Podcast Episodes

Episode 129: Joanna Koleth [Belhaven Dance Alumni – Part Two]

by Rachel Caldwell

We are back for part two of our Belhaven Dance Alumni Series with my amazing friend, Joanna (Tan) Koleth! Joanna was a guest on the podcast back in November 2020 for episode 24. It is a delight to have her back and to hear about her journey since we last spoke! Joanna is a dance-artist, educator, choreographer, and comprehensively certified BASI Pilates teacher. Her business, MADE TO MOVE STUDIO, merges her passions for dance and Pilates to empower people to move with purpose and freedom across all seasons of life.

Joanna and I originally met during our time in the Belhaven University Dance Department. In this conversation, we chat about Joanna’s journey from Kuala Lumpur to Milan, and then to her current home in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. Joanna shares about her experiences with teaching and choreography, the impact of Belhaven University on her life, and advice for upcoming and current students. We also discuss identity, presence, and the importance of community. I love Joanna’s dream of having Belhaven reunions across the globe!

Several other Belhaven Dance Alumni have shared their stories on the podcast over the years, so we’ve gathered all the episodes together in a playlist for you! Check out the playlist on Spotify!

You can watch the show on YouTube or Spotify, or listen through your favorite podcast app (ie. Apple Podcasts, Spotify). You can be sure not to miss a Creative Impact conversation by subscribing wherever you prefer to connect! We are so grateful to have you as a part of the Creative Impact community and would love it if you would share the show with your friends!

About Joanna:

Joanna Koleth (née Tan) is a dance-artist, educator, choreographer, and comprehensively certified BASI Pilates teacher. Since her last appearance on the Creative Impact Podcast in 2020, Joanna has continued to explore movement as a form of creative expression, healing, and worship. She has performed and choreographed internationally, been invited as a dance adjudicator, and was recently appointed as the first Malaysian Assistant Faculty Member for BASI Pilates.

Currently based in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, Joanna runs her own business, MADE TO MOVE STUDIO, where she merges her passions for dance and Pilates to empower people to move with purpose and freedom across all seasons of life.

Beyond the studio, she enjoys surfing and serves on the Production team at her local church through Visuals & Broadcast, where her creativity and faith intersect.

Links from the Show:

Connect with Joanna:

On Instagram

On Facebook