“Is my mic on? Can you hear me?”
After ten minutes of tech gymnastics, Erin Carlisle Norton and I begin our interview. This time, though, Erin is the one in the hot seat.
As the founder and host of Movers and Shapers: A Dance Podcast, Erin–a choreographer, administrator, and educator–has interviewed over two hundred dance artists in the last ten years. It was a pleasure to shift the roles, spending shy of an hour learning about Erin’s origin story for the podcast, her plans for the future, and her favorite moments sprinkled into the hours (upon hours, upon hours) of preparing, recording, and editing episodes.
If you’ve never heard of Movers and Shapers, Erin describes it as a growing archive of voices, including influential dance artists spanning the country. Past interviewees you might recognize include Liz Lerman, Wendy Perron, Joan Myers Brown, Kim Bear-Bailey, and Jeanne Ruddy. Recently, Erin recorded episodes covering an entire city (such as her favorite, the “Twin Cities”), where multiple dancers discuss living and working in different regions of the U.S. (perhaps Philly as a future site to explore!).
Movers and Shapers has a lot in common with thINKingDANCE: both organizations exist to document, discuss, and celebrate art-making, and are committed to growing the archive of digitized dance history–albeit in different forms. Movers and Shapers’ audio library offers a plethora of life stories, as well as a collection of perspectives for charting one’s own artistic career through adversity, setbacks, and leaning on community.
Speaking of community: Erin started the podcast when she yearned for connection. As a new mother newly in New York City, Erin longed for rich, rare, and deep one-on-one conversations with people. Why not through a podcast?
Ten years later, she marvels at the time passed, the dance icons invited on to the show, and the interconnection the podcast provides. “With everything going on across the country with arts funding and opportunity, connection is more important than ever.”
I couldn’t agree more. Recently, thINKingDANCE put out a call for new writers. We had a record number of submissions, and our staff is collectively holding our breath to welcome so many new folks. New connections. New energy. New voices.
Just what we all need right now: the time to listen, the stories to tell, and the people with whom to share it.
To access the full conversation, check out the podcast here.
