Voice of the Artist

Content Warning: SuicideSandy chats with Matt Pierrot, a veteran musician and businessman who has spearheaded a unique project called Bez Kept Secrets - a collaborative album and visual art project. Matt trained in his early years at Capilano University and then went on to spend the next number of years as part of a touring band and has now settled into a prolific life as owner of Bold Merchandise (Clothing and printing company). He’s the father of 3 and husband of musician/pastor/Dr., Kim.

Sandy chats today with Serena Crouse about persevering in your career as a performer. Serena is an exceptional and passionate force of dance and performance throughout many areas of the entertainment industry. As an artist with who lives and works on both sides of the border as a US-Canadian Citizen, Serena has made her way from notable young “beyond her years” performer to an early presence in film and television to an established regular in various tv series like Riverdale, Schmiggadoon, Superman & Lois and more. Serena is her adventurous, spontaneous, quick-witted, loyal and driven.

This week Sandy chats with Rachael Poirier, who has been a renowned dance instructor and award-winning choreographer since 1991. Rachael's choreography has captivated audiences across the world and has won numerous awards for their innovative style and originality. Rachael founded Danzmode Productions in 1994, which quickly established itself as one of Vancouver's elite dance institutions where she remained as Artistic Director until 2017. Her own dance work has been performed on international stages and on screen and television, and many of her dancers moved on to professional careers in world tours and music videos with artists such as Janet Jackson, Britney Spears, Rihanna, Beyoncé, and Jennifer Lopez to name a few. Several of her students have been seen in the Top 40 of So You Think You Can Dance, The Emmy Awards, The Grammy Awards, and numerous have danced with elite dance companies (Julliard, Cirque de Soleil, National Ballet, The Ailey School)…this is all just a tiny taste of the work of this accomplished instruction and choreography.

Sandy speaks with dancer and Choreographer Jeff Dimitriou about the challenge of fending for yourself in the dance industry—of agents and managers and a sustainable career, but then also some of the more distressing aspects of navigating it as a young dancer. Jeff is a seasoned dance professional who has created for film, television, world ceremonies, theatre, live events, and art installations. He is the creator and founder of JDX Creative and has created 6 original theatrical stage presentations that are currently playing worldwide. He has been the head choreographer for such prestigious events as the Pam American Games, The FIFA World Cup and Cirque de Soleil to name a few, and on numerous notable Emmy and Oscar award-winning television shows and movies.

Sandy welcomes career dancer, talent scout and choreographer Rick Tjia to discuss his notable life as a dance professional. From performing with various Ballet companies, to a company member in LaLaLa Human Steps to a Dance Specialty Talent Scout for Cirque de Soleil to developing online dance & choreography resources Rick has run the gamut of what a dancer can find to embark on as a full and exciting career.

Sandy speaks with dance artist and choreographer Sean Smith about the keys to sustaining a career in dance—about being malleable, disciplined, professional and tenacious. Sean has had a robust experience in numerous dance schools and companies and has continued to be sought after as a performer and choreographer.

Sandy chats today with Kirsten Wicklund, Director of Ballet Edmonton about life in a professional dance company. Kirsten is a lifelong dance artist and her years of training span numerous renowned dance training programs including Pacific Dance Arts, The Goh Ballet, The Royal Winnipeg Ballet and Modus Operandi to name a few and her professional career has had her involved with the Washington Ballet, Opera Ballet Vlaanderen and Ballet BC as a performer and often as a choreographer. At Ballet Edmonton, she looks forward to: “fostering a culture of dance excellence, exploration, and dedication to amplifying diverse voices across Canada and internationally.”

Sandy chats with Menina Fortunato, dance business mentor and podcaster. Menina has been 3 decades in the dance industry involving herself on stage, in front of the camera and behind the scenes on numerous notable productions, tv shows and films—having collaborated with such artists as Brittany Spears, Beyoncé, Pink, Earth, Wind & Fire and many more. She is the mother of 3 and founder of “The Business of Dance.

Over the past month our team has been in contact with our online community & have collected audio recordings from former students, teachers & friends to share with Sandy during this special episode. During this episode Sandy will be answering and asking questions for our listeners so stay tuned until the end.

Sandy chats today with a group of young dancers who are part of a pre-professional dance training program. They’re going to touch on the many opportunities and diverse dance journeys that are available to them and how they are approaching the idea of dance as a career.

Today Sandy chats with a whole family of artists - Linda Arkelian, David & Joylyn Secunda. Linda is involved in Ballet, Contemporary/Modern, Acting/Musical Theatre, David is a Writer|Visual Artist|Theatre Director, and Joylyn is an actor, dancer, mime, and puppeteer. They talk about sustaining life in the arts and how their collaborative work as a family has brought a wealth of creative synergy and unique productions and opportunities.

Sandy chats today with emerging dance artist, Kaitlin Cheung. Kaitlin is a contemporary dance artist who is currently a member of Ballet BC Annex. Kaitlin gives us some insights into the journey of establishing a career in dance. She is a recent graduate from the Modus Operandi Training Program and has worked with many notable choreographers.

Sandy chats today with physiotherapist, Erika Mayall, who has a special interest in dance medicine and science. As a former elite dancer, Erika’s passion lies in treating dancers and other performing artists. She has a keen interest in not only treating injuries, but also in injury prevention and maximizing performance potential in dancers.  They will be talking about how to develop a healthier, more supportive dance culture in our studios, specifically addressing the dilemma of overuse injury and the need for good periods of rest and recovery. Erika has completed specialized training in the field of dance medicine in Australia, Canada and the United States, and has studied with leaders in the field.  Erika is an active member of the International Association of Dance Medicine and Science (IADMS) and Healthy Dancer Canada (HDC).

Sandy Chats today with Shine Dance Festival Director, Tamara Thompson Levi. Tamara is a lifetime dance artist with a background in television, commercials and music videos as well as being a dance mentor, who leads programs that bridge communities and empower dancers, educators and business owners. She is deeply committed to promoting a wellness-centred approach to dance culture, has a Youth Protection Advocates in Dance certification and seeks to create a more holistic environment for dancers.

Co-hosts Sandy and Danielle chat about the highlights of this season and add some of their own commentary on things that matter to them. Danielle Harvey is a seasoned dancer, choreographer and performer who now also enjoys being a mom. Sandy Rosen is a studio owner, dance mentor and choreography coach who owns and runs Bez Arts Hub.

Sandy and Danielle chat with Sherrie Scherger about choreography, inspiration and adjudication. Foundationally trained in RAD Ballet, Jazz and Tap, Sherrie was further educated in Dance/Music history, anatomy, kinesiology at Grant MacEwan. She has been an educator for 35yrs and adjudicator for over 20yrs. As a professional she has been principal dancer with various companies, is an international choreographer and instructor with numerous others and has worked on many film projects as choreographer and movement coach, winning numerous distinguished awards for her creative choreography. Her motto,“ASPIRE TO INSPIRE”

Sandy and Danielle chat with Amelie Lavoie about the pleasure of getting people dancing and the joys and challenges of studio ownership. Amelie has carved out a dynamic professional dance career placing her in high demand within the entertainment industry, performing in various professional shows and teaching workshops. Amelie just can’t get enough of dance, so when she can’t perform or take a class she’s sharing her passion and exercising her creativity in choreography by teaching it! She now owns her own studio and aspires to pass on everything that has stuck with her over her years of training and believes there is always room to grow in dance which is what makes it so interesting.

Sandy and Danielle interview accomplished dance artist, Kate Franklin. Kate has spent this time training, performing, producing, administrating, educating and creating. She has performed in works by nearly 50 different choreographers/creators/directors over the course of her career so far. Kate is now, as she was 20 years ago, a passionate, open-minded, optimistic and curious dance artist. She loves improvisation, collaboration, making dance education more joyful, and empowering the dance artists in her community, one interaction at a time.

Sandy and Danielle chat with emerging artist, Tessa Davies to talk about the process of choosing and training in dance for a sustainable career. Tessa is a pre-professional dance artist and dance instructor who has set her sites on a career in dance. She trained in dance through her elementary and then high school years and now is about to complete a 4 year post-secondary dance training program (Bez Dance Mentorship). Tessa is the process of launching her first full-length dance production called ReFrame at the Waterfront Theatre in Vancouver.

Sandy and Danielle chat with veteran dance artist Carla Catherwood about building a healthy, holistic life as a mover. Carla Catherwood’s career has spanned almost three decades as a movement teacher, creator and facilitator, and 20 years building businesses as an entrepreneur. As she says she has “woven a unique path one step at a time.” In 2020, when the world shifted, she knew it was time to explore new modalities and opportunities, specifically with regard to the body and regulating the nervous system.

Sandy and Dannielle chat with Ashley Sweett about dance and motherhood and the ever-changing role that balances between the two. Ashley is a dance artist who has collected 20 years of experience working locally and has had a broad and immersive experience in a variety of opportunities from film to stages to television to interdisciplinary work, making her mark amongst notable artists as perfomer, producer, dance director and more. Most recently, Ashley has stepped into a forever role as a mom which is her favourite job and proudest creation.

Sandy and Danielle Harvey chat with Danielle Jeal about getting dancers and instructors organized and inspiring confidence in the classroom. Danielle Jeal is a dance artist, instructor, and writer from Vancouver, BC. Over the past twelve years Danielle has followed her passion, teaching, choreographing, and reviewing screen dance across the lower mainland. She created Exult Dance as a movement storytelling dance company in 2012—since then Exult has evolved into a home for dance instructor resources.

Sandy and Danielle chat with veteran dancer, teacher, choreographer, performer, Suzanne Ouelette about the evolution of dance and the dance community/industry. Originally from Vancouver, Canada Suzanne is well-known in the Canadian Dance and Theatre community, having performed on stage and screen as an actor, dancer and singer for over 40 years. She is a master ballet teacher, a stretch and body conditioner for dancers and actors, as well as an established choreographer.

Rachelle is a career dancer who spent years in Dance Academies, on cruise ships, in dance companies and as a dance instructor, but chronic pain began to force her to delve into other territories of creativity, specifically visual art - initially it became a way to cope with the dance void in her life, but it gradually became a “obsession”. Since 2010, she has made it her goal to create art every day - she is a firm believer that if you show up everyday to put in the work it will pay off. Art is a practice and a skill as well as a healing form of therapy that has enriched Rachelle’s life

Laura is a Vancouver, Canada based photographer focused on creating intentional and authentic portraiture, movement, and lifestyle images for all her subjects. Laura Zeke Photography was born out of Laura’s own love for dance. Growing up as a dancer has given Laura a particularly attuned eye to exceptional movement images, as well as essential communication skills to bring the best out of dancers and artists. In all her work, Laura seeks to bring out the beauty and authenticity of every person she has the privilege to photograph.

Co-hosts Sandy and Danielle dig into interviewing one another. They uncover their differing dance journeys and discuss how each affected their current perspectives and trajectory in dance. Danielle is a lifetime dancer and choreographer and Sandy is a dance director, mentor and owner of Bez Arts Hub.

We welcome back the wise and insightful Linda Arkelian. Linda has a unique and restorative movement practice that incorporates a focus on breath (to awaken the parasympathetic nervous system and reduce stress), core strength, creative expression and group connectivity. She loves to add visual art as a conceptual spark for mindful movement and inspiration. As a former professional ballet dancer (Royal Winnipeg Ballet), Linda has a lifetime of experience and reflections regarding the gifts and pitfalls of our dance academies and is all about instigating the changes that will make our studios healthier places for all humans.

Sandy and Danielle step into an intriguing discussion with dancer Shannon Cluff about "body neutrality” vs. “body positivity”. Shannon has an enlightening perspective on how body positivity can still induce an heightened focus on the body and suggests that body neutrality - creating a space where there’s not a need to assess bodies - is often a more life-giving perspective in our studios. Shannon is an energetic and compassionate dancer, choreographer, Pilates & yoga instructor and studio owner.

Maintaining a sense of pleasure and enjoyment in the studio and dance class is always a challenge when there’s so much ‘work’ to be done. Our guest Leslie Kuny, thinks that through play in the studio, you can’t fuel a greater sense of positivity and joy in dance. Leslie is a Co-Owner & Director of Ignite Dance Center in South Surrey BC and has a BFA from Simon Fraser University where she worked closely with Brian Webb, Rob Kitsos, Barbara Bourget, and Wen Wei Wang. Over the past 20 years, Leslie has devoted herself to training dancers in a supportive empowering environment, and choreographing for competitive and recreational studios, schools, and pre-professional training programs. Her dancers and choreography have been recognized for the use of space, a balanced approach of technique and performance, as well as humour.

Join us for a unique look at a movement wellness strategy that targets muscle activation to relaxation to enable optimal movement preparedness and minimal movement injury. Our guest Teresa Ojinma has a unique perspective as an exercise physiologist, Kinesiologist and an Essential Somatics Movement Teacher who cares about the ongoing wellbeing of movers and people everywhere.

Today Danelle and Sandy chat with Dance Artist, Elya Grant - together they unpack the importance of keeping creativity flowing as a dance artist and what it takes to maintain that crucial element in every part of your dance practice. Elya is a graduate of the contemporary dance program Modus Operandi and has been a company member of Out Innerspace Dance Theatre since 2015. She received further formative training with Rubberbandance Group, Domaine Forget, Ecole de Danse Contemporaine de Montréal and the Eastman/Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui’s Intensive in Antwerp and has worked with Amber Funk Barton, Heather Laura Gray, Company 605 and many others.

Our Voice of the Artist Podcast host, Sandy Oshiro Rosen is a guest on Family 360 podcast and chat with host Rachel Cram about how dance and movement can be a part of embodiment and wellness, specifically as connected to grief. Sandy is the owner and Creative Director of Bez Arts Hub and is the author of the book Bare - The Misplace Art of Grieving and Dancing

Today, Sandy and Danielle chat with dancer,  choreographer, company director and dance entrepreneur, Joanne Pesusich about launching as a professional, developing a dance career that pivots with age, stage and opportunity, and loving life through it all. Jo has trained in New York, LA and Vancouver and has performed with such notable artists as The Artist formerly known as Prince, The Backstreet Boys, Kool and the Gang, Lauryn Hill, Busta Rhymes and more. She has been choreographer and performer for numerous high profile events and movies & television including the NAACP Image awards, The President’s Annual Easter Celebration, The L Word and many others. Jo is currently the director of the Source Dance Company and is the co-founder of Groove Street Productions.

This episode we talk with Andrea Gibson about keys to reimagine our studios as places with provisions for self-care, compassion and mental health considerations.  Andrea is a Self-Compassion and Mindset coach, dance educator and mental health advocate. She is the creator and founder of UNCONDITIONAL the Self-Love movement where she helps women reconnect to their wants & needs & enjoy life again by falling in love with themselves through spiritual and self-care practices.

David Cooper is veteran photographer who has a 40 year career of photographing performing arts. He has captured everything from The Stratford Festival to the National Ballet of Canada, to Arts Club Theatre, to Company 605, having worked with some of Canada’s more notable artists. He is a pioneer member of the BC Hall of Fame and a recipient of the Order of Canada. His current interest is in crafting dance film and on this episode David chats with us about the key to capturing great dance images. David Co-runs Crane Studios in Vancouver.

Sandy chats with Sarah Brewer Clowes about her unusual entry into dance training and her remarkable approach to training healthy, balanced dancers through compassionate teaching and attending effectively to dancer mental health. Sarah is a master teacher with a career spanning 38 years - having danced with the Munich Ballet, Northwest Florida Ballet, Banff Festival Ballet and Vancouver Opera. She choreographs for both amateur and professional dancers and has a passion for for seeing the potential of every dancer and creating space for them to flourish in movement clarity, physical health, self-discovery and technical individuality. Sarah also has her own podcast called “Sarah’s Space” which addresses a number of subjects from the arts world, to social unrest and everything in between.

Sandy and Danielle talk with Amber Funk Barton about the ever-changing career of the dance artist. Amber reflects on her extensive dance career and now on the shifting dimensions of dance in collaboration with other aspects of the arts. Born and raised in Vancouver, Amber is a cisgendered woman of mixed race descent. She received her training with Goh Ballet Academy, Arts Umbrella, The Banff Centre Dance Training and Ballet British Columbia’s Mentor Program. As a dancer she has worked with various companies and choreographers, and as a choreographer herself, Amber’s work has been presented in various venues in Vancouver, across Canada, and internationally in Wales, Seattle and New York.

Moe Brody is a co-owner of Harbour Dance Centre Vancouver and director of their Intensive Training Program. As a teenager, Moe trained in dance, but then left it for 10 years before “accidentally” tripping back into the dance world in her 20’s as the leader of the Vancouver Grizzlies’ dance squad—a surprising side gig of her work as part of the staff of the sports team. It forced her to return to the studio where she found her passion for dance again—training and auditioning, and eventually, teaching and choreographing as though she had never left it. Moe is your best in class standup comedian—keeping the class in stitches as she perfects their technique and infects them with her love for dance. Join Moe and Sandy as they chat about dance for all ages and abilities; dance as a career in the industry. Check out harbourdance.com and bezartshub.com/dance.

Sandy Rosen steps into an emotional discussion with contemporary dancer, Charlotte “Scout” Heckel and co-host and dancer/choreographer, Danielle Harvey. Our conversation focuses this time on the dilemma of dance trauma in the studio—it gives parents, instructors and dancers themselves an opportunity to reflect on how to better care for dancers in our studio environments and how we can address our dancers’ emotional journeys. Scout is a graduate from the Concordia Contemporary Dance Program and is pursuing dance as a therapeutic means to care for the emotional self. Danielle has performed and trained with Josh Beamish Dance Company and Motus Operandi; has appeared on So You Think You Can Dance Canada; and has been a choreographer with Team Canada, ChoreoLab and numerous studios. Follow us on Instagram @bezdance

Sandy and Danielle chat with Shannon Gombar of Tri-City Dance and Cori Caulfield of Caulfield  School of Dance. Our conversation touches on how to train up healthy dancers, about establishing positive values in our dance studios and  consider things that are most detrimental to a dancer’s development. Shannon and Cori have both been studio owners for a couple of decades and have invaluable wisdom from their years of facilitating the dance careers of hundreds of dancers. Follow us on Instagram @bezdance

Sandy and Danielle chat with Andrea Gibson, founder of UNCONDITIONAL the self love Movement and Linda Arkelian, Veteran Ballet professional. In this episode, we address the dancer's journey through the studio experience and how some of our messaging can lead dancers into unhealthy perceptions and undue trauma. Andrea brings 15 years of experience as a dance instructor, choreographer and self-compassion coach, and Linda shares her wealth of insight from her years with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Theatre Ballet of Canada Anna Wyman Dance Theatre, Judith Marcuse Dance and SFU Contemporary Dance. Follow us on Instagram @bezdance