Conversations on Dance

Today on Conversations on Dance, we welcome back Phil Chan, author and co-founder of 'Final Bow for Yellowface.' Back in May of 2023 in episode 339, we had Phil on the podcast with Doug Fullington and Sarah Wroth to tell us about how the idea for 'Star on the rise : La Bayadère ... reimagined!' came about, and what made Indiana University a great place to mount this production. Now, following the...

Today on 'Conversations on Dance', we are joined by choreographer and director of Sydney Dance Company Rafael Bonachela and composer Bryce Dessner. Bryce and Rafael take us through their personal journeys towards finding their art as a profession, the inspiration and collaborative process behind their latest collaboration 'Impermanence', and how COVID delays extended and altered the work into its...

Today on the Conversations on Dance podcast, we are joined by Alastair Macaulay, critic and historian of the performing arts, and former Chief Dance Critic of the New York Times. While Alastair is no stranger to the podcast, today we get to delve into the history of numerous rare Balanchine ballets. Ahead of Alastair's program at the New York Public Library on the topic, he gives a preview of what...

On today's episode of 'Conversations On Dance', we are joined by internationally acclaimed ballet teacher and professor at Indiana University Michael Vernon. We talk to Michael about how his early artistic influences shaped his life's work as teacher and choreographer, his own philosophies of how to approach ideas in the classroom and how he is shaping the young dancers of Indiana Univer...

This week we welcome back friend of the pod, and frequent guest host, Kate Penner. Kate does the social media marketing for the Vail Dance Festival, so we come together to talk about social media and specifically TikTok culture's impact on ballet and dance. Plus, we hear about Kate and Michael's trip to see Boston Ballet's 'The Nutcracker' in December. THIS EPISODE'S SPONSORS: Unlock your potentia...

It's just us this week! We check in on some of the dance we have seen recently and talk about Michael's work as a repetiteur. THIS EPISODE'S SPONSORS: Unlock your potential with the Graduate Certificate in Arts Entrepreneurship from the Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts at the University of Oklahoma. In partnership with the prestigious Price College of Business, this innovative program is...

On today's episode of 'Conversations On Dance', we are joined by Jake Roxander, rising star at American Ballet Theatre. Jake tells us about the intensity of his training growing up in a family of ballet dancers, why it's important for dancers to keep an open mind about the companies and goals they set their sights on, and how he's handled the challenges of a year marked by numerous major principal...

This week on Conversations on Dance, we are joined by Australian Choreographer, Tim Harbour. Tim tells us about his ballet career with The Australian Ballet, how he became interested in creating dance, and about his process. We talk in depth about his work, 'Filigree and Shadow,' which will be performed by Houston Ballet this month. Tim tell us about what inspired the work, what sets it apart form...

This week on Conversations on Dance, we are joined by Cassandra Trenary, a principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre. Cassandra tells us about her leap of faith to pursue ballet, what it's like to be an ABT lifer, the challenges of the pandemic, and ultimately her promotion to principal dancer. Catch Cassandra onstage with ABT. For more information visit, abt.org. LINKS: Website:  convers...

On today's episode of 'Conversations On Dance', we are joined by Chyrstyn Fentroy, principal ballerina with Boston Ballet. We talk to Chyrstyn about how she built her work ethic during her training years, dancing under Virgina Johnson in the newly revived Dance Theater Of Harlem and what it was like to make the move to a larger company in the middle of her career. If you'd like to see Chyrstyn per...

This week, Michael and Rebecca welcome their friend, Scottie Norton. Since becoming friends and roommates with Michael, Scottie has been thrust into the ballet world. We talk with Scottie to get the perspective of a new dance lover: what might grab a new ballet-goer, what can the art form do to welcome new audience members, and why it's important (and fun!) to introduce your friends to live dance....

On today's episode of 'Conversations On Dance', we are joined by Katlyn Addison, principal dancer with Ballet West. Katlyn takes us on the journey through her early training days in Canada, the decision to take a risk by leaving her first major company for new terrain, and how that risk paid off through years of hard work and steady promotions. Katlyn will be making her premiere as Odette/Odi...

On today's episode of 'Conversations On Dance' we are joined by documentary filmmaker Jennifer Lin. Jennifer's latest film 'Ten Times Better' explores the life and legacy of dancer George Lee, who originated the role of tea in 'George Balanchine's The Nutcracker'. She tells us the inspiring story of George's experience as an immigrant, performing as a child in nightclubs and shuffling across...

This week, Michael and Rebecca sit down to catch up. Michael tells Rebecca about his experience over the past 3 weeks in Dresden, Germany setting Justin Peck's 'Rodeo.' We also chat about miscellaneous items including Johan Inger's Swan Lake, auditions for Golden State Ballet, and the Artistic Director opening at Lexington Ballet Company. LINKS: Website:  conversationsondancepod.com Instagram...

Today on 'Conversations On Dance', we are joined by Shohei Iwahama, dancer with Les Ballet Trockadero de Monte Carlo, a company affectionately known as The Trocks. We talk to Shohei about his bold decision to move to the United States, why he stepped away from dance before joining the Trocks, and what makes the company's history and identity as an all-male comic ballet company so unique among danc...

Today on 'Conversations On Dance' we are joined by Evelyn Cisneros-Legate, director of the Ballet West Academy, and Allison DeBona, principal of the Ballet West Academy Park City location and founder of artÉmotion. Both women take us through how their careers as professional ballerinas impacted the work they do today as educators, how they are actively growing Ballet West's training programs and w...

Michael and Rebecca sit down for our annual "Best of 2023." Hop over to our Instagram account to comment and share with us some of your fave dance moments you experienced this year: @conversationsondance . Happy New Year and thank you for your support of Conversations on Dance this past year! LINKS FOR THIS EPISODE: Janet Eilber on Martha Graham Dance Company in 'Cave': https://www.conversationson...

The holidays are right around the corner, so today we are featuring some dance reads that make the perfect last minute gift for the dance lover in your life. On today's episode of 'Conversations On Dance', we are joined by Miriam Landis, former Miami City Ballet dancer, Pacific Northwest Ballet School Faculty member, and author of the recently published book 'Lauren in the Limelight'. Miriam...

Today on 'Conversations On Dance', we are joined by Lloyd Knight, a long time veteran of the Martha Graham Dance Company. We catch up with Lloyd about the work he has done in the past year with Twyla Tharp and on tours with the Graham company, as well as the time he's spent this year as one of the New York Public Library's Dance Research Fellows. The program this year is centered on Martha Gr...

On today's episode of 'Conversations On Dance', we are joined by Alastair Macaulay, esteemed critic and historian for the performing arts. Alastair previously joined us for a deep dive into the history of Balanchine's classic 'Serenade'; today he returns for critical analysis of one of the oldest and most beloved full lengths in ballet history, 'Giselle'. Alastair will be presenting a seminar...

On today's episode of 'Conversations On Dance', we are joined by internationally renowned choreographer Lar Lubovitch. We talk to Lar about his late start in dance, the benefits of creating works on his company and the differences in the creative process for the dozens of commissions he received over decades whether for the most respected ballet companies in the world, musical theater or ice...

On today's episode of 'Conversations On Dance', we are joined by the Artistic Director of Ballet West, Adam Sklute. Adam sits down with us to tell us about his journey from dancer to director, the positive changes he's enacted since he took over the role of Artistic Director in 2007 and to give us a deep look into the company's production of Willam Christensen's 'Nutcracker', the very first f...

On today's episode of 'Conversations On Dance', we are joined by Houston Ballet's Artistic Directors, Stanton Welch and Julie Kent. Stanton looks back on 20 years leading the Houston Ballet, while the two of them give us an inside look at what their shared leadership roles mean to both them and the organization at large, while also offering a glimpse into what audiences can expect from the company...

On today's episode of 'Conversations On Dance', we are joined by Michael Small, former reporter for People Magazine and the host of the podcast 'I Couldn't Throw It Out'. Michael tells us about a fascinating experience he had interviewing Martha Graham at age 95, an interview that Michael luckily held onto on cassette tape for nearly three decades because he, naturally, couldn't throw it out. We l...

On today's episode of 'Conversations On Dance', we are joined by Marina Harss, author of 'The Boy From Kyiv', the life story of the great choreographer Alexei Ratmansky. We talk to Marina about her own journey to writing dance, how she came to admire and love Ratmansky's work and what her process was researching and developing the book. You can purchase 'The Boy From Kyiv' at your local books...