In The Spotlight: Raising Leaders in the Performing Arts

We’re diving deep into the transformative world of performing arts education. Twice a month, we chat with industry experts — from seasoned educators to acclaimed artists — who are passionate about nurturing responsible young leaders through the power of performing arts training. Twice a month we share a ‘What’s Happening At EMC’ segment so that you can hear all the amazingness going on as well as stay in the loop.. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or aspiring artist, you’ll discover actionable insights and inspiring stories that highlight how the arts can shape character, boost confidence, and cultivate leadership skills. Together, we’ll explore innovative techniques, share valuable resources, and celebrate the incredible impact of the arts in developing the leaders of tomorrow. Get ready to shine a light on the incredible journey of raising leaders in the performing arts!

In The Spotlight: Raising Leaders in the Performing Arts is a arts podcast hosted by Robin Snyder-Wiencek, with 71 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Robin Snyder-Wiencek hosts In The Spotlight: Raising Leaders in the Performing Arts, a arts show with 71 episodes published.

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  Episode #72

  Ep 72: From the Barre to the Boardroom: Jess Keller on Resilience, Reinvention, and Raising Dancers Who Are Ready for the World

  Aug 18, 202641 min

  What happens when a professional ballet career ends before you're ready and how do you turn that heartbreak into your greatest strength as a teacher and studio owner? This week, Robin sits down with Jess Keller, owner and artistic director of Palm Beach Academy of Dance Arts in South Florida, for a conversation that feels less like an interview and more like coffee with a friend who just happens to have lived one of the most fascinating journeys in dance. Jess opens up about training at the School of American Ballet, moving to Miami at 16 to attend Miami City Ballet School (yes, in an apartment, without her parents), and dancing professionally with Miami City Ballet, before being told mid-Giselle weekend that her contract wasn't being renewed. She shares what that moment felt like, how it broke her relationship with ballet for a time, and how walking away from dance and into a classroom actually set her up to become the studio leader she is today. From elementary school teacher to math coach to ESE specialist, Jess's career in education didn't just fill the gap, it completely shaped how she sees dancers: as whole humans first. You'll hear how motherhood softened her teaching, how her professional experience drives her to build the resilience in students that she wishes someone had built in her, and what she's working toward for the next chapter of her studio. Robin and Jess also get into the dream of studio ownership, building equity, buying land, designing your ideal space, and the unexpected gift of finding community with other studio owners who get it. If you've ever felt like your "detour" was actually your path, this one's for you. Let’s Connect on Socials: EMC Performing Arts Studio on Facebook EMC Performing Arts Studio on Instagram In The Spotlight: Raising Leaders in the Performing Arts on Facebook In The Spotlight: Raising Leaders in the Performing Arts on Instagram Interested in Classes at EMC? Learn More About Us Here

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  Episode #71

  Ep 71 - Inside EMC: Everything Extra: A Walk Through EMC's Specialty Classes for the New Season

  Aug 12, 202612 min

  This week, Miss Robin walks you through every Specialty Class EMC is offering for the upcoming season, the extras that go beyond your regular package and give your dancer more ways to grow. From Contemporary and AcroDance to The Musical Experience, Supplemental Ballet and Pointe, Precision Tap, Leaps and Turns, and our beloved Daddy-Daughter and Adagio Partnering classes, she covers what each one is, who it's for, and when it meets. You'll hear how we've built a clean Thursday-night pathway from 5:00 to 9:00 for technique dancers who want more, with no conflicting choices to wrestle over. Several of these classes perform at our Holiday Celebration, Open Marley Festival, the Spring Concert, and our Fall Tour, while a few are skills-only, non-performing classes designed purely to build strength and technique. Talk it over with your dancer, and if you have questions, email Miss Kathy at kathyjones@danceemc.com or stop by the front desk. We'll help you find the right fit. Get Your Brick and Support the Podcast: For $10 off your brick and to give $10 to the podcast, click HERE . Let’s Connect on Socials: EMC Performing Arts Studio on Facebook EMC Performing Arts Studio on Instagram In The Spotlight: Raising Leaders in the Performing Arts on Facebook In The Spotlight: Raising Leaders in the Performing Arts on Instagram

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  Episode #70

  Ep 70 - Tara's Story, What We Carry and What We Build From It, with Shawn Gladden

  Aug 4, 20261h 3m

  This is the episode Robin has been building toward for years. For a long time, the name Tara Gladden has appeared quietly at EMC Performing Arts Studio, on scholarship awards, in essays, in the hearts of students who've wondered about the girl behind the honor. Today, we finally tell her story. Robin is joined by her cousin Shawn Gladden, Tara's brother, for a conversation that is raw, honest, and long overdue. Tara Allison Gladden was a shy, gentle fifteen-year-old from Columbia, Maryland: a soccer player, an animal lover, a girl just beginning to find herself through dance. In the summer of 1993, she was murdered. But this is not a simple story about a teenage girl and a bad boyfriend. This is the story of a pedophile and sex trafficker; a calculating 26-year-old man who preyed on young girls at suburban malls, groomed Tara over months by making her feel seen and special, systematically turned her against her family, and ultimately silenced her when she found the courage to stand up to him. Shawn walks us through all of it: who Tara was before she disappeared from herself, the agonizing three weeks the family spent searching, the media circus, the reward fund raised on a median strip in the summer heat, the moment a neighbor's cruelty cut deeper than almost anything else, and the day they found out she had been there all along… on her sixteenth birthday. He also talks about what it cost him. What it cost his parents. What it does to a family when a chapter this devastating can never fully close. And then, what grew from it. The Tara Gladden Scholarship Fund began with the funds donated by Robin and her husband, Walter, was fueled by the reward money that was never paid out and has grown, with the help of the Columbia Foundation and a community that still remembers, into a living tribute that funds dance training for young women at EMC. The mission is simple and deeply personal: give girls the confidence, community, and sense of self-worth that Tara needed and didn't have when she was most vulnerable. This episode is not easy listening. But it is essential listening, especially if you are raising a daughter, teaching one, or trying to protect one. Donation Information If you'd like to honor Tara's memory and support young dancers in need, donations to the Tara Gladden Scholarship Fund are welcome. To apply for the scholarship, applications open each November. Website Let’s Connect on Socials: EMC Performing Arts Studio on Facebook EMC Performing Arts Studio on Instagram In The Spotlight: Raising Leaders in the Performing Arts on Facebook In The Spotlight: Raising Leaders in the Performing Arts on Instagram Interested in Classes at EMC? Learn More About Us Here

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  Episode #69

  Ep 69: Inside EMC: Understanding the Rungs of the Ladder

  Jul 21, 202623 min

  This week, the conversation between Robin and Santina, touches on all things understanding the Rungs of the Ladder within EMC. Get Your Brick and Support the Podcast: For $10 off your brick and to give $10 to the podcast, click HERE . Let’s Connect on Socials: EMC Performing Arts Studio on Facebook EMC Performing Arts Studio on Instagram In The Spotlight: Raising Leaders in the Performing Arts on Facebook In The Spotlight: Raising Leaders in the Performing Arts on Instagram

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  Episode #68

  Ep 68: Beyond the Stage: Building a Sustainable Dance Career with Ian Howe

  Jul 14, 202646 min

  In this episode, Ian Howe shares his dynamic journey through the dance industry, from competitive dancer to cruise ship performer, and ultimately to studio owner and educator. He offers valuable insight into the wide range of career paths available to dancers beyond high school, emphasizing the importance of resilience, adaptability, and long-term vision. Ian opens up about the realities of performing on cruise ships, the transition from artist to entrepreneur, and the ongoing challenge of balancing creative passion with business responsibilities. He also reflects on the impact of COVID-19 on performing arts professionals and the growing need for mental resilience in an ever-changing industry. This conversation is a must-listen for dancers, educators, and studio owners alike who are looking to build not just a career, but a fulfilling, flexible lifestyle in the performing arts. Connect With Ian Instagram Let’s Connect on Socials: EMC Performing Arts Studio on Facebook EMC Performing Arts Studio on Instagram In The Spotlight: Raising Leaders in the Performing Arts on Facebook In The Spotlight: Raising Leaders in the Performing Arts on Instagram Interested in Classes at EMC? Learn More About Us Here

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