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On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance", we are joined by Eduardo Vilaro, Artistic Director & CEO of Ballet Hispánico 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 Hispánico 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.  LINKS: Website: conversationsondancepod.com Instagram: @conversationsondance COD Merch Listen to COD on YouTube Join our email list Sponsorship information Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance", we are joined by acclaimed choreographer Akram Khan, weeks before his brand new full length production "Lady Macbeth" premieres at the Royal Danish Ballet. He tells us how the dancers of the company have immersed themselves through months of singular focus, how the work's plot has evolved since its inception, and how much his own dance language has fused with classical ballet vernacular to create the world of this ballet. "Lady Macbeth" runs April 24th through June 4th at the opera house mainstage in Copenhagen.   LINKS: Website: conversationsondancepod.com Instagram: @conversationsondance COD Merch Listen to COD on YouTube Join our email list Sponsorship information Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Royal Danish Ballet soloist Tobias Praetorius. He takes us on his journey as a young student falling in love with the theater, ultimately rising to the rank of soloist in the company, while coming to embrace and explore the company's rich Bournonville history. Tobi's own choreographic talents and love of Bournonville will converge when he will choreograph the lost second act of Bournonville's "Napoli" in an upcoming Royal Danish Ballet staging. Until then, you can catch him in regular performances with the company. LINKS: Website: conversationsondancepod.com Instagram: @conversationsondance COD Merch Listen to COD on YouTube Join our email list Sponsorship information Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen to Conversations on Dance ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/conversationsondance On Conversations on Dance, we welcome Maria Calegari and Bart Cook to revisit a March Madness-style bracket of George Balanchine ballets created by Indiana University students during COVID, using head-versus-heart choices to spark memories and discussion about dancing and staging the repertory. As we debate matchups, Maria and Bart reflect on musicality, design collaborations, costuming, performance traditions, coaching details, and more. The bracket ultimately yields different winners among the four of us. Follow along with a bracket of your own. Click here to view and download. LINKS: Website: conversationsondancepod.com Instagram: @conversationsondance COD Merch Listen to COD on YouTube Join our email list Sponsorship information Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen to Conversations on Dance ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/conversationsondance Today, on "Conversations on Dance", we talk with Ken Browar and Deborah Ory, the minds (and cameras) behind NYC Dance Project. We talk with Ken and Deborah about their book, Martha Graham Dance Company, 100 years, and how their backgrounds in dance and editorial fashion shaped their approach. They explain how early dancer sessions evolved into a slow, highly collaborative process focused on a few images that suggest continuing movement rather than freezing it. For the Graham centennial, they installed a studio setup at the company for three years, photographed 25 works from largely current repertory, combined studio and location shoots, used historical research and images as references. The resulting book, Martha Graham Dance Company, 100 Years" is available for purchase here. 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 01:24 Deborah Dance to Camera 02:28 Ken Fashion Roots 03:55 First Dancers and Launch 05:50 Instagram and Early Growth 06:18 Fashion Meets Dance Craft 08:48 Shooting Movement Not Freeze 10:41 Slow Shoots and Safe Space 14:04 Dancer Perfection and Control 15:21 Graham Company Shift 17:17 Why the Centennial Book 18:31 Building the Studio Setup 19:30 Building the Book Archive 19:46 Choosing 25 Iconic Works 21:15 Studio Shoots and Coaching 22:05 Editing and Page Sequencing 23:07 Outdoor Locations Strategy 24:15 Researching Graham Repertory 25:52 No Reshoots and Costume Logistics 26:26 Group Shots and Precision 28:45 Costumes and Fabric Movement 31:47 Where to Buy and Signed Copies 33:10 Future Projects and Farewell LINKS: Website: conversationsondancepod.com Instagram: @conversationsondance COD Merch Listen to COD on YouTube Join our email list Sponsorship information Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen to Conversations on Dance ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/conversationsondance Today on the Conversations on Dance podcast, we talk with former New York City Ballet dancer and Balanchine répétiteur Deborah Wingert about her early training at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, where rigorous daily classes, musical and artistic context, and early teaching responsibilities shaped her discipline and curiosity. Wingert recounts being accepted to the School of American Ballet, performing key workshop roles, and joining NYCB at 16, including formative experiences and personal coaching from George Balanchine before his death in 1983. She describes thriving as a detail-oriented “sponge,” navigating later casting and body-image pressures, and building a wide repertory across Balanchine and Robbins works. After leaving NYCB, she began teaching privately and at multiple New York schools, then expanded into staging Balanchine works around the world. 00:00 Meet The Hosts 00:11 Debra Wingert Overview 01:35 First Ballet Spark 04:16 CPYB Magic And Context 06:31 Rigor And Early Teaching 14:24 SAB Audition And Move 16:50 Workshop Breakthrough Roles 18:57 Joining NYCB At Sixteen 25:10 Balanchine Coaching Moments 27:21 Life After Balanchine 28:19 Other SAB Teachers 33:22 Body Image And Confidence 35:09 Backstage Ballet Devotion 35:34 Staying in the Company 36:39 Outside Projects and Robbins 38:07 Leaving NYCB and Starting to Teach 40:55 Outreach and Repertory Staging 43:10 Learning to Stage New Works 45:33 Musicality and Version Options 51:18 Keeping Patterns and Details Alive 55:56 Dream Ballets and Future Stagings 01:04:06 Closing Thanks and Signoff LINKS: Website: conversationsondancepod.com Instagram: @conversationsondance COD Merch Listen to COD on YouTube Join our email list Sponsorship information Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 company’s 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 Welch’s new 12-minute piece to Mason Bates featuring electronics and live percussion, and they outline how Welch’s 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/conversationsondance TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Welcome Back Catch Up 02:14 Partnership Leading Together 03:01 Studio Time And Support 04:21 Choreographic Hub Culture 07:54 Auditions Finding Versatility 13:35 Season Variety Story Ballets 18:44 Programming And Identity 21:39 New Work Alice Topp 25:43 Staging Hazards and Effects 25:57 Avatar as Ballet Pitch 26:22 More Dancers on Stage 27:17 New Work Mason Bates 29:08 Reimagining Giselle 31:32 Coaching Story Over Steps 34:39 Technique vs Artistry Debate 38:12 Season Highlights Dances 39:50 Rehearsal Timing and Stamina 41:21 Next Season Tease and Farewell LINKS: Website: conversationsondancepod.com Instagram: @conversationsondance COD Merch Listen to COD on YouTube Join our email list Sponsorship information Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance" we are joined by dance writer Marina Harss. Marina tells us about her recent excursions to Vienna and Copenhagen, where she traveled to document some of the most exciting new dynamics in European dance companies, including a renewed focus on Copenhagen's genius choreographer Bournonville, new directors in the Royal Danish Ballet and the Vienna State Ballet, and buzzy new Ratmansky productions in both companies. Marina wrote on these experiences in the New York Times and the New York Review Of Books. Both articles are available online today.  Alexei Ratmansky’s Leap of Faith - By Marina Harss for The New York Review For Royal Danish Ballet, It’s Back to Bournonville - By Marina Harss for the New York Times At City Ballet, Alexei Ratmansky’s Morality Tale Is Wrapped in Farce - By Marina Harss for the New York Times Get Marina's book on Ratmansky: The Boy from Kyiv: Alexei Ratmansky's Life in Ballet Sneak Peek of Ratmansky's newest work for Miami City Ballet, mentioned in this episode. Listen to Conversations on Dance ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/conversationsondance LINKS: Website: conversationsondancepod.com Instagram: @conversationsondance COD Merch Listen to COD on YouTube Join our email list Sponsorship information Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 LINKS: Website: conversationsondancepod.com Instagram: @conversationsondance COD Merch Listen to COD on YouTube Join our email list Sponsorship information Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

WATCH the program on YouTube here. On February 7, 2026, Miami City Ballet presented a first look of world-renowned choreographer Alexei Ratmansky’s new commission celebrating MCB founder Toby Lerner Ansin’s 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 Ballet’s 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 LINKS: Website: conversationsondancepod.com Instagram: @conversationsondance COD Merch Listen to COD on YouTube Join our email list Sponsorship information Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance" we are joined by two leaders of the School Of American Ballet, Jenifer Ringer, Director Of Intermediate/Advanced Divisions and Artistic Programming, and Aesha Ash, Head Of Artistic Health and Wellness. They tell us about their own experiences as students at the school before heading onto illustrious careers at the New York City Ballet, what goes into planning the curriculum and various programs the school offers, and most excitingly, how the recently opened wellness center is impacting the day to training and student experience at SAB. For more information on all things SAB, visit sab.org.  Listen to Conversations on Dance ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/conversationsondance LINKS: Website: conversationsondancepod.com Instagram: @conversationsondance COD Merch Listen to COD on YouTube Join our email list Sponsorship information Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today on "Conversations On Dance", our episode centers on the new documentary film "About Face: Disrupting Ballet", which follows two asian dancers, Phil Chan and Georgina Pazcougin, in their effort to eliminate racial stereotypes pervasive in ballet performances across the world. Director/Producer Jennifer Lin and Producer Cory Stieg join us to talk about their personal experiences with racial caricatures in dance, how their initial introduction to Phil and Gina led to the idea for the film, and the work they do and the film itself will be a catalyst for change in the dance world. "About Face" will be the spotlight feature of the closing night of the Dance On Camera Festival, this February 8th at Symphony Space in New York City.  Follow updates on the film on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aboutface_film/ Listen to Conversations on Dance ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/conversationsondance SPONSOR: Get audition ready with The Royal Ballet School’s new bundle of online audition classes. Whether you are auditioning for entry into The Royal Ballet School or seeking insights into general audition preparation to conquer those nerves, this brand-new series of online classes is the perfect tool for you. From artistic expression and musicality to improving your strength and flexibility, these classes will help you feel confident for whenever and wherever you audition. To get started go to ondemand.royalballetschool.org.uk  LINKS: Website: conversationsondancepod.com Instagram: @conversationsondance COD Merch Listen to COD on YouTube Join our email list Sponsorship information Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 LINKS: Website: conversationsondancepod.com Instagram: @conversationsondance COD Merch Listen to COD on YouTube Join our email list Sponsorship information Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Kari Brunson Wright, Josh Spell and Rachel Coats, founders of the ILUMN Collective and former professional dancers turned therapists and coaches. We talk the various mental health challenges they faced as dancers, how they came together to create a program to offer people of all stripes in the dance world a way to overcome those hurdles and the specifics of some of the methods they are now offering at ILUMN. The sessions offered at ILUMN are customized towards all kinds of people in the dancer world: not only students and professional dancers, but former dancers, teachers, directors and rehearsal directors. To set up your first ILUMN session, visit www.theilumncollective.com or download the app for short, powerful audio sessions you can access at any time.  Download the app: https://apps.apple.com/ph/app/ilumn/id6751722723 LINKS: Website: conversationsondancepod.com Instagram: @conversationsondance COD Merch Listen to COD on YouTube Join our email list Sponsorship information Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today it's just Michael and Rebecca for our annual look back over the year. Enjoy! Happy Holidays and Happy New Year everyone! We will be back with a new episode on January 7th, 2026. Listen to Conversations on Dance ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/conversationsondance Miami City Ballet Nutcracker running through 12/28: https://www.miamicityballet.org/tickets-and-events/202526-season/nutcracker/#e214 Miami City Ballet world premiere by Alexei Ratmansky: https://www.miamicityballet.org/tickets-and-events/202526-season/winter/ LINKS: Website: conversationsondancepod.com Instagram: @conversationsondance COD Merch Listen to COD on YouTube Join our email list Sponsorship information Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.