MSP 193: Beyond the Product with Morgan Teel

Morgan Teel is the mind behind Dance Waterloo, an organization making dance more accessible through site specific and site responsive shows in Austin, Texas. During this episode, she joins us to share the story of how she first fell in love with dance, what deepened her knowledge of choreography, and the motivation behind launching Dance Waterloo. Morgan also shares what first drew her to site-specific work and how Austin audiences have embraced it, from intimate community performances to larger shows like Quixotic States at the Zilker Hillside Theatre Stage. We discuss her inventive projects, including a spelling bee themed dance production, and how she works to make the creative process as visible as the final product. Along the way, she reveals where she finds inspiration for her pieces and why accessibility, experimentation, and community connection remain at the heart of her vision for Dance Waterloo's future. Key Points From This Episode: Morgan Teel's introduction to the world of dance as a child. Applying for colleges and honing her skills as a choreographer.  What motivated Morgan to start Dance Waterloo: making dance more accessible. Naming Dance Waterloo, fundraising, and putting on their first show under an overpass. How dance classes for families allow children to see their parents as equal collaborators. The legacy Morgan hopes to build with Dance Waterloo. How she is working with Austin's senior population. The spelling bee dance production she recently put on.  Where she finds inspiration for her pieces.  How she is working to make the process of dance visible beyond the product of it.  Quixotic States: a dance show at the Zilker Hillside Theatre Stage.  Plans for the future: dancing with teenagers. How Morgan cross-pollinates her skills. For more on Morgan with Show Notes & Links: The Moving Architects Follow the podcast on Instagram & Facebook