What a Jazz podcast

Welcome to season 2 of the podcast! While things are looking brighter, it is still a very uncertain time for the dance community. In this episode with Alice Mei we talk about the ups and downs of the last year, how to keep the motivation going and push forward, how to deal with being too self-critical and how to know and trust who you are when your identity as a dancer gets stripped away.This Podcast series is part of the ⁠Swinging Europe⁠ project, which is co-funded by the⁠ Creative Europe Programme⁠ of the European Commission.

Dancer, performer, educator Felipe Braga. Originally from Brazil, Felipe is currently living in Berlin. We talk about what it means to be a guest in a culture, what responsibility do we carry as dance teachers, event organizers, and community leaders. Felipe shares his way of teaching and learning, the effort to feel more comfortable in your own body, and how his values in the dance changed over the years.

Andrew Hsi is a dancer, performer, musician. In this episode, he shares his story of starting to dance in Beijing and later moving around different continents. We talk about the process of honing a craft, copying versus getting inspired, and what really goes on inside of us when we’re performing. Andrew shares his biggest sources of inspiration and a sneak peek at his experience of meditating in silence retreats.

Dancer, performer, comedian, and an overall inspiring artist Egle Stasiulyte joins us to talk about the career as a comedian and performer, the healing power of humor, laughing, and connecting with people in various environments - from refugee camps to hospitals. We discuss the role of dance and creativity in our lives, the book that made a huge impact on our creative selves, and the choice between being judgmental or supportive.

This episode's guest is Jenna Applegarth. She is a professional dancer, performer, instructor, event organiser and the creator of Applejacks shoes. We talk about self-identity, the work-life balance and being a freelancer, body image, organising Lindy Focus and what it takes to have a strong dance partnership.

In this episode we talk with Ron Dobrovinsky. He is a dancer, teacher, the owner of Swing it dance studio in Israel and a fitness trainer. We talk about hobbies becoming passions becoming full time jobs, what it takes to run a local dance studio before and during the pandemic, taking care of your body and finding your voice as a dancer and artist.

In this episode we talk with Pavlina Grombiri Korcova. She is a scene leader, community builder and dancer from Brno, Czech Republic. We talk about the challenges of running a dance school during the pandemic, traveling internationally and teaching locally, the values behind a community and what it means to become a leader and a mother.

In this episode we talk with Martynas Stonys. We discuss the process of changing career paths, building a community and being an authentic dancer and teacher. We ponder on how a dance studio should be run and who we are versus how we are seen.

In this episode we talk with Peter Kertz. We share our pandemic consolations and realisations, hopes and uncertainties, and a few good laughs. Peter talks about his homes in Los Angeles and Montpellier, what role dancing plays in his life and embracing changes.

The first What a Jazz podcast episode is here! We sat down to talk with Gabrielė Mickutė, she is a dancer and a doctor, currently working with Covid-19 patients. We discuss challenges, fears and what it takes to go through these uncertain times. 

We chat with the brothers about how jazz came into their lives, the role their family played in supporting their path, and memories from the first choreographies. Malik and Deniz share their approach to practicing, improvising, being patient when training, developing style, and finding mentorship. We also talk about organizing the festival “Jumpin’ at Istabul,” the dance community in Turkey, and dealing with setbacks. Photo by Sara Pista taken at Spring Lindy Weekend.

Irene shares her creative journey in dance and visual arts, her experience working in an artist-run space in Athens, and how she finds inspiration and balance in the creative process. She talks about her choreographic approach, teaching philosophy, experiences with competition, and what stepping outside your comfort zone means. We also discuss embracing your personality and letting it shine through your dancing, navigating the dance community as an introvert, and finding the people and events that truly resonate with you.

Elze Visnevskyte, Steven Coombe, Andreas Olsson, and Arnas Razgunas sit down to discuss some hot takes about the Swing world. Recorded live at the Swing Paradise festival in Vilnius, Lithuania.

We talk with Juan about the early days of Lindy Hop in Argentina, what drew him to the dance, and his future as an artistic director in Bangkok. He shares thoughts on the concept of home, life on the move, and how his physical education background shaped his teaching. We chat about knowing when to pivot, why competitions shouldn't be taken too seriously, dance trends, event organizing, and his love for music and the pursuit of beautiful things.Photo by: Ana Luz Crespi (@analuzcrespi)

We sit down with Carlos Machava to talk about his 20+ years in the dance world—from first seeing dance on the streets to training at a dance academy and eventually discovering Lindy Hop. Carlos shares what drew him to dance, his experience training with a dance company in Mozambique, and his first impressions of jazz dance. We also discuss different teaching approaches, the counting vs. scatting debate, and how we can express ourselves more through dance.This Podcast series is part of the Swinging Europe project, which is co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Commission.Photo by Sara Pista

We sit down with Sakarias to reflect on his 30-year journey in the jazz community, from running the Chicago Swing Dance Studio to training with the Hot Shots. We discuss competitions, his approach to judging and performing, the influence of old clips, and the challenges he's encountered along the way. We also explore how the dance scene continues to evolve and Sakarias' experience playing in the Hornsgatan Ramblers band.This Podcast series is part of the ⁠Swinging Europe⁠ project, which is co-funded by the⁠ Creative Europe Programme⁠ of the European Commission.

In this episode, we sit down with Katja Završnik to explore the evolving role of a follower in swing dance and discuss how to develop your own movement style and unique feel. Katja shares her insights on teaching, performing, and competing, emphasizing how teaching dance also means imparting valuable communication skills beyond the dance floor. We discuss managing your inner critic, avoiding the trap of self-comparison, and finding joy and authenticity in the dance.This Podcast series is part of the ⁠Swinging Europe⁠ project, which is co-funded by the⁠ Creative Europe Programme⁠ of the European Commission.Cover photo by Tadej Mulej (Vintage Swing Festival 2023)

In this episode, we sit down with Alex to explore his dance journey, from his first impression of Lindy Hop to his experiences training and leading the Old Soulz and the challenges he faced along the way. We discuss how jazz dance resonates today and the limitations and possibilities of teaching and learning the dance. Alex shares his approach to fostering individual expression in dancing, his values regarding competitions, and why he believes higher prize money is essential. Finally, Alex reflects on some of the songs that have shaped his understanding of jazz.This Podcast series is part of the ⁠Swinging Europe⁠ project, which is co-funded by the⁠ Creative Europe Programme⁠ of the European Commission.

This week we sit down with the pianist, composer and band leader from Italy, Luca Filastro. Luca shares how jazz came into his life, learning from his biggest inspirations and developing his style. We discuss his mindset when improvising, the meaning of jazz in today’s world, and the difference between playing the aesthetic versus adding personal expression and experience. Luca also shares what he’d like to see more in the swing scene and how jazz has taught him to be a better listener. This Podcast series is part of the ⁠Swinging Europe⁠ project, which is co-funded by the⁠ Creative Europe Programme⁠ of the European Commission.

In this episode, we sit down with Sabou, a dancer, educator, and organizer, to discuss our shared experiences in Ghana learning Afro dances. We explore Sabou’s vision and mission behind organizing the training and the key insights we hope to bring back to our dance communities. We also dive into the contrast between dance in studios versus everyday life, stepping out of our comfort zones during improvisation, overcoming the fear of self-expression, and the importance of not taking ourselves too seriously as dancers. Lastly, we touch on topics like comparison, social media, and mental health.This Podcast series is part of the ⁠Swinging Europe⁠ project, which is co-funded by the⁠ Creative Europe Programme⁠ of the European Commission.