S3E6: Dance is Everything with Kiara Pornan

*This episode contains reference to religion and the views expressed in this episode are not meant to offend any party. Additionally, we discuss the sexual misconduct and social injustice that surrounds the dance community. Parental discretion is advised.

In today’s episode we sit down with BOX Dance Studio alumni, Kiara Pornan.   We reminisce about meeting Kiara for the very first time, we lovingly share about what it was like watching Kiara grow as a person and a dancer.  We half cringe and half laugh about past memories.  We reflect deeply and thoughtfully about setting a baseline for expectations in dance and maintaining a leadership role while also trying to work with peers. Kiara talks about her transition away from dance and reflects on why she felt it was the right time to take a pause.  We ask Kiara about what dance means to her now and she shares her thoughts on taking what she learned at Brown and applying it to being an artist.  Kiara opens up about her fear of coming back to dance after being away for so long and having a sense of ownership over her own body.  Kiara talks openly about finding herself during quarantine and making the decision to pursue life as an artist.  We talk about our favorite times together at The BOX and Kiara shows off her sharp memory by recreating old choreography for us.  We wrap the episode with a round of rapid fire, Kiara talks about her desire to pursue stand up comedy and she tries to bring back the “Dougie”.

In this episode, we explore: 
00:29        Introduction
03:09        Meeting Kiara for the first time
08:17         Setting baseline expectations in dance    
12:12        Leader vs. Peer
21:57        What does dance mean to you now?     
26:06         Applying academics to artistry
32:17        Having a sense of ownership over your body
40:52        Finding yourself during quarantine    
45:37        Pursuing a path of creativity
1:04:59    Reminiscing on favorite memories at The BOX        
1:07:59    Kiara dances for us
1:11:14    Rapid Fire
1:20:04    Examining the current state of the dance community
1:27:05    What’s good in the dance community?
1:31:19    Closing remarks
This episode’s guest: 
Follow Kiara on Instagram
Get It Together, by Kiara Pornan
MaxtOut 2014, Choreography project by Dylan Banares & Kiara Pornan
Art, by Kiara Pornan 
More Art, by Kiara Pornan
Kiara Sings
Special thanks to: 
-Jane Banares for creating our Co-Lab Podcast artwork 
Music by Sam Stan - Das Boo - https://thmatc.co/?l=997FC418
Music by SkeetOnTheBeat - Late Night - https://thmatc.co/?l=E76B5749 
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