#248: Dominic Moore-Dunson (Dance) (pt. 1 of 2)

This week on the podcast is part one of our interview with  Dominic Moore-Dunson. He’s an award-winning professional dancer, producer, teaching artist and speaker.  Dominic is the co-founder of Moore-Dunson Co., a holding company committed to producing companies and brands helping its clients unlock their stories. As an artist, he’s in the 2023 Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch” list; a Top 40 finalist for the National Dance Project Grant; a 2019 Jacob’s Pillow Choreography Fellow; and a 2019 Cleveland Arts Prize Winner. ​

From the soccer field to the dance floor, Dominic Moore-Dunson has an inspiring journey to share. With tap shoes he wore as a two-year-old, to being an award-winning professional dancer, Dominic's experiences speak of courage, commitment, and the will to follow one's passion. He takes us on an intimate journey through his life, detailing the arduous decision of choosing dance over soccer and the subsequent adaptation to the demanding lifestyle of a professional dancer.

One pivotal story from Dominic's life involves a taxing experience that tested his limits and led to the realization of his potential. His life lessons extend beyond the dance floor, as he talks about the influence of his soccer coach, who helped shape his detailed-oriented and accountable work ethic. Dominic stresses the role of expectations and a thorough understanding of a project's nuances in his artistic success, offering a fresh perspective that applies to not just artists, but also entrepreneurs and professionals from various fields.

The episode also delves into Dominic's creative process, as he shares the backstage experience of creating a podcast and a dance piece inspired by conversations around children's safety and police. He highlights how unexpected incidents can alter a project's focus and meaning, citing a specific incident in his community that shifted his work's focus. Dominic further unravels his strategies for meaningful collaborations, emphasizing the importance of understanding people to create larger, collective projects. This episode serves as a treasure trove of wisdom and practical advice for anyone looking to navigate their creative journey.

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Show Notes:

Dominic Moore-Dunson
https://www.dommooredun.com/

Dance Magazine
https://www.dancemagazine.com/

National Dance Project Grant
https://www.nefa.org/NationalDanceProject

Jacob’s Pillow Choreography Fellow
https://www.jacobspillow.org/

Cleveland Arts Prize
https://www.clevelandartsprize.org/

University of Akron
https://www.uakron.edu/

Inlet Dance Theatre
https://www.inletdance.org/

Firestone High School
https://firestoneclc.akronschools.com/

Dance Cleveland
https://www.dancecleveland.org/

Garth Fagan
https://www.garthfagan-dance.org/

Playhouse Square
https://www.playhousesquare.org/

inCOPnegro
https://www.incopnegro.com/

Ohio Arts Council
https://oac.ohio.gov/

Fiscal Sponsorship
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiscal_sponsorship

MOMIX
https://www.momix.com/

Pilobolus
https://pilobolus.org/

Quickbooks
https://quickbooks.intuit.com/

Alvin Ailey
https://www.alvinailey.org/

Art Without Limits
https://www.kent.edu/artscollege/fall-2023-art-without-limits