On today’s episode of ‘Conversations On Dance’, we are joined by Ted Brandsen and Rachel Beaujean, Director and Associate Artistic Director of Dutch National Ballet. We are speaking to them in advance of the company’s first tour to the United States in 40 years, which is to take place at the Ballet Sun Valley festival in Sun Valley, Idaho. First, we talk with Ted briefly about his career and his directorship.  Then Rachel joins the conversation to discuss how they chose the repertoire for the upcoming tour and what they hope American audiences take away from the performances. Performances ..read more

On today’s episode of ‘Conversations On Dance’, we are joined by Gregory Maqoma, founder of Vuyani Dance Theater. Gregory tells us about how he first came to discover and fall in love with dance in South Africa, his artistic journey from performer to choreographer and creator and his latest work ‘Cion: Requiem Of Ravel’s Bolero’, which is currently on tour and will take the stage at Performing Arts Houston on Friday, April 21st at 7:30PM. Visit performingartshouston.org to purchase tickets. This episode was recorded in December 2022.  __________________________________ ..read more

On today’s episode of ‘Conversations On Dance’, we have celebrated choreographer Cathy Marston on to discuss her upcoming premiere for Houston Ballet, ‘Summer and Smoke’. Cathy tells us what drew her to Tennesse Williams’ play as source material for a new ballet, her casting process and creating to composer Michael Daugherty’s original score for the work. If you are in the Houston area, you can attend performances of ‘Summer and Smoke’ from March 9 through 19th, with tickets available to purchase on houstonballet.org.  LINKS: Rate and Review us on Apple Podcasts: https://ap ..read more

Today we are thrilled to welcome back to the pod, the ladies of Ragamala Dance Company. Today we talk with company’s 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 bee ..read more

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 Episode’s Sponsors: Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School is training the next generation of professional dancers by providing ballet and da ..read more

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 p ..read more

It’s just Michael and Rebecca this week. We start by catch up after Michael’s live events at Works & Process at the Guggenheim and Inside NYCB. Michael tells us about seeing Justin Peck’s newest work at New York City Ballet, ‘Copland Dance Episodes,’ then about his work on ‘The Night Falls’ with Troy Schumacher and BalletCollective. See ‘The Night Falls’ February 9th through 12th at Montclair State University. Tickets for ‘The Night Falls’ can be found at peakperfs.org.  Watch the Works & Process event on their YouTube Channel, or click here: https://youtu.be/FfidIh8pi0o ..read more

Today’s episode of ‘Conversations On Dance’ is a live podcast from the Guggenheim’s Works & Process series. We explore the creation of a new dance driven music theater production ‘The Night Falls’, which is set to run February 9th through 12th at Montclair State University. ‘The Night Falls’ is a new myth for our fractured era, depicting the metamorphosis of atomized individuals into a true community, with choreography that dramatizes the leap of empathy between bodies and music that channels the polarities of surrender and resistance. In this interview, we are joined by the show’s cr ..read more

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 Episode’s Sponsors: • The Frederick Quinney Lawson ..read more

On today’s episode of Conversations On Dance, we are joined by principal ballerina with the Royal Danish Ballet, Holly Dorger. Holly shares her experience growing up as a highland dancer, accepting a contract with Royal Danish straight out of SAB, the change in style and technique that accompanied her new job and how she continues to grow and adapt in full length roles she revisits. If you are in the Copenhagen area, you can catch Holly’s performance as Odette/Odile in ‘Swan Lake’ this coming March.  This Episode’s Sponsors: • Fill your summer with technique, learning and fun at Char ..read more