213. A Professional Dance Company's Whole Dancer Approach: Insights from Julie Opiel at Body Traffic

In this episode of Passion for Dance, host Dr. Chelsea interviews Julie Opiel, Director of Education and Community Engagement at Body Traffic, an LA-based contemporary dance company. They discuss overcoming career challenges, the importance of community engagement, and the benefits of experienced teachers working with beginners. Julie shares insights on Body Traffic's whole dancer approach, which nurtures dancers as artists and humans, and talks about finding a balance between rigor and compassion in our training. Learn More About Body Traffic: https://www.bodytraffic.com/ Other Episode Resources: https://passionfordancepodcast.com/213 Episode Breakdown 00:09 Introducing Julie Opiel and Body Traffic 01:36 Julie's Dance Journey 02:50 Overcoming Career Challenges 07:41 The Importance of Teaching Beginners 11:40 Finding Passion and Motivation 16:04 The Power of Community in Dance 17:33 Measuring Growth in Dance 19:34 Empowering Dancers with Leadership Opportunities 21:14 The Whole Dancer Concept 24:36 Balancing Rigor and Compassion in Dance 30:09 Practical Curriculum for Whole Dancer Approach 35:54 Advice for Dance Educators 38:16 Conclusion and Resources