Guest: Kristen Brooks Sandler
Director, Choreographer, Creatrix
Founder & Artistic Director of Thistle Dance
Today marks our first interview episode with an incredible guest who challenges what sustainable, collaborative, inclusive, consent-based work can look like. Not only does she share how she holds space for both the person and the artist but the collaborative framework she believes (and we do too) has the power to make a bigger impact on our industry at large if we all chose to meet each other with more transparent authenticity.
Kristen (she / her) is an award winning director and choreographer whose work can be seen on screen and stage. Purple haired & proudly queer, she is committed to physical storytelling, believing in movement as the language that bridges the gap between audience and artistry. On stage, she has directed & choreographed musicals, immersive work and original dance creations at regional & international theaters. Her screen credits include work on set with Nickelodeon and Hallmark, & her films have been featured in festivals in over 30 countries. Her first original creation, won Best Dance and Physical Theater at the Capital Fringe Festival, and she has since been nominated for many awards, including a New York Innovative Theater Award for Best Choreography.
Her company, Thistle Dance, uses movement as the primary language to conjure wonderfully strange creations challenging our codified perception of history and lore. The company is currently in their second year of creating the immersive experience “UNBOUND” in partnership with the New York Public Library, opening in October.
Before leading her own rehearsal rooms, Kristen worked as a performer alongside such creators as Andy Blankenbuehler, Savion Glover, Karma Camp & Connor Gallagher.
Follow & Learn More:
IG: @kristenbrooks19 & @thistle_dance
Website: https://www.kristenbrookssandler.com/ & https://www.thistledanceinc.com/
RSVP for your FREE tickets to "The Art of Sin" at the Jefferson Market Library running 3 shows per night Friday October 13th / 20th / 27th: https://www.thistledanceinc.com/tickets
M.O.V.E. with Eileen + Amy is a Kaia Evolutions Podcast.
New episodes air on Mondays.
To learn more about Eileen + Amy, be sure to follow them on instagram @ekielty + @amyreah. For more information about Kaia Evolutions, a culmination of Eileen's life's work and a love letter to her sister, Katie, who died by suicide in 2019 - visit https://www.kaiaevolutions.com/ or follow on instagram at @kaia.evolutions
If you want to share part of your dancer / movement artist journey with us, email us at info@kaiaevolutions.com
Thank you for moving with us.
-Eileen + Amy
*If you or anyone you know is in need of support, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800.273.8255 OR text 988. You are not alone.
Guest: Kristen Brooks Sandler
Director, Choreographer, Creatrix
Founder & Artistic Director of Thistle Dance
Today marks our first interview episode with an incredible guest who challenges what sustainable, collaborative, inclusive, consent-based work can look like. Not only does she share how she holds space for both the person and the artist but the collaborative framework she believes (and we do too) has the power to make a bigger impact on our industry at large if we all chose to meet each other with more transparent authenticity.
Kristen (she / her) is an award winning director and choreographer whose work can be seen on screen and stage. Purple haired & proudly queer, she is committed to physical storytelling, believing in movement as the language that bridges the gap between audience and artistry. On stage, she has directed & choreographed musicals, immersive work and original dance creations at regional & international theaters. Her screen credits include work on set with Nickelodeon and Hallmark, & her films have been featured in festivals in over 30 countries. Her first original creation, won Best Dance and Physical Theater at the Capital Fringe Festival, and she has since been nominated for many awards, including a New York Innovative Theater Award for Best Choreography.
Her company, Thistle Dance, uses movement as the primary language to conjure wonderfully strange creations challenging our codified perception of history and lore. The company is currently in their second year of creating the immersive experience “UNBOUND” in partnership with the New York Public Library, opening in October.
Before leading her own rehearsal rooms, Kristen worked as a performer alongside such creators as Andy Blankenbuehler, Savion Glover, Karma Camp & Connor Gallagher.
Follow & Learn More:
IG: @kristenbrooks19 & @thistle_dance
Website: https://www.kristenbrookssandler.com/ & https://www.thistledanceinc.com/
RSVP for your FREE tickets to "The Art of Sin" at the Jefferson Market Library running 3 shows per night Friday October 13th / 20th / 27th: https://www.thistledanceinc.com/tickets
M.O.V.E. with Eileen + Amy is a Kaia Evolutions Podcast.
New episodes air on Mondays.
To learn more about Eileen + Amy, be sure to follow them on instagram @ekielty + @amyreah. For more information about Kaia Evolutions, a culmination of Eileen's life's work and a love letter to her sister, Katie, who died by suicide in 2019 - visit https://www.kaiaevolutions.com/ or follow on instagram at @kaia.evolutions
If you want to share part of your dancer / movement artist journey with us, email us at info@kaiaevolutions.com
Thank you for moving with us.
-Eileen + Amy
*If you or anyone you know is in need of support, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800.273.8255 OR text 988. You are not alone.