Meet Beth Braun | Dancer/Choreographer, Dance Educator, Founder/Artistic Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Beth Braun and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Beth, alright, let’s jump in with a deep one – what’s you’re definition for success?
My mother was a true Ballet lover and when I was five years old she took me to see my first of many New York City Ballet performances. We took the train into New York City, ate at an outdoor café at Lincoln Center, and then saw the performance. It was love at first sight! I clearly remember the red velvet seats of the theater, the chandelier, the enormous crowd all dressed up in their finest clothing, the live orchestra, and the absolutely beautiful dancers.

On the train ride back to our home on Long Island, my mother asked me if I wanted to learn how to dance and although I never did become a professional ballerina, here I am many years later still dancing, teaching, choreographing and using my art to help to make positive change in my community.

I attended State University of New York at Brockport and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Dance. When my father and I initially visited SUNY Brockport, we met with one of the Dance Professors to discuss careers in dance. My father was especially concerned regarding how I would be able to support myself as a dancer. The Professor talked a great deal about becoming a dance educator, which was not my plan at all. I only wanted to have a performance career, although I started teaching dance my sophomore year in college.

While living the college life of a Dance Major, I had amazing opportunities to work with the most successful modern dancers and choreographers and I decided that a successful dance career was dancing with one of the major modern dance companies in New York City. Anything else would mean that my career was not successful, however, at the beginning of the summer prior to my senior year, my parents moved to Tucson, AZ. My new plan was to come to Tucson after graduation, briefly, make some money and move back to NYC. I couldn’t imagine that there was any good modern dance in Tucson, AZ. Well, I was quite wrong and found the opposite. I began to work with a small dance company called Territory Dance Theatre and not only did my professional dance career begin, but so did my journey as a dance educator.

I first moved to Arizona in 1982 when there was a great deal of money for teaching artists in traditional public schools through the Arizona Commission on the Arts, and Territory Dance Theatre had contracts at numerous elementary schools teaching dance to Special Populations. I absolutely loved the work! In 1990, I moved back to NY and studied Horton Modern Dance Technique at the Alvin Ailey School, taught in two community colleges, danced with two companies in NYC, and returned to SUNY Brockport to receive my Master’s Degree in Dance Performance and Choreography. The plan was that once I had my MA I would return to one of the community colleges with a full time Assistant Professor position and continue dancing with one of the companies I had previously worked with.

I find it quite interesting how life is, and how most often our plans turn out differently than we imagine. Instead of staying in NY, I returned to Tucson. I realized that I had achieved my dream of having a successful dance career after dancing, choreographing, teaching and performing in NYC and throughout NY State. It was okay for me to leave.

Since then, I have done things with my dance career that I could never have imagined. So, how do I define success? For me, success means following my passion and using my art in a way that positively impacts my community. I have danced with numerous modern dance companies in Tucson, but when I realized the impact my art could have being used for helping to create positive change, everything changed in terms of the direction of my career. I found my true place as a dance educator in secondary education and directed a dance program at two traditional public high schools that shared a campus. This was truly my dream job. I can’t begin to articulate the impact working with teenagers had on me as a dancer, choreographer, dance educator, artist and human being.

In 2011, I founded Esperanza Dance Project, a non-profit organization that uses dance, music and narrative to spread awareness, educate, create safe spaces where meaningful conversation can happen and support survivors of sexual trauma. When youth talk to me following our performances, about how they no longer feel alone and now have a sense of hope for their journey of healing, I know without any doubt, that this is success.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I have worked extremely hard over the years to stay true to myself as an artist. I’ve always strived to be the best I can be and create meaningful and relevant art. It’s been very important to me that when people watch my dance pieces, they feel something. I’ve gotten to where I am today professionally by not compromising on my vision for my work. With this said, my journey has not always been easy. My work tends to be quite serious, and my most notable pieces were focused on the Holocaust, my response to 911, grief, struggle and my most recent narrated piece, “House of Hope,” that focuses on sexual trauma. I have found that many people choose to see light, happy movies or live performances. I know first hand how challenging life can be, and at times we need relief or escape from reality. Believe me, I get that! It’s difficult to face our feelings and deal with them. I also understand how important it is to do that. I feel so fortunate and grateful to have had dance in my life. It has literally saved my life numerous times.

I am very aware how my work has had an impact on all that experience it. I believe I’ve developed a way of presenting difficult material in a way that creates safe spaces, is less threatening and helps my audiences to feel supported. I’ve learned over the years how dance has the ability to connect with people in a non-verbal and more kinesthetic way. Through art, we can help to put a dent in the armor that can be built around one’s heart in order to not feel and protect one’s self. Once this happens, it becomes possible for a healing journey to begin.

I would love for the world to understand the important place that art holds in our lives, schools, and communities. As far as my brand and story…I would love to have the means to be able to share my work and message of hope with as many survivors of sexual trauma as possible, not only all around the state of Arizona, but around the country and world. My dream is that through my work with Esperanza Dance Project, no survivor needs to feel hopeless or alone ever.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend came to visit me in Tucson I would put them up at the JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass Resort. It’s definitely my favorite resort in Tucson. We would eat, drink and hang out at their patio dining area and spend a great deal of time floating in the Lazy River. We would visit the Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum and I would make sure we were there during the day and at night. The Desert Museum is so incredibly unique and I think it is so magical at night! We would take a day trip to Tubac, stroll around and visit all the lovely shops and galleries. I’d make sure to take my friend out for some authentic Mexican food and margaritas.

I love to walk up and down Fourth Ave. and Downtown Tucson. Downtown Tucson has changed dramatically throughout the years and has become a vibrant and fun area filled with wonderful and unique restaurants, one of my favorites being the Hub. Of course we’d have to eat at the Cup in Hotel Congress and sit out on their patio. Another favorite of mine is IBT’s on Fourth Ave. for their Drag Shows and dancing!

A few additional favorites are movies at The Loft, shows at The Fox Theater, and eating and playing at Casino del Sol. There are so many fun and interesting things to do in Tucson and if my best friend came for a week, it would be a very busy week, for sure!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My Shoutout has to begin with my parents. Although they were skeptical of my pursuing a career in dance, they were always right there in the audience of most of my performances. My daughter is the next who deserves recognition. She had a somewhat unconventional life and grew up in dance studios and theaters. I think growing up the way she did inspired her to become the creative, intelligent, strong and simply the most amazing woman and mom I know.

I started studying dance with Susannah Newman at the beginning of my sophomore year at SUNY Brockport. That was the year my dance career changed forever. Her technique classes were challenging, inspiring and fun! Susannah performed a Solo Dance Concert during my sophomore year and was truly the most beautiful and strong dancer and performer I had ever seen. In fact, I was completely blown away by her and that night decided that, “I wanted to be Susannah when I grew up!” I am so fortunate to have her as my mentor and friend. I owe my technical, performance, and choreographic skills, and my sense of artistry to her. To this day, we talk often and every time I get off of the phone with her, I am still inspired by her and filled with gratitude to have this phenomenal woman a part of my life for so many years!

I have to give a tremendous Shoutout to my wonderful wife, Vernetta. She brought so much love, support, and fun into my life. Meeting her has given me a sense of balance that had been missing for a very long time. There are so many others whom I have gotten endless love and support from…too many to list now. Someday you can read about then in my book!

Website: esperanzadanceproject.org

Instagram: esperanzadanceaz

Facebook: esperanzadanceproject

Youtube: @EDPPerforminghope

Image Credits
All photos by Larry Hanelin