The Background Dancer

After three full seasons and more than a hundred entries, it's finally time to lay down my microphone and headphones. In this episode, I will be reflecting upon this almost five year journey from the perspectives of WHAT, WHY, HOW, WHEN and WHERE of this platform. What began as merely a channel to voice my thoughts about the world of performing arts has gradually grown into a full-fledged   educational reservoir of all things dance. 
Tune in one last time to learn about my key takeaways and what's in store for the future. Most of all, THANK YOU so much to all of you who have been with me from the beginning. Remember to always foreground dance in the background and enjoy My Final Cast!
Soundtracks:
Birds - Tyler Twombly 
Poison Ivy Yard Work - Uncle Milk
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We have come full circle yet again and successfully completed another season of the most niche dance content you can find! Part 3 of the season round-up provides a quick run-through episodes 1 - 10. This season was all about the proverbial 'Wearing Many Hats' approach symbolic of most artists around the world. How have the stories of these amazing personalities shaped your perception and approach in dance? Will your journey intersect with one of theirs?  

Concluding the third and FINAL season, this episode recaps the marvelous works achieved by some of our best mutli-faceted artists in the performing arts. Ready to fulfill your own Background Dancer journey? Join us as we foreground dance in the background!
Soundtracks:
Birds - Tyler Twombly 
Poison Ivy Yard Work - Uncle Milk
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Growing up in Malaysia within a traditional Chinese household, I realized that I knew very little about my own cultural roots. This wasn’t due to any lack of guidance, but rather a subtle drift — a neglect of curiosity on my part.  So when the opportunity arose to revisit and relearn, I stepped forward without hesitation.
That journey led me to Zuna Vesan Kozánková, a reservoir of knowledge who constantly bridged worlds — between East and West, science and spirituality, movement and medicine. In 2024, Zuna published The Tao of Movement, a remarkable book for anyone working with the body — from dancers and performers to therapists, athletes, and movement practitioners.  Developed through projects such as Dance and Medicine and Dancing Qigong, it reflects a lifelong inquiry into how movement can be both expressive and healing. At the heart of her practice lies a simple yet profound idea: that movement is not just mechanical, but intelligent. 
In this final full-length episode of The Background Dancer, I sit down with Zuna to explore these ideas — to reflect on dance, spirituality, and the ever-narrowing gap between Eastern and Western movement philosophies.
Zuna Vesan Kozánková
The Tao of Movement
Dance and Medicine 
Dancing Qigong
Soundtracks:
Birds - Tyler Twombly 
Poison Ivy Yard Work - Uncle Milk
Soft Background Music - FreeMusicForVideo
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What concerns weigh heaviest on your mind as a dancer or dancemaker? How do these challenges manifest across different regions of the world? To explore these pressing questions, I’ve gathered two of my favorite fellow podcasters for a heartfelt and thought-provoking conversation in this final guest feature of the J-cast. 
Jacob Caldwell is a storyteller and artistic activist based in North Hollywood, CA. With roots in Corralitos and Oakhurst and formative experiences in Santa Cruz and Los Angeles, Jacob uses acting and dance as his primary mediums of expression. As the founder of All House Dance Collective, he is driven by a vision to create a future where arts and education thrive and where everyone has a seat at the table.
Joshua Sailo is a traveler between worlds and mediums, channeling his life experiences into artistic expressions through dance, music, photography, and visual art. A 2021 Artist-in-Residence at D.R.I.F.T. in Dharamshala, he is currently exploring the concept of “folk” as both a performance practice and a function of community togetherness. As a co-founding member of the 206 Dance Collective, Joshua continues to engage with the global dance community through teaching, performing, and podcasting.
In this final entry of The Background Dancer, I sit down with Jacob and Joshua to examine critical issues within dance across Asia, Europe, and the US. What challenges are deeply personal yet universal? Can we identify real-time solutions by adopting a transcontinental perspective in strategic planning and problem-solving?  Welcome to Episode 10 of S3, Dance’s Last Slalom. 
Jacob Caldwell
Joshua Sailo
Why Dance by the J-Cast
Soundtracks:
Birds - Tyler Twombly 
Poison Ivy Yard Work - Uncle Milk
Support the show
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S2 Summer SALE!
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Choreographing Your Dance Career by Janaea Rose Lyn
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What is the difference between contemporary dance and performance art?
This fusion finds profound representation in the work of VestAndPage, the renowned artist duo comprising Verena Stenke (Germany) and Andrea Pagnes (Italy). Since their founding in 2006, VestAndPage has redefined contemporary performance art through their exploration of social, political, and environmental themes. Their work delves into fragility, memory activation, and transformation, heavily influenced by their backgrounds in philosophy and theater. In 2020, they released their Manifesto on Performance-Based Filmmaking: Poetics of Relations as a video article in the Journal of Embodied Research, solidifying their thought leadership in performance art and filmmaking. Their art transcends traditional boundaries, incorporating formats such as “collective performance operas” and “temporary artistic communities” that inspire collaboration and connection. Since 2021, Verena and Andrea have extended their influence as founders and co-directors of the Venice International Performance Art Week. 
In this episode, we explored how to navigate across artistic disciplines and roles and discussed the importance of viewing the world through an alternative lens. Their insights remind us that art is not just about the performance — it’s about the deeper, evolving conversation it sparks. Welcome to Episode 9 of Season 3, Performing towards Performance Arts.
VestAndPage
Venice International Performance Art Week
Soundtracks:
Birds - Tyler Twombly 
Poison Ivy Yard Work - Uncle Milk
Harmitzvah - Coolzey
Support the show
Like our offers? 
S2 Summer SALE!
Check out our new Dance Masterclass YouTube review
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Choreographing Your Dance Career by Janaea Rose Lyn
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Like what we do? Help us grow by
Visiting The Background Dancer
YouTube Channel
Rate and review here 
Email me at backgrounddancer.jy@gmail.com
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Join the Facebook group and introduce yourself as a member of our community