Season One, Episode Six: This month’s guest is Damien Highfield. Damien began dancing at the age of four in his hometown of Columbus, where he trained at Balletmet for ten years, then became a member of Balletmet/Jazzmet. He then went to Butler University in Indianapolis. From there Damien performed for Atlanta Ballet, Ohio Ballet and GroundWorks DanceTheater.   Damien has performed as a guest artist with Indianapolis Opera, Columbus Opera, Alexandra Ballet, Fort Wayne Ballet and the Academy of Ballet Arts. Damien has danced the title role in Hamlet, Dracula, Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Coppelia, Cinderella, and the pas de deux in Alonzo King’s Heaven and Earth. He has been a featured choreographer for many professional and pre-professional companies.  Damien created a full-length ballet, The Toymaker, for the Roots of Choreography project. Damien returns for his 16th season with Ballet Theatre of Ohio. He originated the role of Mars in BTO’s Beyond the Stars, performed with BTO during the Heinz Poll Summer Dance Festivals, has danced in principal roles in The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Coppelia, and Wizard of Oz for BTO. Mr. Highfield is set to retire from dance this season and will focus his attention on the management of Stage Center, a dance apparel store located in Akron. Mr. Highfield, who is married with three daughters, choreographs, and teaches throughout Ohio.

OhioDance A State of Dance is a six-part series coming out the fourth Friday of each month through November 2023.

This podcast is driven by the OhioDance mission to secure the foothold of dance in Ohio through increasing visibility, firming viability, and elevating the position of dance in Ohio.

In 2016, a five-person team set out on a mission to capture the achievements of persons and institutions who have shaped the intricate diversity of dance history and practice within the state of Ohio and weave them together in an easily accessible digital format. This we call the OhioDance Virtual Dance Collection. As of 2023 we have highlighted 33 individuals and institutions. The team has traveled over 5000 miles and interviewed 100 individuals in all five regions of Ohio. vdc.ohiodance.org [https://us2.mailchimp.com/mctx/clicks?url=http%3A%2F%2Fvdc.ohiodance.org&xid=7457ab4d48&uid=6658474&iid=0aa4c26b4e&pool=cts&v=2&c=1690495018&h=3d08a0a96f0253c527182e727095a91239c27228891ad793c1d128808ab1f4d3]

If you like what you are listening to and are not a member of OhioDance, you can go to ohiodance.org [https://ohiodance.org/] and click the membership button to join and receive the many benefits that come with your membership. You can also donate through our purple donate button.

The Unstoppable Force that is Damien Highfield 

Season One, Episode Five: This month’s guest is Zelma Badu-Younge, Ph.D. Zelma Badu-Younge is Professor of Dance, and Director of the School of Dance, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio. Zelma Badu-Younge, one of the most charismatic cultural fusion artists, captivates her audience as she steps on stage. This mesmerizing performer is considered one of the most electrifying choreographers, with her high-energy synthesis of West African traditions combined with other world dance forms.

OhioDance A State of Dance is a six-part series coming out the fourth Friday of each month through November 2023.

This podcast is driven by the OhioDance mission to secure the foothold of dance in Ohio through increasing visibility, firming viability, and elevating the position of dance in Ohio.

In 2016, a five-person team set out on a mission to capture the achievements of persons and institutions who have shaped the intricate diversity of dance history and practice within the state of Ohio and weave them together in an easily accessible digital format. This we call the OhioDance Virtual Dance Collection. As of 2023 we have highlighted 33 individuals and institutions. The team has traveled over 5000 miles and interviewed 100 individuals in all five regions of Ohio. vdc.ohiodance.org [https://us2.mailchimp.com/mctx/clicks?url=http%3A%2F%2Fvdc.ohiodance.org&xid=7457ab4d48&uid=6658474&iid=0aa4c26b4e&pool=cts&v=2&c=1690495018&h=3d08a0a96f0253c527182e727095a91239c27228891ad793c1d128808ab1f4d3]

If you like what you are listening to and are not a member of OhioDance, you can go to ohiodance.org [https://ohiodance.org/] and click the membership button to join and receive the many benefits that come with your membership. You can also donate through our purple donate button.

The Awe-Inspiring Journeys of Zelma Badu-Younge

Season One, Episode Four: This month’s guest is Ira Weiss. Ira began working at the Ohio Arts Council in 1974. He started as a performing arts coordinator, then presenting touring coordinator, grants office assistant director, to information technology specialist. In 1980 Ira Weiss received the Association of Ohio Dance Companies award for significant contributions to the field of dance in the state of Ohio. Ira was the second person to receive this award. The first was in 1979 to Josephine Schwartz, Founder of Dayton Ballet. OhioDance was established in 1976 in response to a request by the Ohio Arts Council that dance companies in the state organize to provide a coherent channel of communication to, and within, the dance field. Ira Weiss was the staff member of the Ohio Arts Council that helped to make this happen.

OhioDance A State of Dance is a six-part series coming out the fourth Friday of each month through November 2023.

This podcast is driven by the OhioDance mission to secure the foothold of dance in Ohio through increasing visibility, firming viability, and elevating the position of dance in Ohio.

In 2016, a five-person team set out on a mission to capture the achievements of persons and institutions who have shaped the intricate diversity of dance history and practice within the state of Ohio and weave them together in an easily accessible digital format. This we call the OhioDance Virtual Dance Collection. As of 2023 we have highlighted 33 individuals and institutions. The team has traveled over 5000 miles and interviewed 100 individuals in all five regions of Ohio.  vdc.ohiodance.org [https://us2.mailchimp.com/mctx/clicks?url=http%3A%2F%2Fvdc.ohiodance.org&xid=7457ab4d48&uid=6658474&iid=0aa4c26b4e&pool=cts&v=2&c=1690495018&h=3d08a0a96f0253c527182e727095a91239c27228891ad793c1d128808ab1f4d3]

If you like what you are listening to and are not a member of OhioDance, you can go to ohiodance.org [https://ohiodance.org/] and click the membership button to join and receive the many benefits that come with your membership. You can also donate through our purple donate button.

Arts Infrastructure with Ira Weiss

Season One, Episode Three: This month's guest is Labanotation expert, Dr. Valarie Williams. Dr. Williams is a Professor at The Ohio State University, Department of Dance. She is Director of the Dance Notation Bureau Extension Center for Education and Research at Ohio State. Dr. Williams teaches, stages, and documents movement nationally and internationally. She is a 1987 Presidential Scholars in the Arts honorable mention recipient in ballet, she apprenticed at the Paris Opera Summer Program in Evian les Bains, France; toured with Lincoln Center Institute Touring Programs for four years serving as dance captain; and performed with the Dallas Opera and Sharir Dance in Austin, Texas. Williams holds a BFA from The Juilliard School, an MFA and PhD from Texas Woman’s University, and is a Certified Professional Notator.

OhioDance A State of Dance is a six-part series coming out the fourth Friday of each month through November 2023.

This podcast is driven by the OhioDance mission to secure the foothold of dance in Ohio through increasing visibility, firming viability, and elevating the position of dance in Ohio.

In 2016, a five-person team set out on a mission to capture the achievements of persons and institutions who have shaped the intricate diversity of dance history and practice within the state of Ohio and weave them together in an easily accessible digital format. This we call the OhioDance Virtual Dance Collection. As of 2023 we have highlighted 33 individuals and institutions. The team has traveled over 5000 miles and interviewed 100 individuals in all five regions of Ohio.  vdc.ohiodance.org [https://us2.mailchimp.com/mctx/clicks?url=http%3A%2F%2Fvdc.ohiodance.org&xid=7457ab4d48&uid=6658474&iid=0aa4c26b4e&pool=cts&v=2&c=1690495018&h=3d08a0a96f0253c527182e727095a91239c27228891ad793c1d128808ab1f4d3]

If you like what you are listening to and are not a member of OhioDance, you can go to ohiodance.org [https://ohiodance.org/] and click the membership button to join and receive the many benefits that come with your membership. You can also donate through our purple donate button.

Taking Note with Dr. Valarie Williams

Season One, Episode Two: This month's guest is "Dayton Gem" Gregory Robinson. Robinson received his dance training at the University of Alabama in Birmingham. His career as a performer, teacher, ballet master, and choreographer, primarily with Dayton Ballet, in Dayton, Ohio, has spanned more than thirty years. He was named a "Dayton Gem" by the Dayton Daily News. His works have garnered critical praise and funding from regional and national arts agencies including MCACD, Culture Works, the H. Robert Magee foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

OhioDance A State of Dance is a six-part series coming out the fourth Friday of each month through November 2023.

This podcast is driven by the OhioDance mission to secure the foothold of dance in Ohio through increasing visibility, firming viability, and elevating the position of dance in Ohio.

In 2016, a five-person team set out on a mission to capture the achievements of persons and institutions who have shaped the intricate diversity of dance history and practice within the state of Ohio and weave them together in an easily accessible digital format. This we call the OhioDance Virtual Dance Collection. As of 2023 we have highlighted 33 individuals and institutions. The team has traveled over 5000 miles and interviewed 100 individuals in all five regions of Ohio. In this second episode we interviewed Gregory Robinson, a performer, teacher, ballet master, and choreographer, with Dayton Ballet.  vdc.ohiodance.org [https://us2.mailchimp.com/mctx/clicks?url=http%3A%2F%2Fvdc.ohiodance.org&xid=7457ab4d48&uid=6658474&iid=0aa4c26b4e&pool=cts&v=2&c=1690495018&h=3d08a0a96f0253c527182e727095a91239c27228891ad793c1d128808ab1f4d3]

If you like what you are listening to and are not a member of OhioDance, you can go to ohiodance.org [https://ohiodance.org/] and click the membership button to join and receive the many benefits that come with your membership. You can also donate through our purple donate button.

OhioDance would like to thank our funders: Ohio Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts, The Ohio State University Dance Preservation Fund, The Greater Columbus Arts Council, Columbus Foundation and Akron Community Fund.

Host: Rodney Veal

Executive Producer: Jane D’Angelo

Editor and Audio Technician: Jessica Cavender

Music Composition: Matthew Peyton Dixon

Leveling Up with Gregory Robinson

OhioDance A State of Dance is a six-part series coming out the fourth Friday of each month through November 2023.

This podcast is driven by the OhioDance mission to secure the foothold of dance in Ohio through increasing visibility, firming viability, and elevating the position of dance in Ohio.

In 2016, a five-person team set out on a mission to capture the achievements of persons and institutions who have shaped the intricate diversity of dance history and practice within the state of Ohio and weave them together in an easily accessible digital format. This we call the OhioDance Virtual Dance Collection. As of 2023 we have highlighted 33 individuals and institutions. The team has traveled over 5000 miles and interviewed 100 individuals in all five regions of Ohio. In this inaugural episode we talk to Dr. Candace Feck, dance writer and oral historian for the Virtual Dance Collection about her life, her work with the VDC, and how inseparable dance is from our historical landscape. vdc.ohiodance.org [https://vdc.ohiodance.org/]

If you like what you are listening to and are not a member of OhioDance, you can go to ohiodance.org [https://ohiodance.org/] and click the membership button to join and receive the many benefits that come with your membership. You can also donate through our purple donate button.

OhioDance would like to thank our funders: Ohio Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts, The Ohio State University Dance Preservation Fund, The Greater Columbus Arts Council, Columbus Foundation and Akron Community Fund.

Season One, Episode One: This month's guest is M. Candace Feck, Ph.D. Candace Feck is The OhioDance Virtual Dance Collection Oral Historian, Faculty Emerita in Dance, The Ohio State University, B.A. Cultural Anthropology; MA in Dance; PhD Art Education. Dr. Feck’s essays, criticism and research have been shared in numerous presentations, and published in journals, films, websites and archives. She completed an oral history of Bebe Miller, housed in the New York Public Library Dance Collection. She was a member of the NEA-funded Accelerated Motion: Toward a New Dance Literacy in America. She is the recipient of a Michael Sherker Award (1998) and a National Dance Association Award (2000).

Host: Rodney Veal

Executive Producer: Jane D’Angelo

Editor and Audio Technician: Jessica Cavender

Music Composition: Matthew Peyton Dixon

A Moving History with Dr. Candace Feck

From OhioDance and hosted by independent choreographer and artist Rodney Veal, A State of Dance brings you conversations about the world of dance.