episode 115
🎙️ this is episode 115 of The Place of Sound.
in this episode, host Charlie speaks with Carleton Communication and Media Studies alum Manhattan MacLennan, founder and director of Give Dance A Chance, an Ottawa-based dance company focused on making dance more accessible and inclusive.
Give Dance A Chance originally began as a group project in an event management course at Carleton before Manhattan decided to continue the project independently. since then, the company has grown to offer bimonthly workshops for adults and programming in schools.
Manhattan and Charlie talk about how her time in the COMS program helped prepare her to run her own organization, her dedication to continued learning as an instructor, how Give Dance A Chance finds and supports new instructors, and some of the challenges and unexpected realities of running a business. they also discuss the differences between teaching adults and children and the company’s focus on accessibility, inclusion, and creating welcoming spaces for queer participants.
finally, Manhattan reflects on her proudest moments with Give Dance A Chance, how much the company has grown since she and Charlie first spoke in March, and some of her plans for its future—including the launch of new competitive and performance dance troupes.
this episode is also a bittersweet one, as it will be Charlie’s last as producer and host of the show. they would like to thank Vincent Andrisani for the opportunity to take on the show and learn so much about audio and media production over the past few months. Charlie is especially happy to end their time here with an episode about a project they genuinely care about, and would also like to thank Manhattan for taking the time to speak with them and share her work.
thank you to everyone who has listened to the show during Charlie’s time as host :)
