The StageLync Podcast

Ep.70: Sophie Duncan: Creative Director, Choreographer & Performer - “The more you understand yourself, the more you understand the work you want to create” (Audio)

Sophie Duncan is an award-winning creative director, choreographer, and performer, excelling in theatre, circus, radio, TV, film, and special events. Specializing in Aerial Pole and Pole Dance, she has performed with Cirque du Soleil, Bebe Rexha, and at Glastonbury’s Opening Ceremony. Since 2021, she has toured globally with Florentina Holzinger’s productions, showcasing skills in stunts, harness work, and operatic vocals, while serving as associate choreographer for The Year Without Summer. Holding 11 pole dance titles, she is regarded as one of the UK’s top artists, particularly ifor her expressive storytelling, and dynamic routines. Sophie teaches at the National Centre for Circus Arts and hosts the Public Showering Podcast. Her choreography and direction span contemporary theatre, circus, and short films, with notable collaborations like ‘Columbinus', winner of Best Show at Bucharest’s Teen Theatre Festival. A skilled DJ and radio presenter, Sophie’s versatility and creativity make her a valuable asset to any production.
 
 
“ATTENTION SPOTIFY LISTENERS: IF you want to WATCH this with VIDEO, you can also subscribe to our video version:
https://open.spotify.com/show/5e9KnBRZdjUTXTvCe6Nrqm?si=6639537c61044396”
@stagelync
The StageLync Podcast is a branch of our larger StageLync Community. Come visit us at www.stagelync.com
 
Credits for the StageLync Podcast
Hosts: Anna RobbEditor: Rose Anne FermocilMusic: Jeremy WilliDesign: Em HoltProduction Coordinator: Roselle BernardoProducers: Anna Robb and Andrea Honis
 

Ep.70: Sophie Duncan: Creative Director, Choreographer & Performer - “The more you understand yourself, the more you understand the work you want to create” (Video)

Sophie Duncan is an award-winning creative director, choreographer, and performer, excelling in theatre, circus, radio, TV, film, and special events. Specializing in Aerial Pole and Pole Dance, she has performed with Cirque du Soleil, Bebe Rexha, and at Glastonbury’s Opening Ceremony. Since 2021, she has toured globally with Florentina Holzinger’s productions, showcasing skills in stunts, harness work, and operatic vocals, while serving as associate choreographer for The Year Without Summer. Holding 11 pole dance titles, she is regarded as one of the UK’s top artists, particularly ifor her expressive storytelling, and dynamic routines. Sophie teaches at the National Centre for Circus Arts and hosts the Public Showering Podcast. Her choreography and direction span contemporary theatre, circus, and short films, with notable collaborations like ‘Columbinus', winner of Best Show at Bucharest’s Teen Theatre Festival. A skilled DJ and radio presenter, Sophie’s versatility and creativity make her a valuable asset to any production.
 
@stagelync
The StageLync Podcast is a branch of our larger StageLync Community. Come visit us at www.stagelync.com
 
Credits for the StageLync Podcast
Hosts: Anna RobbEditor: Rose Anne FermocilMusic: Jeremy WilliDesign: Em HoltProduction Coordinator: Roselle BernardoProducers: Anna Robb and Andrea Honis
 

Ep.69: Emile Saba: Palestinian Theater Director and Actor - “To come and watch a play while you're being bombed, that's so absurd” (Audio)

Emile Saba is a Palestinian theater director and actor, born in September 1989 in Ramallah, originally from Jaffa. He is the Artistic Director of ASHTAR Theatre, where he began his theatrical training before earning an MFA in Stage Performance from the University of Connecticut.
Saba has worked extensively across Palestinian and international productions as an actor, director, and festival manager, co-organizing six editions of the ASHTAR Theatre International Youth Festival. His artistic style often explores themes through magical realism.
His notable acting roles include 2077, Who Wants to Survive (Bridgeworks Theatre), which toured several countries and won the Jury Award at the 2023 Cairo International Monodrama Festival. Additional credits include First Class, By the Sea, Between Heaven and Earth, and The Logic of Birds.
Directorial works include Cosmos, Free Play, Love on the Shelf, People by the Sea, and Taming of the Shrew. His latest work, Guernica Gaza, premiered in Ramallah in July 2023.
 
“ATTENTION SPOTIFY LISTENERS: IF you want to WATCH this with VIDEO, you can also subscribe to our video version:
https://open.spotify.com/show/5e9KnBRZdjUTXTvCe6Nrqm?si=6639537c61044396”
@stagelync
The StageLync Podcast is a branch of our larger StageLync Community. Come visit us at www.stagelync.com
 
Credits for the StageLync Podcast
Hosts: Anna RobbEditor: Rose Anne FermocilMusic: Jeremy WilliDesign: Em HoltProduction Coordinator: Roselle BernardoProducers: Anna Robb and Andrea Honis

Ep.69: Emile Saba: Palestinian Theater Director and Actor - “To come and watch a play while you're being bombed, that's so absurd” (Video)

Emile Saba is a Palestinian theater director and actor, born in September 1989 in Ramallah, originally from Jaffa. He is the Artistic Director of ASHTAR Theatre, where he began his theatrical training before earning an MFA in Stage Performance from the University of Connecticut.
Saba has worked extensively across Palestinian and international productions as an actor, director, and festival manager, co-organizing six editions of the ASHTAR Theatre International Youth Festival. His artistic style often explores themes through magical realism.
His notable acting roles include 2077, Who Wants to Survive (Bridgeworks Theatre), which toured several countries and won the Jury Award at the 2023 Cairo International Monodrama Festival. Additional credits include First Class, By the Sea, Between Heaven and Earth, and The Logic of Birds.
Directorial works include Cosmos, Free Play, Love on the Shelf, People by the Sea, and Taming of the Shrew. His latest work, Guernica Gaza, premiered in Ramallah in July 2023.
 
@stagelync
The StageLync Podcast is a branch of our larger StageLync Community. Come visit us at www.stagelync.com
 
Credits for the StageLync Podcast
Hosts: Anna RobbEditor: Rose Anne FermocilMusic: Jeremy WilliDesign: Em HoltProduction Coordinator: Roselle BernardoProducers: Anna Robb and Andrea Honis

Ep.68: Natasha Tsakos: Show Maker - “Our whole relationship with life is a dance with gravity” (Audio)

Natasha Tsakos is an award-winning showmaker at the nexus of theatrical adventure, technology, and impact, now expanding her practice into space. A creator, director, performer, and producer, she has electrified audiences and performed for global institutions including TED, the UN, G20 Summit, Discovery Channel, Tribeca Film Festival and Cirque du Soleil. With experience at NASA, MIT, and the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences, Tsakos is developing “PARABOLES”, the first research-based multimedia performance in microgravity. Her mission: to develop utterly original theatrical experiences for space environments. www.NatashaTsakos.com
 
 
“ATTENTION SPOTIFY LISTENERS: IF you want to WATCH this with VIDEO, you can also subscribe to our video version:
https://open.spotify.com/show/5e9KnBRZdjUTXTvCe6Nrqm?si=6639537c61044396”
@stagelync
The StageLync Podcast is a branch of our larger StageLync Community. Come visit us at www.stagelync.com
 
Credits for the StageLync Podcast
Hosts: Anna RobbEditor: Rose Anne FermocilMusic: Jeremy WilliDesign: Em HoltProduction Coordinator: Roselle BernardoProducers: Anna Robb and Andrea Honis

Ep.68: Natasha Tsakos: Show Maker - “Our whole relationship with life is a dance with gravity” (Video)

Natasha Tsakos is an award-winning showmaker at the nexus of theatrical adventure, technology, and impact, now expanding her practice into space. A creator, director, performer, and producer, she has electrified audiences and performed for global institutions including TED, the UN, G20 Summit, Discovery Channel, Tribeca Film Festival and Cirque du Soleil. With experience at NASA, MIT, and the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences, Tsakos is developing “PARABOLES”, the first research-based multimedia performance in microgravity. Her mission: to develop utterly original theatrical experiences for space environments. www.NatashaTsakos.com
 
@stagelync
The StageLync Podcast is a branch of our larger StageLync Community. Come visit us at www.stagelync.com
 
Credits for the StageLync Podcast
Hosts: Anna RobbEditor: Rose Anne FermocilMusic: Jeremy WilliDesign: Em HoltProduction Coordinator: Roselle BernardoProducers: Anna Robb and Andrea Honis

Ep.67: Tania Ordonez Prieto: Senior Manager, Entertainment Technical Operations - “It's always very important to be true to who you are” (Audio)

Tania Ordonez Prieto is the Senior Manager for Entertainment Technical Operations at Celebrity Cruises. 
Tania  has always had a passion for technical theatre. She moved from her hometown Chihuahua, Mexico to Mexico City, where she began as a production assistant in Teatro Telcel. She rose quickly through the ranks, bringing Broadway shows like Mary Poppins and Wicked to Mexico.
Over the past 15 years, She has worked for companies such as Cirque du Soleil, Dragone and Disney, and has experience in developing, supporting,and operating all aspects of theatre, concerts, circus and spectacle on land and at sea.
After joining Celebrity in 2019 as Technical director on Edge,  Tania has been the inaugural technical director for Apex, and has been the technical director in the shipyard in Saint Nazaire for new builds Beyond and Ascent. 
 
“ATTENTION SPOTIFY LISTENERS: IF you want to WATCH this with VIDEO, you can also subscribe to our video version:
https://open.spotify.com/show/5e9KnBRZdjUTXTvCe6Nrqm?si=6639537c61044396”
@stagelync
The StageLync Podcast is a branch of our larger StageLync Community. Come visit us at www.stagelync.com
 
Credits for the StageLync Podcast
Hosts: Anna RobbEditor: Rose Anne FermocilMusic: Jeremy WilliDesign: Em HoltProduction Coordinator: Roselle BernardoProducers: Anna Robb and Andrea Honis

Ep.67: Tania Ordonez Prieto: Senior Manager, Entertainment Technical Operations - “It's always very important to be true to who you are” (Video)

Tania Ordonez Prieto is the Senior Manager for Entertainment Technical Operations at Celebrity Cruises. 
Tania  has always had a passion for technical theatre. She moved from her hometown Chihuahua, Mexico to Mexico City, where she began as a production assistant in Teatro Telcel. She rose quickly through the ranks, bringing Broadway shows like Mary Poppins and Wicked to Mexico.
Over the past 15 years, She has worked for companies such as Cirque du Soleil, Dragone and Disney, and has experience in developing, supporting,and operating all aspects of theatre, concerts, circus and spectacle on land and at sea.
After joining Celebrity in 2019 as Technical director on Edge,  Tania has been the inaugural technical director for Apex, and has been the technical director in the shipyard in Saint Nazaire for new builds Beyond and Ascent. 
 
@stagelync
The StageLync Podcast is a branch of our larger StageLync Community. Come visit us at www.stagelync.com
 
Credits for the StageLync Podcast
Hosts: Anna RobbEditor: Rose Anne FermocilMusic: Jeremy WilliDesign: Em HoltProduction Coordinator: Roselle BernardoProducers: Anna Robb and Andrea Honis

Ep.66: Theresa Ruth Howard: Founder of MoBBallet (Memoirs of Blacks in Ballet) - “The people make up the art form” (Audio)

A former ballet dancer turned journalist, scholar, and organizational consultant, Theresa 
Ruth Howard is the founder of MoBBallet (Memoirs of Blacks in Ballet) and has been recognized by The New York Times as a “force for change” in the dance world. Her visionary work in Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Antiracism (IDEA) has catalyzed institutional change across the industry, advancing cultural reform in ballet and increasing representation. As President of From Here to Diversity, Inc., she has worked as an organizational consultant with companies including Pacific Northwest Ballet, The Royal Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, English National Ballet, and the National Ballet of Canada. Since curating Reframing the Narrative at the Kennedy Center in 2022, she has continued her curatorial work there with Pathways to Performance (2024), the choreographic initiative she developed to platform Black choreographers. Her latest initiative, The Oasis Dance Journal: A Home for Conscious Critique and Ethical Commentary, addresses the critical need for culturally competent writing in the dance ecosystem. Merging artistry and advocacy, Howard continues to reshape the cultural landscape of ballet, fostering systemic accountability and inclusive dialogue across the field.   
 
“ATTENTION SPOTIFY LISTENERS: IF you want to WATCH this with VIDEO, you can also subscribe to our video version:
https://open.spotify.com/show/5e9KnBRZdjUTXTvCe6Nrqm?si=6639537c61044396”
@stagelync
The StageLync Podcast is a branch of our larger StageLync Community. Come visit us at www.stagelync.com
 
Credits for the StageLync Podcast
Hosts: Anna RobbEditor: Rose Anne FermocilMusic: Jeremy WilliDesign: Em HoltProduction Coordinator: Roselle BernardoProducers: Anna Robb and Andrea Honis

Ep.66: Theresa Ruth Howard: Founder of MoBBallet (Memoirs of Blacks in Ballet) - “The people make up the art form” (Video)

A former ballet dancer turned journalist, scholar, and organizational consultant, Theresa 
Ruth Howard is the founder of MoBBallet (Memoirs of Blacks in Ballet) and has been recognized by The New York Times as a “force for change” in the dance world. Her visionary work in Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Antiracism (IDEA) has catalyzed institutional change across the industry, advancing cultural reform in ballet and increasing representation. As President of From Here to Diversity, Inc., she has worked as an organizational consultant with companies including Pacific Northwest Ballet, The Royal Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, English National Ballet, and the National Ballet of Canada. Since curating Reframing the Narrative at the Kennedy Center in 2022, she has continued her curatorial work there with Pathways to Performance (2024), the choreographic initiative she developed to platform Black choreographers. Her latest initiative, The Oasis Dance Journal: A Home for Conscious Critique and Ethical Commentary, addresses the critical need for culturally competent writing in the dance ecosystem. Merging artistry and advocacy, Howard continues to reshape the cultural landscape of ballet, fostering systemic accountability and inclusive dialogue across the field.   
 
@stagelync
The StageLync Podcast is a branch of our larger StageLync Community. Come visit us at www.stagelync.com
 
Credits for the StageLync Podcast
Hosts: Anna RobbEditor: Rose Anne FermocilMusic: Jeremy WilliDesign: Em HoltProduction Coordinator: Roselle BernardoProducers: Anna Robb and Andrea Honis