Creative Impact Podcast

I loved reconnecting with Lauren Messina for part ten of our Belhaven Dance Alumni series! Lauren is an award-winning choreographer, community builder, and founder of Skool Dance, an innovative online space connecting dancers of all backgrounds worldwide.

In our conversation, Lauren shares about her journey in dance, the importance of community, and her experiences at Belhaven for both her undergraduate and MFA studies. We also dive into her current work in New Orleans as well as the founding of Skool Dance. We chat about the significance of community for artists, the joy of movement, and the resilience of artists in challenging times. Lauren's voice is one of encouragement as she reminds us to embrace the joy of dance in everyday life.

It was so sweet to connect with the lovely Goldie Mims for episode 136, part nine of our Belhaven Dance Alumni Series! Goldie is a recent graduate of Belhaven University and is currently dancing with Enoch Contemporary Ballet in Tennessee. She shares her journey beginning with the inspiration of growing up in a creative family in Jacksonville, Florida, to the unexpected pursuit of her dance degree at Belhaven, to her current role at Enoch Contemporary Ballet.

We chat about Goldie's experiences at Belhaven and the challenges and excitement of transitioning to a career in dance. We dive into the importance of community, including what building community looks like post-college. Goldie also reflects on the significance of self-discipline, lifelong learning, and embracing challenges as opportunities for growth in the ongoing journey as an artist.

We are continuing our Belhaven Dance Alumni series with performer and dance educator Jamie J. Thompson! Jamie joins me for part eight of our series, episode 135, sharing the integral significance of dance in his upbringing in Belize and the path he has journeyed to becoming a professional dancer and educator in New York City. He reflects on his formative years, both his experiences growing up in Belize and his transformative time at Belhaven University. Jamie's story highlights the power of mentorship as well as learning to synthesize our experiences and create a "toolkit" of skills as an artist.

We chat about pivotal moments in Jamie's professional dance career, including his early experiences in Dallas and his time as part of Disney's The Lion King on Broadway. He discusses the joys and challenges of performing, including injuries and the demands of the industry, as well as how those challenges have helped him develop resilience. Jamie also delves into his teaching philosophy and his creative process as a choreographer. He offers valuable advice for aspiring dancers about exploring their full talent matrix and preparing for a diverse career in the arts. Jamie's story is such an inspiration!

My lovely friend Carina Nasrallah joins me for episode 134, part seven of our Belhaven Dance Alumni Series! Carina is currently an outreach athletic trainer for Houston Methodist Hospital and is an athletic trainer for the Houston Ballet & Academy. Throughout our conversation, Carina and I enjoy reminiscing about our time at Belhaven together and our shared experiences living and working in Houston.

With her own background as a dancer, Carina has a unique ability to connect with professional dancers and artists as an athletic trainer. She shares about her journey from Belhaven to her current role at the Houston Ballet and the significant impact of mentorship along the way. We also dive into balancing work and family life. I was personally so encouraged by Carina's thoughts on building community and leaning into the unexpected paths life can take.

It was so fun to reconnect with Matthew Palfenier for episode 133, part six of our Belhaven Dance Alumni series! We reminisce about our time at Belhaven University and the sense of camaraderie that was built during that season. Matthew and I explore his journey from early foundations in the arts, to his time at Belhaven, to becoming a professional dancer and educator. He shares about the pressure cooker experience of the professional dance world, and the importance of self-reflection in the face of burnout. We also chat about the power of community and mentorship, especially during times of uncertainty.

Matthew gives us insight into his transition from performing to teaching, both the challenges and rewards of learning a new skill set. I love how Matthew values passing on knowledge to the next generation and guiding his students as they learn to embrace their unique path as an artist. He also touches on the significance of choreography as a door to conversation and building deeper connections with others.