Creative Impact Podcast

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 a...

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...

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 profession...

We are diving back into our Belhaven Dance Alumni Series for part five, episode 132, with the inspiring Elle Ciccarone! Elle received her BFA from Belhaven University and is currently pursuing her MFA there and teaching the undergraduate students. After graduating with her BFA, Elle spent several years performing, teaching, and choreographing in New Orleans. While there, she established her own modern dance company, ELLEvate Dance,...

It was such a joy to reconnect with my beautiful friend Elisabeth Mather for episode 131, part 4 of our Belhaven Dance Alumni Series! Elisabeth is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Certified Substance Abuse Counselor. With a background as a professional dancer and educator, she brings a unique and impactful perspective to her work as a Counselor.

In our conversation, we dive into Elisabeth's journey—from her roots in Hawaii...

I loved catching up with the lovely Brittany Walker for part three of our Belhaven Dance Alumni Series! Brittany is the founder of Evolve Dance Project based in Southern Colorado.

Listen in to this inspiring episode as we dive into Brittany’s journey from her formative years, to her time at Belhaven University, to her current role as a choreographer and dance instructor. Brittany shares the story behind the founding of Evolve Dance...

We are back for part two of our Belhaven Dance Alumni Series with my amazing friend, Joanna (Tan) Koleth! Joanna was a guest on the podcast back in November 2020 for episode 24. It is a delight to have her back and to hear about her journey since we last spoke! Joanna is a dance-artist, educator, choreographer, and comprehensively certified BASI Pilates teacher. Her business, MADE TO MOVE STUDIO, merges her passions for dance and P...

We are kicking off our Belhaven Dance Alumni Series with the incredible Cheri Orr! Cheri is the artistic director of Jubilee Dance Company and co-founder of Jubilee Arts Collective in Colorado Springs. Cheri is also a company dancer with Ormao Dance Company and serves as an adjunct dance instructor at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.

Cheri was an early graduate from the Belhaven University Dance Department and helped ...

I am so excited to share this special episode of the Creative Impact Podcast with you! In this episode, I have the joy of interviewing various leaders in the dance community! These interviews took place live during the Project Dance Houston event in March 2024. The conversations explore the intersection of dance, worship, and community, emphasizing the importance of using dance as a form of worship and intercession. You'll hear fro...

What a joy to have Jordan Haley EuDaly joining me for episode 126! Jordan is a painter, wife, mother, and inspiring creative living in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Jordan is a working artist who goes by the name Jordan Haley. Her husband Brent is founder of The Serious Toy Company, and together they are working towards building a unique treehouse bnb experience on their property.

With a passion for hospitality and art making, which sh...

I absolutely loved this conversation with creativity coach Lauren Spangler! Lauren shares about her journey of being a multi-passionate artist, the challenges of burnout, and the importance of finding balance in our creative pursuits. We then jump into a mini coaching session where she guides me (Rachel) through exploring what it would look like to cultivate a healthy relationship with my creativity. Lauren offers so much encourage...

I am so excited to have the lovely Hannah Anderson back on the podcast for episode 124! Hannah joined us previously on episode 39 where she shared more about her professional dance journey and backstory. Hannah is currently the director of Earthen Image Movement, and she is currently producing a collaborative dance concert entitled “For the Beauty of the Earth.”

In this conversation, Hannah reflects on the creative process, her pe...

I am so grateful to have Shannon Dooling-Cain joining me for episode 123! Shannon is a dance educator, choreographer, writer, and founder of The Holistic Dance Teacher. She combines her love of writing with her love for the dance community in her work with The Holistic Dance Teacher. Through her blog, resource collection, and in-person events, Shannon helps dancers, choreographers, and dance teachers elevate their dance life and fi...

What a joy to connect with Misty Lown, founder of More Than Just Great Dancing!® More Than Just Great Dancing!® is a licensed dance studio affiliation program positively impacting over 120,000 dance students around the globe each week. Misty is a recognized teacher, speaker, business coach, and author. In this episode, she shares valuable wisdom and insight from her experience as an entrepreneur. In addition to More Than Just Great...

I’m honored to be joined by mentor and friend, Anthony Gurley, for episode 120. Anthony spent thirty years at his alma mater, Guilford College, as the Director of Financial Aid, retiring in 2009. He recently published his first book, Deadly Dilemma: A Memoir. I originally met Anthony through a scholarship and mentorship program he founded called Mo-T-Vation Ministry.

Anthony would describe himself as just an ordinary guy ...

We are kicking off December with this fun and rich conversation with my new friend, Gabe Baker! Gabe is a singer/songwriter and cellist who is currently on tour with Grammy-winning group For King + Country. Their “A Drummer Boy” Christmas tour is happening now, and if you happen to be near one of the cities included in the tour - I highly recommend you check it out!

Gabe is a former college football athlete, has worked as ...

What is the impact of the arts around the world? During this mini-series, we are diving into conversations focused on the global impact of the arts. I am honored to have Keith and Kathy Thibodeaux joining me for part eight of this series! Keith and Kathy are the Founders and Directors of Ballet Magnificat!, an arts organization dedicated to presenting the good news of Jesus Christ to the whole world.

Kathy was born in Mem...

What is the impact of the arts around the world? During this mini-series, we are diving into conversations focused on the global impact of the arts. For part seven of this series, I am so excited to introduce you to Chelsea Dawn! Chelsea serves on the global and regional arts faculty with the University of the Nations for Youth WIth A Mission (YWAM) and hosts the new dance and faith podcast called Dance & The Sacred.

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