Dance Place Radio

Christopher sits down with long time friends Hervé Koubi and Guillaume Gabriel to talk about the growth and development of Cie Hervé KOUBI since the first time they met 10 years ago!

We sit down with PASSION FRUIT DANCE COMPANY artistic director Tatiana Desardouin and guest host Ama Law to talk about the role or women in hip hop/street dance culture and the work "Dance Within Your Dance" that PASSION FRUIT will be performing on our stage.

Ryan and Quynn Johnson show us just how in sync they really are - from dancing in perfect tandem to finishing each other's sentences. As trains go by in the background, the artistic leadership team behind SOLE Defined gives us the history lesson of our lives and takes us behind the curtain for the world premiere of "Zaz: The Big Easy." See the show this weekend! Tickets on sale now: http://bit.ly/AMPLIFYSOLEDefined

We're sitting down with Wendy Jehlen, Artistic Director of ANIKAYA, to talk about their upcoming DC premiere of "Conference of the Birds." Listen to get insight into international dancemaking, cultural diplomacy, and what drives the fantastic dancers of ANIKAYA. See "Conference of the Birds" in DC on Sat, Nov 2 at 8pm and Sun, Nov 3 at 4pm: https://sforce.co/2ko1sQZ

Hop on the phone with Amanda as she talks with the minds behind Pittsburgh's slowdanger before their show this weekend at Dance Place. Co-Directors Anna Thompson and Taylor Knight talk about their upcoming DC premiere of "empathy machine" and compare notes on artistic process in the digital age. GET TICKETS NOW for Oct 5-6: http://bit.ly/AMPLIFYslowdanger

What better birthday present for artist d. Sabela grimes than his very own podcast? Celebrate this LA artist's trip around the sun with another episode of Dance Place Radio - coming to your straight from sunny Washington, DC! Learn about Sabela's groundbreaking perspective on cosmic Blackness, speculative fiction, and on-stage world building. Plus, Amanda finally gets to ask her favorite party question. Tickets on sale now for Sept 14-15: https://sforce.co/2k7rVSQ Free Art on 8th Performance Sept 12 - TONIGHT!

While Amanda's away, the boys will...talk about artistic processes. Christopher quizzes New Releases Commission recipient Jamal Abrams about his work "meeting blue" which will premiere alongside a stellar line-up of DMV creators. Plus lots of pre-show jam recommendations from the experts - get your playlist ready! See New Releases Showcase with Jamal Abrams, Kasi Aysola, Da’Shown Rawl, Bre Seals, Robert Woofter, and duo Samantha Sobash and Lauren Sotolongo on May 18: https://sforce.co/2ITL99m

Minneapolis' Ananya Chatterjea shares the brilliant mind behind the works of Ananya Dance Theater in advance of her show this weekend. Find out how this Indian and contemporary dance choreographer holds space for women of color and places their stories at center stage. Content Warning: We briefly discuss an instance of domestic violence around eight minutes into the episode. BUY TICKETS: http://bit.ly/DiscoverAnanya

Maria Naidu wants you to rethink what you know about Sweden - it's not all meatballs and mid-century modern furniture! Amanda is joined by guest host Linda Zachrison from the Embassy of Sweden in DC as Maria ramps up to her DC performance this weekend. Maria shares her insight on international arts funding, representation in media and her bucket list of travel destinations. Tickets on sale now for Saturday, March 2 at 8pm and Sunday, March 3 at 4pm! http://bit.ly/DiscoverMariaNaidu

We sit down with Associate Artistic Director of Urban Bush Women Chanon Judson to pick her brain about being an emerging arts leader and staying ahead of the choreographic curve. Also, a sneak peek at her famous wash day routine as we gear up for the DC premiere of "Hair & Other Stories." Tickets for the show are SOLD OUT but you can still join us on Thursday for a FREE community Hair Party and on Friday for a master class at Dance Exchange. Co-presented by CityDance. Full funding credits and more information at danceplace.org.

Are you ready for: a daring paint job? A bicycle course? Construction site realness? Orange Grove Dance, lead by husband and wife duo Matt & Colette, hits the stage this week with the first in their epic tetrology of dance works based a series of Krogol's recurring dreams. Amanda and Christopher try to keep up with their trademark athleticism and dive deep into the watery depths of their deeply collaborative practice. See Orange Grove Dance LIVE in DC: http://bit.ly/DiscoverOGD Read the article in Dance Teacher Magazine: https://www.dance-teacher.com/this-modern-dance-power-couple-does-everything-together-2581202656.html

It's part two of our feature on artists from Contemporary Viewpoints and this time, Christopher cozies up with Artistic Director Hayley Cutler of darlingdance and Artistic Director Robert J. Priore of PrioreDance. In advance of their show on January 12-13, listen to Hayley & Robert spill their ultra-guilty pleasures and their wish lists for DC dance. SEE THE ARTISTS LIVE IN DC: http://bit.ly/DiscoverContemporaryViewpoints

In January, we're celebrating four local modern choreographers at the inaugural Contemporary Viewpoints Festival. Leading up to the show, we sat down with half the roster, Tariq Darrell O'Meally and Britta Joy Peterson, to discuss the surprising connections between their works and how they've forged a place for themselves in the local scene. Plus, get ready for Tariq & Britta's top picks for this year's hottest sci-fi reading. GET TIX TO CONTEMPORARY VIEWPOINTS: http://bit.ly/DiscoverContemporaryViewpoints

Why even have a black box theater if you don't transform it into a open-concept, fully furnished house? That's what Shannon Quinn of ReVision dance company did for her upcoming show at Dance Place. Let's get inside the mind of this local choreographer on the podcast - plus, the surprising song that always tugs her heart strings. See ReVision dance company this weekend! http://bit.ly/DiscoverReVision

Groundbreaking interdisciplinary artist Bill Shannon has a lot on his mind leading up to the DC premiere of "Touch Update." Will his intricate projection-slash-video-slash-costume sculptures survive the postal system? Can he adapt to Dance Place's famous lack of wing space? How's our country's slow backslide into a fascist police state going? Thankfully, Christopher and Amanda are here to talk it out - plus, Bill's hot new house music rec of the week! See Bill Shannon LIVE in DC on Nov 10-11: http://bit.ly/DiscoverBillShannon

We catch up with long-time DC fav, Helanius J. Wilkins, in advance of his WORLD PREMIERE at Dance Place this weekend. Reminisce about the good ol' days and get the inside scoop on Helanius' future projects - plus, hear our definitive Real Housewives Thunderdome casting. Support live performance - come see the show: http://bit.ly/DiscoverHelaniusJWilkins

It's official! We're back for another season of insider scoops, behind the scenes insight and more from the artists in our theater! In advance of her show this weekend, we cozied up with Miami's Rosie Herrera to hear all about the process for her new work as well as shortlist of all her artist inspirations. Plus Rosie tells us how she REALLY feels about ballet! Get your tickets for Rosie Herrera Dance Theatre THIS WEEKEND: http://bit.ly/DiscoverRosieHerrera

In our season one finale, Amanda and Christopher cozy up with local fav, Sarah Beth Oppenheim, in advance of her company's show at Dance Place. As one of our Inaugural Artists in Residence, we wanted to get the scoop of Heart Stück Bernie's one-woman show "Snake Telegram" and Sarah's opinion on French New Wave, audience participation and the gig economy. Get your tickets for Heart Stück Bernie THIS WEEKEND: http://bit.ly/DPHeartStückBernie18

In our special DanceAfrica, DC edition of the podcast, we get an exclusive first listen to our new oral history initiative to preserve the voices and viewpoints of this landmark festival. Mama Sylvia Soumah shares her memories of and hopes for African dance heritage in DC before her words are archived in the Library of Congress. THE FESTIVAL IS THIS WEEK! Make sure to grab your tickets and join us for classes, performances and free outdoor fun: http://www.danceplace.org/news/danceafrica-dc-2018/ DanceAfrica, DC is supported through leading funding from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, an agency supported by the National Endowment for the Arts. Saturday performances sponsored by The Menkiti Group and InReach performance sponsored by Giant Food. Additional support provided by The Washington Informer. The DC Oral History Collaborative is a partnership of HumanitiesDC, The Historical Society of Washington, D.C. and the DC Public Library.

What better time to sit down with Sean Dorsey than just in time for Trans Pride Week in DC! Amanda catches up with this long-time Dance Place partner in between his Virginia and DC premiere of "BOYS IN TROUBLE." Also, I find out Sean's secret tour vice and the origins of the company warm-up playlist. Buy your tickets to see Sean Dorsey Dance on May 19-20: http://bit.ly/DPSeanDorsey

We sit down with MK Abadoo and Vaughn Ryan Midder in advance of "Wake Up!" at Dance Place on May 5-6. We are joined by special guest host, Carol Foster from the International Associate of Blacks in Dance as we chat about HBCUs, PWIs, AKA, and all the acronyms you can shake a stick at. Also, MK reveals her sordid past as a Rockette trainee. There's one more chance to see the show, tonight at Dance Place! Get your tickets: http://bit.ly/MKAbadootix

Grab a coffee and settle in for a great interview with New York City's Raja Feather Kelly! Christopher and Amanda learn more about his process, his upcoming show at Dance Place and his newsworthy call-out of the nationwide funding structure for dancemakers in Dance Magazine. Also, we make the case for Carly Rae Jepsen as high art. Buy Tickets to see Raja's the feath3r theory LIVE on April 21-22: bit.ly/DPthefeath3rtheorytix Read Raja's Op-Ed in Dance Magazine: https://www.dancemagazine.com/i-hate-grant-writing-2540985393.html This presentation of the feath3r theory’s "Another F*cking Warhol Production" was made possible with generous support from Lumberyard (formerly American Dance Institute) through its DC Metro Touring Initiative and is funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.

DC Dance is so packed with incredible creators that we're delivering you a two-for-one podcast. Amanda and Christopher are joined by Keira Hart-Mendoza, whose company UpRooted Dance is performing this weekend on April 7-8 with a fun, high-concept design and dance experience. We've paired her with Adrienne Clancy, Director of ClancyWorks Dance Company, whose full-throttle premiere is next week on April 14-15. Together, they reveal the subtle politics of leading while female and what drives their unique points of view. Buy Tickets to see UpRooted LIVE on April 7-8: http://bit.ly/uprootedtix Then grab a spot at ClancyWorks on April 14-15: http://bit.ly/DPClancyWorksResilience

The interviewer becomes the interviewee! Christopher K. Morgan talks process and dishes the dirt of living a double-life in front of and behind the curtain. Also killing the game on- and off-stage, Assistant Director Tiffanie Carson clues us into her new fitness regime. Amanda Blythe is joined by fabulous guest host Ellen Chenoweth the Interim Director of the Dance Presenting Series at The Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago. Buy your tickets to Christopher K. Morgan & Artists' Resident Company debut: http://bit.ly/DancePlaceCKMA

Stealth Dance Place alum and multidimensional hip-hop artist Dahlak Brathwaite joins us on the podcast! Get an inside perspective on his process, his self-care routine and his special relationship with DC. Then see him this weekend at Dance Place: March 9 & 10 at 8pm! Buy tickets at bit.ly/DahlakTix

We had so much fun with Matthew & Michelé that we just...kept recording! If you just can't get enough of these kweens, listen to find out the racy origin of "Gardens" and who gets voted off the island. **Some mature language!** Buy Tickets to see the premiere of Dance Exchange's "Growing Our Own Gardens": bit.ly/danceexchangetix

A couple weeks before their show, the Dance Exchange team swung by to chat with Amanda & Christopher about "Growing Our Own Gardens," an intergenerational dance work unearthing DC's LGBTQ+ histories. Associate Artistic Director Matthew Cumbie and his castmate Michelé Prince get into the nitty gritty of building a premiere, working collaboratively and being open to community input. Buy Tickets to see the premiere of Dance Exchange's "Growing Our Own Gardens": http://bit.ly/danceexchangetix

Director Randy James and Associate Director / Dancer Alex Biegelson rest their tired, presumably hairy legs to chat about their upcoming Dance Place show, logistics of repertory work and performing for choreographers like Stephen Petronio and Doug Elkins. Buy Tickets to see 10 Hairy Legs LIVE in DC: http://bit.ly/10HLTIX

In our debut episode, Christopher and Amanda dive into the complex and poignant work of Illinois’ Cynthia Oliver. How does it feel to hit Brooklyn Academy of Music, Columbia College Chicago and Dance Place in the same tour? Plus, Cynthia talks about the importance of consent in the studio. Buy Tickets to see Cynthia Oliver LIVE in DC: http://bit.ly/CynthiaTickets