Drinks at the Barre

Our school days are only so long, and teachers can only throw a certain amount of knowledge at their students. Luckily, all you listeners have Denise and Poppy to teach you and pass on all the advice that you didn't ask for or want! In this school session however, you are all allowed to bring drinks!

Pouring you all a lovely glass of South African Syrah is my wonderful friend Kathleen. Due to injury she was forced to retire at a very young age, and has gone on to have a great career outside the dance world. We wanted Kath to join us on the pod as we believe her story is very important to tell. Injury affects a lot of dancers and sadly does force quite a few people into an early retirement from...

Sometimes we just need to talk. Luckily Poppy and Denise have a podcast to do it on! This week's episode shifts into a slightly more serious tone as we discuss some subjects that are not openly spoken about, but we feel are important to share.

It happens to the best of us, EVEN to Damien and Paul. Whether it be a costume mishap or a forgotten entrance, it is live theatre and things can and do sometimes go wrong!

Serving you all drinks this week is the beautiful, talented and funny Leanne Cope. From being a dancer with The Royal Ballet to originating the lead role in 'An American in Paris' - as soon as the interview started Leanne prinkled her magic and we were chatting and giggling. We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it.

It's time we spoke about models in pointe shoes, and dance movies. We cannot sit here silent anymore, our voices and opinions are being voiced... whether you wanted to hear them of not, and of course who else would we trust to gossip and complain with but our fantastic Damien Lee Stirk

Damien and Paul are back together, this time answering your questions that you have sent in, answering them in only a way that they can. Maybe they will help you out? Maybe they will entertain you? Maybe they will go off topic and talk about something else! Either way, Denise and Poppy are back chatting away and hopefully helping you all out with your queries.

This week we are joined by dancer and choreographer Nellie Bethel Rainey. From dancing with Jennifer Lopez, Rihanna & Beyonce to dancing at The SuperBowl halftime show. Listen as Paul and Nellie chat and discuss the industry, and giggle and laugh as a new friendship ignites.

We catch up with Damien & Paul and are talking about auditions....when they decide to keep on topic we are talking about auditions. What can you expect when you put two best friends together, we’re lucky they kept talking about dance! Either way, Denise and Poppy are talking about the industry and occasionally mention auditions!

It's a school reunion behind the Barre this week! We are joined by Principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre - Thomas Forster. This episode is just an excuse for Tom and I to catch up. It has been over 20 years since we chatted, so sit down, grab and drink and take a trip down memory lane with us.

Damien Lee Stirk is back and we discuss freelancing. Not all dance jobs are in dance companies and not all jobs are year long contracts. Dance School doesn't always inform us about these other types of work, luckily we have Auntie Denise to teach us!

Grab your drinks and head out onto the street. This week we are joined by the phenomenal dancer and choreographer Tommy Franzén. From Theatre to TV to movies he has done it all and is joining us this week to talk about everything. A dancer in multiple theatre productions & films, a choreographer for Strictly Come Dancing - grab a drink and enjoy season 2's first guest.

As with every industry there are things you learn on the job, there are things that are expected of you that aren't spoken about. This week Damien and Paul discuss 'Unwritten Rules' - things that maybe aren't in your contract or are not taught by teachers, but are expected of you as a dancer.

We're back! Drinks at the Barre is back for a second season and we are so excited. Starting us off with the first episode of the season Damien and Paul are discussing 'Firsts' - first job, first mistake - onstage nothing is of limits!

Damien and Paul James are here spreading Juletid joy in the studio and sharing with you some great shows to see over the Xmas time. This episode may have been recorded after already having a 'Drink at the Barre' so look forward to some festive fun. Merry Christmas from us at Drinks at the Barre.

Our household makeup artist Damien Lee Stirk is back again and this time is giving you FREE advice on all things makeup. What you should have in your kit and where you should buy it!

Damien and Paul are back in the studio to try and change the world.... not really, to try and help young dancers out there with some helpful advice on warming up.

We are briefly back to say hi! Both Damien and Paul have missed not only each other but you listeners so wanted to record a little episode to hold you over until season 2 starts next year. There may be a few of these little episodes popping up, so here is your first Saturday Short!

Paul James and Denise are together for one last time this season. They reminisce and disucss subjects brought up by our guests over the season and give us one last giggle before a well deserved break!

We cannot believe it ourselves! Drinks are being poured this week by a true icon. She was a Principal ballerina with The Royal Ballet Company where she danced Odette/Odile in Swan Lake, Princess Aurora Sleeping Beauty to name a few. She was a prolific teacher and became the Artistic Director of Elmhurst Ballet School for 10 years. She has worked as a guest repetiteur for English National Ballet an...

The captains of the ship have had a few drinks and are over sharing again! Discussing how it is being a Dance Captain and hopefully offering some helpful advice for both dancers and other dance captains out there. If not then just listen and have a giggle!

Making Margaritas this week is a wonderful man who has danced all over world - from being a Principal dancer with English National Ballet to The Australian Ballet. He was an amazing dancer and is now on a new journey as the director of Ballet de Monterrey - we are so happy to welcome Yosvani Ramos.

Denise is back and we discuss all aspects of Class and the differences between company class, open class from the dancer's POV but also as the teacher. And of course, it's Damien and Paul together so there are always giggles!

It’s been 15 years since we’ve spoken so we grabbed a beer and had a good old catch up! He has worked with The Royal Ballet Company for 30 years as a Soloist dancer and now as a Principal Character Artist. He has performed in Manon, Don Quixote, Onegin, Carlos Acosta’s Carmen, Hofesh Schecter’s Untouchable, He danced the lead role of The Swan in the 2006 world tour of Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake. T...

Getting to know Denise that little bit more as both Paul James and Damien answer the guest 'pop' questions.