Lauren E.J. Hamilton wraps up season 1 by inviting us into her world of often being the only Black person and Black woman in a broadway production and her role in working to dismantle white supremacy within Broadway theatre.  ---Lauren E. J. Hamilton hails from St. Petersburg, FL and is the daughter of former business executive & current senior consultant, Lawrence W. Hamilton and former Broadway performer & television/film actress, Karen E. Fraction. She began her training at the age of two, beginning at Judith Lee Johnson's Dance Studio and later Soulful Arts Dance Academy. Lauren spent consecutive summers, from the age of 12 to 21, at Debbie Allen’s Dance Academy, The Ailey School, Broadway Theatre Project, The Performing Arts Project, and Broadway Dance Center.  A proud alumna of thespian Troupe 4127, Lauren graduated from St. Petersburg Catholic High School in 2011. She was persistent in attending an HBCU & thrilled to be accepted to the incomparable Spelman College, where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Drama with a concentration in Dance and Spanish minor in 2015. Her junior year at Spelman, she was initiated into Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and maintains an active membership. Post graduation, Lauren moved to New York City and began her career as an assistant to former Broadway performer & current NYU Tisch Drama professor & award-winning choreographer Byron Easley. In 2017, she became a member of Actors Equity Association, and in 2018, signed with CESD Talent Agency. Lauren is currently in the ensemble of DIANA The Musical on Broadway.  Check out the musical on Netflix!Connect with Lauren E.J. HamiltonInstagram: @laurenejhamiltonPurchase tickets to Diana the Musical: https://thedianamusical.com/Diana The Musical Instagram: @dianaonbroadway----Connect with the Techniquely Speaking Dance Podcast:WebsiteInstagram @techniquelyspeakingdancepod

Making It On Broadway with Lauren E.J. Hamilton from Diana The Musical. Lauren recounts her journey to making her broadway debut in Diana The Musical. ---Lauren E. J. Hamilton hails from St. Petersburg, FL and is the daughter of former business executive & current senior consultant, Lawrence W. Hamilton and former Broadway performer & television/film actress, Karen E. Fraction. She began her training at the age of two, beginning at Judith Lee Johnson's Dance Studio and later Soulful Arts Dance Academy. Lauren spent consecutive summers, from the age of 12 to 21, at Debbie Allen’s Dance Academy, The Ailey School, Broadway Theatre Project, The Performing Arts Project, and Broadway Dance Center.  A proud alumna of thespian Troupe 4127, Lauren graduated from St. Petersburg Catholic High School in 2011. She was persistent in attending an HBCU & thrilled to be accepted to the incomparable Spelman College, where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Drama with a concentration in Dance and Spanish minor in 2015. Her junior year at Spelman, she was initiated into Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and maintains an active membership. Post graduation, Lauren moved to New York City and began her career as an assistant to former Broadway performer & current NYU Tisch Drama professor & award-winning choreographer Byron Easley. In 2017, she became a member of Actors Equity Association, and in 2018, signed with CESD Talent Agency. Lauren is currently in the ensemble of DIANA The Musical on Broadway. Check out the musical on Netflix!Connect with Lauren E.J. HamiltonInstagram: @laurenejhamiltonPurchase tickets to Diana the Musical: https://thedianamusical.com/Diana The Musical Instagram: @dianaonbroadway----Connect with the Techniquely Speaking Dance Podcast:WebsiteInstagram @techniquelyspeakingdancepod

Lauren E. J. Hamilton hails from St. Petersburg, FL and is the daughter of former business executive & current senior consultant, Lawrence W. Hamilton and former Broadway performer & television/film actress, Karen E. Fraction. She began her training at the age of two, beginning at Judith Lee Johnson's Dance Studio and later Soulful Arts Dance Academy. Lauren spent consecutive summers, from the age of 12 to 21, at Debbie Allen’s Dance Academy, The Ailey School, Broadway Theatre Project, The Performing Arts Project, and Broadway Dance Center.  A proud alumna of thespian Troupe 4127, Lauren graduated from St. Petersburg Catholic High School in 2011. She was persistent in attending an HBCU & thrilled to be accepted to the incomparable Spelman College, where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Drama with a concentration in Dance and Spanish minor in 2015. Her junior year at Spelman, she was initiated into Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and maintains an active membership. Post graduation, Lauren moved to New York City and began her career as an assistant to former Broadway performer & current NYU Tisch Drama professor & award-winning choreographer Byron Easley. In 2017, she became a member of Actors Equity Association, and in 2018, signed with CESD Talent Agency. Lauren is currently in the ensemble of DIANA The Musical on Broadway. Check out the musical on Netflix! Connect with Lauren E.J. HamiltonInstagram: @laurenejhamiltonPurchase tickets to Diana the Musical: https://thedianamusical.com/Diana The Musical Instagram: @dianaonbroadwayConnect with the Techniquely Speaking Dance Podcast:WebsiteInstagram @techniquelyspeakingdancepod

Jaivyn “Jai” Beauford has been dancing since the age of 3 years old and has participated in countless dance exhibitions, conventions, competitions, intensives and performances in states and cities nationwide. She was accepted into the Alvin Ailey School Summer Program, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Contemporary West Dance Theatre, Cleo Parker-Robinson, and Debbie Allen Academy Summer Intensives along with being invited into the Joffrey Ballet School Ballet Trainee Program.She has received multiple scholarships for her dancing, all while excelling academically. She was nominated to the Governor’s Honors Program, accepted into the National Beta Club, selected as a 2020 Global Youth Ambassador scholarship recipient, and is an Honor Roll student. Jai was featured in the 2017, 2018, and 2019 Curtain Call Dance and Performance Catalog/Magazine, serves as a Brown Girls Do Ballet Ambassador and was recently selected as a Brand Ambassador with Blendz Apparel Inc. Jaivyn also created a program initiative called DanceShoez that focuses on empowering young dancers by collecting and donating gently used shoes to dancers who may not have the resources they need to pursue dance. Connect with Jaivyn "Jai" Beauford Instagram: @amazingjaiProgram Initiative: DanceShoezAmbassador Programs: Brown Girls Do Ballet & Blendz ApparelConnect with the Techniquely Speaking Dance Podcast:WebsiteInstagram @techniquelyspeakingdancepod

Rachel Lockhart is a native of Birmingham Alabama. She began her training at the J. Lockhart Performing Arts Institute at the age of 2, where she trained in many genres. Rachel graduated from the Alabama School of Fine Arts where she studied dance and currently attends The Juilliard School in New York as a BFA dance major. Her list of credits includes performing the lead role, Marie, in Alabama Ballet’s production of the George Balanchine Nutcracker (2010 & 2011) and Young Nettie in Red Mountain Theatre’s 2012 production of The Color Purple. Rachel has received numerous summer scholarships in dance to attend prestigious institutions such as Dance Theatre of Harlem, The Juilliard Summer Intensive, Joffrey Ballet, Anthony Burrell’s Breaking Barriers, International Ballet Intensive, Atlanta Dance Connection, and many more. In 2019, Rachel performed at the renowned Koch Theatre in Manhattan for a tribute to the late Donald Mckayle. Connect with Rachel Lockhart: Instagram - @bernards.babygirlFacebook - @RachelLockhartYoutube - @BornRachel Apple Music - @RàiMusicSpotify - @RàiMusicConnect with the Techniquely Speaking Dance Podcast:WebsiteInstagram @techniquelyspeakingdancepodYoutube @techniquelyspeakingdancepodcast

Taylor Mackenzie Smith is back to talk about her experience growing up training at an all Black dance studio in Atlanta, GA.  Taylor Mackenzie Smith is an Atlanta native who received her Bachelor of Arts in Drama with a Dance Concentration from Spelman College. Most recently, she worked as Assistant Movement in the Broadway debut of Slave Play, choreographed by Byron Easley. Taylor Mackenzie Smith also happens to be one of Elyse Vonne's best friends!Follow Taylor Mackenzie Smith on Instagram @taylormackenziesmithConnect with the Techniquely Speaking Dance Podcast:WebsiteInstagram @techniquelyspeakingdancepod

Taylor Mackenzie Smith joins the Techniquely Speaking Dance Podcast to chat about her journey as a New York based performer & choreographer. Taylor Mackenzie Smith is an Atlanta native who received her Bachelor of Arts in Drama with a Dance Concentration from Spelman College. Most recently, she worked as Assistant Movement in the Broadway debut of Slave Play, choreographed by Byron Easley. Taylor Mackenzie Smith also happens to be one of Elyse Vonne's best friends! Follow Taylor Mackenzie Smith on Instagram @taylormackenziesmithConnect with the Techniquely Speaking Dance Podcast:WebsiteInstagram @techniquelyspeakingdancepod

This episode introduces you to your host, Elyse Vonne. She dives into her background and explains why she chose to create the Techniquely Speaking podcast. Be sure to subscribe and engage with us on Instagram @techniquelyspeakingdancepod to join our community! Connect with the Techniquely Speaking Dance Podcast:Website

The TECHNIQUELY SPEAKING  DANCE PODCAST  is a space for Black business owners, Black dance educators, Black performers, Black students and other Black professionals in the dance industry to engage in open and honest conversation about their experiences and careers relevant to their niche within the dance industry. Hosted by Elyse Vonne, the TECHNIQUELY SPEAKING  DANCE PODCAST aims to educate, encourage and motivate Blacks in dance. Elyse Vonne has her MA in Arts Management and has practically lived and breathed all things dance since birth as the daughter of a Black dance studio owner. Be sure to subscribe and engage with us on Instagram @techniquelyspeakingdancepod to join our community!