Conversations with Ballet & Dance Icons

In this inspiring podcast, we share the remarkable story of strength and resilience of Ukrainian principal dancer Anna Muromtseva, who faced the most devastating and unimaginable experience of fleeing her home following the Russian invasion and restarting her life and dance career with the Hungarian National Ballet. Listen to Anna’s heartfelt interview as she looks back to growing up in Ukraine an...

In this podcast, Principal Dancer Isaac Hernández shares his unique story of growing up in Mexico as one of 11 kids, being taught to dance by his father and dancing with ABT II, San Francisco Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, his move to English National Ballet, and the decision to return to San Francisco Ballet.  Isaac also shares his passion for inspiring the next generation of dancers in Mexico, w...

Cathy Marston , internationally renowned, award winning British Choreographer and Artistic Director has created critically acclaimed works for The Royal Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Northern Ballet, English National Ballet, Cuban National Ballet, Ballet Black and more. In this insightful podcast, Cathy shares her journey from dancer to choreographer, her inspiration for c...

The Wonderful World of Dance has arrived in the vibrant city of Sydney, Australia to explore the dynamic dance scene of this beautiful country. And, of course, we couldn’t miss the chance to visit Sydney Dance Company , the leading contemporary dance company in Australia. In this podcast, we had the privilege to sit down with the company’s Artistic Director and Choreographer Rafael Bon...

In this podcast Russell Maliphant, the critically acclaimed, award winning choreographer, dancer and artistic director of Russell Maliphant Dance Company, discusses his career and work that firmly places this artist as one of Britain’s most important choreographers creating work today.  Next year, Russell Maliphant Dance Company is set to celebrate their 25th Anniversary. Listen to Russ...

English National Ballet  and  Dutch National Ballet former Artistic Director, former Royal Ballet Senior Principal Dancer and world renowned choreographer Wayne Eagling, talks to The Wonderful World of Dance about his dance career, training with Dame Ninette de Valois, working with Sir Kenneth MacMillan and Sir Frederick Ashton, life at the famous Royal Opera House and hanging out with his friend...

Viviana Durante is an international ballet star and former  principal dancer with The Royal Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, La Scala and K-Ballet .  Hailed as one of the most dramatic dancers of her time, Viviana has forged an esteemed career as an Artistic Director, Producer, Coach, Judge and Author. In this podcast, Viviana talks about training at the Royal Ballet School, dancing with The Royal...

Tiler Peck, New York City Ballet Principal is not only a famous ballerina in the US, she has become a global household name following her uber successful live ballet classes #turnoutwithtiler, launched during the covid pandemic. In this podcast, Tiler gives an insight into her inspiration for starting the online classes and the incredible feedback received from dancers around the world. Tiler shar...

Hofesh Shechter is an award winning, critically acclaimed choreographer, composer and artistic director of the ground-breaking and mind-blowing Hofesh Shechter Company. The renowned contemporary dance company presents work that is deeply visceral with performances that are spellbindingly raw, often raging, completely unexpected and a full assault on the senses. Hofesh talks in this podcast about g...

American Ballet Theatre Soloist, Gabe Stone Shayer talks in this podcast about his journey from Philadelphia to becoming the first African-American male graduate of the Bolshoi Ballet Academy, the first in the 250 year history of this prestigious school. Gabe shares his experience of dancing and living in Moscow, touring with the Bolshoi Ballet and returning to the US to join the American Ballet T...

Akram Khan MBE is without doubt one of the most innovative and important choreographers of our time. He has created some of the most profound and moving works over the last 20 years of Akram Khan Company , a company he founded with Farooq Chaudry . In this podcast, Akram talks about his experience of lockdown that led to feelings of depression, caused by the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. He...

Principal dancer Carlo di Lanno moved from San Francisco Ballet to Semperoper Ballett in Germany just as the coronavirus pandemic started to hit Europe. After arriving in the company’s home in the city of Dresden, Carlo immediately quarantined for two weeks before going into the studio to take company class and start rehearsals for the season that has already seen cancellations. Listen...

In this podcast , English National Ballet ‘s   Isabelle Brouwers  gives us an insight into her lockdown experience that coincided with recovering from an injury; she also talks about how she prepared to return to the studio and what it’s like dancing with a mask. https://djwpodcasts.s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/1wwwod/2Isabelle+Brouwers.mp3 It is an understatement to say that C...

In this podcast, National Ballet of Canada acclaimed Principal dancer and award winning Associate Choreographer  Guillaume Côté talks about his 22 year career with the company that has fostered his drive to create roles and new ballets and perform across the world with  companies including La Scala Theatre Ballet , English National Ballet , The Royal Ballet , American Ballet Theatre , Th...

In this podcast, Royal Ballet First Soloist Mayara Magri and Choreographer Ruth Mair Howard-Jones talk about creating the lockdown dance film ‘Sono Con Te’ , which translates in English to ‘I Am With You’. Sono Con Te features 29 dancers from 18 countries and companies including Royal Ballet, Royal Swedish Ballet, Cape Town City Ballet, New Adventures and more. These artist...

In this podcast, Royal Ballet Artist Leticia Dias joins us from Rio where she has been staying with her family during lockdown. Listen to Leticia talk about growing up and studying ballet in Rio, winning a Prix de Lausanne scholarship that took her to the Royal Ballet Upper School at the age of 16. She describes her experience of adjusting to life in the city, the amazing performance opportunities...

Good news feels a little hard to come by these days. So it’s exciting to see the critically acclaimed, award winning BalletBoyz 20th anniversary celebrations continuing with an online presentation of Deluxe by Sadler’s Wells Theatre in London. Sadler’s Wells will showcase Deluxe as part of new Digital Stage – a free online performance platform, created in response to the cancellation o...

Christine Shevchenko , Principal, American Ballet Theatre shares her journey from Ukraine to the States, becoming the youngest recipient of the Princess Grace Award, rising through the ranks of ABT from corps de ballet to soloist and being promoted to principal. Listen to Christine talk about her love of ABT inspired by ballet greats Dame Alicia Markova and Mikhail Baryshnikov. She also...

In this podcast, Sir Richard Alston looks back over his 50-year career that included training with Merce Cunningham, leading Rambert as artistic director and establishing his own company Richard Alston Dance Company more than 25 years ago, building it into one of the most renowned contemporary dance companies and forging a critically acclaimed and award-winning choreographic career comprising more...

In this podcast, British-born choreographer, performer and educator, Freddie Opoku-Addaie shares his journey from East London to studying at London’s top contemporary dance school and going on to create a successful freelance career working with renowned companies such as Clod Ensemble, Candoco Dance Company, Arthur Pita, Wayne McGregor’s Random Dance and more. Freddie is also the Founder and Arti...

In this podcast, Eduardo Vilaro, Artistic Director and CEO of Ballet Hispanico , choreographer and former principal dancer talks about his dance career, training with Martha Graham Company and The Alvin Ailey School , launching his own company and leading America’s leading Latino dance organisation. This year Ballet Hispanico celebrates their 50th Anniversary. Listen to Eduardo talk about curating...

Jennifer Archibald , Choreographer and Artistic Director of Arch Dance Company , is set to premiere her new work for Nashville Ballet as part of their ‘Other Voices’ programme. Other Voices brings together four renowned choreographers to create new works that explore gender. Nashville Ballet Artistic Director Paul Vasterling set 4 questions for the choreographers: – what does it...

In this podcast with Lizzie Gough – dancer, choreographer, TV dance judge and mentor – we discuss life of a freelance artist and her upcoming role in Kate Prince’s ‘A Message In A Bottle’ . Lizzie gives us an insight into how she created a successful freelance street dance career in the UK and abroad, that has included exciting projects in dance, theatre, film and TV....

In this podcast, Dwight Rhoden, Complexions Contemporary Ballet co-Founder, co-Artistic Director and Choreographer, talks about his dance career that kicked off at the late age of 17 and led him to become a principal dancer with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, before setting up his own company. Together with the legendary  Desmond Richardson, they founded the groundbreaking and award...

In this podcast former principal dancer and Artistic Director of the Joffrey Ballet , Ashley Wheater talks about his experience of leading the company for the last 13 years. Born in Scotland, Ashley was recently appointed MBE by the Queen for his exceptional service to dance in the UK. Ashley began his esteemed career training at The Royal Ballet School before joining the  London Festival Ballet  ...