Leatrice Ellzy is the Program Manager of the National Black Arts Festival. The festival’s first year was 1988; since then, the festival has become one of the most significant cultural gatherings, bringing artists of African descent to Atlanta, Georgia in dance, film, humanities, literature, music, theatre, and visual arts. The festival is also at the forefront of developing audiences and contextualizing their artists’ work through on-site programs, as well as through their web presence, including their website and MySpace page.

In this interview, Leatrice talks about how they pull it all together, a special project recently organized in Senegal, preparing to present Sekou Sundiata, and why the festival is such a touchstone for connection, exchange, and new experiences.

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Jennifer McLachlan is Director of Dance for the Australian Council for the Arts. Jennifer is deeply involved in the development, promotion, and visibility of dance companies and work in Australia, and throughout the world.

In the interview, Jennifer talks about the mission of the Australian Council for the Arts, how she helps to give opportunities to dance companies, and how her own background in dance training and practice, along with council positions in Scotland and England inform her work, and the distinguishing characteristics of dance in Australia.

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Australia-based dancer and choreographer Helen Herbertson has worked as a freelance choreographer since 1981, creating works for TasDance, Dance North, Australian Dance Theatre, Dance Works, and Theatreworks. She was co-artistic director (with Beth Shelton) of Dance Works from 1989 to 1991, and sole artistic director between 1992 and 1997. She was the artistic director of Dancehouse in Melbourne until 2004, and has represented Australia as a delegate to the Association of Performing Arts Presenters Conference for three years.

In this interview Helen talks about understanding the U.S. market for contemporary dance, the exciting dance companies coming out of Australia right now, and her latest piece — “Sunstruck”.

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Mike Daisey wears many hats: he is an actor, a storyteller, an author, and a commentator for National Public Radio’s Day To Day. He is presenting his latest monologue — “Invincible Summer” — at the Under the Radar Festival in New York City from January 17th – 28th. The festival coincides with the APAP Conference, which affords an opportunity to connect artists with presenters.

In this interview, Mike talks about the genesis of this latest work, how he develops the converging story lines, and what’s on the sheets of paper he brings on stage.

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Mike Ross is the director of the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Currently in his tenth year at Krannert, Ross came to the center from the Miller Theatre at Columbia University, where the theatre became known as a hotbed of innovative programming. Ross is a board member of the Association of Performing Arts Presenters, active with the American and Illinois Arts Alliances, and is at the forefront of the integration of performing arts centers with universities.

In this interview, Mike talks about the opportunities for integrating professional arts into an university environment, and how these rivers of experience will come together in a better way in the future.

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