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Jessica and Clara returned to Dance Symposium this year on Sunday, March 5th, interviewing panelists and audience members on concepts and issues of interest to the dance community.  Here’s a quick breakdown of the topics you’ll hear covered in this episode, as well as an extended version with information about each segment:

Minute 0:0 0- 21:17 – Designing the Future of Dance Education

21:18 – 32:28 – New Technologies, New Dance, New Audiences Conversation

32:30 – 36:30 – National Dance Advocacy Workshop

36:31 – End – Igniting Public Passions and Participation in the 21st Century

Minute 0:00 – 21:17 – Designing the Future of Dance Education

Clara attended and interviewed panelists and audience members of this lively panel discussion, which sought to advance the goal of cultural planning underway by New York City by “increasing arts education and cultural activities in the schools of the city school district” (Local Law 46).  It takes as its starting point a presentation of new research findings on arts education activities made available to public school students, both in and out of school time, through the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs and Department of Education, and invites respondents and participants to consider, what is next for dance? What will it take to advance excellence and equity in dance instruction, and what should the dance field recommend for the cultural plan?  How can the schools and dance and culture groups work together to achieve shared goals?

In this section we speak with panelist Zazel-Chavah O’Garra, Axis Dance Company Artistic Director Marc Brew,  Dancewave Artistic Director Diane Jacobowitz, and several dance educators who attended the symposium.

Featured panel speakers in this episode: Zazel-Chavah O’Garra

Minute 21:18 – 32:28 – New Technologies, New Dance, New Audiences Conversation #1

Jessica attended this discussion and interviewed the panelists as well as a couple of audience members.  This discussion started with the question, how have emerging technologies affected the New York City dance community, and what kinds of new platforms are needed to sustain our work?  Curated by Sydney Skybetter, choreographer and professor at Brown University – the panel explored our technological landscape as it pertains to audience engagement, company administration and creative output – as well as the question of what platforms are necessary to make NYC a stable home for artistic dance practice.

Featured panel speakers in this episode:

Ashley Ferro-Murray, Associate curator of Theater/Dance, Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center EMPAC (moderator)

Adam Weinert, Choreographer and Media Artist

Okwui Okpokwasili, Writer, Choreographer, Performer, Performance Maker; Randjelovic, Stryker Resident Commissioned Artist

Minute 32:30 – 36:30 – National Dance Advocacy

Jessica and Clara spoke to Brandon Gryde, Director of Government Affairs at Dance/USA after he led a workshop on National Dance Advocacy.  Now more than ever, the dance field must be ready to advocate on the issues that impact the performing arts field  What are the issues that we should follow? How will our priorities fare under a new administration? In what way can artists, arts administrators, and audiences engage in advocacy and activism to support art making?  His presentation included an overview of the key federal issues that impact dance and how you can become an effective arts advocate.  

Minute 36:31 – End – Igniting Public Passions and Participation in the 21st Century

Jessica attended “Rebel-Clown Choreographer and Marketing Consultant” Jamie Benson’s lively presentation.  After, Jessica and Clara caught up with him to debrief on how he masterfully led eager participants through a presentation of ways to wield the power of immaterial labor in this Web 2.0 World.