Moving Moments

Artistic Director of American Ballet Theatre Susan Jaffe was a celebrated Principal Dancer with ABT for 22 years, before becoming a teacher and arts administrator. Susan sits down with Alicia to reveal her biggest talent, reminisce about struggling to sit at a piano as a young child, and recount joining the studio company of ABT at age 16. Our guest honestly talks about seeing a diet doctor,...

Artistic Director of the Limón Dance Company Dante Puleio is shaping the future of the modern dance world. To kick-off the conversation, Dante reminisces about his childhood choreographing to Donna Summer and Michael Jackson, discovering that a career in dance was a "thing," and his unconventional path to the stage. Alicia learns of the multiple times our guest auditioned for a job unbeknowns...

Two-time Bessie Award winner Hope Boykin is a performer, choreographer, educator, and the Director of a company that bears her name. An original member of Complexions, Hope spent many years as a dancer with Philadanco, and the world-renowned Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater where she and Alicia became dear friends. To kick off the conversation Alicia reflects on the first time she saw Hope...

Eduardo Vilaro is a Cuban-American dancer, choreographer, educator, and the Artistic Director & CEO of Ballet Hispánico. To kick off the conversation, Eduardo tells Alicia why he fell in love with dance at a young age and reflects on the moment when he felt like he belonged thanks to an 8th grade teacher and a performance of "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown." The Artistic Director recalls aud...

Steven Melendez's path to the stage is extraordinary. Alicia and the Artistic Director of New York Theatre Ballet discuss the Emmy-nominated documentary LIFT based on Steven's incredible life journey while experiencing homelessness and why he was "saved" by dance. Steven goes on to reflect on his early adulthood leaving the South Bronx to perform in South America and Europe and how it colored...

Artistic Director of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, former Principal Dancer with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and dance educator Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell embodies grace and grit. She sits down with Alicia to reflect on her early years as a natural mover and describes how she improvised (!!) her audition for the Baltimore School for the Arts. Talking about the many teachers who suppor...

President of The Juilliard School, Artistic Director of the Vail Dance Festival, and retired Principal Dancer with New York City Ballet Damian Woetzel is a visionary and arts advocate bringing together today's most creative voices and unlikely pairings in dance and music. In this special episode of  Moving Moments , recorded live at Lincoln Center, Damian discusses his early beginnings a...

Principal Dancer with American Ballet Theatre Calvin Royal III is the third African American to hold this role in the company's 85-year history. Immersed in music from a young age, Calvin recalls how a tv commercial for a local production of The Chocolate Nutcracker introduced him to dance and how years later he deftly pivoted a last minute change in performance at the Youth America Grand Prix, wh...

We're back with more inspiring conversations featuring American Ballet Theatre Principal Dancer Calvin Royal III, Artistic Director of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell, Artistic Director and CEO of Ballet Hispánico Eduardo Vilaro, Artistic Director of the Limón Dance Company Dante Puleio, and many more! Follow Moving Moments on Instagram . Follow Alicia on Instagram . You c...

Hey listeners, I'm here with some super exciting news—Moving Moments is hosting a LIVE taping of the podcast and you're invited! Mark your calendars now: When: Wednesday, April 17th at 7:30pm Where: Lincoln Center's David Rubenstein Atrium on West 62nd Street in NYC . And, best of all, it's FREE! No tickets are needed–just show up! For more info, check out Lincoln Center's event page her...

Hey listeners! We're bringing you another podcast from Artful Narratives Media that we think you'll love: Speaking Soundly . This show is your ticket to backstage conversations with world-renowned musicians. Join Metropolitan Opera Principal Trumpet David Krauss for candid and compelling discussions with today's top performers as they speak about their creative process and lives as artists. About...

Israeli choreographer and dancer Ohad Naharin was the Artistic Director of the internationally celebrated Batsheva Dance Company for nearly three decades before assuming his current title of House Choreographer. During his tenure with Batsheva, he developed Gaga, the innovative movement language and pedagogy that has defined the company's training and characterizes Israeli contemporary dance. Ohad...

Artistic Director of Pacific Northwest Ballet and Director of the company's affiliated school, Peter Boal was a Principal Dancer with New York City Ballet for over 20 years. Peter shares with Alicia the importance of moving to Fleetwood Mac in his childhood living room, how he lived a "double life" until classmates saw him perform in The Nutcracker, and what it was like to learn from famed da...

Second soloist with the Boston Ballet Michaela Mabinty DePrince has a personal journey to the stage that is nothing short of inspiring. Michaela describes her astonishing childhood in her homeland of war-torn Sierra Leone and how dance helped quiet the chaos of her life and ultimately gave her freedom. Michaela describes the importance of authenticity, what...

Founder and Artistic Director of the Evidence Dance Company, Ronald K. Brown deftly fuses traditional African dances with modern dance styles. Despite having suffered from a debilitating stroke in 2021, he continues to choreograph and teach, inspiring generations of artists. Alicia recalls the pivotal role Ron played in her career as a professional performer with Alvin Ailey Am...

Princess Grace Award winner Ashton Edwards was promoted to the corps at the Pacific Northwest Ballet in 2022. Ashton is challenging traditional gender roles at the professional level and shifting industry standards, paving the way for a new generation of dancers. Ashton recalls the first time they performed in the Balanchine style, the importance of meeting Peter Boal and joining PN...

After two decades as an acclaimed dancer and star of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Jamar Roberts is one of today's most sought-after choreographers. The Bessie Award winner has created commissions for the Ailey company, New York City Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, and The Juilliard School, just to name a few. Jamar recalls how his early obsession with music made him want to...

Executive Director of the Baryshnikov Arts Center Sonja Kostich was a celebrated dancer at American Ballet Theatre and Mikhail Baryshnikov’s White Oak Dance Project. After 20 years as a professional dancer, Sonja shifted her focus to arts administration with roles at Mark Morris Dance Group, New York City Center, and Kaatsbaan Cultural Park. She shares with Alicia why she decided to go to&nbs...

Legendary dancer, choreographer, and Artistic Director Emerita of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Judith Jamison is a Kennedy Center Honoree and Time Magazine 100 Most Influential People in the World. She tells Alicia what it was like to work with Mr. Ailey, how she originated one of the most important and enduring works of modern and contemporary dance history, and one of her proudes...

Tony Award winner and Resident Choreographer at New York City Ballet Justin Peck is also a celebrated director, filmmaker, and dancer. Hailed as a prodigy, Justin has created over 50 dance works with more than 20 for City Ballet alone, as well as collaborated with Stephen Spielberg. Alicia and Justin talk about the New Dances program at Juilliard, Justin's connection to music in his work, and...

Principal Dancer with Alonzo King LINES Ballet Adji Cissoko attended the Ballet Academy Munich and the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at American Ballet Theatre in New York City on a full scholarship before joining the National Ballet of Canada. Adji shares with Alicia how she fell in love with classical ballet at a young age, and ultimately appreciated her musicality, joyful sou...

We're back with more inspiring conversations featuring New York City Ballet's Resident Choreographer Justin Peck, Alvin Ailey's Artistic Director Emerita Judith Jamison, Second Soloist with the Boston Ballet Michaela Mabinty DePrince, Batsheva Dance Company's House Choreographer Ohad Naharin, and many more! Follow Moving Moments on Instagram . Follow Alicia on Instagram . You can find out more abo...

Renowned dancer Michael Novak rose to prominence when he became the second Artistic Director in the history of Paul Taylor Dance Company, where he is working to preserve and expand upon the legacy of his predecessor. Michael shares how a speech impediment at age 12 rendered him nearly mute and how dance became his outlet for expression, why he gave up a career on stage at age 21, and how Paul...

American dancer Bobbi Jene Smith spent nearly a decade with the Israeli company Batsheva, before expanding upon her own solo work and choreographic career. Bobbi Jene discusses her start as a serious gymnast and how she fell in love with dance, leading her to study at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, North Carolina School for the Arts, and the Juilliard School, where s...

Founder and Artistic Director of the dance company A.I.M, Kyle Abraham is an acclaimed dancer, choreographer, and a MacArthur "Genius Grant" Fellow. In addition to performing and developing new works for his company, Kyle has been commissioned by companies including the Royal Ballet, New York City Ballet, and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Kyle talks with Alicia about overcoming stage fr...