Browse by Company

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 through the 24th, visit abt.org to purchase tickets.

A major highlight for the Vail Dance Festival every year is the NOW: Premieres program, a jam-packed evening of ten newly commissioned dances with an array of artists that only the Vail Dance Festival could manage to bring together. Internationally acclaimed choreographers and artists Kyle Abraham and Melissa Toogood join this live recording of the Conversations On Dance podcast to talk about their process this year creating two brand new works for this celebrated evening.This Monday August 7th, The Vail Dance Festival comes to you! Dont miss the live stream of Mondays Now: Premieres program at 7:30pm mountain, 9:30pm Eastern. Visit vaildance.org to enjoy an evening of world premieres from the festivals all star cast of choreographers and dancers. You have heard them all right here on Conversations on Dance, now catch them live from the VDF stage on Monday August 7th. Link in the description of this episode for more info. This episode was recorded live on August 6th, 2023 at the Manor Vail Lodge. Conversations on Dance at the Vail Dance Festival is generously underwritten by the Town of Vail.

This week on Conversations On Dance' we are joined by award winning choreographer Kyle Abraham. Kyle's choreographic talents garnered attention quickly in works he created for his company A.I.M., leading to a MacArthur Fellowship in 2013 and commissions from some of the most respected dance institutions in the world. We talk to Kyle about his creative process leading up to his new work Requiem: Fire In the Air Of the Earth' that will premiere at Stanford Live this December 4th. Tickets and more information: https://live.stanford.edu/calendar/december-2021/requiem-fire-air-earth __________________________________

Today we are joined by Tamisha Guy, dancer with Kyle Abraham's A.I.M. Tamisha is a native of Trinidad and Tobago and began her formal dance training at Ballet Tech, under the direction of Eliot Feld. She went on to attend SUNY Purchase College as a double major in dance and arts management. In 2013 she graduated with honors from SUNY Purchase College and joined the Martha Graham Dance Company shortly after. In 2016 Tamisha was selected as one of Dance Magazine' Top 25 to Watch and received the 2016 Princess Grace Award. Tamisha currently dances with A.I.M, under Artistic Direction of Kyle Abraham, which she joined in 2014. We catch up with Tamisha in the morning before she starts rehearsal. We Zoom with her to record this episode, while she is staying warm in a mall across the street from the studio. Safely masked, she tells us about her training, how she came to decide to pursue a career in dance, working with Kyle Abraham, and some of her outside pursuits, including two upcoming dance films. Links: Join our email list: https://bit.ly/3basX5g instagram.com/conversationsondance facebook.com/conversationsondance twitter.com/convoondance conversationsondancepod.com The post (220) Tamisha Guy, Dancer with Kyle Abraham's, A.I.M appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

It's that time of year again! Get ready for daily drops from Conversations on Dance all throughout the 2025 Vail Dance Festival through August 3rd. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss a moment.Today we are joined by four dancers from LINES Ballert: Adji Cissoko, Lorris Eichinger, Ilaria Guerra, and Shuaib Elhassan. In this mornings conversation, explore the companys return to the Vail Dance Festival with a program that includes Ode to Alice Coltranea tribute to the legendary spiritual jazz iconand Mother Goose, a mesmerizing reimagining of Ravels beloved 1912 suite, Ma mre lOye. Hear behind-the-scenes insights into the creative process behind these visionary works and get to know the artists shaping them. The conversation will be followed by an open audience Q&A. This episode was recorded live from the Vail Dance Festival on July 26, 2025.

While artistic gifts can often run in the family, they are seldom able to cross forms in collaboration as searingly as Adji Cissoko and Youba Cissokho did at last years Vail Dance Festival. Adji is a ballerina with the LINES ballet (and last years VDF Artist-In-Residence) and Youba is a 72nd generation kora player. The two will join Conversations On Dance hosts Rebecca King Ferraro and Michael Sean Breeden in a discussion about their familys deep artistic roots, what their first collaboration meant to them and how they look forward to creating this year at the Vail Dance Festival. Stream the closing night performance, 'NOW Premieres,' from the 2024 Vail Dance Festival from August 5-13: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vU1-Yq_0Alc

Adji Cissoko is an artist of striking elegance and daring, whether as a performer or choreographer. With Cissokos selection of 2023s Artist-in-Residence, Festival audiences will be treated to ample amounts of both. For this live recording of the Conversations On Dance podcast, Adji will talk about her years at the Vail Dance Festival past and what the opportunities as Artist-in-Residence mean for her creative output this year.This episode was recorded live on August 1st, 2023 at the Manor Vail Lodge. Conversations on Dance at the Vail Dance Festival is generously underwritten by the Town of Vail.VAIL DANCE FESTIVAL IS GOING ON NOW! Conversations on Dance events: https://vaildance.org/conversations-on-dance/Performance tickets: https://vaildance.org/

This week on Conversations on Dance, we are joined by Michael Montgomery, dancer with Alonzo King LINES Ballet from the 2019 Vail Dance Festival. Michael was born in Long Beach, CA, trained at the Orange County High School of the Arts and studied at the Alvin Ailey School in the Certificate program. In 2011 he graduated from the Alonzo King LINES Ballet BFA Program at Dominican University of California. In 2010, he joined LINES Ballet and was named to the list of 25 to Watch by Dance Magazine in 2013. We talk with Michael about his origins in dance, the BFA program at Dominican University, what a typical day is like as a member of LINES, and what it is like working in the studio with Alonzo during his creation process. This episode is brought to you by The Town of Vail, Yumiko (yumiko.com), and The Veyette Virtual Ballet School (veyettevirtualballetschool.com). The post (174) Michael Montgomery, Alonzo King LINES Ballet appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

This week we are joined from the 2019 Vail Dance Festival by Adji Cissoko, dancer with Alonzo King LINES Ballet. Adji grew up in Munich, Germany where she trained at Ballet Academy Munich. She attended the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at American Ballet Theatre on full scholarship, before joining the National Ballet of Canada in 2010. In 2014, she joined LINES Ballet. We talk with Adji about her training, her long audition process to find the right company for her, how she shifted her goals for her career, and why LINES Ballet is the perfect place for her. This episode is brought to you by Yumiko (yumiko.com) and The Vail Dance Festival. The post (161) Adji Cissoko, Dancer With Alonzo King LINES Ballet appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

This week, for our first episode of 2020, we are joined by Hope Boykin, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Dancer, from the 2019 Vail Dance Festival. Hope is from Durham North Carolina, and attended Howard University. She was a student and intern at the Ailey School before going on the join the company. She was an original member of Complexions, was a member of Philadanco, and received a New York Dance and Performance Award, or Bessie Award. We talk with Hope about her journey with dance as a youth, the challenges she faced, her now 20 years with Ailey, her work as a choreographer, and her personal podcast. Hope brings such light and optimism to this chat, and we cant wait to share her with you!This episode is brought to you by Yumiko (yumiko.com) and The Town of Vail.

This week on Conversations on Dance we are bringing you a live podcast we recorded yesterday, February 4th, 2019 at the Kennedy Center. The Kennedy Center has wonderful Ballet and Contemporary Dance Class Series that offer advanced high school students the unique opportunity to learn from dancers from the nationally and internationally recognized companies that tour to the Kennedy Center. Yesterday we watched a modern class with these students taught by Alvin Ailey American Dance Theaters Glenn Allen Sims. Immediately following class, we sat down with Glenn while the students looked on to talk about his career, his key to longevity in his 20 plus year career, and for advice that he would offer the local students he worked with that afternoon. For more information on The Kennedy Centers master class program, visit education.kennedy-center.org. This episode is brought to you by Yumiko and The Kennedy Center. The post (125) Glenn Allen Sims of Alvin Ailey LIVE from the Kennedy Center appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance" we are joined by American Ballet Theatre ballerina Zimmi Coker. Zimmi recounts how, as a former dance herself, her mother gently guided her through her initial training, how she fell in love with ABT and began to receive plum roles in major full length works, and, most harrowingly, how she overcame a devastating injury that had her pulling out of performances and in searing pain for more than a year and a half. Zimmi will be performing featured roles in ABT's upcoming seasons at the Koch Theater and the MET in New York City; follow her on instagram at @zimmi9 for further updates on her casting. Listen to Conversations on Dance ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/conversationsondance

Conversations on Dance hosts Rebecca King Ferraro and Michael Sean Breeden welcome two of the Festivals most beloved artists for a long-anticipated live podcast recording: Calvin Royal III, Principal Dancer with American Ballet Theatre, and Unity Phelan, Principal Dancer with New York City Ballet. Royal and Phelanwidely regarded as one of the most iconic duos to emerge from the Vail Dance Festivalwill reflect on their enduring partnership, born at Vail and nurtured through countless collaborations across stages and companies. This conversation explores the artistic trust, chemistry, and shared vision that have made them audience favorites. This episode is brought to you by Discover Vail and was recorded live from the Vail Dance Festival on July 31, 2025.Tickets to Conversations on Dance at the 2025 Vail Dance Festival on sale now! https://vaildance.org/conversations-on-dance/

Join Conversations on Dance hosts Rebecca King Ferraro and Michael Sean Breeden for a special live recording with American Ballet Theatre principal ballerinas Isabella Boylston and Chloe Misseldine. Powerhouses on the international stage and here at home, Boylston and Misseldine will share their journeys to principal status, their experiences performing with ABT, and their artistic perspectives as leading women in classical ballet today. This episode is brought to you by Discover Vail and was recorded live from the Vail Dance Festival on July 30, 2025.Tickets to Conversations on Dance at the 2025 Vail Dance Festival on sale now! https://vaildance.org/conversations-on-dance/

On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance", we are joined by Sarah Lane, former ballerina with American Ballet Theatre, teacher, coach and ally to furry, four legged friends everywhere. Sarah takes us through her illustrious career as a principal dancer who spent two decades with American Ballet Theater, to her present day passion working to find rescue animals homes. On Monday, June 2nd at Symphony Space in New York City, join Sarah at the inaugural Dance For Paws fundraising event, a night of charity that funds three different rescue organizations in the city. To purchase tickets to the event or to simply donate visit danceforpaws.org.

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 retirement at the age of 40.

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 Kennedy Center in Washington, DC from February 12th through 16th. To purchase tickets, visit Kennedy-Center.org.

Welcome to a special bonus episode from the 2024 Vail Dance Festival. Today we welcome back our friend, Calvin Royal III, Principal Dancer with American Ballet Theatre. We chat about his met season at ABT, his experience this year at the Vail Dance Festival, and about the ballet festival he is producing at the Joyce this month.UNITE: Joyce Ballet Festival, directed and co-produced by Calvin Royal III. August 13-18, 2024Tickets: https://www.joyce.org/performances/118/unite/ballet-festival

This episode was recorded live on July 30, 2024 at the Vail Dance Festival. In part two of this episode, we are joined by American Ballet Theatre Principal Dancer, Catherine Hurlin. Look for part one of this episode, now in the feed.Conversations on Dance at the Vail Dance Festival is generously supported by the Town of Vail.Upcoming Conversations on Dance events at the 2024 Vail Dance Festival: https://vaildance.org/conversations-on-dance/

The Vail Dance Festival is just around the corner and our coverage starts now! Today we are joined by American Ballet Theatre Principal Dancer and friend of the pod, Herman Cornejo. Herman joins us in the midst of ABTs season where he is celebrating 25 incredible years with the company. We catch up with Herman about this season, what it means to be celebrating such an important milestone, what his plans are for the future, and what he will be dancing this year at the Vail Dance Festival. As a festival favorite, we are so looking forward to seeing him soon on the VDF stage.The Vail Dance Festival returns July 26 August 5:The Vail Dance Festival returns July 26 August 5 with THIRTEEN performances featuring dance luminaries from across the United States and around the world. This summer they welcome Dance Theatre of Harlem, Limn Dance Company, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, Colorado Ballet, and DanceAspen, as well as artists from Alonzo King LINES Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, BalletX, New York City Ballet, and so much more. Conversations on Dance will be bringing you a behind-the-scenes look at all the action. Join us in person for 8 live events featuring incredible festival artists including Catherine Hurlin, Sara Mearns, Robert Garland, Adji Cissoko and many more. If you are not able to join us in person, be sure to subscribe to Conversations on Dance wherever you get your podcasts to listen to the live episodes after the events.Get your tickets now for festival performances and vaildance.org. And claim your tickets for COD events at vaildance.org/conversations-on-dance.

Today on the Conversations on Dance podcast, we are joined once again by Susan Jaffe, Artistic Director of American Ballet Theatre. We last had Susan on the podcast in late 2022 in episode 309 as she was about to take the helm of the company. This week we get the opportunity to hear from Susan about what her first year has been like, some of the challenges she has faced, and we get a preview of what is next for the company. For more information about upcoming performances of American Ballet Theatre, visit, abt.org. Listen to episode 309.

On today's episode of 'Conversations On Dance', we are joined by Jake Roxander, rising star at American Ballet Theatre. Jake tells us about the intensity of his training growing up in a family of ballet dancers, why it's important for dancers to keep an open mind about the companies and goals they set their sights on, and how he's handled the challenges of a year marked by numerous major principal role debuts. You can catch Jake in ABT's upcoming New York City MET spring season, June 18th through July 20th. THIS EPISODE'S SPONSOR: artmotions popular adult summer intensive program returns this May 27 - June 1. This program includes Advanced, Intermediate Advanced, Intermediate, and Beginner classes, with no prior dance experience needed for the beginner level. Let artmotion be the bridge between audience and the studio. Come dance this summer. For more information visit https://artemotionballetschool.com/.BALLET COLLECTIVE Commission for Developing Choreographers: https://balletcollective.com/forchoreographers2025The White Feather: A Persian BalletThe Kennedy Center: https://www.kennedy-center.org/whats-on/explore-by-genre/dance/2023-2024/the-white-feather-persian-ballet/New York City: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-white-feather-tickets-800305734997

This week on Conversations on Dance, we are joined by Cassandra Trenary, a principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre. Cassandra tells us about her leap of faith to pursue ballet, what it's like to be an ABT lifer, the challenges of the pandemic, and ultimately her promotion to principal dancer. Catch Cassandra onstage with ABT. For more information visit, abt.org.

Vail Dance Festival has long committed to bringing artists at all different points in their journey and development, and 2023 is no different. The Conversations On Dance podcast is joined by this years Scholar-In-Residence Spencer Lenain and his childhood dance idol esteemed American Ballet Theatre principal James Whiteside for a live podcast recording. The pair will talk about how having such a range bolsters the experiences of dancers and audiences alike.This episode was recorded live on August 3rd, 2023 at the Manor Vail Lodge. Conversations on Dance at the Vail Dance Festival is generously underwritten by the Town of Vail.VAIL DANCE FESTIVAL IS GOING ON NOW! Conversations on Dance events: https://vaildance.org/conversations-on-dance/Performance tickets: https://vaildance.org/

Today on Conversations On Dance, we are joined by acclaimed ballerina, Misty Copeland, and Emmy Award winning TV producer and writer, Leyla Fayyaz. We talk to Misty and Leyla about how they first met as young ballerinas at American Ballet Theatre, reconnecting to create Life In Motion Productions, the stories they want to tell in their new work and their first short film 'Flower', which recently premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. For my information on 'Flower' and Life In Motion Productions, follow @oaklandflowerfilm on Instagram. If youd like to host a free screening of Life in Motion's new film Flower starring Misty Copeland please email flower@picturemotion.com.VAIL DANCE FESTIVAL TICKETS ON SALE NOW! Conversations on Dance events: https://bit.ly/3NQwoDjPerformance tickets: https://vaildance.org/

On today's episode of 'Conversations On Dance' we are joined by principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre James Whiteside to discuss his upcoming directorial debut film 'Daytripper'. James catches up to speed about his recovery from knee surgery, transforming his book 'Center Center' into a play and the creative concept and filming process for 'Daytripper'. You can stream 'Daytripper' as part of the All Arts Artist In Residence series this April 23rd at 10:55pm on PBS or stream the film on the All Arts app. THIS EPISODE'S SPONSORS:Ballet Bird is a streaming site designed by former Pacific Northwest Ballet principal dancer Julie Tobiason. Ballet Bird offers ballet classes for anyone at any level of training that you can do from the comfort of your home or studio. Ballet Bird is a great addition to your regular in-studio training too. Take advantage of the ten day free trial and use the discount code COD25 to get 25% off through June 30th 2023 at balletbird.com.Dimensions Dance Theatre of Miami open auditions on April 23, 2023 in Miami. More information and register early: dimensionsdancemia.com/auditions

On today's episode, we are joined by former ballerina and incoming artist director of American Ballet Theatre Susan Jaffe. Susan has previously appeared on the podcast in an interview that covered her rapid rise to stardom at ABT, the accompanying self doubts during this success, and how working through those moments affects her present day work as a coach and director. (Listen here: https://conversationsondancepod.com/2020/08/31/susan-jaffe/). Today she talks about her time directing Pittsburgh Ballet Theater through a pandemic and what her plans are for when she takes the helm of American Ballet Theatre later this year.

On today's episode of Conversations On Dance' we are joined by legendary ballerina Cynthia Harvey. Cynthia began her training in California before holding the rank of principal dancer with both American Ballet Theatre and the Royal Ballet, a first for an American dancer. We talk with Cynthia about her early years of training, how she dealt with being cast routinely in major roles with less than 24 hours, combating stage fright, and finding her path once she retired from the stage. We also talk to Cynthia about her time directing the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, American Ballet Theater's training program, an institution she has led since 2016 and will be stepping down from to spend more time with her family. SPONSORS: Dance Teacher Web Conference and Expo, August 4-7, 2022 in Las Vegas. Use code COD50 at checkout for $50 off your conference registration at http://danceteachersummerexpo.com/. MENAJI Skin Care: www.menskincare.com. Use code COD30 to receive 30% savings on all individual products. ________________________________

Today we are joined by educator, repetiteur, and former principal dancer with American Ballet Theater and New York City Ballet, Robert La Fosse. Robert was born in Beaumont, Texas. He moved to New York City to further his dance education with David Howard at Harkness House and Stanley Williams at The School of American Ballet. He joined American Ballet Theatre in 1977, where he danced as a Principal Dancer for nine years. Then, in 1986, he was invited by Jerome Robbins to join New York City Ballet as a Principal Dancer. Throughout his career, he has danced leading roles in a broad repertoire, including originating roles in Jerome Robbins' works. In addition to his work in classical ballet, Mr. La Fosse has also starred in numerous Broadway productions. Robert works now as an educator and repetiteur. He currently teaches at American Ballet Theatres Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School. He has worked with American Dance Machine for the 21st Century since 2013 staging the dances from Jerome Robbins musicals. Learn more about American Dance Machine for the 21st Century at adm21.org. _________________________________

Today, we are chatting with friend of the pod and American Ballet Theatre Principal Dancer, James Whiteside, from the 2021 Vail Dance Festival. James tells us all about his new (self-proclaimed) almost-memoir that just hit bookshelves called Center Center. We hear about how long he has dreamt of writing a book, how the idea came about, what the writing process was like, and what he hopes readers will take away. At the end of the episode he tells us a little bit about his newest ballet that he created for the Vail Dance Festival that was a part of the festival's closing night performance. Center Center is available wherever books are sold, and in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook. Get your copy now: https://amzn.to/3ymmrnr This episode is brought to you by Yumiko (yumiko.com) and the Town of Vail. This episode was recorded at the Manor Vail Lodge. Links: Join our email list: https://bit.ly/3basX5g instagram.com/conversationsondance facebook.com/conversationsondance twitter.com/convoondance conversationsondancepod.com The post (247) James Whiteside on his new book, Center Center appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

We are joined today by Tiler Peck, principal dancer with New York City Ballet and Herman Cornejo, principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre. The pair tell us about their partnership here at the festival and Justin Peck's newest work. This episode was recorded LIVE from the Vail Dance Festival, This episode was recorded on August 4, 2021 at the Manor Vail Lodge. Experience the Vail Dance Festival from wherever you are this Monday, August 9th, 2021. Enjoy a live-streamed event of the festival's closing evening: NOW Premieres, which we discuss in this episode. Access will be available for one week on VDF's YouTube Channel. More information on VDF's social media channels. Special thanks to the Town of Vail for their support of the Vail Dance Festival and Conversations on Dance live podcast recordings. This episode was recorded at the Manor Vail Lodge. Conversations on Dance is proud to have YUMIKO as a continued partner in 2021. yumiko.com Thank you to Tom Boyd for producing this episode. The post (240) Tiler Peck and Herman Cornejo, LIVE from the Vail Dance Festival appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

LIVE from Vail Dance Festival, today we chat with American Ballet Theatre Principal Dancer and Vail Dance Festival Artist in Residence, Calvin Royal III. We hear from Calvin about his beginnings in dance, his promotion to principal, how he stayed inspired during the pandemic, and being artist in residence at this year's festival. This episode was recorded on July 31, 2021 at the Manor Vail Lodge. Special thanks to the Town of Vail for their support of the Vail Dance Festival and Conversations on Dance live podcast recordings. This episode was recorded at the Manor Vail Lodge. Conversations on Dance is proud to have YUMIKO as a continued partner in 2021. yumiko.com Thank you to Tom Boyd for producing this episode. Photo by Chris Kendig. The post (238) Calvin Royal III, Principal with ABT, LIVE from Vail Dance Festival appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

This week we are joined by Jose Sebastian, dancer with American Ballet Theatre and Director of ABT Incubator. Jose, a native of New York City, started his dance training at age 8 with the School of American Ballet and continued training there for nearly 10 years. He joined ABT Studio Company in 2006 and American Ballet Theatre as an apprentice in January 2009 and became a member of the corps de ballet in January 2010. In 2020, Sebastian was appointed director of ABT Incubator, ABTs choreographic workshop program for inspiring the creation of new work. To learn more about ABT Incubator, visit abt.org, and to watch some of the films from this year's program, visit American Ballet Theatre's YouTube Channel. This episode is brought to you by Yumiko (yumiko.com) and Gavin Larsen's Being a Ballerina' (gavinlarsen.com). Links: Join our email list: https://bit.ly/3basX5g instagram.com/conversationsondance facebook.com/conversationsondance twitter.com/convoondance conversationsondancepod.com The post (233) Jose Sebastian, dancer with American Ballet Theatre and Director of ABT Incubator appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

This week we talk with American Ballet Theatre's newest soloist dancer, Gabe Stone Shayer. Gabe was born in Philadelphia, where he began his dance training. At 14, he began training full time at the Rock School for Dance Education, before going on to move to Russia to continue his studies at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow. Shayer is the first African-American male to graduate from the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in its nearly 250-year history. Gabe joined ABT Studio Company in September 2011, the main Company as an apprentice in April 2012 and the corps de ballet in November 2012. Just this month he was promoted to soloist. We talk with Gabe about his training, his time at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy, how he came to ABT, what his promotion was like, and some of the incredible projects he has been working on while the company is on hiatus due to COVID. This episode is brought to you by Yumiko (yumiko.com) and Trey McIntyre's FLTPK. Learn more at fltpk.com. Links: instagram.com/conversationsondance facebook.com/conversationsondance twitter.com/convoondance conversationsondancepod.com The post (204) Gabe Stone Shayer, American Ballet Theatre Soloist appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

Today, on the Conversations on Dance podcast, we are sharing our chat with American Ballet Theatre Soloist, Calvin Royal III, that was recorded as a part of the 2020 Vail Dance Festival: Digital Edition. Through August 15th, you can watch our Zoom chat with Calvin on the Vail Dance Festival Facebook page or on their YouTube Channel. While you are there, we encourage you to explore the incredible 8 evenings of content that truly highlights what makes this festival so special! But hurry, videos are only available through August 15th. Conversations on Dance is generously supported by Yumiko (yumiko.com). The post (196) Calvin Royal III, Soloist with American Ballet Theatre appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

Today, on the Conversations on Dance podcast, we are sharing our chat with American Ballet Theatre Principal Dancers, Isabella Boylston and James Whiteside, that was recorded as a part of the 2020 Vail Dance Festival: Digital Edition. Through August 15th, you can watch our Zoom chat with James and Bella on the Vail Dance Festival Facebook page or on their YouTube Channel. While you are there, we encourage you to explore the incredible 8 evenings of content that truly highlights what makes this festival so special! But hurry, videos are only available through August 15th. Conversations on Dance is generously supported by Yumiko (yumiko.com). The post (195) Isabella Boylston and James Whiteside 2020 Vail Dance Festival appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

This week we are joined by Christine Shevchenko, Principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre. Christine was born in Ukraine, where she was chosen to train in rhythmic gymnastics and ballet at an Olympic school. At eight years of age, she moved with her family to the United States where she trained for nine years at Pennsylvania Ballets Rock School. In 2003, Christine became the youngest recipient of the Princess Grace Award. She won a Bronze Medal in the USA International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Mississippi, and a Gold Medal at the Moscow International Ballet Competition. She joined American Ballet Theatres Studio Company in August 2006 and moved through the ranks, being promoted to Principal in September 2017. We talk with Christine from the Vail Dance Festival about her intense early training in Ukraine, dancing at the Rock School, her career at ABT, and her first time at the Vail Dance Festival. This episode is brought to you by Yumiko and by the Town of Vail, a sponsor helping to host the Vail Dance Festival in our community. Please take a moment to fill out our 9 question listener survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/9XVM5KJ The post (154) Christine Shevchenko, Principal with American Ballet Theatre appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

American Ballet Theatre Principal Dancer, Herman Cornejo, sits down with us from the Vail Dance Festival. We talk about his year of dance since we last saw him in Vail, his 20th anniversary with ABT, and about what he is dancing this year at the festival. You will want to listen to the end where he shares some BIG news with us! This episode is brought to you by Yumiko and the Town of Vail. The post BONUS: Herman Cornejo of ABT From Vail Dance Festival appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

Today we are brining you a live podcast recording from the Vail Dance Festival with American Ballet Theatre Principal Dancer, James Whiteside. This episode was recorded on July 27th, the morning before the premier of his newest work, New American Dream. Unfortunately, we did come up against some technical difficulties, so we are sharing this episode from a backup file, with a little lower quality than we are used to. We appologize for the inconvenience, but we felt that this conversation with James was too enjoyable for our audience to miss. Enjoy. The post (146) James Whiteside LIVE From Vail Dance Festival appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

This week we sit down at the Kennedy Center to talk with American Ballet Theatre dancer, Connor Holloway. Connor was born in Louisville, Kentucky and started performing at the age of six in school musicals. At the age of thirteen, he began taking ballet classes at the Louisville Ballet School while attending a magnet performing arts high school as a vocal performance major. He went on to attend Boston Ballets pre-professional program and was later promoted to the trainee level. Holloway became a member of ABTs studio company in 2013 and joined the main company in 2014. In addition to being a full time dancer, Connor is also a member of ABTs marketing team as the social media manager for American Ballet Theatres official accounts. Be sure to follow his great work! We talk with Connor about his journey from Kentucky to New York City, about how he deals with anxiety at work, and how he came to manage ABTs Instagram account. This episode is sponsored by Yumiko and The Kennedy Center. The post (134) Connor Holloway, American Ballet Theatre Dancer appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

This week on Conversations on Dance, we are joined from the Kennedy Center by American Ballet Theatre soloist, Catherine Hurlin. Born in New York City, Catherine began her dance training at Scarsdale Ballet Studio and Westchester Dance Academy. She was awarded the Hope Award at the 2007 Youth American Grand Prix New York City Finals, and went on to receive a full scholarship to the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at American Ballet Theatre. Hurlin joined ABT as an apprentice in December 2013 and the corps de ballet in June 2014. She was promoted to Soloist in September 2018. Hurlin was the recipient of a 2018 Princess Grace Award and just this past weekend it was announced that Catherine has been awarded the Erik Bruhn Prize, one of the ballet worlds most prestigious awards. Today we talk with Catherine about moving through the ranks at ABT starting in the school, about her mother who was a former Paul Taylor dancer and her impact on her career, and about her many accolades she has accumulated over her career. This episode is brought to you by Yumiko and The Kennedy Center. The post (131) Catherine Hurlin, American Ballet Theatre Soloist appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

The Vail Dance Festival has announced their dates for their 2019 festival and to celebrate, we are diving into our archives from our time last year at the festival. Today we are joined by festival favorite, Herman Cornejo. Herman was born in Argentina and began his ballet studies at the age of eight. At the age of 14 he attended the School of American Ballet, and upon returning home he joined Ballet Argentino under the direction of Julio Bocca. In 1999 he joined American Ballet Theatre, was promoted to Soloist in 2000 and to Principal Dancer in 2003. Cornejo has performed as a guest artist with numerous companies around the world, La Scala Ballet, Universal Ballet of Korea, National Ballet of Japan, Kremlin Ballet, New York City Ballet, Boston Ballet, and many others. We talk to Herman about his time as a young dancer being mentored by Julio Bocca, what his early years in American Ballet Theatre were like, and what keeps bringing him back to the Vail Dance Festival. This episode is brought to you by Yumiko and the Town of Vail. The post (129) Herman Cornejo, Principal with American Ballet Theatre appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

Todays episode of Conversations on Dance was recorded at a live post-performance event at the Kennedy Center. At the beginning of February, American Ballet Theatre brought Alexei Ratmanskys Harlequinade to the Kennedy Center for a week of incredible performances. Following a Saturday matinee, we caught up with ABT soloist, Skylar Brandt, who had just danced the lead role of Columbine. In this live podcast event open to audience members, we talk with Skylar about her initial dance training, attending ABTs Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, and moving through the ranks at ABT. Following this discussion, we filmed a 20 minute Bonus Walk and Talk with Skylar while we walked her through the beautiful halls of the Kennedy Center to her dressing room. We talk about her performance, working with Alexei Ratmansky, and even pause to sit in the empty house after the audience has filtered out to discuss what a special experience it is to perform on the Kennedy Center stage. Dont miss this bonus video that pairs perfectly with this weeks episode. Click over to the Kennedy Centers You Tube Channel, or find the link on our social media channels: instagram.com/conversationsondance or facebook.com/conversationsondance. This episode is brought to you by Yumiko and The Kennedy Center. The post (127) Skylar Brandt of American Ballet Theatre LIVE from the Kennedy Center appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

This week on Conversations on Dance we are joined from the Vail Dance Festival by Stella Abrera, Principal with American Ballet Theatre. Stella began her training in her home town of Pasadena, California. Her family moved to Sydney, Australia where she spent three years studying the Royal Academy of Dancing (or RAD). After returning to the States, Abrera joined American Ballet Theatre as a member of the corps de ballet in 1996 and was appointed a Soloist in 2001. After almost 20 years with the company and returning to the stage after dealing with a severe injusry, she was promoted to Principal Dancer in August 2015. Today we talk with Stella about her early training, how she came to join American Ballet Theatre, and some of the challenges and triumphs of her 22 years with the company. This episode is brought to you by Yumiko and The Vail Dance Festival. The post (110) Stella Abrera, Principal Dancer with American Ballet Theatre appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

On this week's episode of Conversations On Dance, we are thrilled to be joined once again by American Ballet Theatre principal Isabella Boylston. We caught up with her at the Vail Dance Festival, where we talked about her most recent season at the Met with ABT, how her second year running the Ballet Sun Valley Festival differed from the first, and her preparations for her first performances dancing Justin Peck's In Creases'. This episode is sponsored by Yumiko (yumiko.com) and Quarter Marks (quartermarksquarterly.com) The post (106) Isabella Boylston, ABT Principal, from Vail Dance Festival appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

On today's episode of Conversations On Dance, we are joined by Devon Teuscher, principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre. In 2006, after completing her training at the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, Devon was invited to join ABT's studio company. Consistent soloist work led to her first promotion in 2014, and following a triumphant turn as Odette/Odile in the full length Swan Lake', she was promoted to principal in 2017. We sat down at the Vail Dance Festival with Devon to discuss how she pushed through difficult early years in the corps de ballet, the hours of hard work and thought that went into shaping her Swan Lake', and what she wants next from her career. Photo: Sarah Kehoe The post (102) Devon Teuscher, principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

This week we are going back into our vault from our time at the Vail Dance Festival this past summer, for another episode with a festival favorite. Today we talk Calvin Royal III, American Ballet Theatre Soloist. Calvin started his formal ballet training at the age of 14 in St. Petersburg, Florida. In April of 2006 he was a finalist at the Youth America Grand Prix Scholarship Comeptition in New York City, and joined ABTs Jacqueline Kennedy Onnasis School a few months later. He joined ABT II (now the ABT Studio Company) in 2007, and joined the main company in 2010. Royal was a 2014 winner of a grant from the Leonore Annenberg Fellowship Fund. He was promoted to soloist just this past summer. We talk with Calvin about how he got his start in ballet despite being 14, how he quickly caught up with his peers, what the Fellowship Fund grant has afforded him, and what he looks forward to as a new soloist. The post (71) Calvin Royal III, American Ballet Theatre Soloist appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

This week we have the pleasure of being joined Kevin McKenzie, American Ballet Theatre Artistic Director. A native of Vermont, McKenzie recieved his ballet trianing from the Washington School of Ballet. He was a leading dancer with the Joffrey Ballet and the National Ballet of Washington before joining American Ballet Theatre in 1979 as a soloist. He would go on to dance with the company as a Principal dancer until 1991. During his time with the company he danced many leading roles including Don Jose in Carmen, Albrecht in Giselle, and Romeo in Romeo and Juliet. In 1989 McKenzie was appointed Artistic Associate at The Washington Ballet where he was a permanent guest artist, and he also acted as Associate Artistic Director of New Amsterdam Ballet. In October of 1992, he was appointed Artistic Director of American Ballet Theatre, where he would go on to choreograph many works on the company. This year, the company is celebrating his 25th year as Artistic Director, so we were happy to get the opportunity to take a look back over his career, and the past 25 years with ABT. The post (65) Kevin McKenzie, American Ballet Theatre Artistic Director appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

This week we are joined by Isabella Boylston, American Ballet Theater Principal Dancer. Isabella was born in Sun Valley Idaho and started dancing at the age of 3. In 1994 she began training at a small studio, and by the age of 12 was commuting to Denver every day to study at the Academy of Colorado Ballet. After winning gold at the Youth America Grand Prix finals in New York City in 2001, she moved to Florida to study at the Harid Conservatory. After attending a summer course at American Ballet Theater, she joined the studio company in 2005, and joined the main company a year later. She was then promoted to Principal Dancer in 2014. She has danced many lead roles with the company, most noteably Giselle, Odette/Odile, Kitri in Don Quixote, and the lead in George Balanchines Theme and Variations. Recently she appeared as a guest star with the Royal Danish Ballet, and the Mariinsky Ballet in St. Petersburg, Russia. Today we chat with Bella ahead of the opening of ABTs Fall Season at the Koch Theater in New York City starting this Wednesday and going through October 29th. We talk today about the path that brought her to ABT, what her first big opportunities in the company were like, about her time as Artistic Director of this summers Ballet Sun Valley festival, and get a preview of what she is dancing this week in New York. Get tickets now: abt.org. This episode is sponsored by Body Wrappers: http://bodywrappers.com. This episode is also sponsored by Blue Apron. We are happy to offer a special $30 off your first order for all of our listeners when you visit conversationsondancepod.com/blueapron. Take advantage of this offer now and next week you could be enjoying delicious meals that can be made in 30 minutes or less. The post (64) Isabella Boylston, American Ballet Theater Principal Dancer appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance", we are joined by Eduardo Vilaro, Artistic Director & CEO of Ballet Hispanico New York. Eduardo makes his fourth appearance on the show, running through a broad range of topics, from how the political climate is directly impacting his arts organization to viral celebrity comments on the arts. He dives into the programming for the company's upcoming City Center season, titled "Mujeres: Women in Motion" featuring varied, dynamic choreographic works from four latina women. Ballet Hispanico New York's City Center season runs from April 23rd through the 26th, and tickets can be purchased at nycitycenter.org. Come see us this weekend in NYC! On Sunday April 19th, join us as we host Works & Process at the Guggenheim in NYC, featuring the talents of the Philadelphia Ballet and choreographer Juliano Nunes. We will be talking to Juliano about the process of creating a brand new full length "Romeo & Juliet" for the company, set to premiere in Philadelphia on April 30th. Tickets for Works & Process are nearly sold out, but you can catch the last few available on worksandprocess.org.

On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance" we are joined by Eduardo Vilaro, Artistic Director & CEO of Ballet Hispnico. 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 their stylish re-imagination of the Bizet classic "Carmen" titled "Carmen.maquia", choreographed by Gustavo Ramierz Sansano. To purchase tickets to Ballet Hispnico's City Center performances running May 29th through June 1st, visit nycitycenter.org.

Today we check in with Eduardo Vilaro, Artistic Director and CEO of Ballet Hispnico. We last spoke with Eduardo in November 2019 in episode 160 about his career and his directorship at Ballet Hispnico. If you want to listen to that episode, you can find the link in the description of this episode. Today we chat with Eduardo about what it has been like for him leading his organization through the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Ballet Hispnico is offering and creating incredible online content that they are sharing regularly. Most notably, on June 30th at 7:30 pm EST, the company will be premiering a virtual evening of dance that includes an incredible ten world premiers created by notable choreographers including Andrea Miller, Carlos Pons Guerra, and friend of the pod Annabelle Lopez Ochoa. Each new work was choreographed and filmed virtually, in many cases, from across the world. Be sure to catch this incredible evening of dance on their Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube. More information is available at ballethispanico.org. This episode is brought to you by Yumiko (yumiko.com) and Ballet Hispnico. Episode 160 with Eduardo: https://conversationsondancepod.com/2019/11/06/eduardo-vilaro/ The post (189) Eduardo Vilaro on Ballet Hispnico's Noche Unidos' appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

This week, on Conversations on Dance, we are joined by Eduardo Vilaro, Artistic Director of Ballet Hispnico. Eduardo recounts his early years adjusting to New York City life as a Cuban immigrant, what it was like building his first company from the ground up, and how Ballet Hispnico has carved out an identity for itself that is unique in the dance world. Ballet Hispnico, America's leading Latino dance organization, returns to the Apollo Theater on November 22 & 23 to celebrate the power of the Latina voice with works by all female choreographers. This season includes the world premiere of Anabelle Lopez Ochoa's Triburones,' as well as the return of Nac' by Andrea Miller and Michelle Manzanales' Con Brazos Abiertos.' Tickets begin at $13.50 and are available by phone at (800) 745-3000 or online at www.apollotheater.org. This episode is brought to you by Yumiko (yumiko.com). The post (160) Eduardo Vilaro, Artistic Director of Ballet Hispnico appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

On today's episode of 'Conversations On Dance' we are joined by Artistic Director of Ballet West, Adam Sklute and choreographer Val Caniparoli. At the outset of Ballet West's 2024-2025 season, Adam lays out his vision for the company, including the season opener of Val's "Jekyll and Hyde". Val and Adam talk about their long artistic relationship, how new story ballets are the lifeblood of classical ballet companies and what "Jekyll and Hyde" does to push dancers and audiences alike. If you are in the Salt Lake City area, performances run October 25th through November 2nd and can be purchased at Balletwest.org. New York Times article Val references regarding his time making 'Jekyll & Hyde' during COVID at Finnish National Ballet: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/17/arts/dance/finnish-national-ballet-jekyll-and-hyde.html

Today on Conversations on Dance, we welcome Theresa Ruth Howard, founder of Memoirs of Blacks in Ballet, and Katlyn Addison, principal dancer with Ballet West. We first had Katlyn on the podcast in February of 2024 in episode 383, where we talk all about her career. We are happy to welcome Katlyn back on to talk about the upcoming "Pathways to Performance: Exercises in Reframing the Narrative" performance at the Kennedy Center. Theresa was the guest curator of "Reframing the Narrative" at the Kennedy Center for it's inaugural season in 2022 and Theresa is returning again this year with her hand-picked group of dancers coming together from all across the country to feature a newly commissioned ballet and excerpts of recently premiered works by Black choreographers. Katlyn was selected by Theresa in 2022 to be a part of this project and is returning again this year. The pair tell us about "Pathways to Performance: Exercises in Reframing the Narrative," how the project came about, what was so special about the experience in 2022, and how they will be expanding upon the work now in 2024. Don't miss "Pathways to Performance: Exercises in Reframing the Narrative" July 2 and 3 at the Kennedy Center. Tickets are available at kennedy-center.org.WATCH:Reframing the Narrative: Blacks in Ballet | A Kennedy Center Digital Stage Original (2022 documentary)Donald Byrd's "From Other Suns" | A World Premiere Ballet from The Kennedy Center

On today's episode of 'Conversations On Dance', we are joined by Katlyn Addison, principal dancer with Ballet West. Katlyn takes us on the journey through her early training days in Canada, the decision to take a risk by leaving her first major company for new terrain, and how that risk paid off through years of hard work and steady promotions. Katlyn will be making her premiere as Odette/Odile in Ballet West's upcoming performances of 'Swan Lake', which is having its run this February 9th through the 17th. If you are in the Salt Lake City area and would like to purchase tickets, visit balletwest.org.

On today's episode of 'Conversations On Dance', we are joined by the Artistic Director of Ballet West, Adam Sklute. Adam sits down with us to tell us about his journey from dancer to director, the positive changes he's enacted since he took over the role of Artistic Director in 2007 and to give us a deep look into the company's production of Willam Christensen's 'Nutcracker', the very first full length production of the holiday classic ever performed in America. Ballet West will be performing 'The Nutcracker' at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC from Nov 22-26 and in Salt Lake City from Dec 8-27. Tickets for the Kennedy Center can be purchased at kennedy-center.org, while Ballet West's hometown performances can be found at balletwest.org. Try Audible Plus free for 30 daysGive the gift of Audible Plus

This week on Conversations On Dance', we are joined by in-demand choreographer and artistic director of BalletMet, Edwaard Liang. Liang danced for the New York City Ballet, where he rose to the rank of soloist. He later joined the Netherlands Dance Theatre, and performed in the broadway show Fosse'. These influences have shaped his choregraphic talents, which are sought all of the globe. He has choreographed for the Bolshoi Ballet, the New York City Ballet, The Kirov Ballet, Shanghai Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet and many more. In our final episode from our time at the San Francisco Ballet's Unbound' festival, we talk with Edwaard about his then upcoming premiere for the company. This episode is brought to you by Yumiko and San Francisco Ballet. yumiko.com sfballet.org The post (130) Edwaard Liang, Artistic Director of BalletMet appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

Join Conversations on Dance hosts Rebecca King Ferraro and Michael Sean Breeden for a live podcast recording featuring BalletX dancers Savannah Green and Francesca Forcella. Known for their innovative artistry and bold performances, these talented dancers bring fresh energy and perspective from one of Americas leading contemporary ballet companies. Join us for an engaging conversation about their artistic journeys, creative process, and what it means to be part of BalletXs groundbreaking repertoire. This episode is brought to you by Discover Vail and was recorded live from the Vail Dance Festival on August 2, 2025.Tickets to Conversations on Dance at the 2025 Vail Dance Festival on sale now! https://vaildance.org/conversations-on-dance/

Ballet X has been a Festival favorite for over a decade, while Dance Aspen had its splashy debut just last year. This live recording of the Conversations On Dance podcast will welcome the artistic directors of these respective companies, Christine Cox and Laurel Winton, to talk about their visions and missions for their organizations and why performing at the Vail Dance Festival is such a coveted experience for their dancers.This episode was recorded live on August 4th, 2023 at the Manor Vail Lodge. Conversations on Dance at the Vail Dance Festival is generously underwritten by the Town of Vail.VAIL DANCE FESTIVAL IS GOING ON NOW! Conversations on Dance events: https://vaildance.org/conversations-on-dance/Performance tickets: https://vaildance.org/

This week on Conversations on Dance, we are joined by Savannah Green, dancer with BalletX. Savannah was born and raised in New York City, receiving her initial dance training from Manhattan Youth Ballet. In 2017 she graduated from University of California, Santa Barbara with a BFA in Dance and a minor in Political Science. She has been a member of BalletX since 2020. Savannah has been going to the Vail Dance Festival since she was about 11, and has now participated in the festival as an artist and a member of BalletX for the past several years. We chat with Savannah about her training, her love for dance, discovering her home with BalletX, and her years of experience at the Vail Dance Festival. See Savannah and BalletX onstage at the Vilar Performing Arts Center on August 6th at 6pm. Ticket available here. VAIL DANCE FESTIVAL TICKETS ON SALE NOW! Conversations on Dance events: https://vaildance.org/conversations-on-dance/Performance tickets: https://vaildance.org/

We are joined today by Christine Cox, Artistic & Executive Director of BalletX. This episode was recorded LIVE from the Vail Dance Festival, where BalletX is the resident company. We chat with Christine about her career, founding the company, her ambitious programming, and her entrepreneurial approach to building the company from the ground up. This episode was recorded on August 1, 2021 at the Manor Vail Lodge. Special thanks to the Town of Vail for their support of the Vail Dance Festival and Conversations on Dance live podcast recordings. This episode was recorded at the Manor Vail Lodge. Conversations on Dance is proud to have YUMIKO as a continued partner in 2021. yumiko.com Thank you to Tom Boyd for producing this episode. The post (239) Christine Cox, Artistic & Executive Director of BalletX, LIVE from Vail Dance Festival appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

Today we are bringing you a live podcast recording from the Vail Dance Festival on the Vail premiere of The Little Prince. We are joined by choreographer, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa and BalletX dancer who dances the title role in the peice, Roderick Phifer. This episode was recorded on July 29th, 2019, one day before the ballet will hit the stage here in Vail on the evening of July 30th. Tune into our previous chat with Annabelle in episode 90. This episode is brought to you by Yumiko, the Town of Vail, and was recorded at the Manor Vail Lodge. The post (147) Annabelle Lopez Ochoa and Roderick Phifer, on The Little Prince' appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

On today's episode of 'Conversations On Dance', we are joined by Chyrstyn Fentroy, principal ballerina with Boston Ballet. We talk to Chyrstyn about how she built her work ethic during her training years, dancing under Virgina Johnson in the newly revived Dance Theater Of Harlem and what it was like to make the move to a larger company in the middle of her career. If you'd like to see Chyrstyn perform, stay tuned to the Boston Ballet website at bostonballet.org.

This week, we are joined by Mikko Nissinen, Artistic Director of Boston Ballet. We first spoke with Mikko about his career and his 20 plus years at the helm of Boston Ballet in episode 183 from May 2020. Today we catch up with Mikko to hear about how Boston Ballet weathered the pandemic, how the company reacted to COVID and the Black Lives Matter movement, and their recent ChoreograpHER program. Boston Ballet will be on tour for the first time since the pandemic hit this month at Ballet Sun Valley. Ballet Sun Valley's Festival 2022 will feature Boston Ballet in two distinct programs. Mikko takes us through the programming for these performances and how he curated these evenings of dance that is sure to delight audiences. Catch Boston Ballet's debut at Ballet Sun Valley June 24th and 25th, 2022 at 7pm in the Sun Valley Pavilion. Tickets are available at balletsunvalley.org or click the link in the description of this episode. SPONSORS: Conversations on Dance at the Vail Dance Festival July 30 August 9: https://vaildance.org/conversations-on-dance. Tickets on sale now. ____________________________

On this episode of Conversations on Dance, recorded at the 2021 Vail Dance Festival, we give you an inside look at two roles that are essential to every dance and ballet performance. Today we are joined by NYCB Assistant Stage Manager, Nicole Mitchell Mommen, and Lighting Director and Lighting Designer of Boston Ballet, Brandon Stirling Baker. Nicole was the stage manager at Miami City Ballet for many years while we danced there, Brandon is Justin Peck's go-to lighting designer, and both Nicole and Brandon were two of our earliest guests on the podcast. These two have worked very closely for years, so we thought Vail would be the perfect opportunity to have them back on the pod to talk about what lead them to the career they love and to hear more about their respective roles in the performances at the festival.

This week, we are joined by Mikko Nissinen, Boston Ballet Artistic Director. Born in Helsinki, Mikko began his dance training at age ten with The Finnish National Ballet School, and launched his professional dance career at age 15 with The Finnish National Ballet. He went on to continue his dance training at The Kirov Ballet School in St. Petersburg, Russia. He danced professionally for 19 years, with Dutch National Ballet, Basel Ballet and as a principal dancer with San Francisco Ballet. In 2001 he was appointed Artistic Director of Boston Ballet. Now nearly 20 years into his tenure as director, we talk with Mikko about his training and early career, his ambition to always be learning more about ballet, his aspirations to run a large company, and how he landed with his position at Boston Ballet. Mikko also talks with us about leading the organization through numerous crises, including navigating the current COVID-19 pandemic. This episode is brought to you by Yumiko. The post (183) Mikko Nissinen, Boston Ballet Artistic Director appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

On this week's episode of Conversations On Dance', we are joined by Boston Ballet principal Misa Kuranaga. A native of Japan, Misa first came to dance professionally in America with the San Francisco Ballet, before additional training at the School of American Ballet. In 2003, she joined Boston Ballet, where was quickly handed major soloist and principal opportunities, ultimately rising to the rank of principal dancer in 2009. We talk to her about her path to Boston Ballet, fighting through periods of uncertainty and lack of motivation, and how she continues to develop her artistry after nearly ten years as a principal. Support for this episode is brought to you by Yumiko, The Vail Dance Festival, and Quarter Marks. Enter to win a Yumiko leotard now through September 22, 2018: instagram.com/conversationsondance. The post (107) Misa Kuranaga, Boston Ballet Principal appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

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 Pennsylvania Ballet and the work she does now as a rehearsal director for Carolina Ballet for over 25 years.

This week on Conversations On Dance, we sit down with Charlotte Ballet director and international choreographer Alejandro Cerrudo. We spoke with Alejandro about his first season of programming for Charlotte Ballet, how important freedom and risk taking are to the choreographic process and his plans to make the company an integral part of the city's identity. If you are in the Charlotte area, you can catch the company's choreographic lab from June 9-17. To subscribe to the company's 2023-24 season, visit charlotteballet.org. THIS EPISODE'S SPONSOR:?Energetiks specialize in creating sustainable, world class dancewear for the stars of tomorrow. Perform and feel your best at every stage of your dance journey in Energetiks premium, high performance fabrics. Try them out with a 20% discount site-wide using the code COD20 at the checkout [available until the end of September 2023]. Shop their extensive range online at energetiks.com and enjoy free express shipping on orders over $75.

LIVE from the Vail Dance Festival, we are joined by choreographer, Cleo Parker Robinson. Cleo is the found of Cleo Parker Robinson Dance. She gives us background on her career, coming, and her choreography. She also tells us about the work that she created for the 2021 Vail Dance Festival. This episode was recorded LIVE from the Vail Dance Festival, This episode was recorded on August 8, 2021 at the Manor Vail Lodge. Experience the Vail Dance Festival from wherever you are. Enjoy a live-streamed event of the festivals closing evening: NOW Premieres, which we discuss in this episode. Access will be available for one week on VDFs YouTube Channel. More information on VDFs social media channels. Special thanks to the Town of Vail for their support of the Vail Dance Festival and Conversations on Dance live podcast recordings. This episode was recorded at the Manor Vail Lodge. Conversations on Dance is proud to have YUMIKO as a continued partner in 2021. yumiko.com Thank you to Tom Boyd for producing this episode. Photo by Christopher Duggan The post (244) Cleo Parker Robinson, LIVE from the Vail Dance Festival appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

Today we are joined by mother-daughter duo, Gladisa Guadalupe, and Marla Minadeo. Gladisa is the co-Founder and Artistic Director of the Cleveland Ballet and her daughter, Marla, is a dancer in the company. We talk with the pair about how they each were introduced to ballet, balancing their professional life with their family life, the many incarnations of Cleveland Ballet, and what the company has coming up as they enter their 2021-2022 season. Join Cleveland Ballet for its first performance of Momentum set to the magnificent score of Felix Mendelssohn, with choreography by Gladisa, in the city of Vermilion on Saturday, September 18th, 2021. Tickets and more information on this, and the company's full season at Playhouse Square, are available on their website, clevelandballet.org.

This week we bring you our final episode from the 2019 Vail Dance Festival! Today we speak with Gil Boggs, Colorado Ballet Artistic Director. Gil began his dance career with the Atlanta Ballet and he joined American Ballet Theatre in 1982. In 1991 he was promoted to Principal Dancer and danced with the company for 17 years. Boggs also performed with the Twyla Tharp Dance Company, Baryshnikov and Company, Nureyev and Friends, and made several guest appearances around the world. Boggs accepted the position of Artistic Director with Colorado Ballet in the Spring of 2006. We talk with Gil about his distinguished career, his transition after retiring from the stage, how his directorship at Colorado Ballet came about, and some of the ways he has been able to grow the company. This episode is brought to you by The Town of Vail, Yumiko (yumiko.com), and The Veyette Virtual Ballet School (veyettevirtualballetschool.com). The post (175) Gil Boggs, Colorado Ballet Artistic Director appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

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 Arts Houston in Houston, TX on February 1st. To purchase tickets visit performingartshouston.org. Dwight on COD in June 2024: https://www.conversationsondancepod.com/episodes-transcripts/399-dwight-rhoden-choreographer-amp-artistic-director-of-complexions-contemporary-ballet

Today we are joined by Dwight Rhoden, Choreographer & Artistic Director of Complexions Contemporary Ballet. Since it has been over six years since we last had him on the podcast, we go back to the beginning and hear about his start in dance and choreography. We dig into his process and what he looks for in dancers, both for Complexions and when he is choreographing on other companies. Dwight tells us about his new work for Houston Ballet that is running from June 6-16 as a part of a mixed bill program called, "Four Seasons." This is Dwight's first work on the company so he tells us what it has been like working with the dancers, how the work evolved from his initial vision, and what he hopes audience's take away from his work. For more information and to get tickets, visit houstonballet.org.

Today on Conversations On Dance, we speak with Dwight Rhoden, founding artistic director and resident choreographer of Complexions Dance Company. Despite a late start in dance, Rhoden danced for numerous major companies, including as a principal with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Partnering with acclaimed performer Desmond Richardson, Rhoden co-founded Complexions in 1994, a company often cited as Americas original multi-cultural dance company. With its profound commitment to diversity and new contemporary work, Complexions has achieved international acclaim. Rhoden has choreographed over 80 works for Complexions, in addition to works created for the Mariinsky Ballet, the New York City Ballet, the Joffrey Ballet, and many others. Today we talk to Dwight about his beginnings as a dancer, whats next for Complexions and the work he most recently created at San Francisco Ballets Unbound festival. The post (96) Dwight Rhoden, Artistic Director of Complexions Contemporary Ballet appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

On today's episode of Conversations On Dance' we are joined by Dance Theater Of Harlem ballerina Amanda Smith. Amanda tells us about how her early extracurricular activities led to greater versatility, how her education at SUNY Purchase shaped her career, and the importance of persistence in achieving one's goals. Visit dancetheaterofharlem.org to see the company's tour dates to catch Amanda onstage this season at a theater near you. This Episodes Sponsors: Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School is training the next generation of professional dancers by providing ballet and dance education of the highest caliber that prepares students for professional careers in dance. PBTs school focuses on the dancer as a whole person and nurturing them into creative, confident and well-rounded individuals. Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Schools Intensive Summer Program runs from June 25-July 29th. Auditions for PBT's pre-professional program will be held March 6th through the 11th. Pre-professional dancers will have the opportunity to work with incoming PBT director Adam McKinney starting this summer. For more information visit pbt.org/pbts/auditions2023.

On today's episode of Conversations On Dance', we are joined by choreographer and incoming Artistic Director of Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH) Robert Garland. Robert began his dance training in Philadelphia where he first saw DTH perform as a child. He continued his training at Juilliard before joining DTH as a company member. He eventually reached the rank of principal and began work in various leadership roles as a teacher and choreographer. We talk to Robert about having the legendary Arthur Mitchell as a mentor, the wide range of his choreographic inspirations and his appointment in June 2023 to Artistic Director of the company he has long called home. If you are in the Houston area, see Dance Theatre of Harlem with Performing Arts Houston on February 3 & 4. Tickets are available at performingartshouston.org This Episode's Sponsors: Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School is training the next generation of professional dancers by providing ballet and dance education of the highest caliber that prepares students for professional careers in dance. PBTs school focuses on the dancer as a whole person and nurturing them into creative, confident and well-rounded individuals. Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Schools Intensive Summer Program runs from June 25-July 29th. Auditions are held across the country January 7 Feb 12, with a virtual audition on January 13. Learn more about Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School and their Intensive Summer Program at https://www.pbt.org/pbts/isp2023/. Visit the Performing Arts Houston website to learn more about the performance and other upcoming shows, including four multidisciplinary world premieres by Houston artists Anthony Brandt, J.E. Hernandez, Vivalda Dula, and Tazeen Zahida. All four new works will be presented in festival format at New/Now: The Houston Artist Commissioning Project on February 24 and 25. Tickets are available at performingartshouston.org ___________________________________________

On today's episode of Conversations On Dance' we are joined by Dance Theatre Of Harlem ballerina, Ingrid Silva. Ingrid has been breaking barriers and gaining industry wide attention since she first joined Dance Theatre Of Harlem for the company's revival in 2013. We talk about her leap of faith in leaving her home country of Brazil, the impact that Arthur Mitchell had on her early career, and her experience being a new mother while keeping up with DTH's demanding touring and performing schedule. This episode was recorded as a part of Dance Theatre of Harlems Sunday Matinee virtual series. An abbreviated version of this interview appeared in this virtual performance, accompanied by beautiful photos and video clips. To watch that portion of this interview, plus the programming we discuss in this episode, click here: https://youtu.be/fObNVpRJfkk. SPONSORS: Conversations on Dance at the Vail Dance Festival July 30 August 9: https://vaildance.org/conversations-on-dance. Tickets on sale now. Ali Phillips Embodied Leadership Coach aliphillips.org. For Conversations on Dance listeners only- mention that you heard about Ali through the podcast, and if you sign up in the month of June youll receive 20% off her new 10 week coaching program. ____________________________

Today, on the Conversations on Dance podcast, we are joined by Christopher Charles McDaniel, dancer with Dance Theatre of Harlem. Christopher was born in East Harlem and started his formal training at the Dance Theatre of Harlem School, later going on to train at LaGuardia School of Performing Arts and Ballet Academy East. Christopher has danced professionally with Los Angeles Ballet and Ballet San Antonio, before coming full circle to join Dance Theatre of Harlem. We talk with Christopher about his start in praise dance at church, his relationship with Arthur Mitchell as a young student at Dance Theatre of Harlem, his trajectory that ultimately lead him back to DTH, and his participation in this year's Lake Tahoe Dance Festival, where he will be dancing a new commission by Durante Verzola. Lake Tahoe Dance Festival has just announced their 2021 live, outdoor performances July 27 30. Tickets are on sale now by pod seating. See Christopher and other world-renowned dancers, including friend of the pod, Ashley Bouder, onstage in one of the most beautiful places on earth. Tickets and more information available at laketahoedancecollective.org. This episode is brought to you by Yumiko (yumiko.com). Links: Join our email list: https://bit.ly/3basX5g instagram.com/conversationsondance facebook.com/conversationsondance twitter.com/convoondance conversationsondancepod.com The post (224) Christopher Charles McDaniel, Dance Theatre of Harlem appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

Todays episode was recorded live at The Kennedy Center on Saturday June 1, 2019 before the matinee performance of Miami City Ballet as a part of Ballet Across America. We were joined by Virginia Johnson, the Artistic Director of Dance Theatre of Harlem (who had been performing earlier in the week), Lourdes Lopez, Artistic Director of Miami City Ballet, and celebrated choreographer, Pam Tanowitz. This panel was put together to discuss women leading the way in ballet. Be sure to explore all the happenings at the Kennedy Center by visiting, kennedy-center.org. This episode is sponsored by The Kennedy Center (kennedy-center.org), Yumiko (yumiko.com), and Lake Tahoe Dance Festival (laketahoedancecollective.org). The post (140) LIVE from The Kennedy Center: Women Leading the Way in Ballet appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

This week we are joined by one of our former colleagues, Jennifer Carlynn Kronenberg. Jennifer is a former Principal Dancer with the Miami City Ballet and is now the co-artistic director of Dimensions Dance Theatre of Miami. Jennifer began her dance training in her hometown of Queens, New York, before going on to study at the School of American Ballet. From there, she was spotted by Edward Villella, who asked her to join his company, Miami City Ballet, as an apprentice when she was just 17. She moved through the ranks and became a principal in 2001. She danced in the company's vast repertoire through to her retirement from the company in 2016. She and her husband, Carlos Guerra, also a former MCB Principal, went on to found Dimensions Dance Theatre of Miami, which is continuing to grow and prosper. Today we talk with Jen about her career, share some of our favorite memories of dancing with her in the company, talk about her transitions into directorship, and what challenges she and the company have faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. This episode is brought to you by Yumiko (yumiko.com) and Trey McIntyre's FLTPK. Learn more at FLTPK.com. The post (205) Jennifer Carlynn Kronenberg, Artistic Director of Dimensions Dance Theatre of Miami & former Miami City Ballet Principal appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

Today we talk with Chris Celiz, a world champion beatboxer, and b-boy Anthony Vito Rodriguez, creative directors behind the awe-inspiring new work, The Missing Element.' Created at the peak of the pandemic in two Works & Process bubble residencies, The Missing Element is an immersive experience exploring the universal elements of earth, wind, fire, water, and space. During the performance, street dancers and beatboxers utilize their abilities to embark on an adventure of sound and dance. All music and sound featured is 100% human-generated. Today we talk with Chris and Anthony about their backgrounds in their respective art forms, how they first started working together, the impetus behind The Missing Element,' and the creative process. Catch the culmination of this work May 15th and 16th at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City. Tickets available online only at guggenheim.org. SPONSORS: MENAJI Skin Care: www.menskincare.com. Use code COD30 to receive 30% savings on all individual products. ________________________________

This week we are pleased to bring you a special behind the scenes look at some of the Works & Process creation that has been happening safely throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic. Today we are joined by Ephrat Asherie, New York City-based b-girl, and Duke Dang, General Manager of Works & Process. We hear about Ephrat's career and her recent work developed at a Works and Process Bubble Residency called, UnderScored.' Duke offers us an inside view into the arts administration side of this pandemic and how he and his team worked to get dancers and choreographers back to creating. A four-part docuseries called Isolation to Creation, follows the path of artists who participated in bubble residencies this summer as a part of Works & Process, including Ephrat. The series will stream nationwide on January 27, 2021, and February 3, 10, and 17, at 8pm ET. Access is free on the ALL ARTS app, available at allarts.org, and also will air in the New York metro area on the ALL ARTS TV channel. You won't want to miss this fascinating look at how dance persevered during this monumental moment in history. Conversations on Dance is brought to you by Yumiko (yumiko.com). Links: instagram.com/conversationsondance facebook.com/conversationsondance twitter.com/convoondance conversationsondancepod.com The post (214) Isolation to Creation' Docuseries from Works & Process at the Guggenheim appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

Stanton Welch and Julie Kent join the Conversations on Dance podcast this week and reflect on nearly three years leading Houston Ballet, praising the dancers versatility, focus, and the engaged Houston community, and describing the value of sharing leadership. They discuss how the companys identity is shaped by having a prolific choreographer as artistic director in Stanton and what they look for in dancers. Looking ahead, they highlight a variety of works still to come this season including Welchs new 12-minute piece to Mason Bates featuring electronics and live percussion, and they outline how Welchs Giselle differs musically and dramatically, with expanded characters and staging, while Kent coaches intention and relationships.For more information on performances still to come this season, visit houstonballet.org.Houston Ballet 25/27 Season announced here: https://www.houstonballet.org/seasontickets/2026-2027-season-announced/Listen to Conversations on Dance ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/conversationsondanceTIMESTAMPS:00:00 Welcome Back Catch Up02:14 Partnership Leading Together03:01 Studio Time And Support04:21 Choreographic Hub Culture07:54 Auditions Finding Versatility13:35 Season Variety Story Ballets18:44 Programming And Identity21:39 New Work Alice Topp25:43 Staging Hazards and Effects25:57 Avatar as Ballet Pitch26:22 More Dancers on Stage27:17 New Work Mason Bates29:08 Reimagining Giselle31:32 Coaching Story Over Steps34:39 Technique vs Artistry Debate38:12 Season Highlights Dances39:50 Rehearsal Timing and Stamina41:21 Next Season Tease and Farewell

On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance", we are joined by choreographers Christopher Bruce and Jacquelyn Long, whose works will be featured on the upcoming Houston Ballet program "Rock, Roll & Tutus". They take us through their creative processes, how they select and interpret music through dance and each of their long artistic relationships with Houston Ballet, with Christopher honing his work with the company for decades and Jacquelyn rising to the rank of soloist before being singled out for her choreographic talents. To purchase tickets to "Rock, Roll & Tutus", premiering September 18th and running through the 28th, visit houstonballet.org. SPONSOR: Chicago's Wrightwood 659 presents Joffrey + Ballet in the U.S., a large-scale exhibition celebrating the rich history of The Joffrey Ballet and the life of Robert Joffrey. Drawing from the Joffrey archive, acquired by the Jerome Robbins Dance Division in 2017 as the Librarys largest acquisition in a decade, the exhibition offers an in-depth look at the Joffreys contributions to ballet in the U.S. Highlights include rare film from the original performance of the groundbreaking ballet Astarte and Anna Sokolows Opus 65, as well as costumes, props, pointe shoes, posters, correspondence, and other ephemera from the company and Robert Joffreys life. On view October 3rd through Dec 20th. For more information, visit wrightwood659.org

On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance", we are joined by Stanton Welch, Artistic Director of Houston Ballet and choreographer of the company's upcoming premiere of the full length classic "Raymonda". Stanton talks about his deep love of the glorious Glazunov score, his approach to creating full length narrative works, and how he sculpts these ballets in a years long process. Houston Ballet's "Raymonda" runs May 29th through June 8th. Tickets can be purchased at houstonballet.org. Also available on their website, subscriptions for Houston Ballet's recently announced 25-26 season, a journey across centuries of composers, choreographers and ballet's greatest stories.

On today's episode of 'Conversations On Dance', we are joined by Houston Ballet's Artistic Directors, Stanton Welch and Julie Kent. Stanton looks back on 20 years leading the Houston Ballet, while the two of them give us an inside look at what their shared leadership roles mean to both them and the organization at large, while also offering a glimpse into what audiences can expect from the company this season and into the future. If you are in the Houston area and would like to purchase tickets to Houston Ballet's 2023-24 season, visit houstonballet.org. Try Audible Plus free for 30 daysGive the gift of Audible Plus

Today on Conversations On Dance', we are joined by Houston Ballet principal dancer and choreographer Connor Walsh and composer and conductor Quinn Mason. Connor has joined us on the podcast previously to talk about his performing career, but sits down with us for the first time to discuss choreographing for the company. Quinn's work as a composer quickly gained notice, resulting in a premiere creation for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra at the age of 21. Connor and Quinn take us through the journey of Connor's new ballet set to Quinn's existing work A Joyous Trilogy', including their early discussions about the ballet's concepts, how the ballet has grown since its inception and the decision to have Quinn conduct several performances. A Joyous Trilogy' premieres on June 2nd at The Wortham Theater Center, with performances running through June 12th. Tickets can be purchased at houstonballet.org Listen to Running from A Joyous Trilogy by Quinn Mason // U-M Symphony Orchestra // Kenneth Kiesler, cond. youtube.com/watch?v=gOC9PVpnvkg SPONSORS: Conversations on Dance at the Vail Dance Festival July 30 August 9: https://vaildance.org/conversations-on-dance. Tickets go on sale May 20th. MENAJI Skin Care: www.menskincare.com. Use code COD30 to receive 30% savings on all individual products. The tenth annual Lake Tahoe Dance Festival: tickets are on sale now at laketahoedancefestival.org. ________________________________

Today we check in with Houston Ballet to hear about their upcoming performances of Stanton Welch's Sylvia.' We are joined by Houston Ballet Artistic Director, Stanton Welch, and Principal dancers who will be performing the leads in the ballet, Connor Walsh and Karina Gonzlez. We first spoke with Stanton Welch on the podcast in 2018 in episode 98, had Connor on in 2019 in episode 158, and are welcoming Karina on for the first time. Today we speak with this trio about what lead them each to Houston Ballet, getting back onstage this season for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic, their work and process of creating Sylvia,' and what audiences can expect from this original full length production. Houston Ballet's Sylvia' is on stage March 10-20, 2022 at the Brown Theater in Houston, TX. For tickets and more information about Houston Ballet's 2021-2022 season, visit houstonballet.org. _________________________

Today we are joined by Houston Ballet Principal Dancer, Connor Walsh. Born in Fairfax, Virginia, Connor began his training at the age of seven under the direction of his mother Constance Walsh. He has trained at The Kirov Academy of Ballet, The Harid Conservatory, and Houston Ballets Ben Stevenson Academy. In 2004, Walsh joined Houston Ballets company as a member of the corps de ballet. He was quickly promoted to soloist in 2006 and then to principal dancer in 2007. Connor talks with us about how his mother influenced his early dance training, his experience looking for the right school for him, Houston Ballets director transition when he was just a student, and what it is like dancing in Houston. If you are in the New York City area, catch Connor and his fellow dancers onstage later this month at City Center. From October 24 through 26, 2019, Houston Ballet will celebrate its 50th Anniversary Season at New York City Center with a program of contemporary works showcasing the Companys diverse talents. Seldom seen on the East Coast, this performance marks the Companys largest engagement in New York since 2013 and their first program at City Center since 1986. Tickets start at $35 and can be purchased online at NYCityCenter.org, by calling 212.581.1212, or in person at the City Center Box Office. This episode is brought to you by Yumiko. Shop now at yumiko.com. The post (158) Connor Walsh, Houston Ballet Principal Dancer appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

This week on Conversations On Dance, we spoke with Houston Ballet soloist Harper Watters. Though Harper's talents led to prominent roles with the Houston Ballet and two promotions, he gained attention both within the dance community and in pop culture at large, in viral videos of himself dancing in towering pink heels. We talk to Harper about how he has leveraged his social media stardom into creating a platform where he can promote inclusivity in the dance world and provide a positive role model for dancers everywhere. The post (115) Harper Watters, Houston Ballet Soloist appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

This week on Conversations On Dance, our guest is Houston Ballet Artistic Director and acclaimed choreographer Stanton Welch. Born in Australia to two prominent ballet dancers, Welch expressed an interest in choreography almost immediately after beginning his dance training. Soon after joining the Australian Ballet as a dancer he received his first choreographic commission, and five years later he was named resident choreographer. Following major commissions at companies around the globe, Welch was appointed artistic director of the Houston Ballet. We talk to Welch about coming from a family of dancers, his choreographic inspirations, and the challenges of directing a company. The post (98) Stanton Welch, Artistic Director Houston Ballet and Choreographer appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

Today on 'Conversations On Dance' we are joined by Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell, Artistic Director of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. We talk to Linda-Denise about her late start and quick catch up in dance, her years touring with Alvin Ailey and her plans to continue to bring Hubbard Street to all Chicago audiences through innovative programming. To purchase tickets to Hubbard Street's 2023-24 performances, visit hubbardstreetdance.com.THIS EPISODE'S SPONSOR:New York Theatre Ballet celebrates its 45-year legacy with a Fall program of World and Company Premieres by Artistic Director Steven Melendez, Douglas Dunn, David Gordon, and Amanda Treiber, Friday, October 6 and Saturday, October 7 at Florence Gould Hall in New York City. New York Theatre Ballet performs small classic masterpieces and new contemporary works for adults and innovative hour-long ballets for young children, all at affordable prices. This seasons Once Upon a Ballet series features The Firebird and Merce Cunninghams Scramble for four family-friendly shows, Saturday, October 7 and Sunday, October 8. For tickets and information, please visit NYTB.org/tickets.

This week we are joined by Jessica Tong, Associate Artistic Director of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. Jessica received her formal training at The Ballet School in Salt Lake City and University of Utah. Tong danced with BalletMet in Columbus, Ohio, Eliot Felds Ballet Tech in New York, and Hubbard Street 2 before dancing with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago for 11 years.Jessica was named one of Dance Magazines Top 25 to Watch in 2009. After retiring from the stage, she went on to become rehearsal director at Hubbard Street before recently being promoted to Associate Artistic Director. We talk with Jessica about her career, her work ethic, making the unexpected transition to being in front of the studio, what Hubbard Street has been doing in this past year of COVID, and how she got involved in Final Bow For Yellow Face's 10,000 Dreams: Virtual Choreography Festival. More information at yellowface.org. This episode is brought to you by Yumiko (yumiko.com). Links: Join our email list: https://bit.ly/3basX5g instagram.com/conversationsondance facebook.com/conversationsondance twitter.com/convoondance conversationsondancepod.com The post (229) Jessica Tong, Associate Artistic Director, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

Since 1933, Jacob's Pillow has been a beacon for dancemakers, movers, scholars, students, and audiences. Located in Becket, Massachusetts, and founded by modern dance pioneer Ted Shawn, "the Pillow" (as it has affectionately come to be called) was the first dance site to be designated as a National Historic Landmark, and the first presenting organization to receive the National Medal of the Arts.Opening June 25th and running through August 24th of this year, the Pillow's 93rd Festival season will feature nine weeks of performances, classes, workshops, events, exhibits and activations, spread across the indoor and outdoor venues of a sprawling 220-acre campus. With more than 40 dance companies lined up from around the world, this year's Festival is particularly significant as it marks the opening of the new state-of-the-art Doris Duke Theatre - a venue poised to become one of the dance world's most technologically advanced ever built. Here to speak with us today about all of this is Jacob's Pillow Executive and Artistic Director, Pam Tatge. In her role, Pam is responsible for setting the artistic vision and strategic goals for all aspects of the organization, including Festival programming, education, preservation, audience engagement, residency programming and artist support, long-term planning, collaborative programming, fundraising, marketing, and more. Get tickets & learn more about this summer's programming: https://www.jacobspillow.org/festival/._____________________________Conversations on Dance is proud to be the recipient of the inaugural Clive Barnes Award for Journalism and Media Achievement. Join us for the 15th Anniversary Clive Barnes Awards, Monday, June 9 at 5:30pm at the National Arts Club in New York City. Hosted by Budd Mishkin, the Awards will feature guest presenter Tiler Peck and a special performance by Clive Barnes Award alumnus Victor Abreu of New York City Ballet. For tickets and information, please visit clivebarnesfoundation.org.

On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance", we are joined by Abigail Simon, ballerina, dancer agent, mother, wife and survivor extraordinaire. Abigail takes us on her journey as a baby ballerina at the School Of American Ballet, through to her professional career at American Ballet Theater and the Joffrey, and finally her exploration of musical theater. Her incredible strength and resolve will be on full display at "Dance Against Cancer" this May 19th when she returns to the stage after her own battle against the disease. All performance information for this incredible fundraiser, including programming and ticket information: https://dacny.acsgala.org/. For those who cannot attend but wish to make a donation to one of the organizations mentioned by Abigail, you can find links below.Resources and places to donate in Abigail's Honor:American Cancer Society: https://www.cancer.org/donate.html5 under 40: https://5under40.org/Memorial Sloan Kettering: https://giving.mskcc.org/

Today on the 'Conversations on Dance' podcast, we are joined by Ashley Wheater, Artistic Director of the Joffrey Ballet. Ashley takes us through his career, tells us about the important roles mentors played in his dancing, how he came to the helm of the Joffrey, and what audiences can expect to see from the company this summer at the Ballet Sun Valley festival. Ballet Sun Valley presents The Joffrey Ballet in two different programs, over two nights this June 29th and 30th. Tickets are on sale now. For more information visit balletsunvalley.org.

As we all know, over the past year businesses and organizations have had to get creative in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Arts organizations are no exception. Today we get to hear about how Joffrey Ballet found a unique way to get their dancers involved in the company's day-to-day operations. We speak with Joffrey Company Artist, April Daly, and Annie Lyonswright, Joffrey's Director of Annual Giving about their new initiative, Company Artist Partner Program. Annie spearheaded this program, working closely with April. We chat with the pair about what the last year was like from the artist side and the administration side, and about how they all came together for a common goal. This episode is brought to you by Yumiko (yumiko.com) and Gavin Larsens Being a Ballerina (gavinlarsen.com). Links: Join our email list: https://bit.ly/3basX5g instagram.com/conversationsondance facebook.com/conversationsondance twitter.com/convoondance conversationsondancepod.com The post (234) Joffrey Ballet's Company Artist Partner Program with April Daly and Annie Lyonswright appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

In January and February we put together a higher education series to explore dance programs in schools across the country. Today we are adding to this distinguished list of programs as we talk with the Juilliard School's Director of the Dance Division, Alicia Graf Mack. Alicia enjoyed a distinguished career as a leading dancer of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. She has also been a principal dancer with Dance Theatre of Harlem and Complexions Contemporary Ballet, and she has danced as a guest performer with Alonzo Kings LINES Ballet. She graduated from Columbia University and holds an MA in nonprofit management from Washington University in St. Louis. She began her inaugural season as director of the Juilliard Dance Division in the fall of 2018. Each year 24 new dancers are accepted into Juilliard's four-year BFA program. In addition to the daily ballet and modern technique classes, every dancer participates in classical and contemporary, partnering, dance composition, anatomy, acting, dance history, stagecraft, production, music theory, repertory, and elements of performing. In today's episode, Alicia tells us about her career, dealing with injuries, her personal experience with higher education, and what ultimately landed her at the Juilliard Dance Division. For information on admissions, please visit juilliard.edu/admissions. During this time of quarantine, Alicia has taught a beautiful online class that can be accessed on Juilliard's website: https://www.juilliard.edu/school/news/media-gallery. Be sure to follow Juilliard on their social media channels for more content from faculty, current students, and alumni, as they unify all this creativity under #JuilliardThrives. Conversations on Dance is brought to you by Yumiko (yumiko.com). Photo by Rachel Papo. The post (178) Alicia Graf Mack, Director, Dance Division at the Juilliard School appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

Today on 'Conversations On Dance', we are joined by two forces behind dance at the Kennedy Center, Alicia Adams, Vice President of International Programming and Dance, and Jane Raleigh, Dance Programming Director. Jane and Alicia take us through their journey from young artists to arts management leaders, tell us how arts administration has evolved in recent years and talk about their collaborative work to program and plan dance at the Kennedy Center. To view the dance programming and purchase tickets for the Kennedy Center's upcoming season, visit kennedy-center.org.

This week we head back in our archives to our time at The Kennedy Center in October of 2017. With this episode we are delighted to share an inside look into the world of arts administration. We are speaking with Meg Booth, Director of Dance Programming at The Kennedy Center. Meg attended the University of Notre Dame where she recieved a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. She began her work in the arts at North Carolina Dance Theatre before joining IMG Artists as an Associate. She went on to work with Twyla Tharp and Mikhail Baryshnikov before landing at The Kennedy Center as the Marketing Manager. After 4 years in that position, in 2007, Meg would become responsible for all the dance seen on Kennedy Center stages. Hear her talk about her journey, how she decides what companies and works to bring to Kennedy Center audiences, and the puzzle of logistics she goes through to bring these world class performances to fruition. As a note, we wanted to bring this episode to you in conjuction with the announcement of The Kennedy Centers 18-19 season of dance. Since this was recorded in October, it was before the final performances of The Suzanne Farrell Ballet. Since Meg is the administrative Director of The Suzanne Farrell Ballet, we talk at length about the company and what was expected from the final performances. For more on what is coming to the Kennedy Center in their new season, visit tkc.com/newseason. The post (83) Meg Booth, Director of Dance Programming at The Kennedy Center appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

Los Angeles Dance Project has been bringing a vast and varied repertoire to audiences in Los Angeles and throughout the world for over a decade, expanding the boundaries of dance and how the art interacts and relates to movement in the modern world. This live recording of the Conversations On Dance podcast feature artists of LADP discussing the companys return to the Vail Dance Festival, in its tenth anniversary, on a program of all female choreographers.This episode was recorded live on July 30th, 2023 at the Manor Vail Lodge. Conversations on Dance at the Vail Dance Festival is generously underwritten by the Town of Vail.VAIL DANCE FESTIVAL IS GOING ON NOW! Conversations on Dance events: https://vaildance.org/conversations-on-dance/Performance tickets: https://vaildance.org/

Our guest today is Janie Taylor, a former principal ballerina with the New York City Ballet, present day dancer with LA Dance Project, repetiteur for the works of Benjamin Millepied, costume designer, and creator of the art newspaper Quarter Marks. At the New York City Ballet, Janie amassed a broad rep that showcased the full depth and range of her talents in ballets by George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, Justin Peck, and Peter Martins. After her retirement in 2014, Janie began to explore her talents as a costume designer and repetiteur, creating designs for numerous new ballets and staging works for companies all over the world, such as Dutch National Ballet, Miami City Ballet, and American Ballet Theatre. Janie returned to dancing with the Los Angeles Dance Project in 2016, enchanting audiences once again with her electrifying and unmistakable stage presence. Today we talk to Janie about her broad range of talents and unlikely career path. This episode is brought to you by Yumiko (yumiko.com) and Trey McIntyre's FLTPK (flatpack). Learn more at FLTPK.com. Links: instagram.com/conversationsondance facebook.com/conversationsondance twitter.com/convoondance conversationsondancepod.com The post (202) Janie Taylor, L.A. Dance Project Dancer & former NYCB Principal appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance", we are joined by Dante Puleio, Artistic Director of the Limn Dance Company, and esteemed choreographer Diego Vega Solorza, whose work for the company will premiere in the company's upcoming Joyce season. Dante tells us how he became familiar with Diego's work and why it was a natural fit for the company and the season, while Diego dives into his creative process and how the Limn dancers have shaped this particular work. The Limn Dance Company will perform at the storied Joyce theater in New York City from Tuesday, October 14th through Sunday October 19th. To purchase tickets visit joyce.org. SPONSOR:Friday through Sunday, November 7th through 9th, join Amanda Treiber and Company for their debut performances at the Mark ODonnell Theater in Brooklyn! Featuring a cast of international artists, including dancers and musicians from New York City Ballet, and a world premiere to music by Philip Glass, these performances showcase NYC-based choreographer and dancer Amanda Treiber's ability to create worlds through unique movement vocabularies and her deep collaborations with dancers, musicians, and visual artists. You won't want to miss it! Reserve your tickets today at amandatreiber.com.

On this episode of Conversations on Dance we are thrilled to welcome back Artistic Director of the Limn 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 Limn Dance Company will have it's New York City season at the Joyce Theater this November 5 - 10. Tickets are available at joyce.org.

This episode was recorded live on Monday, July 29th, 2024 at the Vail Dance Festival. At the vanguard of American modern dance since its inception, Limn Dance Company returns to the Vail Dance Festival after making their debut in 2022. The companys first performance at the festival earned rave reviews and now they return to celebrate the incredible dance legacy of this beloved and historic company. Join Conversations On Dance hosts Rebecca King Ferraro and Michael Sean Breeden as they sit down with Limn Dance Company Artistic Director, Dante Puleio, and company artist Joey Columbus, to dig into the legacy of Limn and what audiences can expect to see from the company.Upcoming Conversations on Dance events at the 2024 Vail Dance Festival: https://vaildance.org/conversations-on-dance/

At the vanguard of American modern dance since its inception, Limon Dance Company is celebrating its landmark 75th anniversary this season. Making their VDF debut this summer, come celebrate the incredible dance legacy of this beloved and historic company. Artistic Director Dance Puleio will join the Conversations On Dance podcast in a discussion about preserving the companys incredible heritage while pushing forward into the future with new commissions. Celebrating its landmark 75th anniversary season, the Limn Dance Company makes its Festival debut this summer. Please note: Conversations On Dance co-host, Rebecca King Ferraro, will be on maternity leave this summer. These live events will be hosted by Michael Sean Breeden with special guest hosts throughout the festival. This episode was recorded on August 1, 2022 with special guest host, Patricia Delgado. Special thanks to the Town of Vail for their support of Conversations on Dance and the Vail Dance Festival. This episode was recorded at the Manor Vail Lodge. Photo by Christopher Duggan The post (299) Dante Puleio and Nicholas Ruscica of Limn Dance Company, LIVE from Vail Dance Festival appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

Today we have the pleasure of being joined by Colleen Neary, Artistic Director of Los Angeles Ballet. Born in Miami, Florida, Neary trained in New York at both the School of American Ballet and Harkness House for Ballet Arts. From 1969 to 1979, she danced as a soloist with New York City Ballet under the direction of George Balanchine and became one of his quintessential ballerinas. Colleen's career path led her to Europe in 1979 when she became Rehearsal Director and Choreographic Assistant at Switzerlands Zurich Ballet. In 1986 she accepted the position of Principal Dancer with Pacific Northwest Ballet, then returned to Europe in 1992 to spend a decade with The Royal Danish Ballet as Rehearsal Director, Company Teacher, and First Instructor in charge of productions. In 2004, she and her husband, Thordal Christensen, founded Los Angeles Ballet. Today we take a deep dive into Colleens career, where she shares with us what it was like dancing at SAB as a young dancer while her older sister, Pat Neary, was in the company, her relationship with Balanchine, and her unusual path to join NYCB. She shares delightful stories with us about working with Balanchine and Jerome Robbins, and where her career took her after leaving the company. You wont want to miss a moment of this chat, so we hope you all enjoy! ___________________________

This week on the podcast we are tackling a subject that we find of immense interest to students and parents in our travels to schools across the country: does having a career in ballet mean forgoing college? Our guest this week is a Harvard Graduate and an Los Angeles Ballet Soloist who shows that its possible to do both. This week we talk with Elizabeth Claire Walker, who always dreamed of a career in ballet, and had parents who strongly valued her education. She trained as a teenager at American Ballet Theatres Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School. After being accepted at Harvard, she pushed on with her ballet career, attending company auditions and being discovered by Los Angeles Ballet in their inagural season. Liz defered college and headed to LA to start her career. An experimental summer-school stint in Cambridge in 2007 made Walker fall in love with Harvard and gave her the push she needed to pursue her degree. She continued dancing while attending college, suffering an injury that made her hesitant to re-enter the world of professional ballet so soon. After graduating, she was re-hired at LA Ballet, and was recently promoted to soloist. We talk with Liz as a part of our time at the Vail Dance Festival in August of last year. We have such an enlightening talk with Liz that we truely reccommend for all parents with children who wish to pursue a career in ballet. The post (75) Elizabeth Claire Walker, Los Angeles Ballet Soloist and Harvard Graduate appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

Today on 'Conversations On Dance', we are joined by Lloyd Knight, a long time veteran of the Martha Graham Dance Company. We catch up with Lloyd about the work he has done in the past year with Twyla Tharp and on tours with the Graham company, as well as the time he's spent this year as one of the New York Public Library's Dance Research Fellows. The program this year is centered on Martha Graham, and Lloyd will present his research in the Jerome Robbins Dance Division's Annual Symposium alongside the other fellows on January 26th. There will also be a virtual Symposium on February 2nd. Tickets are free and can be reserved via Eventbrite: CLICK HERE. For more information about the Jerome Robbins Dance Divison, visit nypl.org. Try Audible Plus free for 30 daysGive the gift of Audible Plus

Martha Graham Dance Company is one of the most storied and celebrated dance institutions in America and a Vail Dance Festival fan favorite. In recent years, the company has been steadily building its repertoire beyond the Graham classics. This live recording of the Conversations On Dance podcast will talk with the companys Artistic Director, Janet Eilber, about her storied career, working with Martha Graham, and her role as artistic director. Janet will give audiences a preview of what to expect from the companys performance in Vail and some background on the work she is doing to preserve and revive Graham works. This episode was recorded live on Saturday July 29th, 2023 at the Manor Vail Lodge. Conversations on Dance at the Vail Dance Festival is generously underwritten by the Town of Vail.VAIL DANCE FESTIVAL IS GOING ON NOW! Conversations on Dance events: https://vaildance.org/conversations-on-dance/Performance tickets: https://vaildance.org/

Today on Conversations On Dance', we are joined by Janet Eilber, the artistic director of the Martha Graham Dance Company and Wild Up musical director Christopher Rountree. Janet and Christopher have been working together to revive and re-envision the choreographic works of 20th century giant Martha Graham and their accompanying musical compositions. They talk to us about their process in re-envisioning these works, how they attempt to inhabit the minds of the creative geniuses who bore them, and why these works are still relevant to audiences today. The Soraya performing arts venue in Los Angeles, CA has been an integral part of these restoration projects and will be the first to present the latest project The New Canticle for Comedians', a reimagined upgrade to a Graham work that was almost entirely lost. The premiere of New Canticle' is this March 19, 2022. If you are in the Los Angeles area, you can find tickets at thesoraya.org or click here for tickets https://www.thesoraya.org/calendar/details/mgdc-2022.2023 VAIL DANCE FESTIVAL TICKETS ON SALE NOW! Conversations on Dance events: https://bit.ly/3NQwoDjPerformance tickets: https://vaildance.org/THIS EPISODES SPONSORSCleveland School of Ballet:Trainee Program Auditions https://clevelandballet.org/trainee-program-auditions/Summer Intensive Auditions https://clevelandballet.org/summer-intensive-2022/Dimensions Dance Theatre of Miami dimensionsdancemia.comDancespiration raffle www.dancespiration.store

Today on Conversations on Dance, we talk with Marzia Memoli, chorus dancer with Martha Graham Dance Company. Marzia is from Palermo, Italy, where she started her dance and ballet training. She graduated from the Academy of Teatro Carcano in Milan and the Bejarts school, where she performed with the Bejart Ballet Lausanne. In 2016, she joined the Martha Graham Dance Company. We initially chatted with Marzia this summer to hear about her career, what lead her to Martha Graham, and how she spent her time off from dancing during the shuttering of theaters during the pandemic. At the end of the episode, we recently caught up with Marzia again to hear about her preparations to return to the stage and the company's upcoming performances at the Joyce Theater October 26-31. Tickets for two joyous programs celebrating the exhilarating return to live theater at the Joyce are available on their website, joyce.org. _______________________________

This week on the Conversations on Dance podcast, we are joined by Martha Graham Dance Company Principal Dancer, Xin Ying. Ying was born in China and began dancing at the age of 6 taking classes in Chinese folk dance. At just 15 she entered college and after graduating, she went on to teach dance at the Sichuan University of Culture and Arts. After years of teaching, she decided that she wanted to travel to further her understanding of dance, then bring that knowledge back to her students. Ying received funding from her University to travel to New York City and attend the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance. From there, her love for the Martha Graham technique blossomed: she took a position in the second company and would go on to join the main company in 2011. We talk with Ying about her training and education in China, her incredible career trajectory, what made her fall in love with the Graham technique, and what this past year has been like for her. We recorded this episode on Friday, April 30th before the companys return to live shows this past weekend. For more information on the companys live and virtual programming, please visit marthagraham.org. This episode is brought to you by Yumiko (yumiko.com). Links: Join our email list: https://bit.ly/3basX5g instagram.com/conversationsondance facebook.com/conversationsondance twitter.com/convoondance conversationsondancepod.com The post (227) Xin Ying, Principal with Martha Graham Dance Company appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

Today on the Conversations on Dance podcast, we are joined by Lorenzo Pagano, Soloist with the Martha Graham Dance Company. A native of Torino, Italy, Lorenzo moved to the US as a teenager and trained as a scholarship student at The School at Jacobs Pillow and The Martha Graham School. He joined the Martha Graham Dance Company in 2012 and dances lead roles in a broad range of the company's repertoire. We chat with Lorenzo about his beginnings in dance, coming to New York, his early years in the company dancing alongside dancers who had danced for Martha, and how things have changed for him since COVID hit. This episode is brought to you by Yumiko (yumiko.com). Links: Join our email list: https://bit.ly/3basX5g instagram.com/conversationsondance facebook.com/conversationsondance twitter.com/convoondance conversationsondancepod.com The post (215) Lorenzo Pagano, Soloist with Martha Graham Dance Company appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

Today we are joined by Leslie Andrea Williams, chorus dancer with the Martha Graham Dance Company. Leslie was born in Newport News, Virginia and grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina. She received her BFA from The Juilliard School. Ms Williams has danced in the Martha Graham Dance Company for six seasons. She performs numerous featured roles in iconic Graham ballets such as The Woman in White in Diversion of Angels and The Pioneering Woman in Appalachian Spring. Her most notable role has been performing the Lead in Chronicle the first Black dancer to do so. Her performance recently earned Ms. Williams a mention in The New York Times Best Dance of 2019 list. Ms. Williamss work has been described as hypnotic and larger than life, and in 2016 she was named in dance magazine as a dancer On the rise. Today we talk with Leslie about her training, her transition to the Graham technique, and her time with the company. As a note: we wanted to let you know that we will be taking a short time off from Conversations on Dance due to other work commitments. This will be our last episode until the middle of November. We are hoping to make it up to you with some extra bonus content in November, so stay tuned. In the meantime, be sure to connect with us on social media @conversationsondance. One more note. During the editing process of this episode we realized we had some background noises that were not apparent to us while we were recording. While we tried to edit the episode as much as possible, we appreciate your patience with at home Zoom recordings. Enjoy the episode and we can't wait to be back with you in November! This episode is brought to you by Yumiko (yumiko.com). The post (206) Leslie Andrea Williams, chorus dancer with the Martha Graham Dance Company appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

Today we are joined by Lloyd Knight, Principal dancer with the Martha Graham Dance Company. Born in England and raised in Miami, Lloyd trained at Miami Conservatory of Ballet and New World School of the Arts. He joined Martha Graham Dance Company in 2005 and performs the major male roles of the Graham repertory including in Appalachian Spring, Embattled Garden, Night Journey and many others. He is currently a principal guest artist for The Royal Ballet of Flanders. We talk with Lloyd about his start in dance, his beginnings with Martha Graham Dance Company, some of his favorite onstage memories, and his first year participating in the Lake Tahoe Dance Festival. Since the festival is going virtual in 2020, we will all get the privilege of watching Lloyd's duet with Wendy Whelan in Martha Graham's Moon. This episode is brought to you by Yumiko and the Lake Tahoe Dance Festival. Save the date because this year, the Lake Tahoe Dance Festival is coming to you! The 8th annual Lake Tahoe Dance Festival, online edition, takes place July 22-24, 2020. Enjoy Tahoe in your living room over three unique nights, each with a variety of works around a common theme, with artist interviews and introductions around the works being performed. Special guests include Ashley Bouder (NYCB), Adrian Danchig Waring (NYCB), Lloyd Knight (Martha Graham Dance), Stephen Hanna (Broadway), and many more. This years performances will be available on their website, laketahoedancecollective.org, with a suggested donation of $25. Be sure to connect with them via social media: on Facebook and Instagram at laketahoedancecollective. Photo by NYC Dance Project. The post (191) Lloyd Knight, Principal with Martha Graham Dance Company appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

This week we are joined from the 2019 Vail Dance Festival last summer by Charlotte Landreau, dancer with Martha Graham Dance Company. A native of France, she trained first as a rhythmic gymnast, where she was the third in France. With her sights set on the Olympics, an injury forced her career trajectory to shift. She attended the Bjart School in Switzerland, studying acting and dance, before coming to NYC to study at the Martha Graham School. She joined the Martha Graham Dance Company in 2013. She speaks with us about how her training as a rhythmic gymnast influences her dance career, the challenges of seeing the career she dreamt of slip away, how she made a quick transition into the dance world, and how she connected so deeply with the Graham technique. This episode is brought to you by Yumiko (yumiko.com) and The Town of Vail. The post (165) Charlotte Landreau, Dancer with Martha Graham Dance Company appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

Today we are bringing you a live podcast recording from the Vail Dance Festival with Festival Artistic Director Damian Woetzel and Janet Eilber, Martha Graham Dance Company Artistic Director. The pair talks with us about the Graham legacy, their roles as artistic directors of their respective organizations, and what audiences can expect to see from the Martha Graham Dance Company this year in Vail. This episode was recorded live on August 8th, 2019. This episode is brought to you by Yumiko and the Town of Vail. This episode was recorded at Manor Vail Lodge. The post (149) Damian Woetzel & Janet Eilber LIVE from Vail Dance Festival appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

Welcome to Conversations on Dance, our final bonus episode from the Vail Dance Festival with Damian Woetzel, Lil' Buck, and Janet Eilber. This episode is quite special because we have a guest host, Vail Dance Festival Artistic Director, Damian Woetzel. After we had left, there was one final live event to give audiences an inside look at the artists and the performance. In this episode, Damian is joined by Jookin dancer, Lil Buck and Janet Eilber, the Artistic Director of Martha Graham Dance Company. As a side note, Buck is the cousin of this weeks Conversations on Dance guest, Ron Myles. Check out our chat with him in episode 56. The recording starts slightly into the event, so we join them just as Lil Buck begins to explain how he became involved in creating a Lamentation Variation with the Martha Graham Dance Company. They go on to have a great conversation on Martha Graham, tap, and collaboration at the Vail Dance Festival and beyond. The first voice you will hear is Damians. This recording was provided to us by the Vail Dance Festival. The post Vail Festival Forum Bonus Content: LIVE with Damian Woetzel, Lil' Buck, and Janet Eilber appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

Today on the Conversations on Dance podcast we are joined by Ariel Rose, choreographer and former soloist with Miami City Ballet. Ariel traces his path from Ballet Academy East to Boston Ballet and Richmond Ballet, ultimately landing at Miami City Ballet. He talks with us about how early exposure to live music, performing opportunities, and diverse choreographic processes shaped him. Rose talks about his choreographic journey including his work with Miami City Ballet and the New World Symphony, his approach to music selection, and details his new project Ballet Rose: Made in Miami. Don't miss Ballet Rose: Made in Miami, one night only on June 13 at the Florence Gould Theatre in New York City. Tickets and more details are available here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/lalliancenewyork/2032602. Learn more on Ariel's website: https://www.balletrose.com/

WATCH the program on YouTube here.On February 7, 2026, Miami City Ballet presented a first look of world-renowned choreographer Alexei Ratmanskys new commission celebrating MCB founder Toby Lerner Ansins 85th birthday, before its February premiere in Florida. This work blends history, tradition, and forward-thinking creativity, with a score by Johann Strauss. Ratmansky and Miami City Ballets new artistic director Gonzalo Garcia will participate in the discussion, and MCB dancers perform excerpts.Miami City Ballet's 'Into The Magic City' program runs February 20th - March 1 in Miami and West Palm Beach. The program includes the World Premiere of 'Roses from the South, Three Waltzes for Toby' as discussed here, as well as George Balanchine's 'Serenade' and 'Tarantella'. Tickets available here.Works & Process at the Guggenheim is a non-profit organization dedicated to championing the creative process from studio to stage, with programs just like this one. Find more information and ways to support on their website: https://www.worksandprocess.org/.Listen to Conversations on Dance ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/conversationsondance

This episode was recorded live on October 19, 2025 at The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami before the opening of Miami City Ballet's 40th anniversary season. Guests in this episode are Tony Award winning choreographer and former Miami City Ballet Principal Dancer, Patricia Delgado, and Miami City Ballet Artistic Director, Gonzalo Garcia.Listen to Conversations on Dance ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/conversationsondance

This episode was recorded live on October 18, 2025 at The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami before the opening of Miami City Ballet's 40th anniversary season. Guests in this episode are is Tony Award winning choreographer, Justin Peck, and Miami City Ballet Artistic Director, Gonzalo Garcia. The pre-performance talk coordinated with the all Peck program that the company opened their season with, which included "Year of The Rabbit," "Chutes and Ladders," and "Heatscape." WATCH this episode on YouTube! Click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=je6FADBH-eQListen to Conversations on Dance ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/conversationsondance

This episode was recorded live on October 17, 2025 at The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami before the opening of Miami City Ballet's 40th anniversary season. This pre-performance talk coordinated with the all Peck program that the company opened their season with, which included "Year of The Rabbit," "Chutes and Ladders," and "Heatscape."Listen to Conversations on Dance ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/conversationsondance

On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance", we are joined by Gonzalo Garcia, former principal dancer with San Francisco Ballet and the New York City Ballet, and the new artistic director of the Miami City Ballet. Gonzalo gives us an inside view on his plans to shape Miami City Ballet as only the third director in its 40 year history, including his thoughts on repertoire he wants to bring, honing his fundraising skills for the company's long term financial health and how he plans to be involved in daily coaching and teaching. Miami City Ballet's 40th anniversary season kicks off at the Arsht Center on October 17th with an all Justin Peck program. To purchase tickets, visit miamicityballet.org. SPONSOR:Chicago's Wrightwood 659 presents Joffrey + Ballet in the U.S., a large-scale exhibition celebrating the rich history of The Joffrey Ballet and the life of Robert Joffrey. Drawing from the Joffrey archive, acquired by the Jerome Robbins Dance Division in 2017 as the Librarys largest acquisition in a decade, the exhibition offers an in-depth look at the Joffreys contributions to ballet in the U.S. Highlights include rare film from the original performance of the groundbreaking ballet Astarte and Anna Sokolows Opus 65, as well as costumes, props, pointe shoes, posters, correspondence, and other ephemera from the company and Robert Joffreys life. On view October 3rd through Dec 20th. For more information, visit wrightwood659.org

We are going back into our archives from the first few years of the podcast and re-releasing some of our favorite episodes. Today is part two of our June 2017 interview with Edward Villella, Balanchine dancer and founding Artistic Director of Miami City Ballet. In part two, we focus on his founding of Miami City Ballet and so much more. Listen to part one here. Subscribe to Conversations on Dance wherever you get your podcasts.THIS EPISODE'S SPONSORS:Ballet Bird is a streaming site designed by former Pacific Northwest Ballet principal dancer Julie Tobiason. Ballet Bird offers ballet classes for anyone at any level of training that you can do from the comfort of your home or studio. Ballet Bird is a great addition to your regular in-studio training too. Take advantage of the ten day free trial and use the discount code COD25 to get 25% off through June 30th 2023 at balletbird.com.

We are going back into our archives from the first few years of the podcast and re-releasing some of our favorite episodes. Today is our first re-release: our June 2017 interview with Edward Villella, Balanchine dancer and founding Artistic Director of Miami City Ballet. We talk with our former boss about his career, dancing for Balanchine, the specific roles made on him, and much more. Part Two of this re-release will be coming next week. Subscribe to Conversations on Dance wherever you get your podcasts.THIS EPISODE'S SPONSORS:Ballet Bird is a streaming site designed by former Pacific Northwest Ballet principal dancer Julie Tobiason. Ballet Bird offers ballet classes for anyone at any level of training that you can do from the comfort of your home or studio. Ballet Bird is a great addition to your regular in-studio training too. Take advantage of the ten day free trial and use the discount code COD25 to get 25% off through June 30th 2023 at balletbird.com.Each year, The Clive & Valerie Barnes Foundation provides recognition, encouragement, and financial support to two talented young professionals, one in Dance and one in Theatre, thus, honoring the memory of the many years of critical work and the warm personal generosity of Clive Barnes and Valerie Taylor. This years finalists have been nominated by the Foundations 11-member Selection Committee comprised of arts journalists and accomplished professionals in each field. Finalists were selected based on live performances given in New York City between January and December of 2022. Winners in each category will be announced on May 22 at the 13th Annual Clive Barnes Awards at Florence Gould Hall in New York City. Guest presenters include Pam Tanowitz and Alex Sharp. For more information or to donate, visit cvbarnesfoundation.org/

Today on Conversations On Dance we are thrilled to talk about a special children's programming co-production between Miami City Ballet and the Joffrey Ballet, Rita Finds Home'. We are joined by the choreographer Amy Hall Garner and Miami City Ballet Director Of Community Engagement Monica Stephenson to talk about how Rita' relates to children today, why it was important to create something entirely new and how it's different from other works traditionally geared towards young audiences. Tickets to this performance are free. If you are in the south Florida area, you can reserve tickets to a performance of Rita Finds Home' near you by going to miamicityballet.org/ritafindshome.You can support Monica's Community Engagement work like Rita Finds Home' and the Ballet Bus program, here.This Episode's Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Headliners Dance Championships. The Competition for Dancers by Dancers. Coming to a city near you! Our listeners can register for their 2023 Regionals Tour at reg.headlinersdance.com and use code CODPFREE for a free solo entry. All questions regarding our code can be emailed to info@headlinersdance.com. Follow Headliners Dance Championships on Social Media : Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/headlinersdance/ | Twitter: https://twitter.com/headlinersdance | Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@headlinersdance | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeadlinersDanceChampionships/ | Visit the Official Website to learn more! https://headlinersdance.com/. The Headliners difference HDC is the first competition to offer FREE Photo + Video Media Packages per event. Offering FREE Competition Live Streaming on https://headlinersdance.com/live. All Entries walk away with Video Critiques by World Class Judging Panels. Offering Trophy or Charity Donation each award ceremony- Over $8000 donated in 2022!____________________________________________________

Today we are joined by our friend and former colleague at Miami City Ballet, Patricia Delgado. While we have had Patricia on the podcast many times in the past, it has been a few years since we have had her back. We catch up with her on her work she did as a part of the West Side Story movie, working closely with her husband, Justin Peck. She talks about her experience as a producer on both Broadway and as a part of #QueertheBallet with friend of the pod, Adriana Pierce. This summer, Patricia will be back at the Vail Dance Festival and making her return to the stage for the first time in years and after the birth of her daughter, Lucia. She will also be stepping in as a Conversations on Dance guest host with Michael for some live events from Vail. This is our last episode before the Vail Dance Festival. Our Festival Forum events will be published on the COD feed, so be sure to subscribe to Conversations on Dance wherever you get your podcasts so that you will automatically be notified when these episodes go live. For tickets to the performances and Festival Forum events, visit, validance.org. Conversations on Dance at the Vail Dance Festival July 30 August 9: https://vaildance.org/conversations-on-dance. Tickets on sale now. ____________________________

Today we are joined by our friend, Monica Stephenson, who just started work at a new post as Director of Community Engagement at Miami City Ballet. Monica is originally from North Carolina and is a graduate of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and the Professional Training Program at the Houston Ballet Academy. In 2002, she received her first professional contract with The Washington Ballet. She went on to perform with the Dance Theatre of Harlem Ensemble from 2003-2005 before joining the Los Angeles Ballet as an inaugural season company member. Monica was previously a member of the Education Staff at American Ballet Theatre as both a Teaching Artist and the Project Coordinator for Project Pli, an initiative to increase diversity in classical ballet. An engaging dancer, teacher, and administrator, Stephenson joined MCB in January 2022 from The Washington School of Ballet where she served as Head of School for the SE Campus in Washington, DC. We chat with Monica about leading The Washington School of Ballet's SE campus through the pandemic, what brought about this opportunity at Miami City Ballet, what this position entails, and what she is looking to accomplish in the Miami community. To hear our first chat with Monica, tune into episode 141. _________________________

Today we are joined by one of our former colleagues, Nathalia Arja, principal dancer with Miami City Ballet. Nathalia was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil where she began taking dance classes at the age of five at her mother's ballet school. As a young dancer she competed in and won several dance competitions, where she was offered scholarships to various prestigious schools. At her mother's suggestion, she auditioned for Miami City Ballet School at 15, receiving a full scholarship to attend the year-round program. She joined Miami City Ballet as an apprentice in 2009. In March 2020, during the company's last performances before the pandemic hit, Nathalia was promoted to Principal. We talk with Nathalia about her career, how she became aware of Miami City Ballet, navigating the company's change direction early in her tenure, her promotion to principal, and the company's upcoming streaming of George Balanchine's A Midsummer Night's Dream.' Since its premiere in 2016, Miami City Ballets reimagining of Balanchines A Midsummer Nights Dream has been beloved by audiences and acclaimed by critics. Now, enjoy the online premiere of this shimmery, shadowy, magical jewel box of a show from the comfort of your home. Midsummer's virtual premiere is available online from October 14-31, 2021. Tickets are $20 and are available on their website, miamicityballet.org/midsummer.

Today we chat with our friend and former Miami City Ballet dancer, Adriana Pierce. We last spoke with Adriana in episode 44 from May 2017. Since that episode, she has since left Miami City Ballet and is now a freelance dancer and choreographer in New York City. She tells us about some of the projects she has been a part of since moving, what the pandemic has been like as a freelance artist, and about her new project with two American Ballet Theatre dancers, #QueerTheBallet, recently featured in the Guardian. This episode is brought to you by Yumiko (yumiko.com). Links: Join our email list: https://bit.ly/3basX5g instagram.com/conversationsondance facebook.com/conversationsondance twitter.com/convoondance conversationsondancepod.com The post (217) Adriana Pierce, Freelance Dancer and Choreographer appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

This week, friend of the pod Patricia Delgado, makes another appearance on Conversations on Dance, to discuss Zoom ballet class. Patricia is a former Principal Dancer with Miami City Ballet and is now a faculty member of the Juilliard Dance Division. Join us for a chat about what it's like to teach dance digitally, troubleshooting some of the technical glitches with Zoom, and what tricks we have developed during this time as teachers. This episode is brought to you by Yumiko (yumiko.com) The post (187) Patricia Delgado on Teaching via Zoom appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

This week we are joined by our friend, Tricia Albertson, Principal dancer with Miami City Ballet. Raised in Santa Cruz, CA, she began her ballet training at The Studio School of Classical Ballet. She attended summer programs at San Francisco Ballet School and the School of American Ballet (SAB) before joining SAB for the year-round program in 1995. In 1997 she joined Miami City Ballet as a corps member and was promoted to Principal in 2006. In her 22 years with Miami City Ballet, Tricia has danced most of the corps, soloist and principal roles in the companys repertoire. We talk with Tricia about her time at SAB, her early years at Miami City Ballet, how the company has changed in 22 years, and even as she has now been with the company longer than any member in Miami City Ballet history, she is still being pushed and growing as an artist. This episode is sponsored by Yumiko. (yumiko.com) A special note: We are working to put together an episode dedicated to the challenges of Zoom ballet/dance classes in our current climate. We want to hear from teachers how they are coping with issues like correcting without a full picture (or correcting in 2D), keeping focus from students (particularly younger ones), trying to instill musicality with timing issues on the app, etc. If you are a student, we want to hear from you some of the challenges you are facing and some of the things you need from your teachers. If you have any questions you would like to see us answer, or would like to contribute to any of that latter topics, please get in touch with us. You can email us at info@conversationsondancepod.com or send us a DM on Facebook or Instagram, @conversationsondance. Subscribe to this podcast through your favorite app to be automatically notified when this new episode is released. The post (181) Tricia Albertson, Principal with Miami City Ballet appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

Todays episode was recorded live at The Kennedy Center on Saturday June 1, 2019 before the matinee performance of Miami City Ballet as a part of Ballet Across America. We were joined by Virginia Johnson, the Artistic Director of Dance Theatre of Harlem (who had been performing earlier in the week), Lourdes Lopez, Artistic Director of Miami City Ballet, and celebrated choreographer, Pam Tanowitz. This panel was put together to discuss women leading the way in ballet. Be sure to explore all the happenings at the Kennedy Center by visiting, kennedy-center.org. This episode is sponsored by The Kennedy Center (kennedy-center.org), Yumiko (yumiko.com), and Lake Tahoe Dance Festival (laketahoedancecollective.org). The post (140) LIVE from The Kennedy Center: Women Leading the Way in Ballet appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

This week, through the magic of Skype, Rebecca talks with Michael and friend of the pod, Zoe Zien, who are in Hong Kong setting Justin Peck's Year of the Rabbit for Hong Kong Ballet. Michael and Rebecca danced with Zoe at Miami City Ballet for the majority of her 13 years with the company. Listen to our full episode with Zoe about her career and training in episode 58. Today, Michael and Zoe talk with Rebecca about their first international experience as repetiteurs, what their process has been like, dealing with jet lag, and they break down some of their favorite experiences they have had in Hong Kong so far. The post (139) Michael and Zoe Zien, On Staging Year of the Rabbit' in Hong Kong appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

This week on Conversations On Dance, we are joined by Miami City Ballet dancer Eric Trope. While so much attention is understandably given to the physical health of dancers, Eric has been an outspoken advocate for supporting the mental health of dancers to the same extent. In this episode, we cover the difficulty of performing anxiety, dealing with body shaming and what can be done both individually and as a community to improve the mental health of our artists. Eric's article on Biscuit Ballerina's blog and article on the Conversations on Dance blog. Episode sponsored by Yumiko and The 2018 Dance Magazine Awards. The post (117) Eric Trope of Miami City Ballet on a dancer's mental health appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

Today we are joined by Miami City Ballet Artistic Director, Lourdes Lopez, and our former boss. Born in Havana, Cuba and raised in Miami, Lopez began taking ballet lessons at the age of five and continued her training full time at the School of American Ballet when she was 14. George Balanchine chose her to join the New York City Ballet corps de ballet shortly after her 16th birthday. She danced many featured roles with the company and was promoted by Balanchine to soloist in 1981, one of the last dancers he promoted. She became a Principal under the direction of Peter Martins in 1984 and she retired from the stage in 1997. After retiring she joined WNBC-TV in New York as a cultural arts reporter. She later went on to become the Executive Director of The George Balanchine Foundation and then co-founded the dance company, Morphoses with Christopher Wheeldon in 2007. In 2012, she became the Artistic Director of Miami City Ballet. Lourdes has been named a Nominee at this years Dance Magazine Awards taking place in New York City on December 3rd. For more information on the Dance Magazine awards, visit dancemagazine.com. This episode is brought to you by Yumiko. Note: Lourdes discusses the book entitled, Bravura!: Lucia Chase and the American Ballet Theatre. The post (116) Lourdes Lopez, Artistic Director of Miami City Ballet appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

Today we are joined by two of our close friends, former Miami City Ballet Principal Dancer, Patricia Delgado, and current MCB Principal, Renan Cerdeiro. Patricia has been on our podcast quite a few times in the past, so to hear more from Pat, visit our past catalog of episodes. Renan was born in Rio de Janiero, Brazil and started dancing at a young age. In 2008, he was named a finalist at the Prix de Lausanne in Switzerland, and was awarded a scholarship to train at Miami City Ballet School. He joined MCB in 2010, and was promoted to Principal in 2013. Patricia and Renan often danced together at Miami City Ballet, and became one of the companys most beloved onstage couples. We caught up with the pair when they were guesting as The Sugar Plum Fairy and Cavelier in Next Generation Ballets Nutcracker this past December. Hear them talk about their first time dancing together, what makes their partnership so special, their experience dancing Romeo and Juliet together, and what it feels like to reunite here in Tampa with Next Generation Ballet. The post (78) Renan Cerdeiro, MCB Principal, & Patricia Delgado, Former MCB Principal appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

This week we are joined Patricia Delgado, Former Miami City Ballet Principal Dancer. Patricia was born and raised in Miami and joined MCB in 2000 at the age of 18. For 17 years she danced in the majority of the companys repertoire, moving quickly through the ranks. This past April, Patricia retired from the stage and has since moved to New York City to explore other creative and artistic opportunities. We talk with Patricia from the Vail Dance Festival about her retirement shows, what the transition has been like for her moving from a full time company to becoming a free lance artist, and what her next projects are. This episode is sponsored by the Vail Dance Festival and BodyWrappers. FabFitFun is also a sponsor of Conversations on Dance. To get a seasonal box full of $200 worth of the best beauty secrets, glam fashion finds, and fitness gear for only $49.99, visit https://t.fabfitfun.com/SHqQ. The post (63) Retiring From the Stage with Patricia Delgado, Former Miami City Ballet Principal Dancer appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

Today on 'Conversations on Dance' we are joined by Moses Pendleton. Moses has been one of Americas most innova?tive and widely performed choreographers and directors for over 40 years. A co-founder of the ground-breaking Pilobolus Dance Theater in 1971, he formed his own company, MOMIX, in 1980. Mr. Pendleton has also worked extensively in film, TV, and opera and as a choreographer for ballet companies and special events.We talk with Moses about his unique trajectory to dance and directing performances, the founding of Pilobolus and MOMIX, and his production of 'Alice.' See MOMIX in 'Alice' with Performing Arts Houston on September 16th and 17th at Cullen Theater, Wortham Center. This performance is perfect for all ages and tickets start at $39. Visit performingartshouston.org for tickets and more information. See all upcoming events from Performing Arts Houston at performingartshouston.org/events.

Today, we welcome our first conductor to the podcast, Ming Luke. Ming holds a Master of Fine Arts in Conducting from Carnegie Mellon University and a Bachelor of Music in Music Education and Piano Pedagogy from Westminster Choir College of Rider University. With a background in ballet himself, Ming has conducted for ballet performances around the world. He is currently serving as Music Director for the Merced Symphony and Berkeley Community Chorus and Orchestra; Associate Conductor for the Berkeley Symphony; Principal Guest Conductor for the San Francisco Ballet; and Principal Conductor of the Nashville Ballet. While live theatre is on hiatus due to COVID-19, Ming has started an online series called Musical Point(e)s, a virtual in-depth exploration of how movement and music work together in some of the most beloved ballet in the repertoire. Upcoming programming includes Romeo and Juliet on Saturday, Sept 26th, The Winter's Tale on October 3rd, and The Nutcracker on October 10th. All events are at 12pm Pacific Time, 3pm Eastern. Access to these conversations are free. Register for access on his website, mingluke.com. This episode is brought to you by Yumiko (yumiko.com) and Trey McIntyre's FLTPK (flatpack.) Learn more at fltpk.com. Links: instagram.com/conversationsondance facebook.com/conversationsondance twitter.com/convoondance conversationsondancepod.com The post (203) Ming Luke, Principal Guest Conductor for the San Francisco Ballet and Principal Conductor of the Nashville Ballet appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

Today on Conversations on Dance we are joined by Maria Kowroski, former Principal Dancer with New York City Ballet and current Artistic Director of New Jersey Ballet. Maria chats with us about her training, her incredible career, some of her favorite memories onstage, then the opportunity to become Artistic Director of New Jersey Ballet. She tells us about her focuses for the company, the challenges she has faced, and how she is forging a new path for the company. Learn more about New Jersey Ballet and their upcoming 65th anniversary on their website njballet.org.

On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance", we dive into the new documentary "The Nutcracker At Wethersfield", a film that explores the chaotic, thrilling experience of a huge team of dancers, artists and volunteers coming together to ensure that the "Nutcracker" holiday tradition could continue during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are joined by the choreographer Troy Schumacher and ballerina Ashley Laracey, the Sugar Plum Fairy in this production, both veteran NYCB soloists who had not had a year without Nutcracker in their lives for more than two decades. They take us through the numerous complications to consider while mounting the production, from legal constraints, health concerns and the logistics of building a massive production in just five weeks, and how this experience ultimately came to be a documentary that perfectly encapsulates a moment unlike any of us shall ever experience again in our lives. "The Nutcracker At Wethersfield" will be available to stream on demand from December 21st through January 5th through the website nutcrackerfilm.com. Listen to Conversations on Dance ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/conversationsondance

On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance" we are joined by superstar NYCB ballerina Tiler Peck and Garen Scribner, former SFB soloist and the Artistic Director of the San Francisco Dance Film Festival. Tiler recounts how her harrowing recovery from a potentially life altering injury was captured on film after Garen suggested the process be turned into a documentary. The resulting project is "Tiler Peck: Suspending Time", a documentary film making its premiere at the SF Dance Film Festival this October 24th at the Lucasfilm Premier Theater. To purchase tickets, visit sfdancefilmfest.org. Get Tiler's new book: https://amzn.to/4oXookXAnnouncement:We are thrilled to announce that we will be returning to Miami City Ballet October 17th-19th to host live pre-performance talks for the opening weekend of the companys 40th anniversary season. For each talk, we will be joined by Gonzalo Garcia as he ushers the company into its first season under his direction. Full details below. This program is truly not to be missed: the all Peck program includes Year of the Rabbit, Chutes and Ladders, and Heatscape. If you are in the Miami area come join us.DETAILS:FRI October 17 with Gonzalo Garcia at 6:30pmSAT October 18 with Gonzalo and Justin Peck at 6:30pmSUN October 19 with Gonzalo and Patricia Delgado at 1pmAdmission to pre-performance talks at the Arsht Center is complimentary with ticket purchase. Tickets available here: https://www.miamicityballet.org/tickets-and-events/202526-season/peck/. If you are unable to join us in person, subscribe to the Conversations on Dance podcast feed through your favorite podcast app, where we will be publishing recordings of the events.

Today on Conversations on Dance we are joined by Dominika Afanasenkov from the Vail Dance Festival. Dominika is a ballerina with the New York City Ballet. She talks to us about how growing up in cities all over the world impacted her training, how shes approached the breakthrough opportunities shes received so far, and what her first experience at the Vail Dance Festival was like. This episode is brought to you by Discover Vail and was recorded at the 2025 Vail Dance Festival.

Join Conversations on Dance hosts Rebecca King Ferraro and Michael Sean Breeden for a live podcast recording with New York City Ballets exciting new generation of principal dancers: Chun Wai Chan, Mira Nadon, and Gilbert Bolden III. These dynamic artists are shaping the future of classical ballet with their exceptional talent, artistry, and fresh perspectives. Hear about their paths to principal status, experiences dancing with NYCB, and their aspirations both on and off the stage. This episode is brought to you by Discover Vail and was recorded live from the Vail Dance Festival on August 3, 2025.

Conversations on Dance hosts Rebecca King Ferraro and Michael Sean Breeden welcome two of the Festivals most beloved artists for a long-anticipated live podcast recording: Calvin Royal III, Principal Dancer with American Ballet Theatre, and Unity Phelan, Principal Dancer with New York City Ballet. Royal and Phelanwidely regarded as one of the most iconic duos to emerge from the Vail Dance Festivalwill reflect on their enduring partnership, born at Vail and nurtured through countless collaborations across stages and companies. This conversation explores the artistic trust, chemistry, and shared vision that have made them audience favorites. This episode is brought to you by Discover Vail and was recorded live from the Vail Dance Festival on July 31, 2025.Tickets to Conversations on Dance at the 2025 Vail Dance Festival on sale now! https://vaildance.org/conversations-on-dance/

This episode was recorded live on August 1, 2024 from the Vail Dance Festival. Today we are joined by: India Bradley (New York City Ballet), Mayfield Myers (Philadelphia Ballet), Olivia Bell (New York City Ballet), Philip Duclos (Royal Danish Ballet), and Spencer Lenain (freelance artist).Every year at the Vail Dance Festival, new budding talents from companies all over get the first opportunities to take the stage with the world class dancers who populate the cast list of VDFs performances. Watching young dancers cut their teeth in some of their early major opportunities has become as thrilling to Vail audiences as seeing its international stars. Come watch Conversations On Dance hosts Rebecca King Ferraro and Michael Sean Breeden interview some of these stars-in-the-making about their experiences at Vail before you catch them making career breakthroughs in the evenings performance. Upcoming Conversations on Dance events at the 2024 Vail Dance Festival: https://vaildance.org/conversations-on-dance/

Every year audiences at the Vail Dance Festival watch the Artist-In-Residence delve deeply into their craft, pushing outside their comfort zone to create rapidly in the ten days the festival spans. This year audiences will be treated to two such artists, the beloved New York City Ballet ballerina Sara Mearns, and highly acclaimed and sought after choreographer Jamar Roberts. Sara and Jamar sit down with Conversations On Dance hosts Rebecca King Ferraro and Michael Sean Breeden to discuss what their artistic output at the festival will be and how the artistic direction of the festival this year is guiding them in their own creative pursuits. Upcoming Conversations on Dance events at the 2024 Vail Dance Festival: https://vaildance.org/conversations-on-dance/

Today we are so pleased to bring you our interview with George Lee, the original 'Tea' dancer in George Balanchine's 'The Nutcracker.' Also joining us for the second time, is documentary filmmaker Jennifer Lin. Jennifer's latest film 'Ten Times Better' explores the life and legacy of George. Jennifer talked to us about this film in episode 382, before it's premiere. Today, George tells us about his story and the pair talk about how they came to connect and what filming the documentary was like. We hear about the response to the film and what it has meant to George to know so many people are touched by his story.For information about upcoming screenings or to get in touch with Jennifer, visit tentimesbetterfilm.com.Episode 382 with Jennifer Lin: Listen here.

Today on Conversations On Dance, we are joined by Musical Director of the New York City Ballet, Andrew Litton. Andrew takes us on a journey from his days as a kid learning about music by sitting in the orchestra pit at the metropolitan opera, to the first ballet performances he played in accompanying Rudolf Nureyev, to the work he does now bringing scores to life rehearsing and conducting performances at the New York City Ballet. You can catch Andrew at the podium starting September 19th at New York City Ballets fall season.

We are going back into our archives from the first few years of the podcast and re-releasing some of our favorite episodes. Today we are restoring our 2016 interview with the legendary Balanchine ballerina, Patricia McBride to our feed, and if you missed it the first time, now is the perfect time to catch up. Patty, as she is affectionately referred to by her many fans, peers and students, tells us some truly memorable stories about a legendary time for dance in America with her signature radiance and charm. This episode was recorded in 2016 when Patricia was in Miami working with Miami City Ballet. THIS EPISODE'S SPONSORS:Ballet Bird is a streaming site designed by former Pacific Northwest Ballet principal dancer Julie Tobiason. Ballet Bird offers ballet classes for anyone at any level of training that you can do from the comfort of your home or studio. Ballet Bird is a great addition to your regular in-studio training too. Take advantage of the ten day free trial and use the discount code COD25 to get 25% off through June 30th 2023 at balletbird.com.

On today's episode of Conversations On Dance', we are joined by New York City Ballet soloist Mira Nadon. Mira joins us for a special bonus episode discussing her role as the central ballerina in Justin Peck's upcoming premiere Copland Dance Episodes'. She gives us an inside view of NYCB's first non-narrative full length premiere since George Balanchine's Jewels', discussing the creative process, her character's emotional arc and what audiences can expect to see at the premiere this January 26th at the David H. Koch theater. This Episodes Sponsors: The Frederick Quinney Lawson Ballet West Academy is excited to announce announce their summer programs. Come explore Salt Lake City and all that Ballet West has to offer. We are launching an exciting chapter in 2023 under Academy Director, Evelyn Cisneros-Legate, with the return of our strong summer programs and year-round Professional Training Division. Start your journey to Ballet West Academy today at academy.balletwest.org and use code BWPOD for $5 off your audition fee. Works & Process moderated by Michael Sean Breeden: The Night Falls by Karen Russell, Ellis Ludwig-Leone, and Troy Schumacher (January 22, 2023) TICKETS Inside NYCB moderated by Michael Sean Breeden, with guest Justin Peck (January 23, 2023) TICKETS

In his first year at VDF, New York City Ballet soloist Jovani Furlan is set to take Vail audiences by storm. Joining the Conversations On Dance podcast, Furlan will discuss his dance upbringing in his native Brazil, the leap to american stages and what dancing at VDF for the first time has been like. Please note: Conversations On Dance co-host, Rebecca King Ferraro, will be on maternity leave this summer. These live events will be hosted by Michael Sean Breeden with special guest hosts throughout the festival. This episode was recorded on August 9, 2022 with special guest host, Mira Nadon. Special thanks to the Town of Vail for their support of Conversations on Dance and the Vail Dance Festival. This episode was recorded at the Manor Vail Lodge. Photo by Christopher Duggan. The post (305) Jovani Furlan, LIVE from the Vail Dance Festival appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

Join the Conversations On Dance podcast in a discussion with one of Vails most celebrated mainstays, Lil Buck, and one of its newest artists, New York City Ballet dancer KJ Takahashi. Buck and KJ will take us on a tour of their own relationships with ballet and street dance and how these two forms of dance have intersected for each of them in their own artistic identity. Please note: Conversations On Dance co-host, Rebecca King Ferraro, will be on maternity leave this summer. These live events will be hosted by Michael Sean Breeden with special guest hosts throughout the festival. This episode was recorded on August 8, 2022 with special guest host, Kate Penner. Special thanks to the Town of Vail for their support of Conversations on Dance and the Vail Dance Festival. This episode was recorded at the Manor Vail Lodge. The post (301) Lil Buck and KJ Takahashi, LIVE from the Vail Dance Festival appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

Sara Mearns and Pam Tanowitz are two of the most talked about dance artists of their generation, both regarded for their bold, fearless and personal interpretations of their respective art forms. At this years festival, Mearns will be premiering in a new work by Bobbi Jene Smith, while Tanowitz will create a new work to the music of Kate Davis. Join these mavericks of the industry for a discussion with the Conversations On Dance podcast about these premieres and the collaboration Mearns and Tanowitz most recently worked on together at the New York City Ballet. Please note: Conversations On Dance co-host, Rebecca King Ferraro, will be on maternity leave this summer. These live events will be hosted by Michael Sean Breeden with special guest hosts throughout the festival. This episode was recorded on August 3, 2022. Special thanks to the Town of Vail for their support of Conversations on Dance and the Vail Dance Festival. This episode was recorded at the Manor Vail Lodge. The post (298) Pam Tanowitz and Sara Mearns, LIVE from the Vail Dance Festival appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

Today we are joined by New York City Ballet soloist Mira Nadon. Mira last joined us on the podcast in April 2020, episode 180, where we talked about her training, early career and the early days of the pandemic. For her second appearance, we catch up with Mira about navigating the year and a half without performances at NYCB, her promotion to soloist and the numerous debuts she's conquered in the first half of 2022. SPONSORS: Conversations on Dance at the Vail Dance Festival July 30 August 9: https://vaildance.org/conversations-on-dance. Tickets on sale now. Special thanks to the Town of Vail for their support of the Vail Dance Festival and this episode of Conversations on Dance. ____________________________

Today on Conversations On Dance, we are joined by New York City Ballet soloist Chun Wai Chan. Chun began his ballet training in his native China, before breaking out onto the international stage through the competition scene. A finalist spot in the Prix de Lausanne sparked the interest of Houston Ballet, where he joined in the second company and quickly rose through the ranks. We talk to Chun about his early training days in China, choosing Houston Ballet over a multitude of other offers, and what it took for him to make the daring decision to drastically alter his artistic existence by joining the New York City Ballet as a soloist. SPONSORS: MENAJI Skin Care: www.menskincare.com. Use code COD30 to receive 30% savings on all individual products. ________________________________

On today's episode of Conversations On Dance' we are joined by New York City Ballet repertory director and former principal dancer Jean-Pierre Frohlich. JP, as he is referred to by friends and colleagues, began his training at the School Of American Ballet and quickly caught the eye of George Balanchine. Once accepted into the New York City Ballet, he soon began dancing coveted soloist and principal roles. When Jerome Robbins returned to the company, after spending over a decade on Broadway, he also began to push JP into featured roles. Following his retirement from the stage, JP began to stage the works of Jerome Robbins all over the world and has been an integral figure in maintaining the integrity of the Robbins repertoire at home at New York City Ballet as a repertory director. We talk to JP about his early interactions with Balanchine, performing iconic roles of the works of two living geniuses, and how he came to stage ballets for Robbins. Dance Teacher Web Conference and Expo, August 4-7, 2022 in Las Vegas. Use code COD50 at checkout for $50 off your conference registration at http://danceteachersummerexpo.com/. I Heart Dance Stands With Ukraine' April 9, 2022 at Florence Gould Hall in New York City: iheartdancenyc.com. Take our listener survey: https://conversationsondancepod.com/listener-survey ________________________________

Today we are joined by New York City Ballet principal dancer, Megan Fairchild. Megan was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, and began her dance training at the age of four. She went on to train at Ballet West Conservatory, where she was also a Ballet West trainee. In 2000, Megan continued training at the School of American Ballet and in November 2001, she became an apprentice with New York City Ballet. In October 2002 she joined the Company as a member of the corps de ballet, was promoted to the rank of soloist in February 2004, and in January 2005, she was promoted to principal dancer. Megan made her Broadway stage debut playing the role of Ivy Smith in the 2014 revival of On the Town, which opened on October 16, 2014 at the Lyric Theatre. She received the 2015 Theatre World Award for her performance. We chat with Megan about her origins in dance, her early years with the company, receiving featured opportunities at a young age, a quick rise through the ranks, dealing with performance anxiety, and returning to dance after having children. In 2021, Megan published a book, The Ballerina Mindset: How to Protect Your Mental Health While Striving for Excellence. Megan tells us about how the idea for this book came about and what she hopes that readers will take away. Get The Ballerina Mindset at book retailers nationwide and on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3tV6LbW. ___________________________

This week we talk with New York City Ballet dancer, India Bradley, from the 2021 Vail Dance Festival this past summer, before the company returned to work. India last appeared on the podcast at the Vail Dance Festival prior to beginning her first season at NYCB as a member of the corps de ballet. You can listen to our chat with her in episode 159. Today, India talks about giving herself grace during the pandemic to step away from dance, how she has found her way back, and what she has most enjoyed about returning to the studio and stage. Photo credit: Christopher Duggan __________________________________

Today on Conversations on Dance, we are joined by friend of the pod and New York City Ballet Soloist, Georgina Pazcoguin. This summer, Georgina's new book, Swan Dive was released, so we caught up with her between rehearsals and performances to chat. While she sat outside of the David H Koch Theater, she told us about the inspiration behind the book, her writing process, what she hopes readers take away from Swan Dive, and what her return to stage this past month has felt like. You can get your copy of Swan Dive wherever books or sold, or click here: https://amzn.to/3AA34YQ. ________________________________

Today we chat with New York City Ballet Principal Dancer, Russell Janzen, from the 2021 Vail Dance Festival. Russell was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and began his dance training at the age of six at The Rock School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He enrolled as a full-time student at the School of American Ballet in the winter of 2005. In June 2008, he joined the New York City Ballet as a member of the corps de ballet and was promoted to principal in February 2017. We talk with Russell about his training, dealing with a myriad of injuries during his first few years in the company, about his fellowship at Center for Ballet and the Arts at NYU, and his love for writing.

On this episode of Conversations on Dance, recorded at the 2021 Vail Dance Festival, we give you an inside look at two roles that are essential to every dance and ballet performance. Today we are joined by NYCB Assistant Stage Manager, Nicole Mitchell Mommen, and Lighting Director and Lighting Designer of Boston Ballet, Brandon Stirling Baker. Nicole was the stage manager at Miami City Ballet for many years while we danced there, Brandon is Justin Peck's go-to lighting designer, and both Nicole and Brandon were two of our earliest guests on the podcast. These two have worked very closely for years, so we thought Vail would be the perfect opportunity to have them back on the pod to talk about what lead them to the career they love and to hear more about their respective roles in the performances at the festival.

Today we are joined by New York City Ballet dancer Gretchen Smith, from the 2021 Vail Dance Festival earlier this month. Gretchen was born in Evansville, Indiana, and began her dance training at the age of seven with Evansville Dance Theatre. She began studying at the School of American Ballet during the 2003 summer course and enrolled as a full-time student that fall. She went on to join the New York City Ballet as an apprentice in October 2005, and in February 2006 she joined the Company as a member of the corps de ballet. We talk with Gretchen about her path to NYCB, dancing iconic repertoire, working with choreographers on new works, some of her takeaways from the pandemic, and her debut as Green Girl in Dances at a Gathering at the Vail Dance Festival. This episode is brought to you by Yumiko (yumiko.com).

In our next installment of LIVE from the Vail Dance Festival, we are joined by New York City Ballet principal dancer, Lauren Lovette, and Memphis Jookin star, Lil Buck. We chat with the pair about what this past year has been like for them, how they continued to find inspiration, about their friendship, and their new work they have created just for the festival. This episode was recorded LIVE from the Vail Dance Festival, This episode was recorded on August 9, 2021 at the Manor Vail Lodge. Experience the Vail Dance Festival from wherever you are this Monday, August 9th, 2021. Enjoy a live-streamed event of the festivals closing evening: NOW Premieres, which we discuss in this episode. Access will be available for one week on VDFs YouTube Channel. More information on VDFs social media channels. Special thanks to the Town of Vail for their support of the Vail Dance Festival and Conversations on Dance live podcast recordings. This episode was recorded at the Manor Vail Lodge. Conversations on Dance is proud to have YUMIKO as a continued partner in 2021. yumiko.com Thank you to Tom Boyd for producing this episode. Photo by Christopher Duggan The post (243) Lauren Lovette and Lil Buck LIVE from the Vail Dance Festival appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

In our next installment of LIVE from the Vail Dance Festival, we are joined by New York City Ballet pianist, Cameron Grant. Cameron has played for the ballet for nearly 40 years, and shares with us some of his wealth of experiences and stories. This episode was recorded LIVE from the Vail Dance Festival, This episode was recorded on August 6, 2021 at the Manor Vail Lodge. Experience the Vail Dance Festival from wherever you are this Monday, August 9th, 2021. Enjoy a live-streamed event of the festivals closing evening: NOW Premieres, which we discuss in this episode. Access will be available for one week on VDFs YouTube Channel. More information on VDFs social media channels. Special thanks to the Town of Vail for their support of the Vail Dance Festival and Conversations on Dance live podcast recordings. This episode was recorded at the Manor Vail Lodge. Conversations on Dance is proud to have YUMIKO as a continued partner in 2021. yumiko.com Thank you to Tom Boyd for producing this episode. The post (242) Cameron Grant, Pianist, LIVE from the Vail Dance Festival appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

We are joined today by Tiler Peck, principal dancer with New York City Ballet and Herman Cornejo, principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre. The pair tell us about their partnership here at the festival and Justin Peck's newest work. This episode was recorded LIVE from the Vail Dance Festival, This episode was recorded on August 4, 2021 at the Manor Vail Lodge. Experience the Vail Dance Festival from wherever you are this Monday, August 9th, 2021. Enjoy a live-streamed event of the festival's closing evening: NOW Premieres, which we discuss in this episode. Access will be available for one week on VDF's YouTube Channel. More information on VDF's social media channels. Special thanks to the Town of Vail for their support of the Vail Dance Festival and Conversations on Dance live podcast recordings. This episode was recorded at the Manor Vail Lodge. Conversations on Dance is proud to have YUMIKO as a continued partner in 2021. yumiko.com Thank you to Tom Boyd for producing this episode. The post (240) Tiler Peck and Herman Cornejo, LIVE from the Vail Dance Festival appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

Welcome to our first live podcast recording from the Vail Dance Festival. First up, we chat with New York City Ballet Artistic Director, Jonathan Stafford. We talk with Jon about his pathway to NYCB, some of the leadership roles he held while he was still dancing, the NYCB Interim Transition Team, his role as Artistic Director, leading the company through this past unprecedented year, and what comes next. This episode was recorded on July 30th, 2021 at the Manor Vail Lodge. Special thanks to the Town of Vail for their support of the Vail Dance Festival and Conversations on Dance live podcast recordings. This episode was recorded at the Manor Vail Lodge. Conversations on Dance is proud to have YUMIKO as a continued partner in 2021. yumiko.com Thank you to Tom Boyd for producing this episode. The post (237) Jonathan Stafford, Artistic Director of NYCB, LIVE from Vail Dance Festival appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

This week we are joined by New York City Ballet Principal Dancer, Ashley Bouder. It has been over 4 years since we last had Ashley on the pod, so we have a lot of catch up on. We talk about what this last year has been like for her, about her college courses and teaching career, her advocacy efforts including her association with Dancers Amplified, and what she will be performing at this year's Lake Tahoe Dance Festival. The Lake Tahoe Dance Festival returns to in person performances this July 27 30. See Ashley and other world-renowned dancers, including friend of the pod, Christopher Charles McDaniel of Dance Theatre of Harlem, onstage in one of the most beautiful places on earth. Tickets and more information available here: https://bit.ly/3mGM51U. This episode is brought to you by Yumiko (yumiko.com). We will be returning to the Vail Dance Festival this year. From July 30th August 9th we will be conducting nine live events with festival artists, recording bonus interviews, and teaching master classes. If you are planning on being in Vail for the festival, tickets for our live events go on sale on June 16th, 2021 at 11am Mountain Time. Links: Join our email list: https://bit.ly/3basX5g instagram.com/conversationsondance facebook.com/conversationsondance twitter.com/convoondance conversationsondancepod.com The post (232) Ashley Bouder on The Lake Tahoe Dance Festival appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

This week we are joined by Craig Hall, New York City Ballet Repertory Director. Craig was born in Maywood, Illinois. At age 14, he began studying at the Chicago Academy of the Arts and entered the School of American Ballet full time in the fall of 1997. In October 1999, Craig became an apprentice with New York City Ballet, and he joined the Company as a member of the corps de ballet in February 2000. In 2007, he was promoted to soloist. Craig is currently NYCB Repertory Director and assistant to world renowned New York City Ballet Resident-Choreographer Justin Peck. Hes also a guest teacher at Manhattan Movements Arts Center, coach, and has given master classes and seminars across the U.S. We talk with Craig about his career, reminisce on some important advice from teachers, talk about his transition to becoming a repetiteur (his first gig was with us at Miami City Ballet), and the work he is doing now. This episode is brought to you by Yumiko (yumiko.com). Links: Join our email list: https://bit.ly/3basX5g instagram.com/conversationsondance facebook.com/conversationsondance twitter.com/convoondance conversationsondancepod.com The post (218) Craig Hall, New York City Ballet Repertory Director appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

Welcome to the second part of our interview with Balanchine Ballerina, Gloria Govrin. If you are tuning in and haven't heard part one, we hope that you will go back in your feed to episode 212 for our chat with Gloria about her career. Today in Part II, Gloria tells us about where her career took her after retiring from the stage. She has since gone on to a prolific teaching career, being considered one of the leading masters of the Balanchine Technique. She is currently the Artistic Director of Eastern Connecticut Ballet. Thank you to Yumiko (yumiko.com) for their continued support of Conversations on Dance in 2021. The post (213) Gloria Govrin, Balanchine Ballerina (Part II) appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

Today we are joined by Balanchine Ballerina, Gloria Govrin. Gloria danced with New York City Ballet from 1959 to 1974 and was promoted to soloist in 1963. An unusually tall dancer, she inspired Balanchine to choreograph several distinctive roles on her. Roles such as Hippolyta in A Midsummer's Night Dream, Coffee in Nutcracker, the Princess in Firebird, and La Bonne Fee in Harlequinade were stamped with her identity. After her distinguished stage career, Ms. Govrin has gone on to a prolific teaching career, being considered one of the leading masters of the Balanchine Technique. She is now the Artistic Director of Eastern Connecticut Ballet. We spoke with Gloria for over an hour and a half, so we will be splitting this interview into two parts. In Part One, we talk with Gloria about her origin in ballet, how she came to join NYCB, dancing for Balanchine, and the many iconic roles he created specifically for her. Be sure to subscribe to Conversations on Dance wherever you get your podcasts, to receive a notification when we publish Part Two of this interview next week. In Part Two we go in depth with Gloria about the trajectory of her teaching career after her retirement from the stage. Links: instagram.com/conversationsondance facebook.com/conversationsondance twitter.com/convoondance conversationsondancepod.com The post (212) Gloria Govrin, Balanchine Ballerina (Part I) appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

Today we are joined by Megan LeCrone, soloist with the New York City Ballet. Megan was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and at age 14, began studying with Melissa Hayden and Duncan Noble at the North Carolina School of the Arts. Megan entered the School of American Ballet full-time in the fall of 2001, and in November 2001 she became an apprentice with New York City Ballet. She joined the Company as a member of the corps de ballet in October 2002 and was promoted to soloist in February 2013. We talk with Megan about her training, what brought her to SAB, how she joined the company, dealing with injuries, and her close working relationship with Peter Martins. This episode is brought to you by Yumiko (yumiko.com). Links: instagram.com/conversationsondance facebook.com/conversationsondance twitter.com/convoondance conversationsondancepod.com The post (198) Megan LeCrone, Soloist New York City Ballet appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

This week we are joined by Mira Nadon, New York City Ballet Corps de Ballet dancer. Mira began her ballet training at the age of six at the Inland Pacific Ballet Academy in Montclair, California. She attended summer courses at the School of American Ballet (SAB), in 2014 and 2015, before entering SAB full-time for the 2015 winter term. In November 2017, Ms. Nadon became an apprentice with NYCB and joined the Company as a member of the corps de ballet in November 2018. We talk with this rising star about her training, joining NYCB as an apprentice at just 16, and her career accomplishments at such a young age. This episode is brought to you by Yumiko (yumiko.com). Photo: Nadon in Peter Martins' The Sleeping Beauty. Erin Baiano, Courtesy NYCB The post (180) Mira Nadon, New York City Ballet Corps de Ballet dancer appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

This week we are joined by our friend, Jovani Furlan, soloist with New York City Ballet. Born in Joinville, Brazil, Jovani started dancing at the age of 11 at The Bolshoi Theater School in Brazil. In 2010 he participated in the International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Mississippi, and was offered a full scholarship to attend the Miami City Ballet School by Edward Villella. He began his training at the MCB School in 2011 and joined Miami City Ballet in 2012. He was promoted to soloist in 2015 and was named an MCB principal dancer in 2017. Jovani joined NYCB as a soloist in August 2019. We talk with Jovani, who we both danced with for many years in Miami, about his origins with ballet, why he had his eye on coming to dance in the US, joining MCB during the directorship transition, and how his new position at New York City Ballet came about. This episode is brought to you by Yumiko (yumiko.com) The post (179) Jovani Furlan, Soloist New York City Ballet appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

This week we are joined from the 2019 Vail Dance Festival this past summer, by Christopher Grant, New York City Ballet dancer. Christopher was born in Jamaica, Queens. He began his dance training at the School of American Ballet (SAB) in 2002. In August 2015, he became an apprentice with NYCB and joined the Company as a member of the corps de ballet in August 2016. We talk with Chris about his training, the struggles of moving from student life to company life, how he hopes that he can set an example for students coming through the school, and his second year at the Vail Dance Festival. This episode is brought to you by Yumiko and The Town of Vail. YUMIKO's new Holiday Collection is the perfect way to get winter-ready this season! The Holiday Collection ships within 2-3 days. Available to order at www.yumiko.com. The post (164) Christopher Grant, New York City Ballet Dancer appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

This week on COD, we are joined by New York City Ballet dancer India Bradley. With a history of dance in her family, India began her training in her home state of Michigan. After training at DTH and SAB, India was accepted into NYCB. After just one year in the company, she has proven to be an in demand talent elsewhere, with a spate of additional performing opportunities that have included the Ashley Bouder Project, Vail Dance Festival and BalletCollective. We talk to India about her early experiences at NYCB, her experiences with a multitude of side projects and what the leadership transition at NYCB has been like for the newest generation of dancers. This episode is generously supported by Yumiko (yumiko.com), Vail Dance Festival, and BalletCollective. Conversations On Dance would like to take this opportunity to invite you to an evening of dance and music that finds NYCB soloist Troy Schumacher's trailblazing BalletCollective collaborating with the groundbreaking orchestral collective The Knights. Comprised entirely of dancers from the New York City Ballet, and featuring world premieres by two of its dancers, Schumacher and Preston Chamblee, the evening will build on BalletCollective's tradition of creating forward-thinking, collaboration driven art that reflects the world we live in. Hailed by the New York Times as being unforced, experimental and refreshing', BalletCollective has been at the forefront of collaborative art for nearly a decade. Don't miss their performances at the Gelsey Kirkland Arts Center in Brooklyn, this Oct 23, 25 and 26. You can purchase tickets at www.balletcollective.com/tickets. The post (159) India Bradley, Dancer with New York City Ballet & BalletCollective appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

This week on Conversations on Dance, we are joined by New York City Ballet dancer Preston Chamblee. Preston hails from North Carolina, where he began his dance training. After dancing at the School of American Ballet, Preston was accepted into the New York City Ballet and shortly after began to dance featured roles in ballets like Morgen', Rodeo' and Year of the Rabbit'. Preston has recently branched out into the world of choreography and was selected as BalletCollective's 2019 choreographer in residence. We talk to Preston about his experiences as a NYCB dancer, what inspires him as a choreographer, and how he balances his dual roles. This episode is sponsored by Vail Dance Festival and BalletCollective. This episode is sponsored by Yumiko (yumiko.com), Vail Dance Festival, and BalletCollective. Don't miss Ballet Collective's performances at the Gelsey Kirkland Arts Center in Brooklyn, this Oct 23, 25 and 26, 2019. You can purchase tickets at www.balletcollective.com/tickets. The post (157) Preston Chamblee, Dancer with New York City Ballet appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

Today we are bringing you a live podcast recording from the Vail Dance Festival with New York City Ballet Principal Dancer Lauren Lovette. We catch up on what she has been up to since we saw her last summer, talk about her choreography, and her position of Artist in Residence this year at the festival. Unfortunately, we again had a technology glitch during this episode and are bringing you an iphone audio recording of the event. As you know, this audio is not up to our usual quality, but Laurens chat with us was just too good not to bring to the masses. Thank you for your understanding. This episode was recorded live on August 4th, 2019. This episode is brought to you by Yumiko and The Town of Vail. The post (151) Lauren Lovette LIVE From Vail Dance Festival appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

Today we are bringing you a live podcast recording from the Vail Dance Festival with New York City Ballet Principal Tiler Peck. In her 11th year at the Vail Dance Festival, Tiler continues to explore her work as a choreographer with a revival of last year's premiere Lincoln Square' and new premiere to Caroline Shaw's Thousandth Orange'. We talk to her about her choreographic inspirations, and the thought process behind her latest work. This episode was recorded on August 6, 2019. This episode is brought to you by Yumiko and the Town of Vail. This episode was recorded at Manor Vail Lodge. The post (148) Tiler Peck LIVE from Vail Dance Festival appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

New York City Ballet up-and-coming corps member, Roman Mejia, sits down with us from the Vail Dance Festival. We talk about his year of dance since we last saw him in Vail, working with Edward Villella, and on performing Alexei Ratmansky's Fandango' here at Vail Dance Festival on August 2nd, 2019. This episode is brought to you by Yumiko and the Town of Vail. This episode was recorded at Manor Vail Lodge. The post BONUS: Roman Mejia of NYCB from Vail Dance Festival appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

This week we have the pleasure of diving into one of the works that will be presented this year at the Lake Tahoe Dance Festival, Agnes De Milles The Other.' We speak with dancers Stephen Hanna (formerly of NYCB) and Abi Stafford (Principal at NYCB) who will be performing this work at the festival. We are also joined by Diana Gonzalez-Duclert, who is setting the ballet on Stephen and Abi. Diana assisted Ms. De Mille in setting the ballet on American Ballet Theatre in 1992. We caught up with this trio at the end of their week long rehearsal process to prepare the work for the festival. We talk about why this work is so significant, the challenges that come along with dancing De Mille ballets, and talk through the story line. Diana tells us why it is so important that companies like New York Theatre Ballet, Ballet Arkansas, and Alabama ballet continue to present De Mille works in their repertoire. The Lake Tahoe Dance festival is July 24-26. Tickets are on sale at laketahoedancecollective.org. We would like to mention that we were unfortunately unable to deliver our usual sound quality for this episode. Because we could not geographically be together for this interview, all 5 of us skyped in to discuss this work. We appreciate your understanding that sometimes these things are out of our control, but it was important for us to bring this episode to you, as we find what Diana, Abi, and Stephen had to say about this work fascinating, and important. Thank you. This episode is sponsored by Yumiko (yumiko.com) and Lake Tahoe Dance Festival (laketahoedancecollective.org). The post (145) Agnes De Mille's The Other' at Lake Tahoe Dance Festival appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

This week on Conversations on Dance, we are joined by New York City Ballet dancer, Miriam Miller from last summers Vail Dance Festival. Miriam was born in Iowa City, Iowa, and began her dance training in 2001. She attended summer courses at the School of American Ballet (SAB) in 2011 and 2012, enrolling as a full-time student during the 2012 winter term. Ms. Miller became an apprentice with NYCB in January 2015. While still an apprentice with NYCB, Miller performed the role of Titania in George Balanchines A Midsummer Nights Dream, as well as featured roles in Balanchines Harlequinade and Peter Martins Swan Lake. She joined the Company as a member of the corps de ballet in January 2016. We talk with Miriam about her start with ballet, how her first show of Titania came about, her hopes for her career, and going to college while dancing full time. This episode is sponsored by Yumiko and The Town Of Vail. The post (132) Miriam Miller, New York City Ballet Dancer appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

This week we head back into our vault from our time at the Vail Dance Festival last summer. Today we speak with former Miami City Ballet Principal dancer, Patricia Delgado, and New York City Ballet Principal, Jared Angle. Even though they have never danced in the same company, many gigs have brought them to dance together, especially at the Vail Dance Festival. So we sat down with them to talk about what makes their special partnership work. This year they danced the central pas de deux of Justin Pecks new work created at the festival Rise Wait Climb Through, with music created by Caroline Shaw. We chat about what we would like to see them dance together next year in Vail, about dancing Year of our Lord from Year of the Rabbit together, and about the process of Justins new work that had it's premier later that night. This episode is brought to you by Yumiko and The Vail Dance Festival. The post (124) Patricia Delgado and Jared Angle appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

This week on Conversations On Dance we are joined by one of the ballet world's most celebrated pianists, Cameron Grant. Cameron joined the New York City Ballet in 1984, where he was appointed pianist of the New York City Ballet orchestra four years later. He has played nearly every major piano ballet in the repertoire, including Balanchine masterworks like Davidsbundlertanze' and Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 2', and Robbins ballets like Dances At a Gathering' and Goldberg Variations'. We spoke with Cameron about how he came to work for the ballet, what working with Robbins was like, and the unique challenges of playing for ballet dancers. This episode is sponsored by The Town of Vail, Yumiko, and The 2018 Dance Magazine Awards. The post (118) Cameron Grant, New York City Ballet Pianist appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

This week on Conversations On Dance, we talk to Daniel Applebaum, dancer with the New York City Ballet. Daniel joined the company in 2005, and quickly became one of the most depended upon dancers, regularly dancing triple bills, morphing into varied choreographic styles, and keeping dozens of ballets ready to go in his mind and body. Noted for his intelligence, elegance, musicality, and full out movement quality, Daniel continues to be an onstage force and promises to be a mind that will shape the dance world in the years to come. This episode is sponsored by Yumiko and The Vail Dance Festival The post (109) Daniel Applebaum, dancer with the New York City Ballet appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

Today we talk with New York City Ballet Principal, Lauren Lovette. The last time we chatted with her was last year at the Vail Dance Festival, so this year we catch up with her, talk about her guesting gig with Royal Danish Ballet, and hear about her new work Papillons that premiered on August 6th, 2018 at the Vail Dance Festival. (Note: This episode was recorded on August 6th, 2018.) Photo: Unity Phelan and cast in Papillons at the 2018 Vail Dance Festival. Choreography by Lauren Lovette. Photo by Erin Baiano The post BONUS: Lauren Lovette on her new work for Vail Dance Festival appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

Roman Mejia is one of the newest members of the New York City Ballet, having burst onto the scene at the Vail Dance Festival fresh out of the School of American Ballet. In just his first year at the company, hes garnered critical acclaim for numerous solo roles, and is quickly gathering momentum as a dancer to be seen. We talk with Roman about the pressures of being thrust into the spotlight so soon into his career, how he prepares for these challenges, and how coming from a ballet family has prepared him in his career. (Note: This episode was recorded on August 4th, 2018) Photo: Roman Mejia in Pas de Deux from William Tell at the 2018 Vail Dance Festival. Photo by Erin Baiano The post (101) Roman Mejia LIVE From Vail Dance Festival appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

This week we bring you an episode we recorded at New York Citys Guggenheim museum in January. We wanted to catch up with New York City Ballet Principal Dancer, Sara Mearns, and Jodi Melnick, contemporary choreographer to hear about their Works and Process at the Guggenheim that they were putting together. We chatted with the pair quickly between rehearsals, so we could offer our listeners a preview of this work One of Sixty-Five Thousand Gestures/ NEW BODIES that will be going to the Spoleto Festival in Charelston, South Carolina June 7-10. For more information about the festival and performances running May 25-June 10th, visit Spoletousa.org. To get tickets to see Sara and Jodi, search NEW BODIES on the Spoleto website, or click here. The post (92) Sara Mearns and Jodi Melnick at the Guggenheim appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

Today we are bringing you another episode from Next Generation Ballet in Tampa. We sit down with esteemed New York City Ballet Principals Sara Mearns and Amar Ramasar who were performing as guest artists for NGBs Nutcracker this past December. Sara has been on the pod before, so if you havent heard our interview with her, check out episode 24. Amar and Sara have been dancing together since they joined the company in 2000 and 2003 respectively. They have had works created on them and surrounding their partnership by countless choreographers including Justin Peck, Peter Martins, Chris Wheeldon, and Alexei Ratmansky to name a few. Today we talk with them about what makes a successful partnership, how they worked through some difficult times, why they work so well together, and they share with us some of their favorite onstage moments together. The post (76) Sara Mearns and Amar Ramasar, New York City Ballet Principals appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

This week we are heading into our vault from our time at the Vail Dance Festival this past summer, where we spoke with many of the festivals amazing and talented artists. Today we talk with Lauren Lovette, New York City Ballet Principal Dancer who was not only dancing at the festival, but also choreographing a new piece. Lauren began dancing at the age of 11 at the Cary Ballet Conservatory in Cary, North Carolina. She attended summer courses at the School of American Ballet during the summers of 2004 and 2005 and became a year-round student in 2006. After joining New York City Ballet as member of the corps de ballet in 2010, she became a principal dancer in 2015. We talk with Lauren about her start in ballet, how she became interested in choreography, how becoming a vegan has changed her dancing, and about her new ballet that premiered a few nights after we recorded this episode. The post (70) Lauren Lovette, New York City Ballet Principal Dancer appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

Welcome to Live From the Kennedy Center: Damian Woetzel & Tiler Peck on Jerome Robbins. Two weeks ago we were in Washington, DC to cover a busy weekend of ballet at the Kennedy Center. We arrived on Friday night just in time to watch an exceptional performance entitled DEMO: Jerome Robbins- An American Dance Genius. These DEMO programs are curated by former New York City Ballet Principal, Artistic Director of the Vail Dance Festival, and incoming president of Julliard, Damian Woetzel. Damian hosted the evening, which gave audiences an educational behind the scenes look at working with Jermone Robbins and dancing his ballets. He brought 5 New York City Ballet dancers with him to demonstrate multiple excerpts of Robbins ballets: Tyler Angle, Tiler Peck, Unity Phelan, Amar Ramasar, and Daniel Ulbricht. Damians wife, and former New York City Ballet Principal, (also a former Conversations on Dance guest) Heather Watts, was a special guest for the evening. The dancers were all clad in rehearsal attire, the stage was bare, with the exceptions of a few barres to constitue sets, organized onstage just as they are in the studios for rehearsals. The evening started with Robbins' first work Fancy Free, and moved in mostly chronological order, to include his Broadway work, his return to NYCB in 1969, and his interest in choreographing to Chopins music. One highlight of the evening was when Ms. Watts coached Ms. Peck in Afternoon of a Faun. The evening included so much history, details, and background on these ballets, that we invited Damian and Tiler Peck to join us the next day for a debrief of the performance. For more information on performances and events at the Kennedy Center, visit kennedy-center.org. The post (67) Live From the Kennedy Center: Damian Woetzel & Tiler Peck on Jerome Robbins appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

Today we are joined by Gonzalo Garcia, New York City Ballet Principal. Born in Spain, Mr. Garcia began studying ballet at the age of eight at Maria Avila's school. In 1995 he came to the U.S. to study at the San Francisco Ballet Schools summer intensive. He then went on to become the youngest dancer to ever win a gold medal in the Prix de Lausanne. He returned to San Francisco Ballet School to complete his training when we was asked to join the company in 1998. He was promote to principal in 2002. In 2007 he joined New York City Ballet as a principal dancer. Today we talk with Gonzalo about his training in Spain, coming to the US at such a young age, deciding to take the leap of changing companies, and what he is considering doing after his ballet career. Sponsored by FabFitFun. Visit conversationsondancepod.com/FabFitFun to receive a box full of fashion and beauty merchandise, a $200 value, for only $49.99. The post (62) Gonzalo Garcia, New York City Ballet Principal appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

This week we are joined by New York City Ballet soloist, Unity Phelan. Born in Princeton, New Jersey, Unity began her training at the age of 5 at the Princeton Ballet School. In 2008 and 2009 she attended the School of American Ballet for the summer, becoming a year-round student in the fall of 2009. In December 2012 she was asked to become an apprentice with the New York City Ballet, and was promoted to soloist just this past February. Today we talk with Unity from the Vail Dance Festival back in August. We discuss her quick rise through the ranks at New York City Ballet, being selected to dance a Principal role in a new ballet at just 20 years old, and the role Vail Dance Festival plays in her development as an artist. This episode is brought to you by Blue Apron. We are happy to offer a special $30 off your first order at Blue Apron for all of our listeners by visiting conversationsondancepod.com/blueapron. The post (61) Unity Phelan, New York City Ballet Soloist appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

This week we are joined by distinguished Balanchine ballerina, Heather Watts. Immediately noticed for her stunning physicality and the individuality of her interpretations, Watts was one of the last ballerinas to inspire Balanchine, having roles created for her in ballets like Walpurgisnacht' and danced many of his existing masterpieces such as Concerto Barocco, Symphony in C, and Theme in Variations. She has devoted her life after the stage to keeping Balanchine's works alive, whether it's giving lectures on the way Balanchine's worlds related to art and world events at the time of their creation, or coaching her roles for the many artists of the Vail Dance Festival. In 2012, Watts was awarded an honorary doctorate from Hunter College. She is married to former New York City Ballet Principal Dancer, Damian Woetzel. Today we talk with Heather about her early career, how she caught Balanchines eye, the way his death impacted her life, and why coaching his ballets and influencing the next generation is so important to her. The post (60) Heather Watts, Balanchine Ballerina appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

This week we are joined by Jared Angle, New York City Ballet Principal Dancer. Jared was born in Altoona Pennsylvania and began dancing at the age of six. In 1996, he moved to New York City to continue his training at the School of American Ballet. The following year he received the Rudolph Nureyev Scholarship to continue his training at SAB. Jared joined New York City Ballet in 1998 as a corps member and was promoted to Principal in 2005. Today we talk with Jared about his early career, his skilled talent for partnering, being in the company with his brother Tyler, and what he sees for his future. The post (57) Jared Angle, New York City Ballet Principal Dancer appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

This week we continue our coverage of Next Generation Ballets Nutcracker by speaking with Philip Neal, Artistic Director of Next Generation Ballet. Philip began his training at the age of 11 at the School of Richmond Ballet, where he was recognized by Edward Villella and offered a scholarship to the School of American Ballet. He joined the New York City Ballet in 1987 becoming a Principal in 1992. He went on to dance lead roles in the vast majority of the companys rep, and was invited to guest with many companies including the Kirov Ballet and Paris Opera Ballet. After a 23- year tenure with City Ballet, 17 of those years as a Principal, Philip was invited by The George Balanchine Trust and The Jerome Robbins Rights Trust to become a Repetiteur, staging the ballets of both legendary choreographers throughout the world. From 2010-2013, he directed developmental efforts in Palm Beach County on behalf of Miami City Ballet before being appointed the Artistic Director of Next Generation Ballet & Dance Dean of the Patel Conservatory at the Straz Center in Tampa FL, one the largest performing arts center in the United States. Today we talk with Philip about his career, how he discovered his talent for arts development, get some teaching pointers, and learn more about the great work he is doing at Next Generation Ballet. The post (74) Philip Neal, Artistic Director of Next Generation Ballet and Former New York City Ballet Principal appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

Today we talk with Ivonne Lemus: Ballet Mistress at Next Generation Ballet & Former Soloist with National Ballet of Cuba. We took a quick break over the holiday from our regularly scheduled programming, but while we were on our break, we went to Tampa to teach master classes, host a lecture, and record interviews with the dancers, staff, and guest artists of Next Generation Ballet. Today we talk with NGBs Ballet Mistress, Ivonne Lemus. Ivonne trained at the National School of Ballet in Havana, Cuba, where she graduated in 1986. She then went on to join the National Ballet of Cuba where she danced under the direction of Alicia Alonso for a decade. After her promotion to soloist in Cuba, she went on to join the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. After her dancing career, she has gone on to teach all over the country, joining Next Generation Ballets full-time teaching staff in 2007. We talk with Ivonne about what he training was like in Cuba, about dancing for Alicia, how she defected and ended up in Canada, and how she is now producing the next generation of professional dancers. The post (73) Ivonne Lemus: Ballet Mistress at Next Generation Ballet & Former Soloist with National Ballet of Cuba appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

Welcome to a special episode of Conversations on Dance. We are in Tampa, Florida this week covering Next Generation Ballet and their Nutcracker run at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts. In the coming weeks we will be releasing content with the staff including Director Philip Neal and Ballet Mistress Ivonne Lemus and their guest artists performing this weekend. So stayed tuned for that. But today, we will be talking with some of the students who will be featured in the production: Stephen Myers, Audra Cockrell, Virginia Archer, Avery Jarrard, and Abigail White. The post Bonus Episode: More from Next Generation Ballet's Nutcracker' appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

Welcome to a special episode of Conversations on Dance. We are in Tampa, Florida this week covering Next Generation Ballet and their Nutcracker run at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts. In the coming weeks we will be releasing content with the staff including Director Philip Neal and Ballet Mistress Ivonne Lemus and their guest artists performing this weekend. So stayed tuned for that. But today, we will be talking with some alumni of the Next Generation Ballet: Jordan Martinez of the Royal Ballet School and Alexandra de Roos of the School of American Ballet. The post Bonus Episode: Next Generation Ballet's Nutcracker' appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

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 expect from this ambitious project. If you're in the Portland area and want to purchase tickets to "Marilyn", visit www.obt.org. Performances run April 4 through the 13th at the Newmark theater. This episode's sponsor: Paying tribute to the groundbreaking Judson Church choreographers who radically pushed the boundaries of what dance could be, New York Theatre Ballet presents Legends & Visionaries: Postmodern Dance at Judson Church, Friday, April 25 at 7:00PM and Saturday, April 26 at 3:00PM.In two programs of works by Trisha Brown, David Gordon, James Waring, Douglas Dunn, and Amanda Treiber, New York Theatre Ballet celebrates the spirit of the legendary Judson Dance Theatre of the 1960s. All seats are $30. For tickets, please visit www.nytb.org/tickets

Today we are joined by the Artistic Director of Pacific Northwest Ballet, Peter Boal. We have had the pleasure of having Peter on the podcast a handful of times in the past, but today we were happy to get to speak with him about his new memoir which was released in June, 'Illusions of Camelot: A Memoir.' Peter tells us about how he built the concept of the book, what he wanted to convey, and the experience of writing such personal essays about his life. 'Illusions of Camelot' is now available at your local book store or online on Amazon. Get Peter's book here: https://amzn.to/43ntRGlVAIL DANCE FESTIVAL TICKETS ON SALE NOW! Conversations on Dance events: https://bit.ly/3NQwoDjPerformance tickets: https://vaildance.org/

This week we welcome Pacific Northwest Ballet Artistic Director, Peter Boal, back to the podcast. We first spoke with Peter in March of 2017, for a fantastic conversation surrounding his career and directorship. (Tune into episode 36 with Peter). Today, we catch up with Peter to hear about his experience leading PNB through the COVID-19 pandemic, how the dancers are safely and creatively returning to the studios to work, and about the incredible virtual programming that PNB has been curating exclusively for Ballet Sun Valley. On August 23rd at 7pm MST (9pm EST), tune into Ballet Sun Valley's exclusive one-night only streaming event featuring PNB. Peter tells gives us a preview of the works we will be seeing and how these pieces are being filmed especially for this event. For more information on how to register to have the performance streamed to your home, visit: balletsunvalley.org. Conversations on Dance is brought to you by Yumiko (yumiko.com). Links: instagram.com/conversationsondance facebook.com/conversationsondance twitter.com/convoondance conversationsondancepod.com The post (197) Peter Boal, Pacific Northwest Ballet Artistic Director, on Ballet Sun Valley appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance" we are joined by choreographer Robert Battle. Robert tells us about how he started a company to push his own choreographic work, what it was like to become the third director in the history of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and how he's just begun to explore his recent post as resident choreographer of Paul Taylor Dance Company. To see Robert's latest work for Paul Taylor on tour visit paultaylordance.org/performances.Listen to Conversations on Dance ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/conversationsondance

Join Conversations on Dance hosts Rebecca King Ferraro and Michael Sean Breeden for a live podcast recording with Michael Novak, Artistic Director of the legendary Paul Taylor Dance Company. As the company returns to the Vail Dance Festival for the first time since 2018, Novak reflects on honoring the legacy of Paul Taylorone of the most influential figures in American modern danceon what would have been Taylors 95th birthday.This special conversation offers insight into the companys tribute performance, featuring the beloved Company B and the 50th anniversary presentation of Esplanade, a masterwork hailed for transforming everyday movement into mythic dance. This episode is brought to you by Discover Vail and was recorded live from the Vail Dance Festival on July 27, 2025.Tickets to Conversations on Dance at the 2025 Vail Dance Festival on sale now! https://vaildance.org/conversations-on-dance/

On today's episode of 'Conversations On Dance' we are joined by star ballerina and resident choreographer of the Paul Taylor Dance Company, Lauren Lovette. We talk to Lauren about the leap of faith she took in leaving New York City Ballet to freelance, how her choreographic voice has developed since being offered her role as resident choreographer and what to expect from her dual world premieres this fall season. Tickets for Paul Taylor's fall season at the David H Koch theater this Oct 31st through Nov 12th can be purchased at paultaylordance.org. THIS EPISODE'S SPONSOR:New York Theatre Ballet celebrates its 45-year legacy with a Fall program of World and Company Premieres by Artistic Director Steven Melendez, Douglas Dunn, David Gordon, and Amanda Treiber, Friday, October 6 and Saturday, October 7 at Florence Gould Hall in New York City. New York Theatre Ballet performs small classic masterpieces and new contemporary works for adults and innovative hour-long ballets for young children, all at affordable prices. This seasons Once Upon a Ballet series features The Firebird and Merce Cunninghams Scramble for four family-friendly shows, Saturday, October 7 and Sunday, October 8. For tickets and information, please visit NYTB.org/tickets.

This we we are delighted to welcome Michael Novak, the Artistic Director Designate of the Paul Taylor Dance Foundation. Raised in Rolling Meadows, IL, Michael began studying dance at age ten. In 2001, he was offered a Presidential Scholarship to attend The University of the Arts in Philadelphia to pursue training in jazz and ballet. The following year, he undertook an apprenticeship at the Pennsylvania Academy of Ballet Society, where he remained until 2004. After moving to New York City, Michael was admitted to Columbia Universitys School of General Studies where he was awarded scholarships for academic excellence. After being a freelance dancer in New York City for many years, Michael joined the Paul Taylor Dance Company in 2010. This past May, Paul Taylor chose Michael as a successor, naming him artistic director-designate of the Paul Taylor Dance Foundation. Michael is 35 and will continue on with the company as a dancer. Today we talk with Michael about what brought him to dance, finding Paul Taylor and his choreography, and what has happened since Paul called him in March with some big news. The post (99) Michael Novak, Artistic Director Designate of the Paul Taylor Dance Foundation appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

Welcome to a special episode of Conversations on Dance recorded live at Works & Process at the Guggenheim. In the conversation, we sit down with Philadelphia Ballet resident choreographer Juliano Nunes to discuss his brand new 'Romeo and Juliet' that is having it's world premiere at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia on April 30th. Throughout the event, we take moments to pause and watch the artists of Philadelphia Ballet dance and be coached by Juliano. You can watch the event in it's entirety on YouTube here.Romeo and Juliet runs for 11 performances at the Academy of Music this season, from April 30 through May 10. For tickets and more information, visit philadelphiaballet.org.Watch the full event on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpE3tF7eOpk

This episode was recorded live on August 1, 2024 from the Vail Dance Festival. Today we are joined by: India Bradley (New York City Ballet), Mayfield Myers (Philadelphia Ballet), Olivia Bell (New York City Ballet), Philip Duclos (Royal Danish Ballet), and Spencer Lenain (freelance artist).Every year at the Vail Dance Festival, new budding talents from companies all over get the first opportunities to take the stage with the world class dancers who populate the cast list of VDFs performances. Watching young dancers cut their teeth in some of their early major opportunities has become as thrilling to Vail audiences as seeing its international stars. Come watch Conversations On Dance hosts Rebecca King Ferraro and Michael Sean Breeden interview some of these stars-in-the-making about their experiences at Vail before you catch them making career breakthroughs in the evenings performance. Upcoming Conversations on Dance events at the 2024 Vail Dance Festival: https://vaildance.org/conversations-on-dance/

This week we are presenting our final episode recorded from the Vail Dance Festival in August 2017. Today we sit down with Matthew Neenan, PA Ballet Choreographer in Residence & Co-founder of BalletX. Matthew began his dance training at the Boston Ballet School, later continuing his studies at the School of American Ballet. From 1994-2007 Neenan danced with the Pennsylvania Ballet. In 2006, Matthew received the New York City Ballets Choreographic Institutes Fellowship Initiative Award, and in 2007 was named Choreographer in Residence at Pennsylvania Ballet. His work has been performed at the Washington Ballet, Colorado Ballet, Ballet West, and many others. In 2005, Matthew co-founded BalletX with fellow dancer Christine Cox. BalletX has toured and performed Neenans choreography in New York City at The Joyce Theater and The Skirball Center, at the Vail Dance Festival, and at Jacobs Pillow. Today we talk with Matthew about his dancing career, his choreography, how the evolution of Pennsylavnia ballet has changed his work, the founding of BalletX while still dancing, and the hopes and dreams he has for the company going forward. The post (81) Matthew Neenan, PA Ballet Choreographer in Residence & Co-founder of BalletX appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

Today we chat with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre's newly appointed Artistic Director, Susan Jaffe. Susan was a Principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre for 22 years, appearing prominently in the international dance scene and frequently dancing with Mikhail Baryshnikov. She retired from the stage in 2002 at age 40 and went on to serve as an adviser to the chairman of the board of American Ballet Theatre. From 2003-2010, she taught in the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School of American Ballet Theatre and from 2010-2012, she worked with American Ballet Theatre as ballet mistress. Since 2012, Ms. Jaffe has been the dean of dance at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem. In April 2020, it was announced that Susan would be taking on the role of Artistic Director at PBT. We talk with Susan about her prolific career, dancing with and for Baryshnikov, her ambition, dealing with career stress, & her new position in the dance world. Learn more about the Susan Jaffe Series: https://www.susanjaffe.com This episode is brought to you by Yumiko (yumiko.com) and Veyette Virtual Ballet School (veyettevirtualballetschool.com). Links: instagram.com/conversationsondance facebook.com/conversationsondance twitter.com/convoondance conversationsondancepod.com The post (199) Susan Jaffe, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre's New Artistic Director appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

Today we are thrilled to welcome back to the pod, the ladies of Ragamala Dance Company. Today we talk with companys founder and co-artistic director, Ranee Ramaswamy, and her daughter, co-artistic director Aparna Ramaswamy. We first had Ranee and Aparna on the podcast about a year ago, with Aparna's sister, Ashwini, in episode 275. If you haven't heard that episode yet, we hope you will go back and tune in to hear more about the trio's origin in dance and about the founding of Ragamala Dance Company. Ranne and Aparna join us today to talk about Fires of Varanasi,' the show that they have been touring for the last year. For our listeners in the Houston area, don't miss Ragamala Dance Company in Fires of Varanasi' March 10th with Performing Arts Houston. For tickets and more information, visit performingartshouston.org. This Episodes Sponsor: Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School is training the next generation of professional dancers by providing ballet and dance education of the highest caliber that prepares students for professional careers in dance. PBTs school focuses on the dancer as a whole person and nurturing them into creative, confident and well-rounded individuals. Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Schools Intensive Summer Program runs from June 25-July 29th. Auditions for PBTs pre-professional program will be held March 6th through the 11th. Pre-professional dancers will have the opportunity to work with incoming PBT director Adam McKinney starting this summer. For more information visit pbt.org/pbts/auditions2023.

Today we hear about the Ragamala Dance Company. We are joined by the company's founder and co-artistic director, Ranee Ramaswamy, and her two daughters: co-artistic director Aparna Ramaswamy and Choreographic Associate Ashwini Ramaswamy. This mother-daughter run company was founded in 1992 and is rooted in the South Indian dance form of Bharatanatyam. Through multi-disciplinary dance works for the stage, engaging the community, and educating the next generation, Ragamala epitomizes intercultural and immigrant narratives that evoke a shared sense of humanity. They train the next generation of dancers through the Ragamala Training Center. We talk with this trio about their origins in dance, the style of Bharatanatyam, the founding of their company, their choreography, and what they have coming up in the next few months. The company will be performing Fires of Varanasi' at the Soraya in Los Angeles on April 9, 2022 (https://www.thesoraya.org/calendar/details/ragamala-2022). The premiere of Ashwini Ramaswamy Let the Crows Come' is April 13, 2022 at the Baryshnikov Arts Center (https://www.albany.edu/pac/news/2021-ashwini-ramaswamys-let-crows-come-march-27). _________________________

On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance" we are joined by award winning ballerina Yuan Yuan Tan. We cover her meteoric rise, from entering San Francisco Ballet as a soloist at 18 directly from her schooling, a nearly unheard of feat, to anchoring the company as a principal for nearly three decades, and finally becoming a leader in the arts, most recently as the artistic director for the Chinese folktale production Lady White Snake, a stirring visual blend of dance, martial arts, music and costumes. To purchase tickets to Lady White Snake, coming to the David H Koch theater at Lincoln Center this July 26 and 27th, visit davidhkochtheater.com.Tickets to Conversations on Dance at the 2025 Vail Dance Festival on sale now! https://vaildance.org/conversations-on-dance/

Today we are happy to welcome back Principal Guest Conductor for the San Francisco Ballet, Ming Luke. We had a fascinating conversation with Ming back in September 2020 in episode 203, where we dive into his background and career as a conductor. Ming has a wealth of knowledge in music and dance history, as he has a background in dance himself, and has conducted for ballet all around the world. In light of the 50th anniversary of the Stravinsky Festival, we have Ming on to talk about the relationship between composers and choreographers, dating back to Tchaikovsky and Petipa, through to present day collaborations. SPONSORS: Conversations on Dance at the Vail Dance Festival July 30 August 9: https://vaildance.org/conversations-on-dance. Tickets go on sale May 20th. MENAJI Skin Care: www.menskincare.com. Use code COD30 to receive 30% savings on all individual products. The tenth annual Lake Tahoe Dance Festival: tickets are on sale now at laketahoedancefestival.org. ________________________________

Today we are joined by Esteban Hernandez, principal dancer with the San Francisco Ballet. Esteban talks to us about training with his father and siblings, moving abroad at a young age to study ballet, and how he found his dream company in San Francisco Ballet. Esteban will be making his return to the stage on August 13th and 14th at the Frost Amphitheater for Stanford Universitys Stanford Live series. Tickets are available at live.stanford.edu. This episode is brought to you by Yumiko (yumiko.com). Links: Join our email list: https://bit.ly/3basX5g instagram.com/conversationsondance facebook.com/conversationsondance twitter.com/convoondance conversationsondancepod.com Photo: Sasha De Sola and Esteban Hernandez in Balanchines Tarantella // Choreography by George Balanchine The Balanchine Trust; Photo Erik Tomasson The post (245) Esteban Hernandez, Principal Dancer with San Francisco Ballet appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

This week on Conversations On Dance, we are joined by San Francisco Ballet dancer Madison Keesler. Madison began her professional career at age 17, and soon found herself learning some of the most coveted roles in the repertoire. In addition to her time in San Francisco, she has danced extensively in Europe with the English National Ballet and Hamburg Ballet. We talk to Madison about why being willing to take risks has been the driving force behind her career, and how it has shaped the dancer she is today. Episode sponsored by Yumiko and San Francisco Ballet. The post (123) Madison Keesler, dancer with San Francisco Ballet appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

Today we are returning to our time at San Francisco Ballet last April for the companys Unbound Festival. This week we talk with Frances Chung, Principal Dancer with San Francisco Ballet. Frances was born in Vancouver, Canada and received her training at Goh Ballet Academy. She joined San Francisco Ballet as a member of the corps de ballet in 2001 and was promoted to principal dancer in 2009. Frances has danced countless major roles in the companys vast repertoire as she worked her way through the ranks. Frances received the Isadora Duncan Award for Outstanding Achievement in an Individual Performance for the 2013 Repertory Season and the silver medal at the 2000 Adeline Gene Awards. Today we talk with Frances about her training, how she became a bunhead later in life, some of the most challenging ballets she has danced, and about the companys Unbound, a festival of new works. This episode is brought to you by Yumiko and San Francisco Ballet. The post (121) Frances Chung, Principal with San Francisco Ballet appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

This week we are joined by San Francisco Ballet Principal Dancer, Sasha De Sola. Born in Winter Park, Florida, Sasha trained at the Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington, D.C. on a full merit scholarship. In 2004, Ms. De Sola received a scholarship for studies at the Paris Opera Ballet School. At the age of 17, Sasha joined San Francisco Ballet where she rose through the ranks and was promoted to the rank of Principal Dancer in 2017. Today we talk with Sasha from the Kennedy Center in Washington DC while the company was there last week on tour. This episode is brought to you by The Kennedy Center and Yumiko. The post (113) Sasha De Sola, Principal San Francisco Ballet appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

In todays bonus episode we are continuing our coverage of San Francisco Ballet at the Kennedy Center as they showcase 6 works from the companys Unbound: a festival of new works. Todays episode was recorded in April when we were in San Francisco as these works all premiered. We talk with new corps member, Natasha Sheehan about training at San Francisco Ballet School, joining the company, and her blog about healthy eating and wellness. The post BONUS: Natasha Sheehan, Dancer with San Francisco Ballet appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

This weeks episode of Conversations On Dance was recorded live at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. Our guest is former New York City Ballet principal and Artistic Director of the San Francisco Ballet, Helgi Tomasson. The San Francisco Ballet is performing at the Kennedy Center this week, from October 23 28, 2018. They will be performing six works that premiered earlier this year at the Unbound festival in San Francisco. You can purchase tickets online at www.kennedy-center.org. This episode is supported by the Kennedy Center and Yumiko. Watch the full video of this event now: https://youtu.be/N6FlxJV3mZc The post (112) LIVE from the Kennedy Center: Helgi Tomasson, Artistic Director of San Francisco Ballet appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

This week we are joined by Sarah Van Patten, Principal with San Francisco Ballet. Sarah trained at Ballet Workshop of New England, and danced with Massachusetts Youth Ballet. In 2000 at age 15, she joined the Royal Danish Ballet as an apprentice where John Neumeier cast her as Juliet in his Romeo and Juliet. Soon after, she was promoted to the rank of corps dancer, one of the youngest corps dancer ever invited to the Royal Danish Ballet in its 200-year history. Van Patten joined San Francisco Ballet as a soloist dancer in 2002 and was promoted to the rank of principal dancer in 2007. We talk with Sarah about her training, traveling so far from home at such a young age to join Royal Danish Ballet, what brought her to San Francisco Ballet, and about returning to dancing after the birth of her son. This episode was recorded in April during our time at San Francisco Ballets Unbound Festival. This episode is supported by San Francisco Ballet, Yumiko, and The Kennedy Center. Get information about our live podcast recording with guest Helgi Tomasson, Artistic Director of San Francisco Ballet, on October 22, 2018 at 4pm. The post (111) Sarah Van Patten, San Francisco Ballet Principal Dancer appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

This week we are joined by Ana Sophia Scheller, San Francisco Ballet Principal Dancer. The Argentinian-born dancer moved to New York at the age of 13 to study at the School of American Ballet, and later joined NYCB as a corps member in 2004 after a brief time with ABTs Studio company. In her 13 years with NYCB, she worked her way up to the title of Principal dancing featured roles in all of the classics and originating roles in several new works. In the summer of 2017 she announced that she would make the move to join San Francisco Ballet as a Principal for the following season. We talk with Ana about her beginnings with ballet, how she joined the New York City Ballet, and what ultimately took her to San Francisco Ballet. The post (97) Ana Sophia Scheller, San Francisco Ballet Principal Dancer appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

This week we are joined by Mathilde Froustey, Principal Dancer with San Francisco Ballet. Mathilde started dancing at the age of 9 in the South of France before going on to study at the Paris Opera Ballet School in 1999. In 2002 she joined The Paris Opera Ballet where she would dance numerous Principal roles for over a decade. In January 2013 she accepted an offer from Helgi Tommasson to join the San Francisco Ballet as a Principal. News of her leaving Paris Opera made waves, as she was the first top-notch dancer to leave the company in years. Today we talk with Mathilde about her career and her time dancing with both Paris Opera and San Francisco Ballet. She offers us especially interesting insight into Paris Opera and how the company is run, which is a stark contrast to companies in the United States. The post (95) Mathilde Froustey, Principal Dancer with San Francisco Ballet appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

This week we are joined by Katita Waldo, Ballet Master with San Francisco Ballet. Katita trained at San Francisco Ballet School, prior to joining the company in 1988 and becoming a Principal dancer in 1994. She performed Principal roles in a diverse repertory of works by acclaimed choreographers including George Balanchine, William Forsythe, Lar Lubovitch, Helgi Tomasson, and Christopher Wheeldon before retiring from the stage in 2010. In 2008, SFB Artistic Director Helgi Tomasson asked Katita to serve as Ballet Master for 2 world premiers. These experiences ultimately lead to her full-time appointment to the position upon her retirement. Today we talk with Katita about her career, he first experiences in the front of the room setting ballets, adjusting to her new role as Ballet Master, her process for learning ballets before coming into the studio, and her role in the Unbound' festival. This episode is sponsored by San Francisco Ballet and Body Wrappers/Angelo Luzio. The post (94) Katita Waldo, Ballet Master with San Francisco Ballet appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

Welcome to our final bonus episode from San Francisco Ballets Unbound festival. Just as with last episode, today we will be talking with 3 different dancers in the company about what ultimately led them to SFB and about their experience at the Unbound festival. These episodes were recorded in the first few days of the festival around April 20th. First up today, we talk with Lauren Strongin. Next we are joined by Principal Ulrik Birkkjaer who just finished his 1st year with the company. Finally we sit down with soloist Julia Rowe. The post BONUS: San Francisco Ballet Dancers Ep. 2 appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

BONUS: San Francisco Ballet Dancers Ep. 1. Welcome to our 1st of two bonus episode wrap ups of San Francisco Ballets Unbound festival. In each episode we will be talking with 3 different dancers in the company about what ultimately led them to SFB and about their experience at the Unbound festival. These episodes were recorded in the first few days of the festival around April 20th. To start off this episode, we sit down and chat with Principal Dancer, Luke Ingham. Next, we welcome Benjamin Freemantle who was just promoted to soloist. And lastly, we talk with Principal Dancer Jennifer Stahl. The post BONUS: San Francisco Ballet Dancers Ep. 1 appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

This week we are happy to be sharing with you a recording of our live event at SF MOMA last month. We were pleased to be able to sit down and talk with San Francisco Ballet Principal Dancer, Sofiane Sylve, as a part of a live lecture put together by the San Francisco Based organization, Words on Dance. We talk with Sofiane about launching her career at only 14, her time dancing with New York City Ballet, what brought her to San Francisco Ballet, and about her aspirations to be an Artistic Director. Just before we started recording, Words on Dance founder Deborah Kaufman introduced us to the audience. This episode is sponsored by Body Wrappers/Angelo Luzio, Dimensions Dance Theatre of Miami, and Words on Dance. Learn more about the work Words on Dance is doing at wordsondance.org. The post (91) Sofiane Sylve, LIVE From SF MOMA appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

This week we are joined by choreographer and dancer, Myles Thatcher, LIVE from San Francisco Ballet's Unbound Festival, and his collaborators for his new ballet Otherness, costume designer Sylvie Rood, and nonbinary artist, Kersh Branz. This episode was recorded from a live Meet The Artist event before the opening of Myles ballet at the Unbound festival at San Francisco Ballet. For more live content like this from these events, please check out San Francisco Ballets podcast network on iTunes. Stay tuned to Conversations on Dance as we continue to bring more content to you directly from the festival. The post BONUS: Myles Thatcher, LIVE from San Francisco Ballet's Unbound Festival appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance", we are joined by Nikolaj Hbbe, star dancer of the New York City Ballet, and both former principal and artistic director of the Royal Danish Ballet. Nikolaj takes us through his story, from his starry eyed fascination as a child with the productions in Denmark, his meteoric rise to principal and subsequent leap of faith joining the New York City Ballet, and his years as leader of the Royal Danish Ballet. He also shares his experiences in his first year as a coach at the Vail Dance Festival, highlighting what it is that makes the artistic process in Vail so special. This episode is brought to you by Discover Vail and was recorded at the 2025 Vail Dance Festival.

Today we are happy to share a bonus episode from the 2024 Vail Dance Festival. In this episode we are joined by Kyle Ikuma, last year's Scholar-In-Residence at the Vail Dance Festival. Kyle is a Mechanical and Aerospace Engineer living in California's Bay Area and a graduate of Princeton. He is also a freelance ballet dancer. Kyle's story is fascinating, so we hope you enjoy! https://kyleikuma.wordpress.com/Stream the closing night performance, 'NOW Premieres,' from the 2024 Vail Dance Festival from August 5-13: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vU1-Yq_0Alc

While artistic gifts can often run in the family, they are seldom able to cross forms in collaboration as searingly as Adji Cissoko and Youba Cissokho did at last years Vail Dance Festival. Adji is a ballerina with the LINES ballet (and last years VDF Artist-In-Residence) and Youba is a 72nd generation kora player. The two will join Conversations On Dance hosts Rebecca King Ferraro and Michael Sean Breeden in a discussion about their familys deep artistic roots, what their first collaboration meant to them and how they look forward to creating this year at the Vail Dance Festival. Stream the closing night performance, 'NOW Premieres,' from the 2024 Vail Dance Festival from August 5-13: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vU1-Yq_0Alc

Today we are joined by Vail Dance Festival's Artistic Director, Damian Woetzel. While we have had Damian on the podcast many times, we ask him about his earliest memories in Vail as a dancer, we talk about some of his memories from over the years, and what to expect from this year's festival coming to the stage July 29 August 9. Audiences are in for another great year of new works, classics, new artists, familiar faces, and new collaborations. For more information on performances, programming, and festival artists, visit the Vail Dance Festival website. Tickets are on sale now at validance.org, or click the link in the description of this episode. SPONSORS: Conversations on Dance at the Vail Dance Festival July 30 August 9: https://vaildance.org/conversations-on-dance. Tickets on sale now. Special thanks to the Town of Vail for their support of the Vail Dance Festival and this episode of Conversations on Dance. ____________________________

Today we are joined by Kate Penner, social media manager for the Vail Dance Festival. Kate tells us how her role has evolved since her first year at the festival, how the marketing team works with photographers and videographers, and we delve into how rights and permissions work. Then she announces that the NOW Premieres performance on August 9th will be available to livestream for FREE on Vail Dance Festival's YouTube channel. Be sure to follow VDF on social media for more information. This episode was recorded at the Manor Vail Lodge. Special thanks to Bruce Wilson for his generous support of our new sound equipment. Conversations on Dance is proud to have YUMIKO as a continued partner in 2021. yumiko.com. The post BONUS: Livestream the Vail Dance Festival on August 9, 2021 with Kate Penner appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

Today we chat with Vail Dance Festival Artistic Director Damian Woetzel to get a preview of what is in store for their eight night digital festival, July 31 August 7, 2020. Damian tells us what it was like to have to decide to cancel the in person festival and move to a digital format, how they have chosen what the audience will get to see, offers us some previews of different pieces, and shares what he hopes audiences will take away from these incredible eight evenings of VDF content. As a part of the festival, you can catch three full evenings of Conversations on Dance. On August 3rd, we chat with Lil Buck, August 5th with James Whiteside and Isabella Boylston of American Ballet Theatre, and on August 6th with Calvin Royal III, the festival's Artist in Residence for 2020 and 2021. Don't miss a moment of the action. For more information on these free digital events, visit vaildance.org and be sure to connect with them on social media. This episode is brought to you by Yumiko (yumiko.com). The post (193) Preview of 2020 Vail Dance Festival: Digital Edition with Damian Woetzel appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

Today we are bringing you a live podcast recording from the Vail Dance Festival with Festival Artistic Director Damian Woetzel and Janet Eilber, Martha Graham Dance Company Artistic Director. The pair talks with us about the Graham legacy, their roles as artistic directors of their respective organizations, and what audiences can expect to see from the Martha Graham Dance Company this year in Vail. This episode was recorded live on August 8th, 2019. This episode is brought to you by Yumiko and the Town of Vail. This episode was recorded at Manor Vail Lodge. The post (149) Damian Woetzel & Janet Eilber LIVE from Vail Dance Festival appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

Join us for another live Festival Forum panel discussion with Damian Woetzel and Claudia Schreier. Damian Woetzel is the Artistic Director of The Vail Dance Festival and Claudia Schreier is back creating work at the festival for a third time. We talk about Damian's beginnings at the festival and how he developed it's mission. We talk with Claudia about her roots in the Vail Dance Festival as a young intern that grew into a burgeoning career as a choreographer noticed by major companies and critics alike. (Note: This episode was recorded on August 5th, 2018.) Photo: Dandara Veiga and Chris Bloom in Contra at the 2018 Vail Dance Festival. Choreography by Claudia Schreier. Photo by Erin Baiano The post Vail Festival Forum Bonus Content: Damian Woetzel and Claudia Schreier appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

Welcome to Live From the Kennedy Center: Damian Woetzel & Tiler Peck on Jerome Robbins. Two weeks ago we were in Washington, DC to cover a busy weekend of ballet at the Kennedy Center. We arrived on Friday night just in time to watch an exceptional performance entitled DEMO: Jerome Robbins- An American Dance Genius. These DEMO programs are curated by former New York City Ballet Principal, Artistic Director of the Vail Dance Festival, and incoming president of Julliard, Damian Woetzel. Damian hosted the evening, which gave audiences an educational behind the scenes look at working with Jermone Robbins and dancing his ballets. He brought 5 New York City Ballet dancers with him to demonstrate multiple excerpts of Robbins ballets: Tyler Angle, Tiler Peck, Unity Phelan, Amar Ramasar, and Daniel Ulbricht. Damians wife, and former New York City Ballet Principal, (also a former Conversations on Dance guest) Heather Watts, was a special guest for the evening. The dancers were all clad in rehearsal attire, the stage was bare, with the exceptions of a few barres to constitue sets, organized onstage just as they are in the studios for rehearsals. The evening started with Robbins' first work Fancy Free, and moved in mostly chronological order, to include his Broadway work, his return to NYCB in 1969, and his interest in choreographing to Chopins music. One highlight of the evening was when Ms. Watts coached Ms. Peck in Afternoon of a Faun. The evening included so much history, details, and background on these ballets, that we invited Damian and Tiler Peck to join us the next day for a debrief of the performance. For more information on performances and events at the Kennedy Center, visit kennedy-center.org. The post (67) Live From the Kennedy Center: Damian Woetzel & Tiler Peck on Jerome Robbins appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

Welcome to Conversations on Dance, our final bonus episode from the Vail Dance Festival with Damian Woetzel, Lil' Buck, and Janet Eilber. This episode is quite special because we have a guest host, Vail Dance Festival Artistic Director, Damian Woetzel. After we had left, there was one final live event to give audiences an inside look at the artists and the performance. In this episode, Damian is joined by Jookin dancer, Lil Buck and Janet Eilber, the Artistic Director of Martha Graham Dance Company. As a side note, Buck is the cousin of this weeks Conversations on Dance guest, Ron Myles. Check out our chat with him in episode 56. The recording starts slightly into the event, so we join them just as Lil Buck begins to explain how he became involved in creating a Lamentation Variation with the Martha Graham Dance Company. They go on to have a great conversation on Martha Graham, tap, and collaboration at the Vail Dance Festival and beyond. The first voice you will hear is Damians. This recording was provided to us by the Vail Dance Festival. The post Vail Festival Forum Bonus Content: LIVE with Damian Woetzel, Lil' Buck, and Janet Eilber appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.