TuTu Thin: A Podcast for Dancers | Be a healthy dancer/athlete in mind, body and spirit.
The TuTu Thin Podcast will explore the complex relationship between dancers, athletes, their body and eating disorders, explaining how eating disorders can too easily develop in this driven, perfectionistic yet vulnerable population. TuTu Thin also explores the relationship between the dancer/athlete and the drive for perfection. How can the dancer/athlete develop healthy eating patterns in a world where there is expectation to have a strong, yet thin body. How can the dance teacher, choreographers, coaches and parents identify who may be struggling with an eating disorder? Coaches and dance teachers can promote healthy body image, but what is their responsibility if a dancer/athlete is exhibiting signs of having an eating disorder? Both prevention and treatment of eating disorders for the dancer/athlete are examined as well as how to return them back to their passion for dance or their sport. There will also be interviews with dancers, athletes, and those who work with them to promote wellness in mind, body and spirit.
TuTu Thin: A Podcast for Dancers | Be a healthy dancer/athlete in mind, body and spirit.
Interview with Keira Leverton, choreographer of Choreo Records Tap Company
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Dawn Smith-Theodore, MA, MFT, CEDS
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Season 2
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Episode 22
Keira Anne Leverton
Director of Tap Program,
Director, Contemporary Youth Tap Ensemble CompanyKeira Anne Leverton received her early tap training from her tap teacher Terry Wolter, and her grandfather, Buster Cooper. Later she sought the training of Acia Gray in Austin, Barbara Phillips in San Antonio, and Jay Fagan in Chicago. Much of her exposure to the tap community was through tap festivals such as the Chicago Human Rhythm Project, and the Third Coast Rhythm Project. She has had the privilege of studying with many professionals in the field, such as Derick K. Grant, Lane Alexander, Bril Barrett, Henry LeTang, Sam Weber, Nicole Hockenberry, Dianne Walker, Gregory Hines, and Yuji Uragami. In 2010, she received the Gene, Louise, and Fred Kelly Tap Teacher Scholarship.Leverton has performed at such venues as Radio City Music Hall, the Kodak Theatre, the Sky Dome in Toronto, and Wembley Stadium in London. She toured nationally and internationally as a dancer and later as dance captain with “Barney’s Colorful World” from 2003-2004. She played “Bert” and various chorus characters in Sesame Street Live’s touring productions of “Elmo Makes Music“, and “When Elmo Grows Up” in 2007-2008.In 2011, she received the opportunity to work and travel internationally to Japan, Korea, Turkey, Europe, and the UK as “Grover” with “Sesame Street Live’s USO Experience for Military Families”, as a part of Michelle Obama’s project “Joining Forces”. The tour kicked off with First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden in attendance.Leverton’s acting credits include the lead role in the award winning short film “Bitch” that was selected to play at the Sundance Film Festival in 2007.Keira co-founded and co-directed the Drawbacks Youth Tap Ensemble, Dallas’ oldest and longest running youth tap ensemble. She also co-founded and co-directed the Dallas based tap company, Rhythmic Souls. Many of her students have gone on to dance in professional shows.
Leverton’s latest endeavor is the resurrection of her grandfather’s company, Choreo Records with the addition of the youth tap company. The Choreo Records Company mission is to preserve and promote the historic choreographic works of jazz and tap dance master Buster Cooper.
As a teacher, Keira is passionate about preserving the history of the indigenous American art of tap dance. She maintains constant interaction with the national and international tap community, so that in addition to her original works and the historical traditional material, she may bring fresh and up to date information to her students.
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