129: How New York City Woke Me Up — Alexandra Damiani

<span style="font-weight: 400;">This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Alexandra Damiani, Artistic Director at</span> <a href="https://www.bjmdanse.ca/en/"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">BJM-Les Ballets Jazz De Montréal</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Alexandra was classically trained in dance in and around her home country of France.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">After winning the jeune ballet d’Aquitaine de Bordeaux competition in France, she received a scholarship to the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in the US and has since danced at a variety of companies — including the company where she is now Artistic Director. Alexandra also has experience in the music and film industries, including an appearance in the acclaimed film</span> <em><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Black Swan</span></em><span style= "font-weight: 400;">.</span> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For Alexandra, some of her most formative years as an artist — and as a human — were her years in New York City. Upon landing in the United States, this city filled her with awe and curiosity around all areas of the arts and helped rid her of any anxiety and fear as a citizen in a foreign land. On the podcast, Alexandra discusses the modern dance industry and walks through her entire career but, most notably, shares why the “Big Apple” holds a special place in her heart.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Moving Quotes:</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"Suddenly every conditioning I had, every expectation, every demand I was putting on my own body to be a dancer — all of that just exploded. In a moment, suddenly everything was possible. That was New York, for me."</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"For the arts, the pandemic is a crucible. This is how we get clearer and stronger. And we can show what we're made of, in a way. There are huge opportunities, if we don't let fear paralyze us."</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"Voice lessons and theater and, really, anything will add