The Background Dancer
Episodes
91 episodes
Finale: My Final Cast
After three full seasons and more than a hundred entries, it's finally time to lay down my microphone and headphones. In this episode, I will be reflecting upon this almost five year journey from the perspectives of WHAT, WHY, HOW, WHEN and WHE...
Finale: Season 3 Review
We have come full circle yet again and successfully completed another season of the most niche dance content you can find! Part 3 of the season round-up provides a quick run-through episodes 1 - 10. This season was all about the proverbial 'Wea...
The Tao of Movement | Zuna Vesan Kozánková
Growing up in Malaysia within a traditional Chinese household, I realized that I knew very little about my own cultural roots. This wasn’t due to any lack of guidance, but rather a subtle drift — a neglect of curiosity on my part. So when...
Dance's Last Slalom | J-Cast
What concerns weigh heaviest on your mind as a dancer or dancemaker? How do these challenges manifest across different regions of the world? To explore these pressing questions, I’ve gathered two of my favorite fellow podcasters for a heartfelt...
Performing towards Performance Arts | VestAndPage
What is the difference between contemporary dance and performance art?This fusion finds profound representation in the work of VestAndPage, the renowned artist duo comprising Verena Stenke (Germany) and Andrea Pagnes (Italy). Sinc...
Business with the Brainy Ballerina | Caitlin Sloan
While counseling often addresses past experiences and emotional healing, coaching takes a forward-focused approach, empowering individuals to set goals, maximize potential, and achieve personal and professional success.At the heart of th...
Conversation with a Dance Counsellor | Terry Hyde
As we know, dance demands immense physical, emotional, and mental commitment, of which pressures of perfection, rejection, and competition can weigh heavily on dancers. Hence, addressing these challenges requires not just mental health professi...
Communing Dance in Skool | Lauren Ashlee Messina
For far too long, the word “community” has been tossed around as a trendy buzzword, often diluted by vague interpretations and overuse, particularly in the world of dance. Add “online” to the mix, and we’re left navigating an even murkier sea o...
Podcast Killed the Radio Star | Sharmilla Ganesan
Growing up in Malaysia, where arts and culture often faced censorship issues due to political sensitivities, I had limited exposure to unfiltered cultural reporting. That changed significantly when I discovered BFM, a business station ...
Putting My Heels Down | Kara Tatelbaum
It takes a true dreamer to become a dancer, but grit and a bit of luck are often necessary to navigate this challenging world and bring that dream to life. Many dancers know the feeling—when everything seems to be falling into place, the univer...
Contexting Education Policy & Reform | Angela Pickard
With the boom in dance universities and academies worldwide over the past two decades, aspiring dancers today may feel spoiled for choice. Yet, identifying true gems among these institutions is crucial for those seeking professional training ba...
Anatomy of Choice | Alexandra Beller
Alexandra Beller is a choreographer, director, teacher, and writer who has worn many hats throughout her career, and was widely known as a member of the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company between 1995-2001. Since then, she has become...
A Depth Within | Winston Reynolds
After dedicating the past three years to exploring the world of dance through two full seasons focused on its most innovative pioneers and trailblazers, it’s time to shift gears toward a select few who embody multidisciplinary artistry at its f...
Growing Older, Dancing Deeper | Sharon Brach
Bonuses don't end with just the one, as we have yet another fascinating character to introduce to the Background family. What does ageing actually mean in dance? To tackle an issue haven't discussed on this platform, we spoke to a fellow Asian ...
Choreographing Your Dance Career | Janaea Rose Lyn
Before diving into yet another fascinating season of dance changemakers, we first have some bonus episodes to wet your appetite! Season 3 is primarily about multi-faceted artists who wear many hats and are brilliant at them all. When the opport...
Finale: Season 2 Review Part 2
We have come full circle yet again and successfully completed another full season of the most niche dance content you can find! Part 2 of the season round-up provides a quick run-through episodes 11 -20 under the thematic categories of Techn...
Finale: Season 2 Review Part I
We have come full circle yet again and successfully completed another full season of the most niche dance content you can find! Part 1 of the season round-up provides a quick run-through episodes 1 -10 under the thematic categories of Manage...
Dance of International Relations | Urmimala Sarkar Munsi
Established as an independent, non-profit organization, WDA-AP originated as the Asia Pacific Dance Alliance in Hong Kong in 1988. It later became part of the global body, World Dance Alliance (WDA), founded in 1990 by Carl Wolz. In 1993, the n...
Access to AXIS | Nadia Adame
Founded in 1987, California-based AXIS Dance Company has long been at the forefront of redefining dance and disability. Through world-class productions that challenge perceptions, AXIS quickly established itself as one of the first conte...
Palette of the Modern Impresario | Paul Seaquist
One of the most persistent misconceptions surrounding classical ballet is the notion that they are too old-fashioned and rigid. However, true arts enthusiasts recognize its inherent diversity and multi-disciplinarity even in the so-called "olde...
Talking Circus with CircusTalk | Stacy Clark
The memory of my first-ever invert on a pole — when I hung upside down—remains vivid as if it happened yesterday. That experience with the circus arts community in Malaysia opened my eyes to a vast and captivating genre that thrives on its inte...
Accelerating the Dance Creative | Carole Edrich
Positioned as a pre-seed collaborative social enterprise, DanceGRiST was established with the noble objective of elevating the income and status of dancers, multi-skilled artists, and other professionals in the movement arts sector. Led ...
Inside Industry Auditions | Danny Hindmarsh
Shifting from performer to entrepreneur requires not just passion but also a high tolerance for risk and uncertainty. Without a strong appetite for the unpredictable journey ahead, many dancers shy away from the entrepreneurial path. Yet, those...
Transforming the Dance Teacher | Olivia Mode-Cater
Dance education is often likened to a Chinese proverb: 'A minute of work seen on stage takes 10 years of work off stage.' And while talent plays a role, education stands as the primary pillar shaping a dancer's journey. In our exploration of da...
Pioneering Dance as Technique | Anouk van Dijk
A personal story told many times over on this podcast is my journey into dance which commenced gradually through the popular reality TV series, So You Think You Can Dance. While the show's drama took center stage for many, what captiva...
