5.6.7.EIGHT

This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Kelly Maryanski, who is currently primarily working as a freelance aerialist. Historically, Kelly has been a dancer, aerialist, choreographer, actor, singer, musician, and even sometimes dabbles in freelance illustration. Prior to the COVID outbreak, Kelly was preparing to perform as an aerialist and actor in the Lyric Opera's RING Cycle. Kelly also...

This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Sherry Zunker — Artistic Director, Choreographer, Creative Director, Theater Director and Founder of BeMoved® Dance based out of Chicago, Illinois. Sherry has a stunning resume, boasting a 35-year-long run as a dance teacher and working as a creator, director, and choreographer on over 35 productions for Royal Caribbean International. Sherry also ha...

This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Kate Jablonski, owner and artistic director of Beyond Words Dance Company, The Kate Jablonski Statement, and Camp Kate. Jablonski — a graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago — has danced for some of the greatest teachers and choreographers on the East Coast and has garnered several accolades such as a Gold Leo's Award and a Capezio A.C.E. A...

This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Rebecca Davis and Bashir Karenzi of MindLeaps — a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the education of vulnerable children around the world through creative arts. Davis, who is the Founder and Executive Director of MindLeaps, holds several degrees and had an extensive dance career prior to taking over the nonprofit. Karenzi, who is Technic...

This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Reesie Davis, CEO and Founder of Praize Productions . Davis, who holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in education from Indiana University, taught for five years in public education prior to establishing her company. In her current role, Davis uses her platform to create award-winning productions infused with socially conscious messaging and to h...

This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Kathleen McGuire Gaines, founder at Minding the Gap , fundraising consultant, and contributing writer at Dance Magazine . As a dancer, Kathleen trained at various dance academies, before circumstances forced her to pivot her career towards writing. As a writer, she has published countless articles for prominent dance publications, mostly revolving a...

This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Christopher Stuart, Resident Choreographer for the Nashville Ballet . Stuart, a graduate of the North Carolina School of the Arts, spent an astounding 16 seasons at the Nashville Ballet, ultimately rising to the ranks of principal dancer. Christopher describes his choreography as "free and limitless," and his work has been featured in many companies...

This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Alicia Graf Mack — a veteran dancer, the director at the world-renowned Juilliard School, and the co-founder of the D(n)A Arts Collective , which seeks to enrich the lives of young dancers through master classes and intensives. Graf Mack's accolades include being named American Innovator of the Arts and Sciences by Smithsonian Magazine , receiving t...

This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Jessica Deahr, who is currently in her eighth season as Artistic Director at Chicago Dance Crash . Her work includes lengthy story ballets such as the award-winning The Bricklayers of Oz , which was named Chicago Tribune 's Best Dance in 2017 and Dance Magazine 's Most Inventive New Work. Towards the beginning of her career, Jessica also did commerci...

This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Elena Vostrotina, principal dancer at the Zurich Ballet. Since 2003, Elena has been internationally performing for some of the world's most esteemed dance companies and choreographers. Having been formally trained at the famous Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet, Elena went on to achieve her dream of dancing at the Mariinsky Ballet, as well as the Se...

This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Paige and Kunal Moudgil, a husband-and-wife duo who have combined their business acumen and dance expertise to create PointePeople — a company that is building products and a community to enrich the lives of dancers, globally. Paige is a seasoned dancer who holds a BFA in Dance from the prestigious Tisch School of the Arts at NYU. Kunal spent over ei...

This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Jennifer Stahl, Editor-in-Chief of Dance Magazine . Jennifer holds a bachelor's degree of fine arts in dance and journalism from New York University. As a dancer, Stahl has danced for a number of well-known choreographers such as Karole Armitage and Gali Hod. As a journalist, she has written for a number of well-known publications such as The Atlant...

This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Caitlin Trainor, Founder of Dancio and Artistic Director at Trainor Dance, Inc. Trainor, a Rhode Island native, received a Masters of Fine Arts in dance before moving to New York City to work with various companies and choreographers. In 2011, Caitlin founded her own company — Trainor Dance — where she currently serves as Artistic Director. Caitlin a...

This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Margaret Fuhrer, Editor in Chief of Dance Spirit magazine. Margaret holds a bachelor's degree from Princeton University and a master's degree in journalism from New York University. Margaret went on to be a dance writer and editor for various publications, including The Huffington Post. She is now the Editor in Chief of Dance Spirit magazine, Conten...

This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Terry Hyde, a psychotherapist at Counselling for Dancers , where he offers support specifically for dancers dealing with emotional and mental health issues. Terry's journey into psychotherapy has been extremely unique. Upon retiring from a seasoned dance career, Terry successfully sold two businesses that were linked to the performance industry. Terr...

This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Darla Hoover, who is currently the Artistic Director of both the Ballet Academy East and the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet (CPYB). Hoover received training from both the CPYB and the School of American Ballet, prior to accepting an invitation to become a member of the New York City Ballet in 1980. After 11 years, Darla retired from the stage and...

This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Elise Swopes, an Instagram superstar who currently boasts over 282,000 followers, has been featured on billboards and commercials, and has partnered with some of the world's biggest brands, including Adidas, Adobe, and Apple. Recently, Swopes has become committed to sharing her methods with the world and encouraging other photographers through her S...

This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Darla Lemay, who has spent nearly three decades as Artistic Director of Stageworks Academy of the Performing Arts , which offers performing arts education to all people, no matter their gender, abilities or financial status. On top of her nearly 28-year-run with Stageworks, Lemay has also directed many different Broadway Productions — such as Annie,...

This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Terence Marling, Artistic Director at COMMON conservatory . A Chicago native, Terence trained at the Ruth Page School under the direction of Larry Long. Upon leaving, Marling danced and choreographed at a wide variety of both domestic and international dance companies, including serving as Rehearsal Director at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and Direc...

This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Alexander MacFarlan, a First Soloist with Ballet West and a lover of learning who is proactively finding ways to help dance professionals that are seeking a career change. MacFarlan, who joined Ballet West in 2007, has enjoyed a number of exciting roles within the company. MacFarlan also holds a bachelor's degree in Consumer Studies from the Univers...

This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Judi Ludovico, Head of Entertainment at JudiLudi Productions . Judi is an accomplished live entertainment industry veteran with over 20 years' experience in marketing and producing large-scale shows and events for iconic entertainment and tourism brands. Some of Judi's biggest accomplishments include organizing two free concerts featuring Blake Shel...

This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Meredith Starr, a professional dancer and dietitian who uses her platform to empower individuals to promote a healthy relationship with food and with their bodies. Starr — a graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago — currently dances with the Outlet Dance Company and the Kate Jablonski Statement and works as a Registered Dietician, focusing...

This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Ariel Rose, a dancer and choreographer at the Miami City Ballet. Rose, who hails from New York City, trained at multiple arts and dance schools before training at the Boston Ballet School on full scholarship. Rose has since danced professionally with a number of renown ballet companies, yet his true passion is for choreography. Ariel's education was...

This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Cindy Clough, the Founder and Executive Director of Just for Kix — a business that, over nearly 40 years, has instructed over 95,000 children through its dance classes, summer camps, and special events. Since its humble beginnings in a single location, Clough's business has since expanded to 2,148 locations nationwide. Cindy is also the award-winning...

This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Katrina Rathbone, Artistic Director and Co-Founder at Outlet Dance Company . Katrina is a graduate of Illinois State University and has danced for both film and the stage. In 2013, Katrina and one of her childhood friends began entertaining thoughts of achieving one of their dreams — opening their own dance company. And, in August of 2014, they did j...