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Below Jessica reflects on the latest ReImagination Café podcast episode, which features Jonathan Hollander, Founder & Artistic Director of Battery Dance Company

Dear visitors to the ReImagination Café,

I talk to people almost every day who are struggling with the way things are in the world right now and the direction we seem to be headed. It feels like certain values that once grounded us – compassion, integrity, a shared sense of purpose – are slipping away. We feel unsettled - unmoored.

I believe that a powerful way we can respond to what’s happening in the world is by using our work as a vehicle for addressing society’s most pressing challenges. Jonathan Hollander does just that, using dance to drive positive change around the world – a mission he began well before “social impact” became part of the broader cultural conversation.

Through Battery Dance’s flagship program Dancing to Connect, Jonathan and his team travel all over the world, serving as cultural ambassadors for the United States, and using the art of movement to build bridges, foster trust, and create the kind of human connection we so urgently need today.

It was an honor to speak with Jonathan who, despite managing a whirlwind of responsibilities (the Battery Dance Festival begins on August 9 after all!), spent considerable time with me, and introduced me to several of his colleagues, Emad Salem, Robin Cantrell, and Rutkay Özpinar, who are also featured in the episode. This level of access was essential to helping us create a podcast that, we hope, honors the depth and impact of this remarkable organization.

My heartfelt thanks to Jonathan and the team at Battery Dance for their support, attention to detail, and for entrusting us with the honor of sharing their incredible story. I hope you enjoy this inspirational conversation with someone who is truly reimagining work!

Jessica