Finding Independence: An Interview with ODC Dance Jam’s Mia J. Chong

BY CAUVERI SURESH The ODC Dance Jam is a 13-member teen dance company based in San Francisco. Directed by ODC School Director Kimi Okada, Co-Artistic Director KT Nelson, and Rehearsal Master Dexandro Montalvo, the Dance Jam works with Bay Area choreographers to create and perform new pieces. The young men […]

March 27, 2014  |  Read Article

Dancing for More than the Self

An Interview with Sacred Dancer Stella Matsuda BY EMMALY WIEDERHOLT I recently found myself at a singing retreat with my aunt, and one of the participants was Stella Matsuda, a dancer who runs a sacred dance company. Since, in the handful of times I have attended religious services I have […]

March 20, 2014  |  Read Article

Positive Life-Affirming Exercise

An Interview with Ryan Heffington BY EMMALY WIEDERHOLT “No More Words” belts from the stereo. Los Angeles-based dance artist Ryan Heffington hollers encouragement to the forty-ish sweaty people in the room. “Woo! One two three WORK,” he shouts. “Head circle, walk around, strike a pose.” This is Sweaty Sundays, a […]

February 17, 2014  |  Read Article

Looking forward, looking back: A recap of the SF Older Dancer Interviews

By Emmaly Wiederholt; Photographs by Gregory Bartning Over the past two months, I have posted the interviews of ten dancers over 50 from around the Bay Area who I was fortunate enough to talk to and have photographed in collaboration with Gregory Bartning. From here our goal is to expand […]

December 2, 2013  |  Read Article

A Way of Life: An Interview with Anna Halprin

By Emmaly Wiederholt; Photographs by Gregory Bartning Anna’s Mountain Home Studio is on a terrace below her house, accessible by a steep set of wooden stairs. As I reached the top of the steps, I came upon Anna standing in the sunlight. I explained I had come to interview her, […]

November 25, 2013  |  Read Article