Welcome to On Dance, a LMU-sponsored podcast with a new take on the dance review. Hosted by Laura Ann Smyth and Taryn Vander Hoop, this show provides a dynamic space to have risky and candid conversations with world renowned choreographers about their art-making process. Get ready to have your creative mind inspired.
The Power of Repetition: Jeremy Nedd on Community, Choreography & Copyright
Today we're joined by Brooklyn-born, Switzerland-based choreographer Jeremy Nedd, whose work explores the intersections of social dance, performance, community, and cultural authorship. After training in New York and performing with artists including Kyle Abraham, Jeremy relocated to Europe in 2010 and is now based in Basel, where he creates boundary-pushing contemporary performance that bridges Black vernacular dance, conceptual choreography, and popular culture.
In this conversation, we discuss Jeremy's acclaimed work, from rock to rock… aka how magnolia was taken for granite, which we experienced at UCLA's Freud Playhouse. Inspired by the viral Milly Rock dance and the copyright lawsuit surrounding its use in Fortnite, the work asks provocative questions about ownership, authorship, cultural appropriation, and who profits from Black cultural production.
Together, we explore Jeremy's creative process, the importance of building choreography through genuine community and long-term collaboration, the artistic power of repetition, and how ordinary movement can reveal extraordinary meaning. We also discuss thoughtful dance criticism, creating work that sparks conversation rather than certainty, and Jeremy's advice for the next generation of artists.
Resources
Learn more about Jeremy Nedd: https://www.jeremynedd.com/
Read the L.A. Dance Chronicle review referenced in this episode: https://www.ladancechronicle.com/reconnecting-with-culture-in-jeremy-nedds-from-rock-to-rock-aka-how-magnolia-was-taken-for-granite/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
LMU Dance: https://cfa.lmu.edu/programs/dance/
30 Jan 2025
A Community of Memory — On Scat!… The Complex Lives of Al & Dot, Dot & Al Zollar with Jawole Willa Jo Zollar
Today we’re joined by the esteemed and incredible Jawole Willa Jo Zollar.
Growing up in Kansas City, Missouri, Jawole earned her B.A. in dance from the University of Missouri at Kansas City and her M.F.A. in dance from Florida State University. In 1980 Jawole moved to New York City to study with Dianne McIntyre at Sounds in Motion, and in 1984 Jawole founded Urban Bush Women (UBW) as a performance ensemble dedicated to exploring the use of cultural expression as a catalyst for social change.
In this conversation, we discuss Scat!… The Complex Lives of Al & Dot, Dot & Al Zollar which we saw at the Mark Taber Forum. We’ve both seen Urban Bush Women live previously, but this performance was distinctly magical.
Together we explore the choreographic and creative process of developing such a collaborative work, the process of creating a deeply personal piece inspired by her parents, and why Jawole made the choice to be onstage herself. We also unpack the nuances of what it means to be an interdisciplinary artists and why it may be time to reimagine what that looks like.
Resources
Learn more about Scat!… The Complex Lives of Al & Dot, Dot & Al Zollar
Learn more about Jawole Willa Zollar
Learn more about Urban Bush Women (https://urbanbushwomen.org/)
9 Dec 2024
Dance as Dialogue — On Cion: Requiem of Ravel’s Boléro with Gregory Maqoma
Internationally renowned dancer and choreographer Gregory Maqoma shares insights into his critically acclaimed piece Cion: Requiem of Ravel’s Boléro, exploring the fusion of different traditions and forms in dance.
2 Dec 2024
The Tension of Circus — On Circa: Humans 2.0 with Yaron Lifschitz
Circa Artistic Director Yaron Lifschitz shares insights on the tension of circus and its distinction from mainstream culture, revealing the purpose and power of contemporary circus.
25 Jul 2024
Seeking the Language of Each Dance — On Ballet Hispánico's Doña Perón with Annabelle Lopez Ochoa
Welcome back to On Dance. Today we’re excited to be joined by renowned Belgian-Colombian choreographer Annabelle Lopez Ochoa to discuss her production of Ballet Hispánico's Doña Perón, as performed in Los Angeles in July 2024.
In this conversation, Annabelle reflects on the ways her gender has impacted her dance career, why she decided to tell Evita’s story, and how she approaches choreographing a narrative ballet.
We also discuss the role of awards and reviews, what it means to be “famous,” and the differences between the dance world and the ballet world.
Resources
Learn more about Annabelle (https://annabellelopezochoa.com/)
More about Ballet Hispánico's Doña Perón at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
See Ballet Hispánico’s upcoming performances
30 Apr 2024
Dancing with Death — On The Rite of Spring & common ground[s]
Today we’re joined by LMU dance student Katie Tuchi to discuss The Rite of Spring, which was choreographed by the late Pina Bausch and recently performed at The Music Center in Los Angeles.
We also talk about common ground[s], a remarkable work created, performed and inspired by dance icons Germaine Acogny and Malou Airaudo, which was performed before and prepared us for The Rite of Spring.
Tune in as we explore the history of these pieces and the dynamics of age, race, and gender that emerge in the performances.
Resources
The Rite of Spring and common ground[s] at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
Watch a video trailer of the performance (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Va0l_9eh4as)
Learn more about the history of The Rite of Spring (https://www.pinabausch.org/work/sacr)
26 Apr 2024
Celebrating Black Superpowers — On Ink with Camille A. Brown
Welcome back to On Dance. Today we’re thrilled to be joined by Camille A. Brown, a prolific Black choreographer whose work taps into both ancestral and contemporary stories of African American identity.
In this episode, we share our experience seeing Camille and her company perform ink at The Wallis in January 2024.
Camille shares what it felt like to perform in her forties, how she cultivates the culture of her company, and the continuities between concert dance and musical theater.
We also discuss a negative review she received early in her career and how she’s learned whose feedback to take to heart.
Resources
Learn more about Camille (https://www.camilleabrown.org/)
More about the show at The Wallis
8 Feb 2024
Multi-Dimensional Dance Legacies: On Versa-Style with Breeze-lee
Today we’re excited to be joined by Leigh Foaad, aka Breeze-lee, the Co-Founder and Artistic Director of the renowned Versa-Style Dance Company.
In this episode, we share our experience seeing Versa-Style at the Carpenter Center in Long Beach, CA. Then Breeze-Lee joins us to explore the company's journey from its founding in Los Angeles in 2005 to their present-day mission of empowering underserved and marginalized groups worldwide by celebrating Hip Hop and Streetdance culture.
We also discuss the challenges of sustaining an artistic vision amidst the evolving landscape of dance in a digital age.
Resources
Learn more about Breeze-lee (https://versastyledance.org/about/)
Learn more about Versa-Style (https://versastyledance.org/)
18 Jan 2024
Being Willing to Change — On Jungle Book reimagined with Akram Khan
Welcome back to On Dance. In this episode, we’re thrilled to be joined by one of the most celebrated and respected dance artists of today, Akram Khan.
In just over 23 years, Khan has created a body of work that has contributed significantly to the arts in the UK and abroad through the success of imaginative, highly accessible and relevant productions.
In this conversation, we discuss Jungle Book reimagined which we saw recently at the Broad in Santa Monica, CA. Together with Khan, we explore how his dancers became animal characters, the ways he works with his own voice and others, his daughter’s influence in developing the show, and his views on dance reviews.
Resources
Learn more about Jungle Book reimagined
Learn more about Akram Khan Company
Jungle Book reimagined at the Broad
8 Dec 2023
Korean Dance Has Always Been Contemporary — On Noori with DaEun Jung
Today we’re joined by LMU dance student Povi Martinez and Los Angeles based choreographer and dancer DaEun Jung to discuss Jung’s recent work, “Noori,” which premiered at LA Dance Project in November 2023.
Together we unpack how DaEun integrates Korean folk dance into her work and the ways she transmutes those rhythms, movements and images into the LA context. We also learn about the layers of nuance and meaning embedded in everything from the costumes to the reviews of Noori. And we hear about Noori’s upcoming 2024 tour!
Resources
Learn more about DaEun Jung (https://www.daeunjung.com/about)
Noori at LA Dance Project (https://ladanceproject.org/launchla-2022)
16 Nov 2023
Where Science & Dance Meet — On MoonRock with Donna Sternberg
Today we’re happy to be joined by Donna Sternberg, the Founder of LA-based dance company Donna Sternberg & Dancers.
Together we delve into the evolution of the Los Angeles dance scene and how Donna bridges the gap between science and dance in her work.
We also discuss Donna’s latest show, MoonRock, performed in October 2023 at the Wende Museum in Culver City. And we talk about the positive (and negative) power of dance reviews.
Resources
Learn more about Donna Sternberg & Dancers (https://dsdancers.com/)
MoonRock at the Wende Museum (https://wendemuseum.org/program/moonrock/)
9 Nov 2023
World Burning & World Building — On Invertigo Dance Theatre and Formulae & Fairy Tales with Laura Karlin
Today we’re excited to be joined by Laura Karlin, the Founder and Artistic Director of Invertigo Dance Theatre.
Together we explore why Laura founded Invertigo in Los Angeles and how the Theatre centers community support and activism in their work.
We also discuss their recent production, Formulae & Fairy Tales, about Alan Turing, the story of Snow White, and looming questions around AI.
Resources
Learn more about Invertigo Dance (https://www.invertigodance.org/)
Follow Invertigo Dance on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/invertigodance/)
Watch the Formulae & Fairy Tales Sizzle Reel (https://vimeo.com/368144499)
2 Nov 2023
Where Language Fails Us — On A.I.M. by Kyle Abraham
Today we’re joined by Loyola Marymount student Nell Walton to review Kyle Abraham’s A.I.M. which we all saw at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center in September 2023.
Tune in to hear about our favorite solos and duets, as well as the range of emotions evoked throughout the night. Then be sure to subscribe to the show so you don’t miss future episodes.
Resources
A.I.M. by Kyle Abraham at the Carpenter Center
Follow Nell on Instagram @iamnellwalton
Follow Gianna Theodore on Instagram @giannatheodore
18 Oct 2023
God is the Root — On Prophet: The Order of the Lyricist by Marjani Forté-Saunders & Everett Saunders
Welcome to the first episode of On Dance, a new podcast from Laura Ann Smyth and Taryn Vander Hoop, supported by Loyola Marymount University.
Today we’re reviewing Prophet: The Order of the Lyricist by Marjani Forté-Saunders and Everett Saunders, which we saw in September 2023 at REDCAT in Los Angeles.
Then we’re joined by Marjani to discuss the many people who came together to create this work and her influences throughout the process, as well as the impact reviews have had on her career.
Resources
Learn more about the REDCAT performance (https://www.redcat.org/events/2023/7nms)
On Prophet at MCA Chicago in May 2024
Visit Marjani’s website (http://marjaniforte.org/)
Reach and audience
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Podcast Authority Score: 26 / 100
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YouTube
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Engagement
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