Voice of the Artist

Co-hosts Sandy and Danielle dig into interviewing one another. They uncover their differing dance journeys and discuss how each affected their current perspectives and trajectory in dance. Danielle is a lifetime dancer and choreographer and Sandy is a dance director, mentor and owner of Bez Arts Hub.

We welcome back the wise and insightful Linda Arkelian. Linda has a unique and restorative movement practice that incorporates a focus on breath (to awaken the parasympathetic nervous system and reduce stress), core strength, creative expression and group connectivity. She loves to add visual art as a conceptual spark for mindful movement and inspiration. As a former professional ballet dancer (Ro...

Sandy and Danielle step into an intriguing discussion with dancer Shannon Cluff about "body neutrality” vs. “body positivity”. Shannon has an enlightening perspective on how body positivity can still induce an heightened focus on the body and suggests that body neutrality - creating a space where there’s not a need to assess bodies - is often a more life-giving perspective in our studios. Sha...

Maintaining a sense of pleasure and enjoyment in the studio and dance class is always a challenge when there’s so much ‘work’ to be done. Our guest Leslie Kuny, thinks that through play in the studio, you can’t fuel a greater sense of positivity and joy in dance. Leslie is a Co-Owner & Director of Ignite Dance Center in South Surrey BC and has a BFA from Simon Fraser University where...

Join us for a unique look at a movement wellness strategy that targets muscle activation to relaxation to enable optimal movement preparedness and minimal movement injury. Our guest Teresa Ojinma has a unique perspective as an exercise physiologist, Kinesiologist and an Essential Somatics Movement Teacher who cares about the ongoing wellbeing of movers and people everywhere.

Today Danelle and Sandy chat with Dance Artist, Elya Grant - together they unpack the importance of keeping creativity flowing as a dance artist and what it takes to maintain that crucial element in every part of your dance practice. Elya is a graduate of the contemporary dance program Modus Operandi and has been a company member of Out Innerspace Dance Theatre since 2015. She&...

Our Voice of the Artist Podcast host, Sandy Oshiro Rosen is a guest on Family 360 podcast and chat with host Rachel Cram about how dance and movement can be a part of embodiment and wellness, specifically as connected to grief. Sandy is the owner and Creative Director of Bez Arts Hub and is the author of the book Bare - The Misplace Art of Grieving and Dancing

Today, Sandy and Danielle chat with dancer,  choreographer, company director and dance entrepreneur, Joanne Pesusich about launching as a professional, developing a dance career that pivots with age, stage and opportunity, and loving life through it all. Jo has trained in New York, LA and Vancouver and has performed with such notable artists as The Artist formerly known as Prince, The Backstr...

This episode we talk with Andrea Gibson about keys to reimagine our studios as places with provisions for self-care, compassion and mental health considerations.  Andrea is a Self-Compassion and Mindset coach, dance educator and mental health advocate. She is the creator and founder of UNCONDITIONAL the Self-Love movement where she helps women reconnect to their wants & needs & enjoy...

David Cooper is veteran photographer who has a 40 year career of photographing performing arts. He has captured everything from The Stratford Festival to the National Ballet of Canada, to Arts Club Theatre, to Company 605, having worked with some of Canada’s more notable artists. He is a pioneer member of the BC Hall of Fame and a recipient of the Order of Canada. His current interest is in crafti...

Sandy chats with Sarah Brewer Clowes about her unusual entry into dance training and her remarkable approach to training healthy, balanced dancers through compassionate teaching and attending effectively to dancer mental health. Sarah is a master teacher with a career spanning 38 years - having danced with the Munich Ballet, Northwest Florida Ballet, Banff Festival Ballet and Vancouver Opera. She...

Sandy and Danielle talk with Amber Funk Barton about the ever-changing career of the dance artist. Amber reflects on her extensive dance career and now on the shifting dimensions of dance in collaboration with other aspects of the arts. Born and raised in Vancouver, Amber is a cisgendered woman of mixed race descent. She received her training with Goh Ballet Academy, Arts Umbrella, The Banff Centr...

Moe Brody is a co-owner of Harbour Dance Centre Vancouver and director of their Intensive Training Program. As a teenager, Moe trained in dance, but then left it for 10 years before “accidentally” tripping back into the dance world in her 20’s as the leader of the Vancouver Grizzlies’ dance squad—a surprising side gig of her work as part of the staff of the sports team. It forced her to return to...

Sandy Rosen steps into an emotional discussion with contemporary dancer, Charlotte “Scout” Heckel and co-host and dancer/choreographer, Danielle Harvey. Our conversation focuses this time on the dilemma of dance trauma in the studio—it gives parents, instructors and dancers themselves an opportunity to reflect on how to better care for dancers in our studio environments and how we can address our...

Sandy and Danielle chat with Shannon Gombar of Tri-City Dance and Cori Caulfield of Caulfield  School of Dance. Our conversation touches on how to train up healthy dancers, about establishing positive values in our dance studios and  consider things that are most detrimental to a dancer’s development. Shannon and Cori have both been studio owners for a couple of decades and have invaluab...

Sandy and Danielle chat with Andrea Gibson, founder of UNCONDITIONAL the self love Movement and Linda Arkelian, Veteran Ballet professional. In this episode, we address the dancer's journey through the studio experience and how some of our messaging can lead dancers into unhealthy perceptions and undue trauma. Andrea brings 15 years of experience as a dance instructor, choreographer and self-compa...