The Ballerinatist

Mollie Sansone, a dancer with Nashville Ballet since 2004, shares her 17 year history learning one ballet in the repertoire. As the company prepares to debut a digital reimagining of Artistic Director Paul Vasterling’s work, Seasons , Mollie reflects on how the work has transformed, what it’s like being back in the studio with her colleagues, and shares a glimpse of her process bringing her role i...

Christopher Rutt will be retiring this year from twenty years as the Dance Coordinator for New Trier High School in Illinois where he leads the Menz Dance program. He completed undergraduate studies in literature at Cleveland State University and graduate studies in dance at California State University-Long Beach. Chris shares about his start in dance, his love for movement, and anchoring his work...

Stefan Zubal, a dance educator and performing artist, joins Be En Pointe to share his expertise in crafting experiences for personal fulfillment. Stefan danced professionally with Richmond Ballet and Fort Wayne Ballet, completed undergraduate studies in Theatre at Purdue University Fort Wayne and his MFA in dance at Florida State University - where, you guessed it, we met. Stefan has worked as a c...

Kathryn Avery Myers is a dancer, fitness trainer, and model based in New York City.  As a former captain of the Brooklynettes Dance Team, she believes in the power of fitness to make you feel, operate, and love better. She is an Instructor with Obe Fitness which means you can take class with her from anywhere in the world. Kathryn shares her journey about overcoming self-doubt, establishing a powe...

Mr. Pedro, as his dancers call him, holds space near to my heart as he became Artistic Director of Southwest Virginia Ballet, my former dance studio. A native of Venezuela, he performed with Ballet Nacional of Caracas, New York Dance Theatre, and with Richmond Ballet. He coached, taught, and choreographed for the School of Richmond Ballet, Chesterfield Ballet School, and Wheelchair Miss Richmond....

For twenty years, Anni Luneau has focused her passion for the performing arts in non-profit management through planned and individual giving, with an emphasis on strategic planning. Her background includes working for institutions such as New York City Ballet, the 92nd Street Y, The Joyce Theater, PEN America, and now as CEO of her own consulting firm assisting small non-profits and philanthropist...

Neme Alperstein, a recently retired gifted education teacher of 28 years with the New York City Department of Education and partner teacher in The Joyce Theater’s K-12 dance education program, shares her depth of co-curricular teaching and learning experience and her joyful tenacity in advancing educational standards. Her thirst for knowledge is ongoing as she is a doctoral student in Teaching and...

Dr. Yoav Kaddar shares his perspective on finding your path in dance. He stresses the importance of valuing the fullness of a dance education - it offers way more than just technique class. His experience in dance began with folk dance which defined his role in shaping community whether as the current director of the WVU Dance Program , founding its Summer Dance Academy, or as president of the WV...

Be En Pointe host Melissa shares from her personal experience working for various organizational structures and how establishing value for herself translated to clarity in professional choices, improved compensation and working conditions. Ultimately, maintaining one's own value serves the value of the performing arts industry. If you haven't checked out Americans for the Arts' report on Arts &amp...

She’s the kind of dancer that will stop you in your tracks with her intensity, magnetic presence, and technical ease. Sheree Harper is a freelance performer, choreographer, teaching artist, and proud member of Actors’ Equity Association. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Dance from the University of Alabama and a Master’s Degree in Dance from Florida State University. She has studied under artists...

Melissa shares her experiences moving through various performance and administrative roles. Promotions have purposeful meaning when they support your goals and values. Taking time to observe what the value system in place and at play in an organization will indicate where or how you’ll find success (or not).

Barry Blumenfeld honors the joy and delight of moving with a dedication to creating spaces for students to express themselves. In this episode, he shares about integrity in dancemaking, defining one’s own path, and boldly embracing challenge. He has been a dance educator in a wide range of environments from pre-schools, studios, public and private K-12 schools to universities, including American U...

While not a dancer, Megan is no stranger to high performance environments and pressures. She was a D1 track and field athlete at Penn State from 2004-2008. Through the personal experience of an eating disorder along with a passion and education in positive body image and eating disorder awareness in athletics, Megan co-founded The F.L.Y. Movement which provides educational workshops to cultivate s...

What does it look like to establish safety and trust in a movement environment? Dancer, choreographer, and educator Rachel Rugh shares her process and experience with a perspective towards accessing agency, maintaining partnerships, and investing in one's creative practice. Learn more about Rachel: http://rachelrughdance.org/about-ba Questions about dance education and training? Visit https://www....

Bill Wade, founder and artistic director of Cleveland-based Inlet Dance Theatre, joins Be En Pointe. I first encountered Bill’s work through a mutual friend and have had the pleasure of seeing him at work in the studio with his company and seeing the premiere of his work in collaboration with author Kobi Yamada’s “What do you do with an idea?”a few years ago. Bill received the 2012 Cleveland Arts...

Nashville-based physical therapist, Dr. Elizabeth Harrison Tilstra, shares about her personal experiences in dance training and career as a professional dancer. Tilstra received training at Cincinnati Ballet and University of Cincinnati's College Conservatory of Music before dancing professionally with Joffrey Ballet and Nashville Ballet. Tilstra provides physical therapy services to pre-professio...

Melissa Brading, a former colleague of mine from The Joyce Theater, joins Be En Pointe to share about her career as a dancer, choreographer, and movement educator. She received her BFA in Dance Education from the University of Central Oklahoma and danced professionally in Houston, TX and later in New York City for choreographers such as Hope Boykin, Amanda Selwyn, Chris Ferris, among others. Melis...

Bethany Sullivan is a Nashville native currently residing in Iowa as she completes her MFA in Dance at the University of Iowa. She also has her BFA in Dance and worked as independent, multi-disciplinary collaborator prior to pursuing her MFA. Bethany shares her process for choosing work, recognizing fear, and choosing bravery. She is candid, sincere, and provides a perspective of optimistic wisdom...

Melissa talks through ways of giving and receiving feedback for maximum impact. Quality feedback inspires, motivates, and empowers you to move forward towards your goals. Also, practicing a mindset to receive/give feedback in the way you would want someone else to receive/give feedback creates an environment for harmony and support. As dancers, feedback, criticism, opinion, and artistic viewpoints...

Melissa interviews Dr. Jessica Herzogenrath, a dance writer, educator, and researcher on her path in academia. Herzogenrath shares about what movement research can look like, creating opportunities in hybrid spaces, and advocating for the field of dance outside its traditional or expected environments. Learn more about this episode's guest: https://jessicarayherzogenrath.org/about/ Visit www.emcee...

Melissa offers ten tips as launch pads to continue building your passion, ability, and possibilities as a dancer outside the studio. Taking ownership of a career dance requires constantly feeding inspiration and motivation to uncover the next step in your journey. Visit www.emceemovement.com for more resources on dance education and career development.