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#155: In this episode of the Dance Behind the Screen Podcast, host Martheya Nygaard Scott sits down with Jennifer Mabus, choreographer, performer, educator, and founder of Grackle Dance Collective, to explore what it means to create dance rooted in community, empathy, and human connection.
Jennifer shares how immersive and site-specific performance transformed the way she thinks about the relationship between artists and audiences. From taking over a historic home to creating work in a funeral home and skate park, she reflects on the power of moving dance beyond traditional performance spaces and inviting audiences to become part of the experience.
The conversation also explores trust, consent, and collaboration in the creative process. Jennifer offers practical advice for performers: ground yourself, know and communicate your boundaries, and trust your instincts as a creative artist.
Jennifer also takes us behind the scenes of Grackle Dance Collective, a platform created to support Texas artists, amplify local voices, and bring dance directly into communities. She discusses the importance of listening, holding space, and thinking about community care as an ongoing practice rather than simply building an audience.
Finally, Jennifer reflects on building a sustainable life in dance. There is no single path—or timeline—for success as an artist. The episode closes with an optimistic look at the North Texas dance community, where established organizations and emerging voices are increasingly connecting, collaborating, and pushing the boundaries of performance.
00:00 Meet Jennifer Mabus + Flash Four 03:00 A Human Future for Dance 04:00 Discovering Immersive Performance 08:00 Breaking the Barrier Between Artist + Audience 11:00 Creating Site-Specific Dance Experiences 15:00 Trust, Consent + Creative Ownership 17:00 Advice for Performers 19:00 Founding Grackle Dance Collective 22:00 Community Stories + Collaboration 24:00 Taking Dance to a Skate Park 29:00 What Does Community Really Mean? 32:00 Community Care + Holding Space 37:00 Building a Life as a Dance Artist 40:00 There Is No One Path to Success 43:00 Letting Go of the Artist Timeline 45:00 The Future of Dance in North Texas 49:00 Connect with Jennifer + Grackle Dance Collective
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This season of the Dance Behind the Screen Podcast is supported in part by the Moody Fund for the Arts and our generous individual Season Sponsors, Dexter & Jenel Evans and Helen & James Gallas.
Say NO to the BOX and YES to the future of dance.
