Teaching Artistry With Courtney J. Boddie

Hello, PODience! We’re back with Act 2 of Episode 60: “The Pursuit of Synergy,” featuring Melissa Friedman, co-founder of Epic Theatre Ensemble. If Act 1 of Episode 60 reflected on the ways in which Courtney and Melissa’s artistic and administrative work has been challenged by the pandemic (masks, shutdowns, reframing the art we make and how we connect with students and each other during times of unrest), Act 2 continues down a similar path but focuses even more on access and inclusivity. The main themes of this episode are: breaking down barriers to provide opportunities for young people to experience live theater, creating art that truly represents and amplifies young people’s voices, the positive effects of young people seeing themselves represented in stories being told on stage, and the gaps in learning and implementation still present in the theater industry after “We See You White American Theater” was first published. You won’t want to miss the conclusion of this profound conversation, still taking p

Hello, PODience! We’ve got a brand new two-act episode arc for you! Episode 60: “The Pursuit of Synergy” features Melissa Friedman, co-founder of Epic Theatre Ensemble, a professional social justice theatre company in New York City. In many ways, Episode 60 really holds its finger to the pulse of the zeitgeist. At the top of their chat, Courtney and Melissa take time to reflect on the myriad ways in which their artistic and administrative work was challenged by the pandemic. For instance, Melissa names and digs into the complex frustrations and roadblocks created by simply donning a mask. In a way, masks became her Kryptonite, diminishing her so-called “super powers” as well as her ability to effectively connect with a group of students. She also uplifts what it meant to discover and implement new mechanisms for teaching and mentoring young people while covering the most expressive and communicative part of her body. Courtney and Melissa speak very personally and thoughtfully about what it feels like on this

Hello, PODience! We’re back with Act 2 of Episode 59: “Divine Self Development.” “Everybody’s story is so different,” says Courtney to our newest featured guest, Aminisha Ferdinand. In the first part of this two-episode arc, we posed the essential questions: What ignites something in you that must be expressed through art that cannot be expressed through words? Where do you fit on the spectrum of artistry? And we’re going to stick with and build upon those questions. In Act 2 of Episode 59, Courtney and Aminisha continue their deeply philosophical conversation about what it means to fall into or find one’s way to the arts. When Aminisha was young, people told her that she was “good at [theater and dance]” and she admittedly “like[s] to do things that [she] feels [she’s] good at.” This time around the discussion really begins to focus on what happens when dreams shift, the universe takes a hand and one finds themself doing something they know they want to do but it’s in the wrong space and time. What does it

Hello, PODience! We’ve got a wonderful new two-act episode arc for you to kick off our sixth season! Episode 59: “Divine Self Development” features Aminisha Ferdinand. What ignites something in you that must be expressed through art that cannot be expressed through words? Where do you fit on the spectrum of artistry? These are the essential questions that fuel our newest episode. In Episode 59, Courtney and Aminisha have a philosophical conversation about what it means to fall into or find one’s way to the arts. For instance, when she was a young child, people told Aminisha that she was “good at [theater and dance]” and she “like[s] to do things that [she] feels [she’s] good at. Their discussion digs deeper when they talk about what it means to find and exist with a community of artists and the reciprocal nature of making something new with a cohort of creative humans. They take a step further when they ideate on how our creativity lives inside of our brains but looks and acts differently—in good and bad wa

In the second installment of this two-episode arc, Courtney continues her conversation with Alex Santiago-Jirau. This thought-provoking chat is driven by the essential questions: How can theater be of service to the community? How can theater hold value beyond production and how can we create experiences that are not transactional? Alex dives even deeper into his work with Theater of the Oppressed and how those techniques are intrinsically embedded into his work and approaches to theater making. One example Alex offers is New York Theatre Workshop’s intergenerational “Mind the Gap” program, which sees teens and elders act as co-generators of original theater. There is a lot to unpack in this conversation and there’s even more to take away and reflect upon. Give our newest episode a listen!

Hello, PODience! We’ve got a great new two-act episode arc for you! Episode 58: “Processing the Collective Scars” features New York Theater Workshop Director of Education, Alex Santiago-Jirau. Their conversation begins with connecting around the missions and multi-faceted approaches of both New York Theatre Workshop and New Victory Theater. The real inquiry begins with the question: What does it mean to define oneself as an artist? The focus then turns to Alex Santiago-Jirau—born and raised in mountainous, small-town Puerto Rico, known for its arts-rich culture—who grew up singing, dancing and acting. As Alex puts it, he very much connected with the "play" aspect of theater, which “allowed me to explore and try things that me as Alex would not typically explore.” In other words, through the arts, he discovered a world in which he could be expressive and tell stories. Their conversation deepens further when Alex begins to discuss his work with Augusto Boal and the Theater of the Oppressed, which Alex charac

We are back with Act 2 of Episode 57: “Arts, Essence…Us,” featuring activist, storyteller and educator Miko Lee, Director of Programs at Asian Americans for Civil Rights and Equality (AACRE). As in Act 1, Courtney’s chat with Miko remains at the intersection of arts and social justice. This conversation holds fast to the tone of the first half of the episode, which focused on arts and social change. Here, Courtney and Miko both hold court and really lean into a few key points like: the need for the arts as a pathway for change-making, the global cultural variances in the approach to one’s artistry, the imperative of being in the right relationship with oneself and approaching transformative justice from the inside (self) to the outside (those one wishes to serve through the arts). Their conversation continues down a path that, at times, feels very introspective while also asking very meta questions. You’ll really want to connect with this one, listeners! Listen or download wherever you get your podcasts!

Hey, PODience! We’re excited to share our newest episode with you. Episode 57: “Arts, Essence…Us” is a thoughtfully passionate conversation featuring activist, storyteller and educator Miko Lee, Director of Programs at Asian Americans for Civil Rights and Equality (AACRE). The setting of Courtney’s chat with Miko is at the intersection of arts and social justice. At the top, we learn a lot about Miko’s trajectory from the arts into civic engagement, which occurred, she states, because she was at the right place at the right time. Miko really hones in on her passionate connection to her artistry and how the collaborative, communal nature of that artistry is so important in driving social change. Their conversation hits full throttle when they begin to discuss the power of teaching artistry and teaching artists’ innate ability to truly bring about positive change. The conversation weaves a fascinating web of topics including radical welcoming, guerilla theater as entrypoints to the arts and how teaching artist

What is it that drives you? What is the impact you want to have on the world? Those are the questions that are central to the heart of the conversation featured in the second part of our episode featuring James C. Horton. In Act 2 of Episode 56: “Arm Yourself with Hope,” Courtney and James’s conversation segues from the meaning of family and finding connection to the arts to the impact of the arts. This is where we learn much more about James’s career trajectory, a path which led him to a position at Carnegie Hall and then the Museum of the City of New York, where he was at the time of this recording. One of the most meaningful parts of this conversation focuses on James’s work with incarcerated youth, using the arts as a pathway to process trauma. You won’t want to miss Courtney and James’s thoughtful conversation about supporting human healing through trauma-informed arts practices and amplifying the voices of those who are often marginalized, ignored or criminalized. Be sure to check out Act 2 of Episode

Hey, PODience! We’ve got a brand new episode for you and you won’t want to miss it. Episode 56: “Arm Yourself with Hope” is a thoughtful, and in some aspects spiritual conversation with James C. Horton, the newly-appointed President of Harlem School of the Arts in New York City. At the top of Courtney’s chat with James, a self-proclaimed "analog dude" and father of four ambitious kids, they linger for a while on their childhood experiences. Their conversation really gains momentum when they connect over the meaning of family and finding a connection to the arts as a safe space at just the right time in life. The heart and soul of this meaningful chat is centered around the word “tension.” As James says it, every aspect of art is based in tension and how we, as artists, explore and move through that tension. Without the presence of tension, James notes, there is nothing. How one harnesses and focuses the power of that tension is the artist’s ultimate challenge. Other topics explored in this episode include

Hey, PODience! We’re back with Act 2 of our newest episode. This thoughtful conclusion of Episode 55: “Calling in Your ‘Why’,” features a deeper chat between Courtney and Shanna Melton, a poet and visual artist. Their discussion dives a bit deeper into what it means to grieve as humans, artists and learners, to lose oneself in trauma and to find oneself and one’s strength as they emerge from a place of dissociation to a moment of recognizing the power of vulnerability and personal strength. They also discuss the meaning of that word—strength—and how we are perceived from the outside doesn’t always reflect what’s going on inside. Courtney and Shanna’s chat eventually turns to things like: creating meaningful art, emotionally impactful artistic experiences and the future of the field of Teaching Artistry. So, how does this conversation end? You’ll have to listen to find out!

Greetings, TA PODience! We’ve got a brand new two-episode arc for you! Act 1 of Episode 55: “Calling in Your ‘Why’,” features an introspective chat between Courtney and Shanna Melton, a poet and visual artist. Courtney’s conversation with Shanna, who believes in the power of being selective about where, when and how we leave our artistic imprints and energy in the world, is a thoughtful one. Their conversation runs the gamut concerning pathways to discussing the impact of the arts. Some of the rich ideas discussed in this episode are: what it means to create art that holds true meaning and placing that art in spaces that have impact; the realization that the art we create can and should be for others to consume and appreciate; the positive, healing nature of art; and the ways through which we grieve. So, how do we get from point A to point Z? You’ll have to listen, learn and reflect on that!

Hey, PODience! What are you saying "yes" to right now? What obstacles are standing in your way that you are willing to knock over in order to do and feel something new? These are just a few questions that pervade the second part of our two-episode arc featuring Melissa Parke. In Act 2 of Episode 54: "Walk in Truth," Melissa talks a bit more about her work. She specifically goes into more detail about the Afro-centric SEL framework she created, noting that the lens through which the framework operates is centered in culture. Then, suddenly, the conversation turns sharply into a talk about love of sports, fitness and the power of saying yes. This carves out space for the two to discuss the work that needs to be done, internally and externally, in order to create meaningful goals and bring new ideas and systems into all aspects of life, particularly in education. So, will Melissa and Courtney be going head-to-head in a rugby match? It'll make sense when you listen, which you can do via SoundCloud, iTunes, Spotif

Hello, TA PODience. We hope you’re staying safe, healthy and cool during these extremely hot days. We’re back with a brand new episode that we think you’re going to love! What drives you creatively and personally? Can you name it or are you still trying to place it? These questions, and so many more, fuel this two-episode arc. Episode 54: “Walk In Truth,” features an inspiring conversation between Courtney and Melissa Parke, Founder of Black Teaching Artist Lab, LLC and a creative that focuses her work and impact in the arts education world. Courtney’s conversation with Melissa hits on so many touchpoints that we’re certain will resonate with anyone listening like growing up in a time of COVID, what it means to belong and what our perceived placement is in society and our ever-fluctuating relationship with time, process and deadlines as a measurement of success. All of this leads into a discussion about Parke’s passion project—creating an Afro-centric social emotional learning (SEL) framework that is inspi

Hey, TA PODience! Teaching Artistry podcast is made up of a team of humans that have many identities including LGBTQ+, Black, Jewish, and more. We acknowledge the Supreme Court’s ruling to overturn Roe v. Wade. We are reaffirming our commitment to continue to uplifting and amplifying BIPOC women and other humans who do remarkable work in our field and advocate and fight for justice. We are back with the inspirational second act of our newest two-episode arc. In Act 2 of Episode 53: “Passing the Baton,” Courtney continues her conversation with Margie Johnson Reese, an educator and lifelong advocate for children and the arts. The second half of their chat keeps a laser-sharp focus on legacy that begins with a transition into thinking not only about personal legacy but about what we can do to create opportunities for those who follow. This episode asks the questions: How can we leave doors wide open for younger generations to walk and reap the benefits of our work? What does it mean to stay true to ourselves a

Hello, TA PODience. We are back with a brand new episode! In this two-episode arc, Episode 53: “Passing the Baton,” Courtney chats with Margie Johnson Reese, an educator and life-long advocate for children and the arts. She has over 40 years’ experience in the field of arts administration, including heading a local arts agencies in Dallas and Los Angeles. Courtney and Margie’s conversation is one with a sharp focus on legacy—almost like a memory play in which you, the listener, are likely to be transported into places and spaces from Margie’s past while also connecting the myriad pathways that have led to this very insightful chat. Without offering too much (this conversation is just too rich to spoil) Courtney and Margie’s conversation begins as an interview that quickly shifts into a study in retrospection, introspection, learning and storytelling. And it asks the questions: How do we, as arts administrators, break down barriers and clear the path for future changemakers in a meaningful way? How do we pr

Hello, TA PODience. When we posted Act 1 of Episode 52, we noted that we realize that there is a lot going on in the world and want to acknowledge the continued shared traumas we’re experiencing here and globally. Unfortunately, the same sentiment remains true as we post the second half of this two-part discussion. We truly hope that your takeaway from our newest installment is one of calm, joy and a celebration of the power of the arts. In Act 2 of Episode 52: “Shattering the Box,” Courtney continues her conversation with Michelle Manzanales, Director of Ballet Hispánico’s School of Dance. If Act 1 was centered on treating this fraught pandemic time as a moment for reinventing, restructuring and reimagining, this one expands the conversation around impact to an even warmer, thoughtful discussion about intentional approaches to arts learning. At the heart of this chat is that, at its very core, engaging kids through the arts is about joy—access to joy—and how dance specifically can harness that. In one insta

Hello, TA PODience. We realize that there is a lot going on in the world and want to acknowledge the continued shared traumas we’re experiencing here and globally. We hope that our newest episode, which is centered around the themes of creativity, self-expression and living one’s truth will bring some much-needed hope and joy into your spaces. In our newest two-parter, Episode 52: “Shattering the Box,” Courtney sits down in a Zoom space with Michelle Manzanales, Director of Ballet Hispánico’s School of Dance since 2016. Courtney and Michelle’s thoughtful, feel-good conversation is one for the moment in which they discuss how this pandemic time, while fraught, has been a time of reinventing, restructuring and reimagining, particularly for arts organizations. Over the past two years we, as artists and arts administrators, have expanded the ways in which we can do our work, create art and collaborate (e.g., remote work means the potential for finding new creative spaces like parks, the street and even subways).

We are back with the second part of Episode 51: “Name, Listen, Witness,” in which Courtney continues her conversation with Rabab Ghazoul, a “socially-engaged visual artist whose work explores points of contact between systems of power and individual agency, voices that are yet to speak, spaces of in-between-ness, and the body politic.” Rabab speaks very eloquently about the responsibility we have, as artists and changemakers, to be co-conspirators, advocate and make a case not just to “do the work,” but to be truly mindful of others’ past traumas—to avoid perpetuating harm to communities. In their discussion, Courtney and Rabab also chat about the societal and cultural shifts occurring all around us, including the collapse of oppressive systems like colonialism and the historical legacies of racism that are embedded in our daily lives. Rabab points out the need to see the ultimate grinding down of these systems or the work of extracting them from people and communities will need to continue. Courtney also ask

Greetings, TA PODience! We are back with an incredible two-part episode. In Episode 51: “Name, Listen, Witness,” Courtney speaks with the inspiring Rabab Ghazoul. This amazing human identifies artistically as a “socially-engaged visual artist whose work explores points of contact between systems of power and individual agency, voices that are yet to speak, spaces of in-between-ness, and the body politic” whose creative practice “is consistently drawn back to spaces of interaction and activation, with a focus largely beyond galleries or exhibiting regimes as final destinations.” In the first part of the episode, Ghazoul discusses her work with the artist-run project gentle/radical, which is laser-focused on addressing the gaps in mainstream cultural practice, provision and thinking. As Ghazoul puts it, it’s an organization that is focused on “people working in the context of people,” and they ground the work through the philosophy of perpetual outreach, which aims not just to draw people in and hook them, but