#7 - Rain Ross: A Series of Dance Encounters

Explicit content warning

01/25/22 • 56 min

Art brings us hope. This week’s guest, Rain Ross, has embraced an artistic approach to life in every possible way. She uses dance as a way to create community connections. Rain helps people find themselves through movement as a dance professor at Stockton University. In 2011, she participated in the first annual International Dance Day Festival in Lebanon and then became the Guest Artist Coordinator for the festival, which ran for a decade until COVID-19 shut it down.

Her most recent work with the Lebanese dance community is a dance film that just finished the editing process. The film looks at the impact of the economic crisis, revolution, COVID-19, and the Beirut explosion on everyday people in Lebanon and asks the question, “What does home mean to us when it can no longer sustain us?”

For Rain, dance has always been a pathway to creating her dreams. She joins Alan and Heather to talk about her journey towards dance and hope as a way of life and how she has manifested her dreams, travel, and adventure.

Follow Rain on Instagram and on Twitter.

Make sure to follow this podcast everywhere you find podcasts, leave a rating and a review, and slip into our DMs at @wasitchance.
More about Heather via @heather_vic keryandco on Instagram and Threads, @Braveheather on TikTok, and listen to The Brave Files
More about Alan via @theatre_podcast and listen to The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales

EPISODE TAKEAWAYS

What happens all over the world can and does create an impact on us.
Art, like all creation and expression, heals.
We have to fail in order to grow. If there is never failure, you’ll stay stuck and small.
Failure shapes us.
The mind-body connection is deeply related to movement.
When you have a dream or desire, look for a way to create it but think outside the box.
It’s wildly important to follow up. The follow-up is a key part of what takes something from “chance” to creation.
Traveling is a conduit to growth, connection, greater understanding.
Calculated risk must be vetted and have a backup, safety plan.
Your path doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. If you’re living authentically and vulnerably it will be completely unique.
How can you utilize art to create a space where all people can experience it?
If we don’t create art, what’s the point of anything?
Movement is a way to connect with your mind, body, and spirit as well as your community.
Peer-to-peer mentoring is incredibly important.
Art is humanity

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Follow Rain on Instagram and on Twitter.

Make sure to follow this podcast everywhere you find podcasts, leave a rating and a review, and slip into our DMs at @wasitchance.
More about Heather via @heather_vic keryandco on Instagram and Threads, @Braveheather on TikTok, and listen to The Brave Files
More about Alan via @theatre_podcast and listen to The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales

EPISODE TAKEAWAYS

What happens all over the world can and does create an impact on us.
Art, like all creation and expression, heals.
We have to fail in order to grow. If there is never failure, you’ll stay stuck and small.
Failure shapes us.
The mind-body connection is deeply related to movement.
When you have a dream or desire, look for a way to create it but think outside the box.
It’s wildly important to follow up. The follow-up is a key part of what takes something from “chance” to creation.
Traveling is a conduit to growth, connection, greater understanding.
Calculated risk must be vetted and have a backup, safety plan.
Your path doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. If you’re living authentically and vulnerably it will be completely unique.
How can you utilize art to create a space where all people can experience it?
If we don’t create art, what’s the point of anything?
Movement is a way to connect with your mind, body, and spirit as well as your community.
Peer-to-peer mentoring is incredibly important.
Art is humanity

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Previous Episode

#6 - Josh Breckenridge: He Is Anything But Monotonous

When chance met the thirst trap that is Josh Breckenridge the angels began to sing...

Ok. Maybe not, but our hosts Heather and Alan fell in love with Josh and we’re pretty sure you will also!

Josh Breckenridge is a Broadway superhero - otherwise known as a swing and standby. He’s currently working in Come From Away on Broadway and serving as a super hero for several different roles as well as the dance captain. This guy seriously does it all! Josh is also a musician who recently released a brand new album, Monotony, complete with music videos. The album explores life in quarantine during the pandemic and it’s so good!

Last, but in our world, currently not least, Josh provided us with his own take of our signature song “Shut the F**K up Alan” and it is not to be missed!

Follow Josh on Instagram for updates on his career and incredible thirst traps. Find his music videos on YouTube and he’s also on Twitter and TikTok (@J.Breckenridge) so let’s show him all the Was It Chance love!

Make sure to follow this podcast everywhere you find podcasts, leave a rating and a review, and slip into our DMs at @wasitchance.
More about Heather via @heather_vic keryandco on Instagram and Threads, @Braveheather on TikTok, and listen to The Brave Files
More about Alan via @theatre_podcast and listen to The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales

EPISODE TAKEAWAYS

There are so many gifts that appear when we’re experience something we perceive as “bad.” We just have to look for them!
Don’t underestimate the importance of Highs School drama programs.
Missed opportunities can lead to greatness so don’t waste your time feeling bad about what didn’t work out. Stay focused and move on.
Sharing what you’re passionate about may inspire others.
Getting creative - trying new things - can make a much bigger impact than we might imagine.
Keep a list of your wins and successes and positive feedback because we all need those reminders.
Pursuing a passion is hard work, even when you love what you do. That’s ok though, you can do hard things.
Sometimes it’s the little things that remind you that you’re “pretty darn amazing.”

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Next Episode

#8 - Jim Jimirro: The Inventor of The Disney Channel and co-founder of J2 Spotlight Musical Theater Company

There are no words to describe how honored and excited Alan and Heather were to sit down with the incredibly brilliant, Jim Jimirro (except these words we just used). But when the opportunity to interview the founder of The Disney Channel presents itself, you ask no questions and just get it on the schedule.

Jim Jimirro is the creator and founding President of The Disney Channel and Walt Disney Home Video. During his tenure at the helm of The Disney Channel, Mr. Jimirro was responsible for the conception, development, and launching of the fastest-growing pay service in history.

He’s an Oscar Awards voter, is the subject of a documentary called Jim J’s Jukebox, hosts his own lecture speaker series at the prestigious 92nd Street Y here in NYC, and is the executive producer of The J2 Spotlight Musical Theater Company, founded before the pandemic, which is just now starting its second season!

Be sure to follow J2 Spotlight on Instagram!

Make sure to follow this podcast everywhere you find podcasts, leave a rating and a review, and slip into our DMs at @wasitchance.
More about Heather via @heather_vic keryandco on Instagram and Threads, @Braveheather on TikTok, and listen to The Brave Files
More about Alan via @theatre_podcast and listen to The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales

EPISODE TAKEAWAYS

Sometimes the dreams we have as seven-year-olds can become our reality. Believe in yourself and your dreams.
Trusting your instincts can take you all the way.
Sometimes we have to “create” our chance by paying attention, showing up, and being persistent.
Don’t be intimidated by people’s titles or resumes - All growth comes from communication.
If you don’t have an ingrained sense of confidence, you face a tougher challenge but these things can be gained with good support and mentorship.
Take calculated risks. Seriously. JUST TAKE THEM!
You may have to give up your lifelong dream and walk away from something that’s really good, to embrace something really great.
There’s a possibility that you can have two, active, dreams coming true at once. Don’t limit yourself.
You have the power to be a creator of “unrealistic” dreams.
Hardware developers are the key to all technological advances.
The “best” technology doesn’t always win. It’s about marketing!
You can thank Porn for the Disney Channel (you’re going to have to listen to learn more!)
If you keep track of hardware advancement, you will be on the cutting edge of business growth opportunities.