State of the Arts

This week my podcast welcomes my former Manhattanville College classmate and good friend Haronid Javier a.k.a. Yogi who is a hip hop/Latin dancer, choreographer, humanitarian and world traveler. Back in our school years, he was the founder of the successful Minds in Motion hip hop dance group on campus. He was awarded first place in the "Mr. Manhattanville" talent competition. He was also a flamen...

My guests this week are lead singer Lex Zion and guitarist Zachary Breiman of Lex and the Locals, the hottest 1990's rock cover band in Westchester County, New York. Lex, their gifted vocalist, had once ascended through two rounds of American Idol. She is also a karaoke DJ and plays the guitar as well. Along with receiving a degree in theatre from Bucknell University, Zach also studied music educa...

State of the Arts Episode 24 just released. This week's podcast guest is talented makeup artist and aspiring actress Brandy Renee Baker. Brandy is the cousin of professional actors who appeared on Law & Order, Fatal Attraction, and other productions. Performance has always been an art form she was interested in. Courageously conquering her shyness by taking on one opportunity at a time, she mo...

In celebration of Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, State of the Arts welcomes this week's guest, ballet director and choreographer Marla Hirokawa. A Cum Laude graduate with a degree in dance from the University of California Irvine, she has been the Artistic Director of Covenant Ballet in Brooklyn since 1987, when she founded the prestigious dance school. Since the creation of the Covena...

State of the Arts Episode 22: Mother's Day Special just published! This week an unprecedented, thrilling new episode of State of the Arts. I am joined on my podcast by my mother, Caroline Osborne who is a classically trained pianist, ballroom dance hobbyist, world traveler and classic cinema enthusiast. Born and raised in Hong Kong while it was still a British commonwealth, she grew up speaking bo...

State of the Arts Episode 22: Mother's Day Special just published! This week an unprecedented, thrilling new episode of State of the Arts. I am joined on my podcast by my mother, Caroline Osborne who is a classically trained pianist, ballroom dance hobbyist, world traveler and classic cinema enthusiast. Born and raised in Hong Kong while it was still a British commonwealth, she grew up speaking bo...

State of the Arts Episode 21: Saxophonist, Clarinetist, and Music Teacher Anthony Pellegrini joins me this week on my podcast. This Western Connecticut State University graduate is a music instructor at the Creative Music Center. Luis Fernando Jimenz, Andrew Beals, and Tony Lustig are among the greats whom he has studied with. He has released two original jazz albums, Four and One being one of the...

My podcast guest this week is award-winning musician, songwriter, band leader, entrepreneur and life coach Valerie Romanoff. Her music covers a vast spectrum called "Still, Chill and Thrill." "Still" is music for meditation. "Chill" is music for activation. "Thrill" is music for celebration. A diverse range of music spanning from new age to jazz to rock to the blues to world to funk. The Best Worl...

State of the Arts Episode 19. I'm joined on my podcast this week by playwright, singer, actress, ballroom dance student, travel enthusiast and patron of the arts, Mary Perifimos. She is a member of  The Senior Theatre Acting Repertory (STAR), a theatre organization for senior citizen performers, directors and writers. She was the writer of several comedic plays addressing issues relevant to t...

Jazz Appreciation Month Special. With much excitement, I welcome jazz saxophone great and the founder of the Bob Mover Music Academy, Bob Mover to my podcast. Along with Web Manager/Curriculum Coordinator Jessy Kaiser, Bob Mover gives an informative and fascinating interview about his new online jazz music school. This episode gives listeners a glimpse into the Bob Mover Academy of Music also know...

State of the Arts Episode 17! Women's History Month Special: A Loving Memorial Episode for Yoga Master, Political Activist, Ballroom Dancer, High Fashion Model, Author, Wine Connoisseur and Hollywood Actress Tao Porchon-Lynch (1918-2020). My guests this week are Tao Porchon-Lynch's protégés and spiritual family members, Renee Diamond and Joanna Rajendran. Together we  remember a timeless icon...

State of the Arts Episode 16! My guest this week is award-winning online show producer/actor/director/writer Joshua R. Pangborn who is a dear friend and former classmate of mine from my alma mater, Manhattanville College. With a Bachelors of Arts from Manhattanville, a Doctorate in Literature from St. John's University and a great deal of experience in theatre, Josh founded Sidekick Productions. T...

State of the Arts re-releases a previous episode featuring artist Kelly Sisco who is of Irish-American descent. Kelly is a theatrical performer, visual artist, comedian, singer, graphics designer, writer and the occasional co-host of the Crisis Help radio show on WVOX. Being the daughter of award-winning performing/visual artist and writer, Fran Sisco, Kelly assists Fran on many projects as well....

State of the Arts welcomes professional guitarist, singer and songwriter Sharon Ostrov. This eclectic indie musician is the host and producer of the Staten Island Community Cable variety TV show "The Music Express" and is a reoccurring guest on "The Cool Spot." She has released two Albums: "Strawberry Obsession" and "Emotional Rollercoaster." Since 2007,  she has performed at many venues, eve...

State of the Arts Episode 13 The great Argentine Tango teacher, producer, perfomer and choreographer Sergio Segura is my very special guest. Born in Argentina, he moved to New York City and discovered his talent for the Argentine Tango in New York. After extensive studies and interviews in his native city of Buenos Aires, he has developed a personal understanding of the roots of Tango and its hist...

Tune in this week for a fun episode dedicated to Twinsandi, a YouTube Channel created by a wonderful Palestinian couple. I am thrilled to announce that I am joined by one of my best friends from my Manhattanville College days, Bushra M and her husband Mawafaq who is an architect and co-creator of Twinsandi. They started this channel last year around the same time the pandemic began. Twinsandi focu...

State of the Arts Episode 11. Eleni Antonatos had informal training as a teenager in traditional Greek folk dancing, jazz dancing, and belly dancing which is very popular in the Mediterranean region. Eleni is now a dance instructor at and manager of Mende Dance Studio. Eleni is originally from Greece. She has been dancing, performing, teaching and competing in Social-Style Classic Ballroom Dancing...

State of the Arts Episode 10, The Valentine's Day Special! Being a ballroom dancer, dance instructor (both independently and for Mende Dance Studio) and a podcaster on Spotify isn't easy. I am grateful to have a mate who is also an artist. I am blessed to have my perfect match standing by my side to weather the many storms that come with being in the arts. This week I'm joined by my loving husband...

State of the Arts Episode 9 Black Heritage Month Special! My podcast guest this week is photographer Wesley DeJesus Bruno. Originally from Puerto Rico, he is a senior photography student at SUNY Purchase and he also resides in the Bronx. As an ambitious Gordon Parks Scholarship recipient, Wesley focuses on photographing models of African descent, documenting the growth of his younger brother and c...

My fellow ballroom dance instructor and podcaster Christopher J. Paige is an independent dance instructor who teaches classes as well as private lessons and organizes events in the Staten Island/New Jersey area. He spent sixteen years as a an instructor/choreographer for the Arthur Murray Dance Studio franchise. He was a coach for the Rutgers University Salsa Team for four years. He has appeared o...

State of the Arts Episode 7 published today! My podcast welcomes the talented Manching Tom who is not only a certified yoga, stretch class and ballet instructor, she was also my Uncle Lawrence Lam's former ballet partner. Tune in to an uplifting discussion about health, wellness, artistry, navigating around a pandemic as an artist/fitness instructor and charity work.

A very exciting Episode 6. Recorded on location at Mende Dance Studio with studio owner Mende Kirk who's my employer, mentor and possibly future business partner. He's also a Ballroom Dance Competition Judge Certified by the National Dance Council of America and a member of the NY Society of Dance Studios. An in-depth look at the health benefits of ballroom dancing, its fine artistry, the connecti...

Fran Sisco joins me as my guest this week. Fran is an award winning Indie film maker, a performing artist, a visual artist, a comedian, a radio talk show host, a motivational speaker, a community activist and a certified public accountant. Fran addresses current issues, gives advice for struggling artists and speaks about the many forms of art she undertakes.

"State of the Arts" New Year Special. I'm joined today by Teacher's Assistant Farhana Rahman who's a long-time patron of the local arts, and a life-long  Westchester resident. Farhana shares her thoughts on the struggles local art venues face during this current climate, the creative solutions some places have come up with and hopes for the future.

State of the Arts Holiday Special! State of the Arts welcomes special guests, my cousin Faerie (Christine Lam) who is an Indie singer/song writer and her boyfriend Brian Scagnelli, a modern visual artist. Talks of goals, challenges and perseverance during these unprecedented times with this inspirational couple!