Union TheDanceUnionPodcast.com IG: @thedanceunion FB: www.facebook.com/TheDanceUnion/ *SUPPORT THE DANCE UNION PODCAST* Patreon: www.patreon.com/danceunion Venmo: @Dance-Union HOSTS j. bouey www.jbouey.com/ IG/Twitter: @j_bouey Patreon: patreon.com/S_A_T_U_R_N Veronica Jiao veronicaraejiao.com/ IG: @vrjiao Edited By: Jon Reyes

In this week’s episode, j. and Veronica share how their body and mind have settled after the election results, particularly emphasizing their point-of-view on the circulating feelings of doom and gloom that have been amplified by the algorithm, as well as their observations on the patterns of passings of elders to ancestors in the wake of Judith Jamison’s passing. While we come to terms with the results of the election, how can we express this without dismissing the fact that oppression is engrained in the United States’ past and present, no matter the administration in power? And, more importantly, how can we channel this energy into showing up for already established mutual aid efforts and organizations that have been putting in the work for years, if not decades? *Note: j. uses their Tibetan singing ball to lead a small meditation session! For those with auditory sensitivity, this is around 9:05 and ends around 11:55. (recorded: November 12, 2024) The Dance Union TheDanceUnionPodcast.com IG: @thedanceunion FB: www.facebook.com/TheDanceUnion/ *SUPPORT THE DANCE UNION PODCAST* Patreon: www.patreon.com/danceunion Venmo: @Dance-Union HOSTS j. bouey www.jbouey.com/ IG/Twitter: @j_bouey Patreon: patreon.com/S_A_T_U_R_N Veronica Jiao veronicaraejiao.com/ IG: @vrjiao Edited By: Jon Reyes

Recorded on election day before the polls had closed, j. and Veronica consider how our ancestors (those who fought not only for freedom, but also oppression) have shaped our current political climate, as well as how to determine which ancestor is guiding our actions. From the sheer loss of mail-in ballots to the fires set in ballot boxes, they use the Voting Rights Act to discuss the longstanding history of how such drastic measures to suppress voters could be so widespread. This recent piece of history that has led to widespread voter suppression leads them to question our vocabulary when we are talking about our ancestors–what are the dangers of purposefully ignoring those oppressors in our past? *Note: Unfortunately, j.’s mic cut out in the last 30 minutes, so the episode abruptly ends! However, we will pick back up with that conversation in next week’s episode. (recorded: November 5, 2024) The Dance Union TheDanceUnionPodcast.com IG: @thedanceunion FB: www.facebook.com/TheDanceUnion/ *SUPPORT THE DANCE UNION PODCAST* Patreon: www.patreon.com/danceunion Venmo: @Dance-Union HOSTS j. bouey www.jbouey.com/ IG/Twitter: @j_bouey Patreon: patreon.com/S_A_T_U_R_N Veronica Jiao veronicaraejiao.com/ IG: @vrjiao Edited By: Jon Reyes