Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast

A lifelong devotion to movement can shape not just an artist's career, but an entire community. Today, choreographer, educator, and Artistic Director Jessica Gaynor shares how her path began in gymnastics before finding her true calling in modern dance. From her early days studying with the legendary Alice Teirstein to becoming a mentor and leader in her own right, Jessica's story is one of passion, resilience, and creativity. In our conversation, Jessica reflects on the freedom and self-expression she discovered through improvisation, her formative years studying dance at Brown and CalArts, and the drive that led her to form her own company back in New York. She recalls milestone performances, collaborations with composers, and the challenges of sustaining a company while teaching full-time. Today, her work as Artistic Director of the Young Dancemakers Company continues to empower teens to create original work in partnership with professional composers, carrying forward the legacy of her mentor. Tune in to hear how Jessica has built a multifaceted career in dance, and why she remains committed to creating, teaching, and inspiring the next generation.
Key Points From This Episode:
Jessica's upbringing in NYC and her shift from gymnastics to ballet and modern dance.

How she found mentorship with Alice Teirstein at the Fieldston School.

Her love of dance as a form of freedom, self-expression, and community through movement.

Early influences on her dance career: Pilobolus and Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company.

Studying at Brown, while doing an academic major, repertory works, choreography, and more.

Graduate training at CalArts, focusing on choreography, performance, and collaboration.

What it was like returning to NYC and forming a company with fellow dancers.

Creating evening-length works at Triskelion Arts and touring performances.

Collaborative works with composers, exploring structure and form.

Joining the Young Dancemakers Company (YDC) and becoming Artistic Director.

Leading YDC through the pandemic with Zoom dance films and outdoor shows.

Jessica's love of teaching and helping teens create original work.

Rediscovering performance and collaborating with her musician husband.

Reflections on highlights and challenges while sustaining a career in dance.

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With a heavy heart, KDH Dance Company announced the passing of their fierce founder and dearest friend, Kathy Dunn Hamrick. Kathy has had an enormous impact, with ripples throughout Austin and beyond, as she is loved by so many.  The organization is heartbroken, but committed to honoring Kathy and her legacy for years to come. Read more in the KDH Dance Company newsletter.
Today's podcast is a re-airing of an interview with Kathy from 2024.
Kathy Dunn Hamrick was the Artistic Director of Kathy Dunn Hamrick Dance Company, an award-winning modern dance company based in Austin, Texas. Kathy happily committed her professional life to dancing, teaching, choreographing, presenting, mentoring, and advocating for modern dance and dancemakers. She created over 50 dances that have been described as "strikingly athletic and wonderfully expressive," "heavenly," "smart" and "masterly," and garnered numerous recognitions for the dance company, including Austin Critics Table awards for Best Choreographer, Best Dance Concert, Best Dancer, Best Duet, Best Lighting Design, and Best Ensemble. The company has performed throughout Texas as well as in New York City, Chicago, San Francisco, and Toronto, and her "Lake Dances" were featured in Arts + Culture Texas, Arts Journal, and Dance Magazine. Kathy had a BA in Modern Dance from The University of Texas and an MFA in Performance and Choreography from Florida State University. She taught at Florida State, Stephen F. Austin State University, St. Edwards University, The University of Texas, and Austin Community College. She taught modern dance for both recreational and professional dancers at Café Dance; provided professional development for educators; directed artist residencies for high schools and universities; and served as a mentor for Austin Emerging Arts Leaders. In 2015, Kathy founded Austin Dance Festival, an annual modern dance event that hosts professional dance showcases, master classes, and a Youth Edition that includes non-competitive showcases forteens 13-18, a Pro Chat Q&A, and a college fair. In 2018, Kathy was inducted into the Austin Arts Hall of Fame as "a model for the artist who approaches each project in a spirit of experimentation and reinvention."
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From Iowa to Juilliard, from Israel to screens, Bobbi Jene Smith's Journey through dance is anything but ordinary and defies borders and expectations! In this episode, we are joined by internationally acclaimed dancer, choreographer, and filmmaker Bobbi Jene Smith. Known for her deeply personal and raw approach to movement, Bobbi shares the milestones that shaped her path; from leaving home at the age of 11, to ultimately moving to Israel to join Batsheva Dance Company. Bobbi opens up about the challenges of living abroad and the profound ways in which her relationship with dance evolved through her time in Israel before reflecting on her decision to leave Batsheva and return to the US. We also hear about her transition to dance filmmaking, her current projects, and what it means to her to continuously practice and live through her craft. Finally, Bobbi leaves us with thoughtful reflections on identity, artistry, and her hopes for the future. Thanks for tuning in! 
Key Points From This Episode:
Welcoming today's guest, Bobbi Jene Smith. 

Bobbi Jene tells us about her background in dance. 

What the summer program at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School was like. 

Moving away from home at the age of 11 and ending up at Juilliard. 

How the Juilliard environment differed from Bobbi's previous studies. 

Bobbi Jene walks us through the logistics of moving to Israel and what it felt like. 

How Bobbi Jene reconnected with her love for dance. 

The challenges that came with being in Israel for so long. 

Bobbi Jene tells us about some of her favorite performances.  

How she decided to leave Batsheva Dance Company and move back to the US.

The importance of continuously practicing your craft. 

How Bobbi Jene got into creating dance films and what she's working on now. 

What Bobbi Jene's hopes and dreams are for the future.

For more on Bobbi Jene with Show Notes & Links: The Moving Architects
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Morgan Teel is the mind behind Dance Waterloo, an organization making dance more accessible through site specific and site responsive shows in Austin, Texas. During this episode, she joins us to share the story of how she first fell in love with dance, what deepened her knowledge of choreography, and the motivation behind launching Dance Waterloo. Morgan also shares what first drew her to site-specific work and how Austin audiences have embraced it, from intimate community performances to larger shows like Quixotic States at the Zilker Hillside Theatre Stage. We discuss her inventive projects, including a spelling bee themed dance production, and how she works to make the creative process as visible as the final product. Along the way, she reveals where she finds inspiration for her pieces and why accessibility, experimentation, and community connection remain at the heart of her vision for Dance Waterloo's future.
Key Points From This Episode:
Morgan Teel's introduction to the world of dance as a child.

Applying for colleges and honing her skills as a choreographer. 

What motivated Morgan to start Dance Waterloo: making dance more accessible.

Naming Dance Waterloo, fundraising, and putting on their first show under an overpass.

How dance classes for families allow children to see their parents as equal collaborators.

The legacy Morgan hopes to build with Dance Waterloo.

How she is working with Austin's senior population.

The spelling bee dance production she recently put on. 

Where she finds inspiration for her pieces. 

How she is working to make the process of dance visible beyond the product of it. 

Quixotic States: a dance show at the Zilker Hillside Theatre Stage. 

Plans for the future: dancing with teenagers.

How Morgan cross-pollinates her skills.

For more on Morgan with Show Notes & Links: The Moving Architects
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Joining Erin on Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast today is Mickela Mallozzi. Mickela is a four-time Emmy® Award–winning host and executive producer of Bare Feet with Mickela Mallozzi, a PBS and Amazon Prime travel series celebrating global dance traditions. A professional dancer and trained musician, she travels the world exploring how everyday people express their cultures through movement.  In today's conversation, Erin and Mickela delve into the origins of her dance journey, how a middle-of-the-night dream blossomed into her life project, Bare Feet, and she recounts the impact of growing up in an immigrant family on both herself and the TV show. Mickela unpacks how she worked hard to get her show off the ground, in the process starting a blog, and emphasizes the weight of storytelling in producing the episodes. She touches on what it's like going into different cultural settings, how she has overcome challenges throughout the year, and when she realized that Bare Feet was more than just a travel show! To hear more about Mickela's incredible journey, including how she navigated the ins and outs of the COVID-19 pandemic, and what hopes and dreams are coming into fruition in the near future, be sure not to miss out on another insightful episode. Thanks for listening!
Key Points From This Episode:
Mickela shares the origins of who she is and her dance journey.

How she took a middle-of-the-night dream and made it an award-winning TV Show reality.

She recounts growing up in an immigrant family with an amazing storytelling Nonnapina.

Mickela talks about Bare Feet, the TV Show, and the features of immigrant families in NYC. 

"The Plan" before Bare Feet came to be.

Mickela shares how dance returned to her life.

She tells the story of getting Bare Feet off the ground and ultimately starting her blog.

The story of sneaking into a PBS conference and how it panned out.

Mickela emphasizes the weight of storytelling on Bare Feet.

The importance of working hard and intentionally pursuing what you're called to do.

She talks about the hard juxtaposition of finding funding and support for the show.

Mickela breaks down what it's like going into culturally different communities and learning from the people, the dances, and the spaces. 

The difference between cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation. 

Overcoming challenges throughout the years: Mickela shares a real-life example of "figuring it out."

For more on Mickela with Show Notes & Links: The Moving Architects
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