Drinks at the Barre

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.

He stayed around after 'last call' talking to all of us whilst we were closing up the Barre, so we decided to keep him on for another week! Keeping us entertained with his knowledge, stories and sense of humour it is the fantastic Will Tuckett.

Pouring your drinks this week is none other than ex- Royal Ballet dancer, international and Olivier Award winning Director and Choreographer Will Tuckett. Here to share his incredible life, knowledge & stories that sprinkled with humour that could only come from him. We are so honored and ecstatically happy to welcome Will Tuckett to Drinks at the Barre.

Joining us at the barre this week is Principal Dancer with the Royal Danish Ballet - Holly Dorger. Sharing her story from Scottish Dancing in America to dancing Balanchine in Denmark. We are very happy to welcome this fellow expat living in Denmark.

Damien is back and this week we are discussing how it is to join a ballet company. We try and help you out by giving you advice on how to make a good impression & how to not fall into the pitfalls when joining a company.

Mixing your cocktails this week is none other than Tim Rushton MBE - an internationally renowned choreographer & Artistic director of Kompagni B – The Royal Danish Ballet’s youth company. He has choreographed works for The Royal Danish Ballet, Scottish Ballet, Singapore Ballet and Danish Dance Theatre where he was artistic director for over 16 years. He joins us to discuss his career and life...

Serving our drinks this week is Charlotte Broom - Principal dancer with Northern Ballet, Culberg Ballet and in productions by Will Tuckett, Cathy Marston and co-founded HeadSpaceDance. She is now rehearsal director for Ballet Black and joins us this week to talk about her illustrious career.

This week Paul James is joined by best friends and guest host Damien to chat and reminisce about touring and share some of their own stories & experiences from travelling and touring.

Damien and Paul James tackle and discuss body image in the dance industry and talk about their experiences both at dance school and more.

This week we are joined by guest Barretender, James Leece - dancer, musical theatre artist, dance captain & choreographer. We hear all about his career and receive some good advice on audition etiquette.

In this episode Damien and Paul answer some questions that have been sent in by listeners... and hopefully give some helpful advice.

This week Paul James and Damien dive into life after graduation. What happens as soon as you step out of theatre school, open classes, auditions, networking and more.

Continuing our conversation on training we hear all about Paul's training - his early life in dance and being in show biz from the age of 8. Joined again by Damien Lee Stirk we discuss schools and the importance of finding the right place for you.

Welcome to Drinks at the Barre - Here in our first episode we introduce ourselves & learn how host Paul James and regular guest host Damien got to know each other. We also delve into training & get to learn all about Damien Lee Stirks training and early life in dance.

A little preview into what Drinks at the Barre is all about.