CJ and I met back in 2016 while working with Shannon Gillen at Springboard. I was a year into my career and CJ was navigating the end of his college experience. As many dancer are in their early 20's, CJ was full of curiosity, drive, and ambition. Today, not much has changed. Now he spends his time between NYC and Europe as both a dancer, collaborator, and choreographer.

In our talk, CJ talks about big pivots he's had to make over the years, seeking out the worlds most inspiring choreographers, and how dancers can better navigate their careers.

About CJ:
A Chicago native, Cj is a dancer, choreographer, and movement director. After finishing his studies at The Chicago Academy for the Arts and Suny Purchase College, where he was awarded the Adopt-A-Dancer Scholarship, Claude then became a full-time company dancer with A.I.M. by Kyle Abraham from 2017-2022 where he became a Princess Grace 2021 nominee. Claude has gotten the opportunity to perform works by Kyle Abraham, Merce Cunningham, Trisha Brown, Aszure Barton, Johannes Weiland, Doug Varone, Kevin Wynn, Nicole Von Arx, Keerati Jinakunwiphat, Princess Madoki , and many more. As a performer and black queer artist, Claude dances to translate the human experience to audiences to recognize the art form of dance as the best catalyst to motivate self-expression and social change. In any artistic space he believes his responsibility is to increase the knowledge and perspective of his community’s vast experience.

Connect with CJ!
Instagram: @Cj4400

Interested in working with Brandon? He works with pre-professional and early career artist to help them book and build fulfilling work. You can learn more about his coaching HERE

Connect with Brandon!
Join his Email List: HERE

Instagram: @itsBrandonColeman | @BreakingTheWallPodcast
Website: www.BrandonColemanDance.com/BTWP

The when is really out of our control when it comes to achieving the career goals we set for ourselves. Over the years we have to pivot, engage with new ideas, and much of the time learn on the job. When I first joined Visceral in 2015, Paige Fraser was one of those dancer's I looked up to.

In our conversation we dive into the life of a dance captain on Broadway, the importance of sharing your story, and how dancer's today can focus their energy when they want to do it all.

About Paige!

Paige Fraser (Bronx, NY) trained at Ballet Atlantic Academy and the Professional Performing Arts High School/Ailey School in NYC. She was a scholarship recipient at; ABT, DTH, Complexions, Jacobs Pillow, and The Juilliard School summer intensives. In 2012, Ms. Fraser graduated Cum Laude from Fordham University/Alvin Ailey BFA. Paige was a member of Ailey II for 2011-2013 seasons. In 2013, she became a founding dancer of Visceral Dance Chicago for 6 seasons. She has been a guest artist with Deeply Rooted Dance Theater since 2016. She is a Princess Grace Award recipient (2016) and a Dance Magazine “Top 25 to Watch” (2017). She has done commercial work with Beyonce, Chanel Iman, and Jussie Smollett; and has been featured in international campaigns with INTEL, ESPN Latin America, and ELLE Magazine. Ms. Fraser made her musical theatre debut in “West Side Story” at the Lyric Opera in Chicago (2019). She toured with the The Lion King, and is now the Dance Captain and Swing for The Lion King on Broadway. Ms. Fraser is the Chief Artistic Officer and Program Director of Dance for The Paige Fraser Foundation. She is currently getting her MA in Art Management from University of Denver.

Connect with Paige!
Instagram: @lovingthispaige | @thepaigefraserfoundation
www.thepaigefraserfoundation.org
www.paigefraser.net

Interested in working with Brandon? He works with pre-professional and early career artist to help them book and build fulfilling work. You can learn more about his coaching HERE

Connect with Brandon!
Join his Email List: HERE

Instagram: @itsBrandonColeman | @BreakingTheWallPodcast
Website: www.BrandonColemanDance.com/BTWP

Interested in working with Brandon? He works with pre-professional and early career artist to help them book and build fulfilling work. You can learn more about his coaching HERE

Connect with Brandon!
Join his Email List: HERE

Instagram: @itsBrandonColeman | @BreakingTheWallPodcast
Website: www.BrandonColemanDance.com/BTWP

I remember talking to JBC for the first time in 2015 when I was considering a position with Giordano Dance Chicago. He is the definition of charisma and Mr. Chicago Dance World if you ask me! It wasn't until the following year that I got to perform a new solo by him and a friendship was formed.

JBC has been a great resource for me over the years and in our conversation we got to peak behind the curtain to see what it's like to be an Artistic Director, understand what the other side of the table sees, and what the hope is for the dance community as a whole. Enjoy!

About JBC!

Joshua Blake Carter is the Artistic Director of Dance Kaleidoscope in Indianapolis, IN. Originally from Atlanta, GA, he spent 14 years in Chicago with Giordano Dance Chicago, first as a dancer and then as an administrator and Director of Giordano II, a position he held for 10 years. During his time at GDC, Joshua created three original works for the main company and nine original works for Giordano II. As a freelance artist, he has created works for dance companies, theater companies, and events across the nation. Joshua was the 2009 winner of Wonderbound’s (formerly Ballet Nouveau Colorado) national choreography competition dancemakers2.0. In 2013, he was commissioned to create a new work for DanceWorks Chicago’s DanceMoves choreography competition, and he was awarded the Producers’ Panel Prize by the Ruth Page Foundation for his work, Ripen. Joshua’s choreography for Disney’s Newsies at the Paramount Theatre was nominated for a Jeff Award and a Regional Broadway World Award. Other commissions include Missouri Contemporary Ballet, Nomi Dance Company, Visceral Dance Chicago, and Artifact Dance Project, as well as an original work for Embarq with Joffrey Ballet. In 2016, he created the finale for the event Sing! Featuring Elton John. Joshua has been an Artist in Residence with Brenau University, Glendale Community College, Illinois State University, Salve Regina University, and Southeast Missouri State University.

Connect with JBC!
Instagram: @jbcchoreography
Dance Kaleidoscope's handle: @dance_kaleidoscope_indy
Website: www.dancekal.org

Interested in working with Brandon? He works with pre-professional and early career artist to help them book and build fulfilling work. You can learn more about his coaching HERE

Connect with Brandon!
Join his Email List: HERE

Instagram: @itsBrandonColeman | @BreakingTheWallPodcast
Website: www.BrandonColemanDance.com/BTWP