It is officially Episode 12, our Season 1 Finale. What an incredible journey it has been. In this episode, Eileen and Amy discuss some themes they weren’t able to cover in Episode 9 that came up in their conversation with Jonathan Kim (they even include a clip they weren’t able to include in that week’s episode because it would have been way too long). They also get to ask some questions they had wanted to ask each other in previous episodes and they expand on their personal and professional relationship. Their conversation emphasizes the importance of authenticity in dance and the need for dancers to embrace their natural skill sets; discussing the need for individuality in choreography and the importance of allowing dancers to bring their unique artistry to the performance. They explore the importance of collaboration, integration, and empowerment within the dance industry, taking a moment to highlight the various roles that have been compartmentalized and the need for creative alignment and collaborative co-creation. Their conversation also addresses the dehumanization of dancers and the need for equity and value in the industry; emphasizing the importance of creating safe spaces for dancers to advocate for themselves and express their needs.Finally, Eileen and Amy discuss Amy's transition into the role of Artistic Director of TwoPoint4 Dance and the challenges she faced surrounding her edge of growth as well as Eileen's edge of growth in the somatic work she's bringing into the dance world. They share their motivations and how they have changed, focusing more on authenticity and less on external validation; as well as the importance of boundaries and self-acceptance. Be sure to listen to hear what they are leaving behind and what they're taking with them. Thank you for an incredible first season! Support Us / Learn More:-Kaia EvolutionsWebsite: https://www.kaiaevolutions.com/***In the month of December, all of Eileen's H.O.P.E. Coaching sessions purchased in December are 22% OFF in honor of her 37th birthday, the age her sister was when she took her life. Check out her website for more info.***-TwoPoint4 Dance TheatreWebsite: https://www.twopoint4dance.org/***Be sure to donate to their GoFundMe to help them travel to LA for a performance.***https://www.gofundme.com/f/twopoint4-dance-theatre-goes-to-laEpisode Mentions Here:Misty Copeland in Swan Lake (notice the comments section - devastating)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqqya96rkssMisty Copeland being compared to other dancers in Swan Lakehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvOaWsQNLOk M.O.V.E. with Eileen + Amy is a Kaia Evolutions Podcast.New episodes air on Mondays.To learn more about Eileen + Amy, be sure to follow them on instagram @ekielty + @amyreah. For more information about Kaia Evolutions, a culmination of Eileen's life's work and a love letter to her sister, Katie, who died by suicide in 2019 - visit https://www.kaiaevolutions.com/ or follow on instagram at @kaia.evolutions If you want to share part of your dancer / movement artist journey with us, email us at [email protected] you for moving with us.-Eileen + Amy*If you or anyone you know is in need of support, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800.273.8255 OR text 988. You are not alone.

Guest: Eileen Kielty Creator & Founder of Kaia EvolutionsMulti-disciplinary Artist, Teacher, PerformerMovement Alchemist & FacilitatorCo-Host of M.O.V.E. with Eileen + AmyIn Episode 11, we get to learn more about Eileen, her and Amy's relationship, how she has been re-identifying herself in regards to the titles she's claiming and the importance of bridging the gap between seemingly separate disciplines. They talk about introception and internal sense and its use in honoring our authenticities and intuition as well as why trauma-informed instruction is necessary within the dance space. Eileen (she / her) is a queer multi-disciplinary artist, teacher & performer as well as a clairsentient intuitive movement coach. She has degrees in both dance & psychology as well as extensive training in somatic integration, embodiment & intimacy practices & is passionate about consent-driven spaces with an emphasis on social justice. Eileen has held countless positions within the arts, fitness, wellness & educational space. She recognizes the importance of illuminating the darker, often hidden, parts of the human experience through sharing openly & authentically as we’re not meant to do this alone. She is the creator & founder of Kaia Evolutions, a culmination of her life’s work & a love letter to her sister, Katie, who died by suicide in 2019. Eileen believes in the power of creative expression & its ability to reveal the unspoken language of being alive; the body always knows & movement is our direct connection to our deepest truth.Follow & Learn More:IG: @ekielty & @kaia.evolutionsWebsite: https://www.kaiaevolutions.com/***In the month of December, all of Eileen's H.O.P.E. Coaching sessions purchased in December are 22% OFF in honor of her 37th birthday, the age her sister was when she took her life. Check out her website for more info.***Episode Mentions / Resources Here:Queer Healers: https://www.queerhealers.com/RAINN - Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network: https://centers.rainn.org/AFSP - American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: https://afsp.org/about-afsp/NIMH - National Institute of Mental Health (Eating Disorder info): https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/eating-disorders#:~:text=Treatment%20plans%20for%20eating%20disorders,weight%20to%20a%20healthy%20levelM.O.V.E. with Eileen + Amy is a Kaia Evolutions Podcast.New episodes air on Mondays.To learn more about Eileen + Amy, be sure to follow them on instagram @ekielty + @amyreah. For more information about Kaia Evolutions, a culmination of Eileen's life's work and a love letter to her sister, Katie, who died by suicide in 2019 - visit https://www.kaiaevolutions.com/ or follow on instagram at @kaia.evolutions If you want to share part of your dancer / movement artist journey with us, email us at [email protected] you for moving with us.-Eileen + Amy*If you or anyone you know is in need of support, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800.273.8255 OR text 988. You are not alone.

Guest: Amy Kubat  Artistic Director of TwoPoint4 Dance TheatrePioneer of 3 Brains Theory & MethodologyMovement Alchemist & FacilitatorCo-Host of M.O.V.E. with Eileen + AmyIn Episode 10, we get to learn more about Amy, her and Eileen's relationship, her personal artistic philosophy, how she honors the body and all of its intricately beautiful and important systems and her newfound love and acceptance surrounding just how unique her movement artistry is...what if it's ok to be "misunderstood"?Amy (she / her) is currently working as the Artistic Director of TwoPoint4 Dance Theatre in Sacramento California. She has received her AA, BA, and MFA in Dance as well as certifications in Acrobatic Arts, Function Range Conditioning and is working toward her certification in Bodymind Dancing. Amy has followed her heart and instincts over her 20 year career into a vast and wide ranging assortment of dance techniques and jobs, including ballroom, dance science, ballet, modern, teacher, model, assistant, speaker, scholar, director, faculty, pole dancing, aerial work, commercial dance, somatic based movement practices, and so many others. The accumulation of knowledge in all of these different styles of dance has brought her to the conclusion that most dance techniques that would be considered very different are actually rooted in the same principles and foundations. It is Amy’s purpose to make all movements accessible and inclusive to anyone that wants the option. Follow & Learn More:IG: @amyreahThesis Film: "Sum of Our Parts"https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xrhyilMR4E52mk560qSn2CmhSpv1jQp9/view?usp=sharingThesis Paper: "Of Three Minds..." https://www.proquest.com/openview/4425d7fcbcf421db8aa912f8b4c1a74e/1.pdf?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750&diss=yTwoPoint4 Dance Theatre: IG: @twopoint4danceWebsite: https://www.twopoint4dance.org/Donate / Support: https://www.twopoint4dance.org/donationGoFundMe for LA Performance: https://www.gofundme.com/f/twopoint4-dance-theatre-goes-to-laEpisode Mentions Here:Laban Methodology: https://labaninstitute.org/about/ Pilobolus Company: https://pilobolus.org/Holly Johnston: https://hollyjohnston.org/ M.O.V.E. with Eileen + Amy is a Kaia Evolutions Podcast.New episodes air on Mondays.To learn more about Eileen + Amy, be sure to follow them on instagram @ekielty + @amyreah. For more information about Kaia Evolutions, a culmination of Eileen's life's work and a love letter to her sister, Katie, who died by suicide in 2019 - visit https://www.kaiaevolutions.com/ or follow on instagram at @kaia.evolutions If you want to share part of your dancer / movement artist journey with us, email us at [email protected] you for moving with us.-Eileen + Amy*If you or anyone you know is in need of support, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800.273.8255 OR text 988. You are not alone.

Guest: Jonathan KimDance ArtistIn Episode 9, we have a beautifully affirming conversation with Jonathan about how first experiences in the dance world can be filled with a sense of power or a sense of fear, how he keeps coming back to his sense of community within the dance world, what he values in his own practice and how he finds those feelings of euphoria within his practice. He touches on how it is so important to reflect and break yourself open to ask yourself the tough questions. This conversation really felt like a warm and snuggly way to invite change into spaces that are absent of possibility and curiosity.*Please note: this interview was almost 2 hours in length so we ended up taking a few sections out and will be airing them in Episode 12 when Eileen + Amy expand on Episodes 9/10/11 (Episode 12 drops 12/18).Jonathan (he / him) is a dance artist and full time company member with Repertory Dance Theatre in Salt Lake City, Utah. Previously, he danced with SALT Contemporary Dance, Lineage Dance Company, and SJDanceCo. He has performed works by historical modern pioneers and contemporary choreographers. Highlights include, but are not limited to, works by: José Limón, Michio Ito, Donald McKayle, Ihsan Rustem, Shane Urton, Kate Skarpetowska, Mitsu Salmon, and Noa Zuk and Ohad Fishof. Some choreographic interests include exploring improvisation, durational performances, partnering, queer/Asian experiences, and being soft. He is guided by the principle that dance is community, connection, and for everyone. While not dancing, you can find him taking a long nap. Follow & Learn More:IG: @jonkimroxRepertory Dance TheatreIG: @rdtutahWebsite: https://rdtutah.org/Learn More About Fosse Dance Here:https://www.verdonfosse.com/M.O.V.E. with Eileen + Amy is a Kaia Evolutions Podcast.New episodes air on Mondays.To learn more about Eileen + Amy, be sure to follow them on instagram @ekielty + @amyreah. For more information about Kaia Evolutions, a culmination of Eileen's life's work and a love letter to her sister, Katie, who died by suicide in 2019 - visit https://www.kaiaevolutions.com/ or follow on instagram at @kaia.evolutions If you want to share part of your dancer / movement artist journey with us, email us at [email protected] you for moving with us.-Eileen + Amy*If you or anyone you know is in need of support, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800.273.8255 OR text 988. You are not alone.

In Episode 8, Eileen and Amy cover the themes from Episodes 5, 6 and 7, expanding on the guests’ insights and shares. We also take a moment to ask each other a question from our Interview Sheet that we provide our guests. This episode covers topics ranging from embodied limiting beliefs that lead to fear based decisions, limited opportunities that can often be caused by the perception of and / or experience with loss and limited agency from both internal and external influences of control.***We do want to mention that this episode comes with an activation warning as we do discuss sexual assault and non consensual bodily harm. Please take care of your body and be sure to reference the resources below if you or someone you know is in need of support.***Because safety, agency and consent are imperative.Thank you for being here.Resources:RAINN - Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network https://centers.rainn.org/National Domestic Violence Hotlinehttps://www.thehotline.org/M.O.V.E. with Eileen + Amy is a Kaia Evolutions Podcast.New episodes air on Mondays.To learn more about Eileen + Amy, be sure to follow them on instagram @ekielty + @amyreah. For more information about Kaia Evolutions, a culmination of Eileen's life's work and a love letter to her sister, Katie, who died by suicide in 2019 - visit https://www.kaiaevolutions.com/ or follow on instagram at @kaia.evolutions If you want to share part of your dancer / movement artist journey with us, email us at [email protected] you for moving with us.-Eileen + Amy*If you or anyone you know is in need of support, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800.273.8255 OR text 988. You are not alone.

Guest: Hannah SeidenMovement Artist & Pelvic Pain AdvocateIn Episode 7, we talk with Hannah about topics ranging from wild freelance dance experiences, to the confusion and frustration of chronic pain, to dancing from your perineum, to the difference between dancer and movement artist, to wanting our goddamn headshot back after an audition. ***We do need to include this Activation Warning*** In this episode we discuss themes surrounding:Medical traumaSexual traumaIntimate partner violence / abuseChronic painNon consensual situationsAddiction / relapse themesSex / intimacy themesGraphic anatomical mentionsPlease take care of your body as some of the topics we cover in this episode have the potential to bring up emotions, memories and tender subjects that may require some aftercare. We understand far too many bodies have experiences where they were not safe and we want to ensure your nervous system has a heads up before you head into this episode.***Hannah (she / her) from Boulder, CO, is a freelance dance artist based in New York City. She graduated with honors from NYU Tisch School of the Arts with a B.F.A. in Dance. She has performed both nationally and internationally in works by Alexis Blake, MICHIYAYA Dance, Sidra Bell, Itzik Galili, Kate Harpootlian, Stacey Tookey, Ohad Naharin, Shannon Gillen, Larry Keigwin, Merce Cunningham, Sonya Tayeh and many others.  Along with live performance, she has danced and choreographed in music videos, films, and ads for numerous artists and companies including THINX and MAC Cosmetics. Most recently, she finished filming Mean Girls, the Musical. She has shown her choreography in Connecticut, Colorado, California, and NYC. Hannah choreographs and teaches various styles of dance and Pilates to people of all ages around the world.Just a quick note, Hannah’s audio was a bit distorted despite multiple attempts at troubleshooting both during the recording and in post. The content was too important to not share and way too magical to re-record. So if you notice her audio, it sounds a bit like a phone call and is a bit louder in comparison to Eileen and Amy’s tracks. We appreciate your understanding.Follow & Learn More:IG: @hbseiden & @thehotgirlwithpelvicpainMean Girls the Musical Movie (official trailer)https://youtu.be/fFtdbEgnUOk?si=W1cSZPA_ty5t7lmEAdditional Resources:RAINN - Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network https://centers.rainn.org/AFSP - American Foundation for Suicide Preventionhttps://afsp.org/about-afsp/M.O.V.E. with Eileen + Amy is a Kaia Evolutions Podcast.New episodes air on Mondays.To learn more about Eileen + Amy, be sure to follow them on instagram @ekielty + @amyreah. For more information about Kaia Evolutions, a culmination of Eileen's life's work and a love letter to her sister, Katie, who died by suicide in 2019 - visit https://www.kaiaevolutions.com/ or follow on instagram at @kaia.evolutions If you want to share part of your dancer / movement artist journey with us, email us at [email protected] you for moving with us.-Eileen + Amy*If you or anyone you know is in need of support, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800.273.8255 OR text 988. You are not alone.

Guest: Courtney OzovekMovement Artist, Choreographer, Collaborator, EducatorIn Episode 6, our talk with Courtney covers topics ranging from how higher education for dancers tends to focus on everything we do wrong, to the impact unspoken expectations can inflict on someone's decisions...to the difficulties of maintaining multiple roles within one body and how we handle major life moments that have the ability to disrupt how and when we are able to move forward. ***Activation Warning: We want to give you a heads up that we do touch on themes surrounding cancer, loss, death and suicide. Please take care of your body and thank you for being here.*** Courtney (she / her) is a dance artist, choreographer, and educator rooted in the Los Angeles and Orange County area. She currently dances with Keith Johnson Dancers but has been the founding member of BARE Dance Company, RhetOracle Dance Company, and Solevita Dance Company. She has enjoyed choreographing for A Chorus Line, West Side Story, Heathers, Merrily We Roll Along, The SpongeBob Musical, and Lizzie. Courtney’s elaborate works have been featured in California, Arizona, Alaska, and Guantanamo Bay, as well as in shows at Universal Studios, Disneyland, and private corporate events. She earned her MFA in Dance from California State University, Long Beach and currently serves as a Professor of Dance at California State University, Fullerton.  Courtney has collaborated with a number of notable dance artists to include Keith Johnson, Andrew Vaca, Rebecca Lemme, Rebecca Bryant, Colleen Thomas, Gladys Kares, Debra Noble, and Macarena Gandarillas. Follow & Support:IG: @cozovekIf you're in the area, check out Cal State Fullerton's production of "A Chorus Line" running November 9th - December 2nd, 2023. For more info / to purchase tickets, check out the link below.https://www.fullerton.edu/arts/theatre/events/season.phpM.O.V.E. with Eileen + Amy is a Kaia Evolutions Podcast.New episodes air on Mondays.To learn more about Eileen + Amy, be sure to follow them on instagram @ekielty + @amyreah. For more information about Kaia Evolutions, a culmination of Eileen's life's work and a love letter to her sister, Katie, who died by suicide in 2019 - visit https://www.kaiaevolutions.com/ or follow on instagram at @kaia.evolutions If you want to share part of your dancer / movement artist journey with us, email us at [email protected] you for moving with us.-Eileen + Amy*If you or anyone you know is in need of support, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800.273.8255 OR text 988. You are not alone.

Guest: Alex SheppardDance Professor & Movement FacilitatorIn Episode 5, we talk with Alex about good and bad auditions, self love, viewing dancers as athletes, how dancers can ask more questions and make mistakes, how we are hard on other dancers and how dance is subjective (and how that can actually let us off the hook).  This episode is a FULL one. It's a little longer than our other interviews so far because Alex's son, Finley, was present for the first half. We ended up extending our conversation a bit once Alex was able to get childcare during the interview so we kept our discussion going as it was so rich and we were all getting so much from it.Alex (she / her) started dancing at Modesto Junior College where she fell in love with dance. After graduating from San Jose State with her BFA in dance she moved to New York to pursue her professional dance career. She set out to NYC with a plan to be there for 2 years (max)…almost 8 years later she moved back to California. During her time in NYC, Alex had the pleasure of dancing with many talented artists; Mike Esperanza, Jana Hicks, Marijke Eliasberg, Alison Chase, and Omri Drumlevich to name a few. She now lives in Oakland with her husband, fur babies and human baby; Finley. When Alex is not in the dance studio or at home she is teaching Yoga, Pilates or various other classes that involve moving the body. Follow & Learn More:IG: @dancinggingeralexWebsite: https://www.dancingginger.com/Podcast IG: @husbandandwifetalkPodcast Website: https://www.husbandandwifetalk.com/Additional Resources:Thesis Info: https://worldcat.org/en/title/1245512540 - This is a link to borrow the book from the university library and get it shipped to you.https://www.proquest.com/openview/f060559765010dcc51afe6de848bd88d/1.pdf?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=51922&diss=y - This is the ProQuest preview.Gibney Dance: https://gibneydance.org/M.O.V.E. with Eileen + Amy is a Kaia Evolutions Podcast.New episodes air on Mondays.To learn more about Eileen + Amy, be sure to follow them on instagram @ekielty + @amyreah. For more information about Kaia Evolutions, a culmination of Eileen's life's work and a love letter to her sister, Katie, who died by suicide in 2019 - visit https://www.kaiaevolutions.com/ or follow on instagram at @kaia.evolutions If you want to share part of your dancer / movement artist journey with us, email us at [email protected] you for moving with us.-Eileen + Amy*If you or anyone you know is in need of support, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800.273.8255 OR text 988. You are not alone.

This week’s episode is a little different as it is just Eileen and Amy. Every 4th episode of this podcast will be with just us as we dive a little deeper into the themes from previous episodes, our own journeys (answering questions from our list we provide our guests) and an opportunity for us to widen the lens of the dancer and movement artist experience through our expertise in working with bodies for a combined almost 40 years. Episode 4 happened to be really rich with expanded dialogue…we promise we always circle back to the initial question or focused theme…so we decided to split it into 2 parts. They are not even in length of time but more in topics we discussed. Part 1 focuses a bit more on Amy.Part 2 focuses a bit more on Eileen. In Part 2, we also discuss a bit more about our two previous episode interviews with Kristen Brooks Sandler (Episode 2) and Tony Nguyen (Episode 3).A couple things to note in Part 2: Eileen does mention some, potentially, activating topics surrounding the safety of her body…please take care of yourself (she does give an “activation warning” heads up right before she mentions a couple sensitive topics). There is also a point towards the end of Part 2 where Amy mentions that it’s 222. Eileen's sister, Katie, who died by suicide in 2019 consistently sends Eileen signs and one of them is the number 222. Our recording went much longer than expected that day and while we were finishing up the episode, Amy made sure to point out the time. So we took a moment to say hi to Eileen's sister. If you or anyone you know needs support, there are some resources in the bottom of the show notes. You are not alone.There is also a mention of Julia Cameron's book "The Artist's Way" during this episode. You can learn more about it here: https://a.co/d/cwImCFz *Be sure to listen to both Part 1 & Part 2 for our full conversation.M.O.V.E. with Eileen + Amy is a Kaia Evolutions Podcast.New episodes air on Mondays.To learn more about Eileen + Amy, be sure to follow them on instagram @ekielty + @amyreah. For more information about Kaia Evolutions, a culmination of Eileen's life's work and a love letter to her sister, Katie, who died by suicide in 2019 - visit https://www.kaiaevolutions.com/ or follow on instagram at @kaia.evolutions If you want to share part of your dancer / movement artist journey with us, email us at [email protected] you for moving with us.-Eileen + Amy*If you or anyone you know is in need of support, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800.273.8255 OR text 988. You are not alone.

This week’s episode is a little different as it is just Eileen and Amy. Every 4th episode of this podcast will be with just us as we dive a little deeper into the themes from previous episodes, our own journeys (answering questions from our list we provide our guests) and an opportunity for us to widen the lens of the dancer and movement artist experience through our expertise in working with bodies for a combined almost 40 years. Episode 4 happened to be really rich with expanded dialogue…we promise we always circle back to the initial question or focused theme…so we decided to split it into 2 parts. They are not even in length of time but more in topics we discussed. Part 1 focuses a bit more on Amy.Part 2 focuses a bit more on Eileen. In Part 2, we also discuss a bit more about our two previous episode interviews with Kristen Brooks Sandler (Episode 2) and Tony Nguyen (Episode 3).A couple things to note in Part 2: Eileen does mention some, potentially, activating topics surrounding the safety of her body…please take care of yourself (she does give an “activation warning” heads up right before she mentions a couple sensitive topics). There is also a point towards the end of Part 2 where Amy mentions that it’s 222. Eileen's sister, Katie, who died by suicide in 2019 consistently sends Eileen signs and one of them is the number 222. Our recording went much longer than expected that day and while we were finishing up the episode, Amy made sure to point out the time. So we took a moment to say hi to Eileen's sister. If you or anyone you know needs support, there are some resources in the bottom of the show notes. You are not alone.There is also a mention of Julia Cameron's book "The Artist's Way" during this episode. You can learn more about it here: https://a.co/d/cwImCFz *Be sure to listen to both Part 1 & Part 2 for our full conversation.M.O.V.E. with Eileen + Amy is a Kaia Evolutions Podcast.New episodes air on Mondays.To learn more about Eileen + Amy, be sure to follow them on instagram @ekielty + @amyreah. For more information about Kaia Evolutions, a culmination of Eileen's life's work and a love letter to her sister, Katie, who died by suicide in 2019 - visit https://www.kaiaevolutions.com/ or follow on instagram at @kaia.evolutions If you want to share part of your dancer / movement artist journey with us, email us at [email protected] you for moving with us.-Eileen + Amy*If you or anyone you know is in need of support, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800.273.8255 OR text 988. You are not alone.