In this episode of the Dance Behind the Screen Podcast, host Martheya Nygaard Scott sits down with Corey Haynes, Texas-based writer and visual artist working primarily in photography and mixed media, to explore movement, memory, authenticity, and the role photography plays in documenting creative communities. Corey shares her journey from photographing friends and everyday life to finding her artistic home in dance photography. She reflects on how years of collaborating with artists and organizations across North Texas have shaped an approach rooted in trust, curiosity, and capturing what is actually happening rather than constructing the “perfect” image. The conversation explores what makes movement photography feel alive, why Corey gravitates toward improvisation and unposed moments, and how dancers can work more intentionally with photographers to communicate their stories. Corey also shares practical advice for choosing a photographer, preparing for a shoot, understanding pricing, and creating images that support portfolios, performances, marketing, and grant applications. Corey and Martheya also dig into authenticity in the age of social media, discussing the pressure artists face to create polished content, the importance of understanding your “why,” and why storytelling and genuine human connection can be more powerful than perfection. Finally, Corey reflects on curiosity, experimentation, and play as essential creative practices and introduces her ongoing project, We’ve Come All This Way, which celebrates dancers over 50 while exploring aging, body image, movement, and our changing relationships with ourselves. Chapters 00:00 Meet Corey Haynes + Flash Four 01:30 Libraries as a Creative Resource 02:30 Photography + the Power of Storytelling 03:30 Social Media + Building an Audience 04:00 Long-Form Visual Storytelling 06:00 Finding Storytelling Through the Camera 08:00 Finding Dance Photography 09:00 Documenting North Texas Creative Communities 11:00 From Event Photographer to Creative Collaborator 12:30 Capturing Movement in a Moment 14:00 Authenticity in Dance Photography 18:00 Authenticity + Social Media 20:00 Developing a Recognizable Photography Style 23:00 Imperfection + the Human Experience 25:00 Preparing for a Dance Photo Shoot 27:00 Communication + Creative Collaboration 29:00 How to Choose the Right Photographer 31:00 Valuing Creative Labor + Photography Rates 35:00 Behind the Scenes + Creative Process 37:30 Building an Authentic Creative Brand 40:00 Being of Service Through Art 41:00 Saying NO to the BOX Through Curiosity 44:00 Eight Years of Creative Collaboration 45:00 We’ve Come All This Way 47:00 Celebrating Dancers Over 50 48:00 Connect with Corey Episode Show kNOwtes: https://www.knowboxdance.com/post/157 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.

Episode 155: Building Community Through Dance: Jennifer Mabus 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. Chapters 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 Episode Show kNOwtes: https://www.knowboxdance.com/post/155 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.

In the Season 8 premiere of the Dance Behind the Screen Podcast, host Martheya Nygaard Scott is joined by former co-host and current kNOwBOX dance Manager of People & Community, Reyna Mondragon, for a behind-the-scenes conversation about the ideas shaping this new season. At the center of the episode is a simple question: How do we better value the artists doing the work? Martheya shares how kNOwBOX dance is prioritizing artist compensation by providing honorariums to podcast guests, festival makers, performers, production teams, editors, and designers—putting resources directly back into the creative community. Martheya and Reyna also explore three themes emerging throughout Season 8: humanity, collaboration, and artificial intelligence. What does meaningful collaboration actually look like? How can stepping back and listening create space for someone else to lead? And how can artists use AI to reduce administrative labor without allowing technology to become the center of their creative practice? The conversation comes home to North Texas, where the founding members of kNOwBOX dance first met. Season 8 celebrates the artists, organizations, and community builders shaping dance and media across the Dallas–Fort Worth area, while asking what their work can teach us about the future of the field. Say NO to the BOX and YES to the future of dance. 00:00 Welcome to Season 8 + Reyna Returns Behind the Screen 01:00 Centering Artists + Paying Creatives 03:00 Humanity + Human-Centered Artmaking 04:00 Rethinking What Collaboration Looks Like 05:30 Artists, AI + Fear-Based Decisions 07:00 Using AI as a Creative + Administrative Tool 10:00 Creating More Space to Be an Artist 11:00 Celebrating North Texas Dance 13:00 Looking Ahead to Season 8 https://www.knowboxdance.com/post/episode-154

Welcome to Season 8 of the Dance Behind the Screen Podcast, where dance, creativity, and technology converge. Hosted by Martheya Nygaard Scott, Executive Director and Co-Creator of kNOwBOX dance, Season 8 turns the spotlight on North Texas dance artists, choreographers, filmmakers, creative leaders, and arts organizations shaping the future of dance and media. Season 8 Features: Jennifer Mabus | Grackle Dance Collective Niloo Jalilvand | Pegasus Media Project Corey Haynes Elisa De La Rosa Joshua King | Dallas Aurora Diana Crowder | Pegasus Contemporary Ballet Karla Hardaway | Texas Dance and Culture Through conversations rooted in the vibrant Dallas–Fort Worth arts community, we explore creative practice, leadership, technology, collaboration, community building, and the opportunities and challenges defining what comes next for dance. At kNOwBOX dance, we operate as a dance think tank—centering dance artists, amplifying their work, and leveraging technology to connect artists with audiences and creators worldwide. --- Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome to Dance Behind the Screen 00:07 Meet Your Host 00:14 kNOwBOX dance: A Dance Think Tank 00:26 Centering Artists + Technology 00:35 Season 8: Spotlight on North Texas 00:44 What’s Next for Dance Subscribe and join us for Season 8! Say NO to the BOX and YES to the future of DANCE! Season 8 is supported in part by the Moody Fund for the Arts and our generous individual Season Sponsors, Dexter & Jenel Evans and Helen & James Gallas. #DanceBehindTheScreen #kNOwBOXdance #Season8 #FutureOfDance #DallasDance #NorthTexasArts