The Engaged Core: A Dance Podcast
Host and veteran teacher, Alana Hill, explores the symbiotic relationship between dance teachers and students. Through interviews with past students, dance parents, and peer teachers, The Engaged Core puts into perspective how vital teacher/student relationships are in the dancer’s success. Plus, bonus features for dancers, teachers and parents. We all know dance is a complicated art form, literally and figuratively. The Engaged Core connects the dots for those who love the art form and want to make it all make sense.New episodes will drop every Tuesday. For additional content, visit our YouTube Page to see videos of our guests in action. Are you a teacher looking to inspire your students? Join The Engaged Core Teachers Groups on Facebook.
Episodes
19 episodes
Episode Seventeen: Setting Teachers up for Success in the Classroom and Instilling the Love of Dance in Pre-Schoolers w/ “Miss Vikki” Weinberger
In this week’s episode, Award winning dancer and choreographer, Vikki Weinberger, discusses her love of teaching and gives tips on pre-school dance education, an area in which she continues to excel. Are your pre-school classes making you...
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Season 2
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Episode 17
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1:05:00
Episode Sixteen: Balancing Artistic Passion with Academic Expectations w/ Briana Cheng
In this week’s episode, recent college graduate and scholar Briana Cheng, discusses the importance dance played in her scholastic journey. This is a great episode for dancers struggling with pursuing artistic passion in the face of acade...
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Season 2
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Episode 16
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39:11
Episode Fifteen: Choosing the Love of Dance over the Fear of Failure w/ Rachel Matson
In this week’s episode, recent EDC Alumni, Rachel Matson discusses how her unwavering love for dance helped her overcome her fear of failure. Rachel Matson started her dance journey many years ago at Ballet Petite, before seeing a ...
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44:25
Episode Fourteen: Creating Brave Spaces and Mentally Supporting Our Dancers w/ Dr. Damon Silas
A very important conversation about creating healthy, brave spaces for dancers and teachers because we all need support! Dr. Damon Silas has been a psychologist for over 15 years, working with a wide range of populations and issues...
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Season 2
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Episode 14
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51:08
Episode Thirteen: Why All Athletes Should Take A Dance Class w/ Steven Attah
Athlete, Steven Attah, discusses what made him decide to join a dance class and how what he learned made him a better athlete. Steven Attah’s exposure to the dance world consisted of studying in the Bullis Dance Ensemble during his...
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Season 2
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Episode 13
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27:13
Bonus Episode: Demystifying Dance Education and How I went from MTV’s The Grind to Dance Educator
In this special episode, The Engaged Core Founder and Host shares more about her story and answers questions from listeners. This is a must-listen for dance teachers everywhere!Have a question or a topic you'd like covered in a fut...
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Season 2
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37:13
Episode Twelve: Establishing Boundaries and Navigating Expectations in the Dance Space w/ Dani Seltzer
Dancer and College Student, Dani Seltzer, discusses how a diagnosis with POTS during her high school years threatened to interrupted her love of Hip Hop dance. This is a lively but important discussion for dancers and teachers seeking to ...
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Season 2
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Episode 12
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50:26
Episode Eleven: Pushing Back on Dance Traditions and Embracing Inclusivity, Pt. 2 w/ Nicole S. Robinson
In this Season Two Premiere, Teacher and Dance Education Advocate, Nicole S. Robinson discusses some ways in which we, as educators, can make our classrooms more inclusive, equitable, and accessible. This is Part 2 of our discussion with ...
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Season 2
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Episode 11
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57:17
Episode Ten: "I Can't...I Have Dance!" w/ Asha Rosaline
In the Season One Finale, dancer and college student, Asha Rosaline Yates, discusses how the sacrifices she made in her dance training provided a foundation for her dance career and beyond. Asha Yates started her dance journe...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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56:08
Episode Nine: Dancing From Your Heart w/ Gianna Moore
Gianna Moore, dancer and former competitive gymnast, discusses how dance gave her a place to express her emotions when words were too hard. Gianna spent the bulk of her primary school years training at Hill’s Gymnastics where she r...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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29:50
Episode Eight: Finding Confidence as a New Dancer w/ Jack Chellman
In this episode, Marshall Scholar, writer and unlikely student of dance, Jack Chellman, recounts his time as a new dancer in an established dance program. Find out how he pushed pass his fears and captured moments that still stick with hi...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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34:21
Episode Seven: Shaping Identity Through Dance w/ Kelila Weiner
Kelila shares how the many lessons learn inside her dance class helped to shape her identity and leadership style as a choreographer and co-director of Spirit of the Creative (Tufts Hip Hop Dance Team). Kelila Weiner started her da...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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30:54
Episode Six: Pushing Back on Dance Traditions and Embracing Inclusivity, Pt. 1 w/ Nicole S. Robinson
In this two-part episode, Alana sits down with her dance mentor, Nicole S. Robinson, to discuss ways in which our traditions are limiting dancer growth and sustaining a culture of exclusion. Nicole S. Robinson is a dancer, teacher, ...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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48:31
Episode Five: Passion, Joy, and Representation in the Dance World with Naya Alexis
Naya Alexis shares how her experiences navigating the world as a young BIPOC ballerina encouraged her to start a YouTube Channel dedicated to providing resources and representation for the everyday black dancer. Naya Hutchinson has...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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36:21
Episode Four: Community, Connectedness, and Why Dancers Are Better Than Actors w/ Mitchell Aduyan
Warning: This episode may result in uncontrollable laughter. In this hilarious episode, Mitchell spends 35 minutes roasting Alana in the most loving way possible and the other 7 minutes dishing about the community and conne...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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42:20
Episode Three: Creating A Dance Legacy w/ Kiara Hill
In this heartfelt episode, Host, Alana Hill, and her dancing daughter, Kiara, discuss what drew Kiara to dancing, what pushed her to the point of almost giving up, and how her mom’s influence shows up in her own teaching. Kiara Hil...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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47:47
Episode Two: Finding Your Voice in Dance w/ Katelyn Foreman
Episode Two: Finding Your Voice in Dance w/ Katelyn ForemanKatelyn Foreman is a versatile dance artist who has made her way through the competition, conservatory and academic dance worlds studying at C-Unit Dance studio, CityDance Conser...
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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37:37
Episode One: Dancing Through Fear w/ Janae Holster
Episode One: Dancing through Fear w/ Janae HolsterJanae Holster started her dance journey in the DMV dancing with numerous studios and schools, including where we met Joy of Motion dance Center. While in DC, Janae danced ...
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Season 1
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Episode 1
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26:53