The Background Dancer
The Background Dancer sheds light on critical aspects underpinning the dance and performing arts industry through topics ranging from management, entrepreneurship, education, technology, fashion, choreography, politics, interdisciplinarity, media and wellness. Host Jason Yap details fascinating and useful information to help deepen your knowledge of all things offstage, while exploring and preparing together for a post-performance career. Listen in for a bi-weekly conversation with dance lovers from across Asia, Europe and the US, sharing experiences and practices that are both intimate and insightful. Jason is a dance artist, multidisciplinary producer and psychology graduate himself. Despite not pursuing it vocationally, he has still adopted many of psychology's approaches throughout his professional life - the concept of multiplicity and the performing arts as a 'whole that is bigger than the sum of its parts' ecosystem. Ready to talk all things dance? Join us as we begin to foreground Dance in the Background!
Episodes
84 episodes
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...
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Season 3
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Episode 6
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55:28
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 ...
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Season 3
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Episode 5
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1:22:22
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...
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Season 3
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Episode 4
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1:08:40
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...
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Season 3
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Episode 3
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1:00:41
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...
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Season 3
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Episode 2
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1:03:11
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...
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Season 3
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Episode 1
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56:11
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 ...
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Season 3
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Episode 12
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58:47
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...
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Season 3
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Episode 11
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56:06
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...
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Season 2
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Episode 22
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24:32
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...
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Season 2
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Episode 21
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23:05
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...
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Season 2
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Episode 20
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56:47
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...
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Season 2
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Episode 19
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1:04:21
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...
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Season 2
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Episode 18
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1:01:33
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...
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Season 2
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Episode 17
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59:49
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 ...
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Season 2
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Episode 16
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48:12
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...
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Season 2
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Episode 15
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59:17
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...
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Season 2
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Episode 14
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56:31
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...
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Season 2
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Episode 13
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1:01:10
Grooving to Choreorobotics | Kate Sicchio
When Boston Dynamics, an engineering and robotics design company went viral for successfully creating the now famous Atlas dancing robots video, it caught more than a few people in the world of dance by storm. Would our jobs be threatened by ro...
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Season 2
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Episode 12
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48:41
Into the Jackrabbit Hole | Mark Mahoney
SaaS, also known as software as a a service or web-based software, operates on a subscription basis, providing users with centrally hosted solutions accessible anytime, anywhere. This model has transformed countless industries, includi...
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Season 2
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Episode 11
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56:46
Creativity in Screendance | Mike Tyus
Long before the formulation of the world’s first MA in Screendance by the LCDS, the genre had already dated as far back to the early days of cinema. Gene Kelly emerged as a prominent figure during the 1940s and 50s after he starred in and co-di...
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Season 2
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Episode 10
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47:30
Puppetry in Dance Theatre | Duda Paiva
While most of us aspiring contemporary dancers will decide to undergo formal training under the foundations of Graham, Cunningham, Limon and various others, a small subset has diverted into the wondrous world of puppet theatre. One such perform...
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Season 2
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Episode 9
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46:50
Dance of Costume Design | Rike Zöllner
Costumes, costumes, costumes... they are everywhere, aren't they? From festive occasions to theatrical performances and even on the silver screen in movies. Whilst studying dance, I was always captivated by the costume design at the School of T...
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Season 2
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Episode 8
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41:52
Tailoring a Dancewear Venture | Sandra Meynier Kang
As a dancer, have you ever wondered about the significance of the clothes on your back? For most, the selection of brands and gear is a deliberate choice, a conscious decision shaping their dance journey. A notable name in this arena is <...
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Season 2
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Episode 7
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1:08:25
Dance Medicine at Harkness | Dr. Donald Rose
Have you ever suffered a catastrophic injury? How does one recover and regain peak condition following damage to the anatomy? Amidst the many inherent challenges within the dance sphere — a beacon of hope shines at the NYU Langone Orthopedic Ho...
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Season 2
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Episode 6
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59:25