The Artist Arena

In Episode 10, I reconnected with Rachel Halmrast and we talked about all things NYC blueprint and strategy for dancers new to the city! Rachel recently graduated with her BFA in Dance from CU Boulder and moved to NYC to pursue her dancing dreams & research interests! We talk about her transition and decision to make the move, how she got her first job, and how she just landed her first professional engagement with a NYC choreographer! Moving to the Big Apple isn’t always part of the journey for every dancer, but when it is, advice on how to navigate such a big city and community of professionals is super helpful!

In Episode 9, I interview the incredible dance educator, Laban and Bartenieff Studies expert, Integrated Movement Studies Co-Director, author, researcher, and curious mover, Colleen Wahl! (What a list!). Colleen is one of my favorite people and teachers because she exudes such passion and joy about movement and all things Laban theory, philosophy, and practice. We get into SO many things about the Laban system and movement research. We talk about how the system relates to what we do as dancers and how it connects to life and the essence of creating and finding meaning in the world through the body. The Laban system is so expansive with regard to what the body can do, experience and perceive. It invites us to locate ourselves in the center of what we experience in our bodies and make meaning from that felt center. This work is really deep stuff, and Colleen has some very thought provoking ideas to share about it as we nerd out! We also talk about some of Colleen's very exciting collaborations and upcoming research projects including a new workshop she is creating that will happen this Fall 2022 in New York. 

In Episode 8, we interview dancer, choreographer, teacher, and professional hair stylist and barber, Hunter McCabe from Tucson, Arizona. This is actually one of my favorite conversations thus far on the podcast. Hunter talks about his time in LA pursuing dance and industry work and gives insight into the ins and outs of the networking, balancing gigs and getting into the scene. We talk about finding your voice and niche as an artist, how he got into teaching and how he approaches his teaching practice and sharing his creative ideas. We talk about developing your sense of self and identity and staying true to that in an industry that can be challenging, using your platform as a positive influence, comparison syndrome (don't if this is an actual syndrome, but ya'll know what we are talking about am I right?), and lastly, we talk about taking the time to become clear and intentional in your artistry. Hunter is a great storyteller and I learned so much from him, we hope you enjoy the episode! Follow Hunter on IG: hmccabe333

In Episode 7, The Artist Arena Hosts Erin and Angelica talk about Erin's new big adventure and business launch, as well as the challenges of organizing your time as a creative. Because those of us who live a creative lifestyle don't usually have the typical 9 to 5, nor do we want to, we can face many challenges as we figure out how to organize and prioritize our schedules and commitments. Especially for dancers, whether you are in school full time or teaching, in addition to class, you're probably spending a lot of time in rehearsals for creative projects...and our bodies can only take on so much in a day. Oh, and don't forget we gotta fit in that cross-training and self-care somehow! Ahhh...yes, anyone else relate? We discuss these challenges as well as offer some tips and advice that we have discovered in our own finagle with time.

In Episode 6, Artist Arena Podcast Host Angelica DeLashmette Hurst interviews one of her long time dance artist friends, Katie Burks, about her experience receiving her MFA degree in choreography abroad in London. As it turns out, the definition of concert dance is very different from how we understand it here in America once you cross the Atlantic Ocean. We talk about Katie's brief time in New York City and why she left - we think its time to debunk the often held assumption that moving to the city that never sleeps is a right of passage for every dancer! We talk about making the decision to get a Master's degree in dance, what you should research and consider before applying to a graduate program, and we share some laughs and memories along the way!

For our fifth episode, we interviewed dance educator Shauna Meredith. We discuss the difference between cross-training and supplemental training, discuss nutrition, psychology, anatomy, injury prevention, planning rest, and the role of body image in the dance culture and industry. Shauna's goal is to bridge the gap between the science and the practice of dance in an easy and fun way. She is currently starting her own business where she offers advice, workshops and courses in injury prevention and performance enhancement. Follow Shauna on Instagram @vitalmotiondance and check out her website at vitalmotion.dance.

The New Year is upon us and that means Resolution Season! New Year's Resolutions are notorious for falling apart (three days into January, Erin already stopped taking her vitamins) and Anais Gilles is here to empower and show us how we can reframe our goals into something that is sustainable. She offers us powerful tools and strategies to successfully build habits and enlightens us on the mistakes often made when goal setting that leave us feeling defeated. Anais is here to help us elevate our lifestyle as we shift our approach to build better habits! We talk about self-compassion, the toxic messaging from industries that profit from traditional resolutions, and how to make goals that feel good by starting with where you're at now. Anais has offered free resources and Empowered Movement workbooks for our listeners to help you get started! Email theartistarenapodcast@gmail.com to request your free gift and drop us a line on what you took away from the episode! Anaïs is a street dancer and kinesiologist passionate about health, behavioral science and self development. She believes that health is our ultimate route to self discovery. Taking it beyond the fitness industry, she builds 'Empowered Mvm' to push people to discover themselves and rise, through fitness and mindset. You can find her at @empoweredmvm instagram.com/empoweredmvm or on her new Youtube channel: Anaiism

In this episode, we go from the Artist Arena to the Horse Arena with Vonie Kalich, an Equine Gestalt Coach and Health and Wellness Coach whose assistant is her equine partner, Cody. Vonie, Erin, and Angelica discuss questions about imposter syndrome and how it has shown up in our lives, art, and careers. We share stories as well as some great tools for examining imposter syndrome and agree that all the world's problems would be solved if everyone had a horse in their backyard. Vonie talks about how she works with the emotional intelligence of her horse to help clients connect with themselves on a deep level to face obstacles such as self-doubt. We also learn about the incredible healing power of horses, which reminds us of the ability we have to engage in non-verbal dialogue through the body; body to body transmission. As dance artists, we engage in this kind of communication all the time, which only further confirms our initial feeling that horses and imposter syndrome are connected to the work that we do as dancers and creators. Vonie's website with more information about her work: https://voniekalich.com/

Everyone loves a good horror story around Halloween. For our second episode, we decided to share some of our own horror stories from dance school. No, we're not talking about the 2018 remake of Suspiria, (although Erin would not mind having had Tilda Swinton as a teacher!) In this Episode, we talk about some of our most problematic experiences in dance academia. The things some teachers told us that broke our souls at the time and now we can look back and laugh about it. We invite our guest, Shantel, to join the conversation and her stories left us shocked. We challenge and question the traditions, positions of authority, and audition processes that determine who gets to major in dance. We also discuss the many different paths and roads one can take in the field of dance and dance education, and how we make room for the many different talents, abilities, and interests one may have as a dance major. *This episode was initially released on 10/30/21 and an updated version of it was uploaded on 11/14/21.

In our introductory episode of The Artist Arena Podcast, we dive deep into how the Covid-19 pandemic challenged and shifted our relationship between self and creative practice. We discuss how society has quickly shifted into polarizing and black-and-white thinking. We examine how dance is a powerful medium that challenges this, bringing us closer to understanding difference, embracing it, and finding and developing third spaces of thought, and lastly, how Jeffrey Davis's theory of Radical Openness and the concept of Suspending Disbelief can work together to help us find new solutions and engage in innovative creativity.