Conversations on Dance

On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance" we are joined by Eduardo Vilaro, Artistic Director & CEO of Ballet Hispánico. In our first conversation with Eduardo in five years, we catch up him about how the company weathered the COVID years, how the dance landscape has changed since then, and the company's upcoming 55th anniversary gala and City Center engagement, featuring performances of t...

On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance" we are joined by the legendary dancer, founder of Acosta Danza and director of Birmingham Royal Ballet Carlos Acosta. We hear from Carlos about the mission of unifying Cuban art forms under the umbrella of Acosta Danza, how he came to run the Birmingham Royal Ballet just months before COVID changed the world, why taking big risks, like...

On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance", we are joined by internationally acclaimed choreographer Arthur Pita and Royal Danish Ballet dancer Isabella Carroll. They take us through Arthur's process creating a new full length production of "The Great Gatsby" for the Royal Danish Ballet in the centennial year of the novel, touching on how the idea for the project came to fruition, how the...

On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance", we are joined by two dancers currently on tour with Twyla Tharp, Renan Cerdeiro and Alex Peters. They take us through their journey with Twyla, first as principal dancers with the Miami City Ballet performing her repertoire, then to the creative process for both her new work and a challenging revival, and finally through the experience of taking thes...

On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance", we welcome internationally acclaimed choreographer Akram Khan. He shares with us his unorthodox path to a career as a dancer and choreographer, from spending grueling hours in his garage teaching himself dance to his path to university, his process while working with dancers new to his style of movement, and how rewarding it has been to unite artists...

On today's episode of Conversations On Dance, we are joined by Dani Rowe, choreographer and Artistic Director of Oregon Ballet Theatre and composer Shannon Rugani. The two artists are collaborating on "Marilyn", a world premiere production centered on the life of immortal cinema icon Marilyn Monroe. They take us through their collaborative process and give us a sneak peak into what audiences can e...

Today on Conversations on Dance, we are joined by Paloma Herrera. Paloma is an Argentinian ballerina who, at the age of 19, became the youngest Principal Dancer at American Ballet Theatre in the company's history. We talk with Paloma about what drew her to ballet, her teachers who shaped her as a dancer, her incredible career with American Ballet Theatre, and where life has taken her since her ret...

On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance" we are joined by the Artistic Director of the National Ballet Of Portugal, Fernando Duarte. Fernando takes us through ballet's cultural history in Portugal, his own connection to the company as a former principal dancer, ballet master and choreographer, how this led to his appointment as director and his future plans for the company. To learn more abo...

On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance", we are joined by editor at the George Balanchine Foundation, Shane Horan. Shane tells us about how the Balanchine Foundation impacted his life as a ballet student, how he was brought on board as an editor learning the craft and the work the foundation is doing to expand its scope in preserving the Balanchine legacy.  Apply to view Balanchin...

On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance", we are joined by former Chief Dance Critic of the New York Times and performing arts historian Alastair Macaulay to discuss the legacy of composer Maurice Ravel around the corner from his 150th birthday. We talk about Ravel's major commissions for dance, how dance influenced his compositions outside of those meant for the concert dance stage, and his...

On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance" we are joined by street dancer, creator and teacher YungChris. Chris tells us about his early beginnings in dance, how stepping away during college refueled his desire to perform, and how traveling extensively feeds his creative impulses. The first artist to receive this commission twice, Chris is the creative mind behind one of three upcoming premier...

On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance", we are joined by esteemed teacher and repetiteur Darla Hoover. Darla tells about how her early training at CPYB including teaching regularly, her time working with Balanchine at the School of American Ballet and later as a member of the New York City Ballet, her process to prepare for her stagings of Balanchine's work and how she tailor makes a sylla...

On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance" we are joined by New York City Ballet dance legend and trailblazer Debra Austin. Debbie, as she liked to be called, takes us through her time as a native New Yorker training locally before entering the New York City Ballet, her experiences working with Balanchine, charting new territory leading full lengths as a principal dancer at the Pennsylvan...

On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance" we are joined by Elizabeth Yntema the president and founder of Dance Data Project, an organization that promotes gender equity through its research and analysis. Dance Data Project has just released its Artistic and Executive Director compensation report and Elizabeth helps us comb through the data to explore things like the remaining gender pay...

On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance", we are joined by choreographer Helen Pickett. We talk to Helen about her time working with William Forsythe at Ballett Frankfurt, how she began her own choreographic journey and the process creating "Crime and Punishment", the first full-length ballet choreographed by a woman at American Ballet Theatre. "Crime and Punishment" will be performed at the...

On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance", we are joined by the co-founders of Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Dwight Rhoden and Desmond Richardson. They take us through the history of their artistic connection, the inauspicious beginnings of the company, and how they've built on the mission of Complexions over the course of its 30 year history. Complexions will be performing at Performing A...

Today it's just Michael & Rebecca. We go through the listener survey submissions and start building our 2025 guest wish list! Thank you to everyone who took the time to take our listener survey! LINKS: Website:  conversationsondancepod.com Instagram:  @conversationsondance Merch:  https://bit.ly/cod-merch YouTube:  https://bit.ly/youtube-COD Join our email list:  https...

Today, we sit down for our annual "Best of" episode! We saw great dance this year and talked with amazing guests. Cheers to another year with all of you. Thank you for coming on this ride with us! Please take 5 mins to take our  listener survey . We want to hear from you. Episodes referenced: Maria Calegari - Part 1 Part 2 Jennifer Lin - (382) The story of George Lee, the original Tea in Bala...

Today it's just Michael and Rebecca checking in. Please take 5 mins to take our listener survey . We want to hear from you! LINKS related to this episode: Take our listener survey: https://forms.gle/UU6eFZD2WH6JCmjG7 Episode with Silas Farley: https://www.conversationsondancepod.com/episodes-transcripts/416-silas-farley-teacher-and-choreographer . If you donate dance books to a local dance school,...

On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance", we bring to you the second installment of our conversation with Balanchine ballerina Maria Calegari. Maria tells about her own process and experience as a teacher and repetiteur, having staged dozens of ballets for companies all over the world. If you enjoyed hearing the stories of Maria's illustrious career as much as we did, be sure to subscribe to...

On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance", we are thrilled to be joined by legendary New York City Ballet ballerina Maria Calegari. In the first installment of our interview, Maria details her early training, initial interactions with Balanchine and how therapy became a driving force in the success of her career. Maria offers a view into one of the most storied eras of American ball...

On this episode of Conversations on Dance we are thrilled to welcome back Artistic Director of the Limón Dance Company, ​ Dante Puleio. Dante dives into the specifics of his role, including how he curates programming, casts the works, and protects the company's legacy. The Limón Dance Company will have it's New York City season at the Joyce Theater this November 5 - 10. Tickets are available at jo...

This week on the podcast we are joined by choreographer John Heginbotham. John tells us about his journey from early training in Alaska to a Juilliard education and a career with Mark Morris, before beginning to more fully explore choreography on his own in mediums as varied as opera, television and musical theater. This week his choreography will be presented at Baryshnikov Arts in sold out...

On today's episode of 'Conversations On Dance' we are joined by Kristoffer Dahl Sakurai, former principal dancer with the Royal Danish Ballet and Artistic Director of the Tivoli Ballet School in Copenhagen. Kristoffer takes us on his personal journey, from being a child at the Royal Danish Ballet School, through the years dancing as a principal under four different directors, from stepping away to...

On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance", we are joined by renowned choreographer Kyle Abraham. Kyle sits down with us to talk about his upcoming first work for American Ballet Theatre, "Mercurial Son", including the casting process, the creative environment and how working on several projects concurrently fuels his creativity. To catch "Mercurial Son", premiering on October 16th and running...