The Dance Union Podcast

This week’s episode, recorded shortly following the one-year anniversary of October 7th, features j. bouey and Veronica Jiao, who discuss how this past year of resistance shaped their personal and professional lives. What has Palestine taught us about resistance, as we not only resist for Palestine, but also for our rights as working professionals? How has this year of grief, in which we continue to mourn the martyrs in Palestine and Lebanon and those unjustly taken by the state, the most recent victim being Marcellus Williams, manifested within our lives? 

This is the start of the second part of season 2! We’re changing our format back to having recently recorded weekly episodes! We’re excited to continue this journey with y’all and are grateful for every one of you who joins us.

The Dance Union
TheDanceUnionPodcast.com
IG: @thedanceunion
FB: www.facebook.com/TheDanceUnion/

*SUPPORT THE DANCE UNION PODCAST*
Patreon: www.patreon.com/danceunion
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HOSTS

j. bouey
www.jbouey.com/
IG/Twitter: @j_bouey
Patreon: patreon.com/S_A_T_U_R_N

Veronica Jiao
veronicaraejiao.com/
IG: @vrjiao

Edited By: Jon Reyes

Germaul Barnes (he/his/they) and j. sit down to discuss not only how cultivating joy has become intertwined with their careers, but also how joy is essential in resistance. They reflect on how their ancestors held on to joy even in the face of enslavement, exploring what we can learn from that legacy and how we can use joy as a means of caring for our bodies while engaging in any form of resistance within the empire. At the heart of this conversation, Germaul and j. challenge you to ask yourself: what does joy mean to you?

(Recorded: May 26, 2024)

Germaul Barnes is a multi-faceted and acclaimed artist with an international presence, whose choreography has graced stages around the world. He has danced with companies such as Group Motion Dance Company and Tolada Dance Company in Berlin, Germany, and has been mentored by luminaries like Katherine Dunham and Eleo Pomare. Currently, he serves as a répétiteur for the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company and is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of dancers as an instructor at the Alabama School of Fine Arts. 

Germaul Barnes
https://southern-danceworks.com/artistic-director/
IG: @iamviewsicdance

The Dance Union
TheDanceUnionPodcast.com
IG: @thedanceunion
FB: www.facebook.com/TheDanceUnion/
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*SUPPORT THE DANCE UNION PODCAST*
Patreon: www.patreon.com/danceunion
Venmo: @Dance-Union
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HOSTS
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j. bouey
www.jbouey.com/
IG/Twitter: @j_bouey
Patreon: patreon.com/S_A_T_U_R_N
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Edited By: Jon Reyes

In this episode, j. passes the mic to Kayla Hamilton (she/her) and Jerron Herman (he/him) to discuss their experiences navigating the dance world with disabilities, as well as what it means to be a “disabled artist”. How do historical movements, such as that during the AIDS epidemic, inform their own work as they maneuver through the disability arts movement? How do spaces made by and centered around disabled people allow for individuals to fully embody and discuss the intersectionality of their identities? And, considering this, how can we continue to improve on spaces created to include disabled bodies? 

(recorded: March 19, 2024)

Kayla Hamilton is a performance maker, dancer, educator, and consultant, who is a current Jerome Hill and Pina Bausch Fellow and is the founder of the recently formed “Circle O”, an organization centering BIPOC Disabled creatives. She is the co-developer of “Crip Movement Lab”, described as “pedagogical framework centering cross-disability movement practices for every-body” and has developed access center programming for several dance organizations in NYC. 

Jerron Herman is a dancer/writer, who has premiered works at Danspace Project, Baltimore Museum of Art, LIncoln Center (digital), among others. His writings, including Art Papers and 3 Bodies, have been published across both nationally and internationally. Jerron is currently a part of INTERIM, described as “a boutique centering joy for disabled artists”, and has recently received the 2024 USA Fellowship and the 2023-24 Fellowship at NYU Center for Ballet and the Arts.

Kayla Hamilton
https://circleo.squarespace.com/about
IG: @circleo_org

Jerron Herman
Jerronherrman.com
IG: @jerronherman 

The Dance Union
TheDanceUnionPodcast.com
IG: @thedanceunion
FB: www.facebook.com/TheDanceUnion/
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*SUPPORT THE DANCE UNION PODCAST*
Patreon: www.patreon.com/danceunion
Venmo: @Dance-Union
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HOSTS
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j. bouey
www.jbouey.com/
IG/Twitter: @j_bouey
Patreon: patreon.com/S_A_T_U_R_N
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Edited By: Jon Reyes

In a special episode, j. passes the mic to three organizers from Dancers for Palestine (D4P), Leila Awadallah (she/her), Hallie Chametzky (she/her), and Nadia Khayrallah (they/them), so that they can facilitate a discussion amongst the three of themselves about the history of their own relationships with Palestine, Zionism and the repercussions of being pro-Palestinian & having an Arab identity in the dance field, and how D4P came to be. To what degree can art change the world and to what degree do we need to step away from a purely artistic endeavor to focus on mutual aid? And how can we garner a universal acceptance within the dance community that Palestine must be free? 

(Recorded: March 16, 2024)

While this episode was recorded in March, these questions are even more prevalent now after the violent suppression of pro-Palestinian protests across college campuses, the continued genocide in the Gaza Strip that has now expanded to the West Bank, and, now, Israel’s terrorism in Lebanon. 

*EDITORS NOTE: From 30:00 to 32:30, you can hear the outro play over the guest’s introduction. This will be fixed soon. But, in the meantime please bare with us. We wanted to make sure this episode got out to you on time.*

—- 
To join the movement, email dancersforpalestine@gmail.com and follow us on Instagram @dancers_for_palestine

Dancers for Palestine (D4P) is an autonomous group of dance workers who organize in solidarity with the global movement for Palestinian liberation. Formed during Israel’s genocidal attack on Gaza beginning in 2023, D4P seeks to both cohere and create a dance community which is vocal and active in its support of the Palestinian people. 

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Leila is a researcher, performer, choreographer, community organizer, and educator. She is a current PhD candidate at UC Berkeley in the Theatre, Dance, Performance Studies Program and is an alum of New York University and George Mason University. Her research and work look at how dance is co-opted, appropriated, and performed for state and anti-imperial interests, particularly as it pertains to Palestine and its occupation. 

Hallie Chametzky (she/her) is a movement artist, writer, archivist, and organizer. Her choreographic work investigates assumptions about historical and contemporary women and the forces which shape their lives. Jewishness is also central to her work, and leftist activism central to her Jewishness. Hallie’s choreography has been supported by University Settlement, MOtiVE Brooklyn, Undiscovered Countries, The Craft, and Spoke the Hub, and her writing can be found in the Brooklyn Rail, In Dance, Culturebot, Nimrod, Mouse Magazine, and Gigantic Sequins, among others. 

Nadia Khayrallah (they/them) is a dance artist, writer, admin, (dis)content creator and community (dis)organizer, rooted in history and fantasy, form and groove, esoterica and common sense. Their work has recently been presented with Arab American National Museum, Time & Space Limited, CUE Art Gallery, and Spark Theatre Festival. They can also be found yelling at institutions and writing poems in the notes app.

The Dance Union
TheDanceUnionPodcast.com
IG: @thedanceunion
FB: www.facebook.com/TheDanceUnion/
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*SUPPORT THE DANCE UNION PODCAST*
Patreon: www.patreon.com/danceunion
Venmo: @Dance-Union
.
HOSTS
.
j. bouey
www.jbouey.com/
IG/Twitter: @j_bouey
Patreon: patreon.com/S_A_T_U_R_N
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Edited By: Jon Reyes

In this episode of The Dance Union Podcast, j. was joined by two entrepreneurs, Antuan Byers and Tamisha A. Guy, to discuss why and how their organizations, Black Change Makers and HUETAPE, respectively, came to fruition. How did their experiences as Black dancers in the industry lead them to found organizations that filled a need of the Black community that the general dance industry was not answering? How did they deal with transition after primarily being online during lockdown? What is life like after answering that call? What does it mean to HAVE to answer the call? 
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(Recorded: March 9, 2024)
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Antuan Byers (he/him) is a dancer, creative entrepreneur, and organizer, who focuses on using movement to facilitate change. He is the founder and Creative Executive Officer of Black Dance Change Makers, described as “a group of Black dancers
redefining performance through choreographed movements of change,” as well as the Vice President of American Guild of Musical Artists and founding member of AGMA Black Caucus. Along with his work as an organizer, he has performed and worked with organizations such as Ailey II, Mark Morris Dance Group, and the Washington National Opera Ballet.
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Tamisha A. Guy (she/her) is a dance artist, instructor, and maker, who currently performs with A.I.M. by Kyle Abraham and teaches as a Lecturer in Dance at Barnard College. She is the founder of HUETAPE, described as “a skin-toned kinesiology tape brand.” Along with performing with the Martha Graham Dance Company, she has also been awarded the 2022 Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Dance and was named one of the 2017 Best Dancers of the Year by Dance Europe. 
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Black Dance Change Makers
IG: @blackdancechangemakers
blackdancechangemakers.com
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HueTape
IG: @huetape_
huetape.com
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Antuan Byers
IG: @antuanbyers
antuanbyers.com
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Tamisha A. Guy
IG: @tamishaguy
msha.ke
tamishaguy.org
.

The Dance Union
TheDanceUnionPodcast.com
IG: @thedanceunion
FB: www.facebook.com/TheDanceUnion/
.
*SUPPORT THE DANCE UNION PODCAST*
Patreon: www.patreon.com/danceunion
Venmo: @Dance-Union
.
HOSTS
.
j. bouey
www.jbouey.com/
IG/Twitter: @j_bouey
Patreon: patreon.com/S_A_T_U_R_N
.
Edited By: Jon Reyes

In the latest episode of The Dance Union Podcast, Sydnie L. Mosley (she/her) chats with j. bouey (they/them) about the challenges and lessons learned in running a start-up. They dive into the gaps in knowledge that an MFA can't fill, the importance of building relationships and a network that can help fill these gaps, and the struggles of navigating large institutions that often lack adequate support. Sydnie also shares insights on leadership and her experience in exploring new models of distributing leadership in the dance community, exploring the nuances between shared and decentralized leadership, and the ripple effects these models can have on relationships.

(Recorded: March 8, 2024)

Sydnie is an artist-activist and educator, who is a founder of SLMDances, a dance collective. She uses her work to advocate and organize for gender and racial justice and to facilitate a model for dance-activism, with her repertory including The Window Sex Project, Body Business, and, most recently, PURPLE: A Ritual In Nine Spells at Lincoln Center. Awards and recognitions of Sydnie’s work is definitely not limited to, but includes being recognized as 2024’s “25 to watch” by Dance Magazine and performing as part of the Bessie Award winning cast of Eva Yaa Asantewaa’s The skeleton architecture, the future of our worlds.

Sydnie L. Mosley
https://www.sydnielmosley.com/
IG: @slmdances

The Dance Union
TheDanceUnionPodcast.com
IG: @thedanceunion
FB: www.facebook.com/TheDanceUnion/

*SUPPORT THE DANCE UNION PODCAST*
Patreon: www.patreon.com/danceunion
Venmo: @Dance-Union

HOSTS

j. bouey
www.jbouey.com/
IG/Twitter: @j_bouey
Patreon: patreon.com/S_A_T_U_R_N

Edited By: Jon Reyes

foster (she/they) and j. discuss the experience that sparked foster’s inspiration for Black Intimacy Practice and PLAY CHURCH, delving into the necessity of these spaces for fat Black queer and disabled folks. How does one who is fat Black queer and disabled reclaim access to their body (physically, socially, and spiritually) in a culture that makes it painful to do so? What is play and how do we use that to manifest joy in our practices as we navigate such a hostile culture?

(Recorded: March 5, 2024)

Join j. and foster as they discuss how foster is developing their Black Intimacy Practice to navigate these questions, not only within spaces like PLAY CHURCH, which foster has cultivated, but also in the personal decisions they make in presenting their dance practices.

foster JANAE weems (she/they) is an interdependent-disciplinary artist and a dance artist of the Black improvisational dance universe. In other words, all art forms they practice coexists with the other; their dancing does not exist without their visual art and their musicianship does not exist without their drawing. foster’s work includes that of Black Intimacy Practice (a space for fat Black queer and trans artists) and PLAY CHURCH (a space for Black queer and trans folks in Charlotte, NC).

foster JANAE weems
linktr.ee/churchofplay
IG: @churchofplay

The Dance Union
TheDanceUnionPodcast.com
IG: @thedanceunion
FB: www.facebook.com/TheDanceUnion/

*SUPPORT THE DANCE UNION PODCAST*
Patreon: www.patreon.com/danceunion
Venmo: @Dance-Union

HOSTS

j. bouey
www.jbouey.com/
IG/Twitter: @j_bouey
Patreon: patreon.com/S_A_T_U_R_N

Edited By: Jon Reyes

How do we gain the confidence to advocate to tour management for the support that we and our co-artists need? How do we grapple with the desire to join and support an organized movement in our community and the reality of financial circumstances? What is HR, what do they actually do, and why do many dance environments not have HR? How do we deal with constantly being under surveillance and unable to truly exercise our freedom of speech during tour contracts, even in instances that are meant to be private?

(Recorded: January 22nd, 2024)

One of our own members of The Twerk Team, Veronica Jiao, joins j. bouey to discuss the management support (or lack of) given to them during tours they have been on, as well as the risks dancers face when they speak out about the abuses they endure on tour. 

Veronica Jiao (she/her/hers) is a Filipino-American dancer and administrator, whose work centers on using dance improvisation and writing as a vessel to preserve the Asian-American experience, with the goal of contributing to the dismantling of white supremacist structures. She is a former member of Dance/NYC’s Junior Committee and has appeared on guest episodes on the podcasts The Dance Union and Thomas + Adrianne’s You’re Welcome and contributed to Dance Magazine and In Dance to facilitate discussions centering around equity and inclusion.

Veronica Jiao
https://veronicaraejiao.com/
IG: @vrjiao

The Dance Union
TheDanceUnionPodcast.com
IG: @thedanceunion
FB: www.facebook.com/TheDanceUnion/

*SUPPORT THE DANCE UNION PODCAST*
Patreon: www.patreon.com/danceunion
Venmo: @Dance-Union

HOSTS

j. bouey
www.jbouey.com/
IG/Twitter: @j_bouey
Patreon: patreon.com/S_A_T_U_R_N

Edited By: Jon Reyes

Did you know Makini does taxes?! Well, they certainly do and they have some great advice to share with us on how we can navigate through this tax season and the ones to come.

(Recorded: March 12, 2024)

Makini (jumatatu m. poe)
thefabulistsagenda.com/makinidoestaxes/

The Dance Union
TheDanceUnionPodcast.com
IG: @thedanceunion
FB: www.facebook.com/TheDanceUnion/

*SUPPORT THE DANCE UNION PODCAST*
Patreon: www.patreon.com/danceunion
Venmo: @Dance-Union

HOSTS

J. Bouey
www.jbouey.com/
IG/Twitter: @j_bouey
Patreon: patreon.com/S_A_T_U_R_N

Edited By: Jon Reyes

Have y’all ever applied for funding and wanted more transparency about what’s going on behind the scenes? Well, Melanie and j. bouey are here to discuss just that from their many experiences around the application and funding processes.

(recorded: August 07, 2023)

The Dance Union
TheDanceUnionPodcast.com
IG: @thedanceunion
FB: www.facebook.com/TheDanceUnion/

*SUPPORT THE DANCE UNION PODCAST*
Patreon: www.patreon.com/danceunion
Venmo: @Dance-Union

HOSTS

J. Bouey
www.jbouey.com/
IG/Twitter: @j_bouey
Patreon: www.patreon.com/JBoueyDanceProjects

Melanie Greene
www.methodsofperception.com/
IG: @laniereene
Patreon: www.patreon.com/melaniegreene

Edited By: Jon Reyes