213. A Professional Dance Company’s Whole Dancer Approach: Insights from Julie Opiel at Body Traffic
Description
In this episode of Passion for Dance, host Dr. Chelsea interviews Julie Opiel, Director of Education and Community Engagement at Body Traffic, an LA-based contemporary dance company. They discuss overcoming career challenges, the importance of community engagement, and the benefits of experienced teachers working with beginners. Julie shares insights on Body Traffic's whole dancer approach, which nurtures dancers as artists and humans, and talks about finding a balance between rigor and compassion in our training.
Learn More About Body Traffic: https://www.bodytraffic.com/
Other Episode Resources: https://passionfordancepodcast.com/213
Episode Breakdown
00:09 Introducing Julie Opiel and Body Traffic
01:36 Julie's Dance Journey
02:50 Overcoming Career Challenges
07:41 The Importance of Teaching Beginners
11:40 Finding Passion and Motivation
16:04 The Power of Community in Dance
17:33 Measuring Growth in Dance
19:34 Empowering Dancers with Leadership Opportunities
21:14 The Whole Dancer Concept
24:36 Balancing Rigor and Compassion in Dance
30:09 Practical Curriculum for Whole Dancer Approach
35:54 Advice for Dance Educators
38:16 Conclusion and Resources
United States
