A State of Dance

This month's guest is Remi Wörtmeyer, Artistic Director of BalletMet, and a multi-award-winning choreographer, dancer, designer, and educator. Born in Adelaide, Australia, Wörtmeyer trained in classical dance at The Australian Ballet School and went on to perform with The Australian Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, and as a principal dancer with Dutch National Ballet. His international career has taken him to stages around the world, including the Sydney Opera House, New York’s Metropolitan Opera House, London Coliseum and Sadler’s Wells, St. Petersburg’s Alexandrinsky Theatre, New National Theatre Tokyo, the Grand Theatres of Shanghai and Hong Kong, and major venues in Beijing and Paris.Wörtmeyer’s creative practice extends across choreography,  fashion design, and sculpture. His choreographic works have been created for organizations including Dutch National Ballet, Queensland Ballet, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, and Benois de la Danse, while his pas de deux Penumbra was created for Roberto Bolle and Melissa Hamilton and his ballet Significant Others, inspired by artists Sonia and Robert Delaunay, has been presented by Atlanta Ballet. His fashion and sculptural work has been exhibited internationally, and his collaboration with haute couturier Ronald van der Kamp brought his handmade sculptural jewelry to Paris Fashion Week. Named Artistic Director of BalletMet in June 2024, Wörtmeyer now brings this expansive multidisciplinary vision to Columbus while continuing to choreograph and create work nationally and internationally.OhioDance: A State of Dance is a six-part series coming out the fourth Friday of each month through November 2026. This podcast is driven by the OhioDance mission to secure the foothold of dance in Ohio through increasing visibility, firming viability, and elevating the position of dance in Ohio.In 2016, a five-person team set out on a mission to capture the achievements of persons and institutions who have shaped the intricate diversity of dance history and practice within the state of Ohio and weave them together in an easily accessible digital format. This we call this the OhioDance Virtual Dance Collection. As of 2026 we have highlighted 46 individuals and institutions. The team has traveled over 5000 miles and interviewed hundreds of individuals in all five regions of Ohio.⁠ vdc.ohiodance.org⁠ If you like what you are listening to and are not a member of OhioDance, you can go to⁠ ohiodance.org⁠ and click the membership button to join and receive the many benefits that come with your membership. You can also donate through our purple donate button.

This month's guest is Brandon Ragland, Artistic Director of Dayton Ballet, and an accomplished dancer, choreographer, educator, and arts leader. Originally from Birmingham, Alabama, Ragland trained at the Alabama School of Fine Arts before earning a B.S. in Dance-Arts Administration from Butler University. He began his professional career with Alabama Ballet, performing classical and neoclassical works by choreographers including George Balanchine, Christopher Bruce, Roger Van Fleteren, and Septime Webre. In 2010, he joined Louisville Ballet, where he spent 13 years as a leading artist performing works spanning classical ballet and contemporary choreography.Throughout his career, Brandon has developed a multifaceted practice encompassing performance, choreography, teaching, and artistic leadership. His choreography has been presented by organizations including Louisville Ballet, Alabama Ballet, Ballet Arkansas, AROVA Contemporary Ballet, Next Generation Ballet, and others, while his contributions to the arts have been recognized with honors including the Lift A Life Foundation Emerging Leader in the Arts Award and Louisville Magazine's Best Artist Award. As Artistic Director of Dayton Ballet, he brings these experiences together in shaping a vision that honors ballet's traditions while creating space for new choreography, new stories, and the continued evolution of the art form.OhioDance: A State of Dance is a six-part series coming out the fourth Friday of each month through November 2026. This podcast is driven by the OhioDance mission to secure the foothold of dance in Ohio through increasing visibility, firming viability, and elevating the position of dance in Ohio.In 2016, a five-person team set out on a mission to capture the achievements of persons and institutions who have shaped the intricate diversity of dance history and practice within the state of Ohio and weave them together in an easily accessible digital format. This we call this the OhioDance Virtual Dance Collection. As of 2026 we have highlighted 46 individuals and institutions. The team has traveled over 5000 miles and interviewed hundreds of individuals in all five regions of Ohio.⁠ vdc.ohiodance.org⁠ If you like what you are listening to and are not a member of OhioDance, you can go to⁠ ohiodance.org⁠ and click the membership button to join and receive the many benefits that come with your membership. You can also donate through our purple donate button.

This month's guest is Dominic Moore-Dunson, an award-winning choreographer, director, and educator based in Akron, Ohio. A 2025 Lloyd Richards New Futures Fellow and Dance Magazine “25 to Watch” artist, he is Co-Founder and Creative Director of MooreDunson Co., a family-led creative studio he leads alongside his wife, Ashley Moore-Dunson. His work spans dance, theater, and immersive performance, using his signature Urban Midwest Storytelling approach to explore memory, identity, safety, belonging, and the complexity of family and community.Dominic’s work has been presented nationally and featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and the Akron Beacon Journal. He is a 2024 Ohio Arts Council Individual Excellence Award recipient and Headlands Center for the Arts Fellow, and the creator of works including the inCOPnegro Trilogy, The Remember Balloons National Tour, and The Block. Across his artistic and educational practice, he brings together movement, storytelling, cultural reflection, and community engagement.OhioDance: A State of Dance is a six-part series coming out the fourth Friday of  each month through November 2026. This podcast is driven by the OhioDance mission to secure the foothold of dance in Ohio through  increasing visibility, firming viability, and elevating the position of  dance in Ohio.In 2016, a five-person team set out on a mission to capture the achievements of persons and institutions who have shaped the intricate  diversity of dance history and practice within the state of Ohio and  weave them together in an easily accessible digital format. This we call this the OhioDance Virtual Dance Collection. As of 2026 we have highlighted  46 individuals and institutions. The team has traveled over 5000 miles and interviewed hundreds of individuals in all five regions of Ohio.⁠ vdc.ohiodance.org⁠ If you like what you are listening to and are not a member of OhioDance, you can go to⁠ ohiodance.org⁠ and  click the membership button to join and receive the many benefits that  come with your membership. You can also donate through our purple donate  button.

This month's guest is Kevin Ward. Mr. Ward is an acclaimed dancer, choreographer, educator, musician, and arts leader. He joined Dayton Contemporary Dance Company in 1980 and served as its Artistic Director from 1999 to 2007, helping guide one of the nation’s leading Black contemporary dance companies. After working with the National Dance Institute and New Mexico School for the Arts in Santa Fe, Ward returned to DCDC in 2022 as Senior Artistic Advisor. His honors include three Ohio Arts Council Fellowships, the OhioDance Award, and the Kennedy Center’s Masters of African American Choreography Medal.OhioDance: A State of Dance is a six-part series coming out the fourth Friday of  each month through November 2026. This podcast is driven by the OhioDance mission to secure the foothold of dance in Ohio through  increasing visibility, firming viability, and elevating the position of  dance in Ohio.In  2016, a five-person team set out on a mission to capture the  achievements of persons and institutions who have shaped the intricate  diversity of dance history and practice within the state of Ohio and  weave them together in an easily accessible digital format. This we call this the OhioDance Virtual Dance Collection. As of 2026 we have highlighted  46 individuals and institutions. The team has traveled over 5000 miles and interviewed hundreds of individuals in all five regions of Ohio.⁠ vdc.ohiodance.org⁠If you like what you are listening to and are not a member of OhioDance, you can go to⁠ ohiodance.org⁠ and  click the membership button to join and receive the many benefits that  come with your membership. You can also donate through our purple donate  button.

This month's guest is Hannah Kosstrin. Dr. Kosstrin is a dance historian and movement analyst. Her scholarship focuses on Jewish dance in global contexts including dance histories of the United States, Israel and the Jewish diaspora, Latin America, Europe, South Asia, and the African diaspora; gender and queer theory; nationalism, migration, and diaspora studies; Laban movement notation and analysis; and digital humanities.  She is Director of Ohio State's Melton Center for Jewish Studies, Associate Professor in the Department of Dance, and has appointments in the Department of Near Eastern and South Asian Languages and Cultures, and is affiliate faculty with the Center for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies and the Mershon Center for International Security Studies.Her new book Kinesthetic Peoplehood: Jewish Diasporic Dance Migrations (Oxford University Press) examines Jewish diasporic dance practices of choreographers who migrated between Israel and the United States between the Cold War and Covid. Her article “Whose Jewishness? Inbal Dance Theater and Cold War American Spectatorship” (American Jewish History, 2020) was awarded a Gertrude Lippincott Award Honorable Mention from the Dance Studies Association. Dr. Kosstrin’s work also appears in Dance Research Journal, Dance Chronicle, The International Journal of Screendance, Journal of Jewish Identities, Dance on Its Own Terms: Histories and Methodologies, Queer Dance: Meanings and Makings The Futures of Dance Studies and the Oxford Handbook of Jewishness and Dance She is project director for KineScribe, a Labanotation app supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities, Reed College, and Ohio State, and Faculty Lead for LabanLens, a Laban-based HoloLens application supported by Ohio State.Links: KinescribeKinesthetic Peoplehood: Jewish Diasporic Dance Migrations - Discount code for 30% off: AUFLY30Honest Bodies: Revolutionary Modernism in the Dances of Anna Sokolow - Discount code for 30% off: AAFLYG6OhioDance: A State of Dance is a six-part series coming out the fourth Friday of  each month through November 2026. This podcast is driven by the OhioDance mission to secure the foothold of dance in Ohio through  increasing visibility, firming viability, and elevating the position of  dance in Ohio.In  2016, a five-person team set out on a mission to capture the  achievements of persons and institutions who have shaped the intricate  diversity of dance history and practice within the state of Ohio and  weave them together in an easily accessible digital format. This we call this the OhioDance Virtual Dance Collection. As of 2026 we have highlighted  46 individuals and institutions. The team has traveled over 5000 miles and interviewed hundreds of individuals in all five regions of Ohio.⁠ vdc.ohiodance.org⁠If you like what you are listening to and are not a member of OhioDance, you can go to⁠ ohiodance.org⁠ and  click the membership button to join and receive the many benefits that  come with your membership. You can also donate through our purple donate  button.

This month's guest is David A. Choate, Jr., Founder  and Producing Artistic Director of Revolution Dance Theatre. David is an African American public speaker, dancer/choreographer, lighting designer, writer, director and theatrical producer. In his current role, he has written, choreographed and produced several original performances including the region's only African American Nutcracker experience, "Hot Chocolate". He has participated in several tours, had his work displayed on nationally syndicated television and is proud to be responsible for Emmy nominated choreography.An alumnus of Cincinnati's School of Creative and Performing Arts, Mr. Choate later attended Union Institute and University, where he majored in Business Administration. Most recently, he graduated from the Executive Business Accelerator, of the Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky African American Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Choate considers himself passionate about two things, the arts and people, using a passion for one to fuel the other. The mission of his work remains to advance equity, tell marginalized stories and uplift African American culture and experiences.OhioDance: A State of Dance is a six-part series coming out the fourth Friday of  each month through November 2025. This podcast is driven by the OhioDance mission to secure the foothold of dance in Ohio through  increasing visibility, firming viability, and elevating the position of  dance in Ohio.In  2016, a five-person team set out on a mission to capture the  achievements of persons and institutions who have shaped the intricate  diversity of dance history and practice within the state of Ohio and  weave them together in an easily accessible digital format. This we call  the OhioDance Virtual Dance Collection. As of 2025 we have highlighted  44 individuals and institutions. The team has traveled over 5000 miles  and interviewed hundreds of individuals in all five regions of Ohio.⁠ vdc.ohiodance.org⁠If you like what you are listening to and are not a member of OhioDance, you can go to⁠ ohiodance.org⁠ and  click the membership button to join and receive the many benefits that  come with your membership. You can also donate through our purple donate  button.

This month's guest is Lynn Dally. Lynn is a pioneering tap dancer, choreographer, and educator whose artistry helped define the modern tap renaissance. A co-founder of the groundbreaking Jazz Tap Ensemble in 1979, Dally fused the improvisational spirit of jazz with the rhythmic precision of tap, bringing the form to concert stages around the world and re-establishing tap as a serious contemporary art.In 2001, Dally became the first tap dancer ever awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in Choreography, affirming her trailblazing role in expanding the boundaries of rhythm dance. Her choreography celebrates musical collaboration, syncopation, and the voices of women in tap—work that includes the acclaimed documentary Gotta Move: Women in Tap and the nation’s first conference dedicated to female tap artists.Through her performances, teaching, and global outreach, Lynn Dally has preserved tap’s lineage while propelling it forward. Her legacy continues to inspire generations of dancers who see in her career a bridge between tap’s vernacular roots and its vibrant, evolving future.OhioDance: A State of Dance is a six-part series coming out the fourth Friday of   each month through November 2025. This podcast is driven by the OhioDance mission to secure the foothold of dance in Ohio through  increasing visibility, firming viability, and elevating the position of  dance in Ohio.In  2016, a five-person team set out on a mission to capture the  achievements of persons and institutions who have shaped the intricate  diversity of dance history and practice within the state of Ohio and  weave them together in an easily accessible digital format. This we call  the OhioDance Virtual Dance Collection. As of 2025 we have highlighted  44 individuals and institutions. The team has traveled over 5000 miles  and interviewed hundreds of individuals in all five regions of Ohio.⁠ vdc.ohiodance.org⁠If you like what you are listening to and are not a member of OhioDance, you can go to⁠ ohiodance.org⁠ and  click the membership button to join and receive the many benefits that  come with your membership. You can also donate through our purple donate  button.

This month's guest is Suzan Bradford Kounta. Suzan is a dancer, choreographer, educator, and cultural leader dedicated to the preservation and celebration of West African traditions. She is the first African American woman to serve as Executive Director of Columbus’s historic Lincoln Theatre, where since 2009 she has guided its vision and operations while championing its role as a cultural anchor for the community.As co-founder and Artistic Director of the Thiossane West African Dance Institute—now celebrating 25 years—Suzan has built a nationally respected company and educational program devoted to passing on the dance, music, and cultural heritage of West Africa to future generations. Her work emphasizes not only cultural preservation but also physical and mental wellness, youth empowerment, and community building.Suzan’s artistic and academic contributions extend into higher education and public life. She has served nearly a decade as adjunct faculty in The Ohio State University’s Department of Dance, previously taught at Antioch College, and is regularly invited to share her expertise at universities, conferences, and community gatherings across the country. Her dedication to the Central Ohio arts community spans more than 25 years of nonprofit leadership, arts advocacy, and intergenerational mentorship.Having studied extensively in Senegal, Suzan continues to travel biannually to deepen her knowledge of traditional West African dance and culture. She has taught and choreographed for countless schools, community centers, treatment programs, and professional stages, fostering spaces where the arts are a constant source of resilience and connection.Forward-thinking and committed to collective action, Suzan embodies the belief that “as the world turns, the arts remain the constant variable for humanity.”OhioDance  A State of Dance is a six-part series coming out the fourth Friday of   each month through November 2025. This podcast is driven by the OhioDance mission to secure the foothold of dance in Ohio through  increasing visibility, firming viability, and elevating the position of  dance in Ohio.In  2016, a five-person team set out on a mission to capture the  achievements of persons and institutions who have shaped the intricate  diversity of dance history and practice within the state of Ohio and  weave them together in an easily accessible digital format. This we call  the OhioDance Virtual Dance Collection. As of 2025 we have highlighted  42 individuals and institutions. The team has traveled over 5000 miles  and interviewed hundreds of individuals in all five regions of Ohio.⁠ vdc.ohiodance.org⁠If you like what you are listening to and are not a member of OhioDance, you can go to⁠ ohiodance.org⁠ and  click the membership button to join and receive the many benefits that  come with your membership. You can also donate through our purple donate  button.

This month's guest is Cervilio Miguel Amador. Cervi  is a multifaceted artist, entrepreneur, and transformative figure in  the dance world. He received his education and training at the  Vocational Ballet School in Camagüey, Cuba, and the National Ballet  School of Cuba. Cervi began his professional career with the National  Ballet of Cuba, starting as a Corps de Ballet dancer and later advancing  to the role of Corifeo (demi-soloist). In 2004, he joined Cincinnati  Ballet as a Soloist, and in 2006, he was promoted to Principal Dancer,  becoming one of the youngest in the company’s history.After  retiring as a Principal Dancer during the 2019-2020 season, Cervi  transitioned to the role of Rehearsal Director, where he focused on  coaching and mentoring dancers both inside and outside the studio. He  also played an active role in the Cincinnati Ballet’s Diversity, Equity,  Inclusion, and Accessibility Task Force, advocating for sustainable  change for current and future dancers.In  September 2023, the Cincinnati Ballet Board of Trustees appointed Cervi  as Interim Artistic Director. In this capacity, he actively planned the  repertoire for upcoming seasons, curated and commissioned new works,  and collaborated with the leadership team to shape his artistic vision  for the company. Cervi has been instrumental in fostering community  partnerships and broadening the reach of the art form both locally and  internationally. The Cincinnati Ballet Board of Trustees appointed Cervi  as permanent Artistic Director in December 2024.OhioDance  A State of Dance is a six-part series coming out the fourth Friday of   each month through November 2025. This podcast is driven by the OhioDance mission to secure the foothold of dance in Ohio through  increasing visibility, firming viability, and elevating the position of  dance in Ohio.In  2016, a five-person team set out on a mission to capture the  achievements of persons and institutions who have shaped the intricate  diversity of dance history and practice within the state of Ohio and  weave them together in an easily accessible digital format. This we call  the OhioDance Virtual Dance Collection. As of 2025 we have highlighted  42 individuals and institutions. The team has traveled over 5000 miles  and interviewed hundreds of individuals in all five regions of Ohio.⁠ vdc.ohiodance.org⁠If you like what you are listening to and are not a member of OhioDance, you can go to⁠ ohiodance.org⁠ and  click the membership button to join and receive the many benefits that  come with your membership. You can also donate through our purple donate  button.

This month's guest is pioneering artist, advocate, and cultural leader, Mary Verdi Fletcher. Mary is a nationally celebrated pioneer in physically integrated dance and a leading voice for disability rights in the arts. As President and Founding Artistic Director of the Dancing Wheels Company & School, she has spent over four decades reshaping the landscape of American dance, championing access, artistry, and equity for performers of all abilities.One of the first professional wheelchair dancers in the U.S., Mary founded Dancing Wheels in 1980, followed by a groundbreaking school in 1990, which quickly became a global hub for inclusive dance training. Under her leadership, the company has performed for over 6 million people, developed a repertory of 100+ works, and toured internationally, educating communities on the power and beauty of integrated dance.Mary's contributions extend far beyond performance. She played a pivotal role in the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990 and led efforts that secured public transportation access nationwide—earning her the nickname “The Rosa Parks of Cleveland.” She was also instrumental in establishing Ohio’s personal care assistance program, promoting independent living for thousands.Her advocacy has garnered numerous accolades, including an Emmy Award, the Cleveland Arts Prize Lifetime Achievement Award, the Governor’s Award for Arts Education in Ohio, and national honors from Dance/USA. She has served on key arts and disability boards and committees, influencing cultural policy and arts education nationwide.Mary continues to innovate through virtual programs, teacher certification initiatives, and upcoming publishing projects, ensuring that access to the arts remains a right—not a privilege. Her legacy is a profound testament to how one individual can change laws, perceptions, and possibilities for generations to come.OhioDance  A State of Dance is a six-part series coming out the fourth Friday of   each month through November 2025. This podcast is driven by the OhioDance mission to secure the foothold of dance in Ohio through  increasing visibility, firming viability, and elevating the position of  dance in Ohio.In  2016, a five-person team set out on a mission to capture the  achievements of persons and institutions who have shaped the intricate  diversity of dance history and practice within the state of Ohio and  weave them together in an easily accessible digital format. This we call  the OhioDance Virtual Dance Collection. As of 2025 we have highlighted  42 individuals and institutions. The team has traveled over 5000 miles  and interviewed hundreds of individuals in all five regions of Ohio.⁠ vdc.ohiodance.org⁠If you like what you are listening to and are not a member of OhioDance, you can go to⁠ ohiodance.org⁠ and  click the membership button to join and receive the many benefits that  come with your membership. You can also donate through our purple donate  button.