DanceTalks

Kenny Louis is a member of RAD Crew. He tells us about what inspired him to dance and how he inspires the next generation. Check him out at https://www.instagram.com/the_klou/ and https://www.facebook.com/bboyKLou.

Janie Yao talks about her journey from China to America, from her mother's living room dance studio to primetime on America's Got Talent. She explores the qualities of Chinese folk, classical and contemporary dance. See her work on America's Got Talent: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCUcCDYs-iM and ABC's Holiday Special: https://youtu.be/HfJU0XiG8QE

Michael talks about recovering from a health crisis through dance therapy. Follow him at https://www.facebook.com/mwhitmire and SALSA GRANDE at https://www.facebook.com/BiggerBetterSalsa. Micheal references this video during the discussion: https://youtu.be/r15MeG9P2g4

Cassandra Anne Ream's programs provide video learning to children and adults to study the precision of movement. The mission behind the courses & digital portfolio is to make advanced education accessible at a price most people can afford. www.Cassandraanneream.com, https:www.instagram.com/cassdandraanneream, https:www.facebook.com/cassandraanneream

Arts Alive! provides inter-disciplinary arts education and specializes in early childhood development. Learn positive and inclusive teaching philosophies from Founder Tina Sabuco and Executive Director Anissa Dwiggins. Online at www.artsaliveinc.com and Arts Alive TV at https://artsaliveinc.com/arts-alive-tv/. Follow them at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpXHemagk4lPUPMD0AJRdug, https://open.spotify.com/user/o7jwnfcgzeys9kr1jmfhiaoxj?si=B9TF3Z3T4iZ7tQGUEU-ZQ, https://www.facebook.com/artsaliveinc, and join their community of educators at https://www.facebook.com/groups/47861236917193. This site - Thinkific - hosts their Professional Development: https://artsalive.thinkific.com/

Janel Caminos talks about travel for social dancing. She is a newly published author of Curly Gyal Affirmations available on Amazon at https://smile.amazon.com/Curly-Gyal-Affirmations-Janel-Caminos/dp/0578754886/. Follow Janel at https://www.instagram.com/janel.danza/ and https://www.facebook.com/jcaminos

Oksana Chernyuk and Kristian Skydanovych share the stories of their journeys to Houston from Ukraine. Listen to how Oksana became the happy woman she dreamed of being when she was a young girl in a snowed-in Soviet village. Follow her company Sunrise International Dance Company at https://www.facebook.com/Sunrise-International-Dance-Company-1385084981804918 and https://www.instagram.com/sunrisedancecompany/

Kathy Wood talks about hard work being the key to success in her career as the founder and artistic director of Fly Dance Company. Follow them at https://www.facebook.com/FlyDanceCompany and https://www.instagram.com/flydancecompany/

Catherine Edwards shares her teaching methods and advice for couples preparing a dance for their wedding, drawing on five years of experience as a choreographer for Wedding Dance Houston. Follow her at https://www.weddingdancehouston.com, https://www.facebook.com/weddingdancehouston, and https://www.instagram.com/weddingdancehou/.

Maestro Isidro Salas tells his story of barriers and breakthroughs sharing Mexican culture through spectacular innovations in ballet folklorico. Follow his company Compania Folklorica Alegria Mexicana (https://www.facebook.com/Compa%C3%B1ia-Folklorica-Alegria-Mexicana-CFAM-150110105187444) on Facebook.

Alex and Victoria Arizpe talk about how Alex, a street dancer with no formal training, became a choreographer and inspirational instructor. They share about their experiences working on a swing ballet commissioned by Ben Stevenson, performing in commercials, and teaching youth at Houston Ballet Academy, St. John's School, The Shriner's Hospital for Children, and Gateway Academy for adolescents with social and learning differences. Connect with them at https://www.facebook.com/alex.arizpe1 and https://www.facebook.com/victoria.arizpe.1.

Rivkah French discusses her creative process as a modern dance choreographer, how the pandemic is helping focus on her true purpose, and how Patreon supports her work. She also advocates for the LGBTQ community in dance. Follow her at https://www.patreon.com/Rivkahfrench, https://www.instagram.com/rivkahfrenchchoreography/, and https://www.facebook.com/RivkahFrenchChoreography/. Check out her piece Concrete Flow at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8MdQ-8Kdd0.

Hindolo Bongay tells how he developed his natural gifts while earning college scholarships, a position in the modern dance company Urban Souls, and a teaching career. Follow him at https://www.facebook.com/hindolo and https://www.instagram.com/hindolobongay/. Visit http://urbansouls.org/ where you can see excerpts from "Blood on the Leaves".

Raul Orlando Edwards explains the big difference between what people in Latin-American countries call dance and what ballroom dancers call Latin dance. He also settles the score about whether you should start on the 1 or the 2. Check him out at www.raulorlandoedwards.com. Follow him at https://www.facebook.com/raul.o.edwards and https://www.instagram.com/rauloedwards/ and his company Strictly Street Salsa at https://www.facebook.com/strictlystreetsalsa and https://www.instagram.com/strictlystreetsalsa/

Kristina talks about Middle Eastern dance and culture. This conversation is a follow-up to a previous episode published May 16, 2020. Learn more at http://www.divinedances.com.

Tina Bose Kumar provides insight into what Bollywood dance is all about that may convince you that it is the most advanced of all dance forms. Find out how she makes magic onstage. Follow her at https://www.instagram.com/tinabose_infused/ and https://www.facebook.com/TinaK.Bose and her company Infused Performing Arts at https://www.instagram.com/infusedperformingarts/ and https://www.facebook.com/InfusedPerformingArts

Elijah Gibson, Founder and Director of Social Movement Contemporary Dance, conveys messages through dance and storytelling. Hear him out and picture how he does it. Follow him at https://www.facebook.com/elijah.a.gibson, and his company at https://www.facebook.com/SMCDances and https://www.instagram.com/socialmovementdance/

LeAndre Douglas talks about why and how he learned to dance, black dance history, and his career as a freelance artist. Follow him at https://www.instagram.com/andredouglas2 and https://www.facebook.com/leandre.douglas.9.

Randall Flinn discusses his journey from disco champion to director of a modern dance company. Follow Randall at https://www.instagram.com/randall_flinn/, https://www.facebook.com/randall.flinn and https://www.addeumdance.org/.

Tracie Jackson talks about West African dances as reflections of every day village life that adapted and transitioned through slavery to provide powerful experiences of release and healing. Follow Tracie at https://www.facebook.com/tracie.jackson.336 and her company Intuitive African Dance and Drum Culture at https://www.facebook.com/Intuitiveafricandance and https://www.instagram.com/intuitiveafricandance/

Chris Thomas talks about the essence of house dance, and how it has propelled his desire to travel the world. Follow him at https://www.instagram.com/yungchrishk/ and https://www.facebook.com/Yungchris-237174069787799

Four decades dancing for Broadway and Hollywood, Dwight Baxter's career involved constant preparation and teamwork. See him at https://youtu.be/xre5z9IPfI8 and follow him at https://www.facebook.com/dwight.baxter.

Sheldon Williams discusses the history and essence of hip hop dance. Follow Sheldon at https://www.instagram.com/tribedon/ and https://www.facebook.com/GhostCrew2010, and his crew iLL TRiBE Dance Crew at https://www.instagram.com/illtribe/. Sheldon references this Ghost Crew video: https://youtu.be/H5OiD13Ldk.

Alde Lewis shares how he made his dreams come true by applying himself and one simple piece of advice. Follow him at https://www.facebook.com/aldelewis/, https://www.instagram.com/aldelewis/, http://bingenow.com/video?vidid=2024, https://www.alefficacymovement.org/.

Joel Aguilera talks about how he came to be a choreographer who blends bboying with Latin jazz music. Follow him at https://www.facebook.com/joel.aguilera.7 and https://www.instagram.com/aguilera_joel.

Kristina talks about Middle Eastern dance and culture. Learn more at www.divinedances.com. Photo by Delise Ward.

Marissa Cantu-Harkless talks about college life as a Texas Strutter, her career directing drill teams for public high schools, and her hopes for this summer's virtual programming. Follow her at www.facebook.com/marissa.cantuharkless and www.instagram.com/@Harkless_dances.

Michael Whitmire talks about sharing culture as a way to make friendships and memories. Follow him at https://www.facebook.com/mwhitmire and SALSA GRANDE at https://www.facebook.com/BiggerBetterSalsa. Micheal references this video during the discussion: https://youtu.be/r15MeG9P2g4

Jeffrey talks about being a sponsored athlete for Monster Energy and his new online training program FitBreak. Follow Jeffrey at https://www.instagram.com/jeffrorad and https://www.facebook.com/jeffrey.louis.90. Follow FitBreak at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPZZ9nUb6E7rZe9lxdNVuJg, https://www.instagram.com/fitbreakgym, and https://www.facebook.com/fitbreakworkout.

Rathna talks about Indian dance history and how it's significance has changed throughout time. Follow her at https://www.instagram.com/rathnapapa and https://www.facebook.com/rathna.kumar.313.

Shamond talks about health and positivity. Follow him at https://www.instagram.com/shayminking and https://www.facebook.com/shamond.powell.

Samantha talks about what contemporary dance is and how she does it. Follow her at https://www.instagram.com/sammy_sossaa and https://www.facebook.com/samantha.taborda.

Maria talks about overcoming a physical disability and loss on her path to doing what she loves. Follow her work at https://www.facebook.com/DANMAR.ACADEMY, instagram.com/danmarstudio, and https://www.youtube.com/umf83.