Conversations on Dance

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. ________________________________ LINKS: Join our email list: https://bit.ly/3basX5g Instagram: instagram.com/conversationsondance Facebook: facebook.com/conversationsondance Facebook Group:  facebook.com/groups/conversationsondancefriends Twitter: twitter.com/convoondance conversationsondancepod.com

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. ________________________________ LINKS: Join our email list: https://bit.ly/3basX5g Instagram: instagram.com/conversationsondance Facebook: facebook.com/conversationsondance Facebook Group:  facebook.com/groups/conversationsondancefriends Twitter: twitter.com/convoondance conversationsondancepod.com

It’s just Michael and Rebecca in this bonus episode, where we chat about the great dance performances we have seen over the past few months, including Royal Danish Ballet, Miami City Ballet, New York City Ballet, Ragamala, Karole Armitage’s Armitage Gone Dance!, and more! Support COD: conversationsondancepod.com/support 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. ________________________________ LINKS: Join our email list: https://bit.ly/3basX5g Instagram: instagram.com/conversationsondance Facebook: facebook.com/conversationsondance Facebook Group:  facebook.com/groups/conversationsondancefriends Twitter: twitter.com/convoondance conversationsondancepod.com

Today on Conversations On Dance, we are joined by choreographer Trey McIntyre. Trey first made his mark as a choreographer in the role of choreographic apprentice at Houston Ballet, a position created for him by then-director Ben Stevenson. He has since created dozens of works on internationally renowned companies, as well as founded his own company ‘The Trey McIntyre Project’  and received critical and public attention for his work as a photographer. We talk to Trey about his early years at Houston Ballet, what it’s been like to return to choreograph for the company throughout the years, and his new work ‘Pretty Things’, set to the music of David Bowie will be performed in Houston from May 20th to the 29th. Get your tickets at houstonballet.org.  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. ________________________________ LINKS: Join our email list: https://bit.ly/3basX5g Instagram: instagram.com/conversationsondance Facebook: facebook.com/conversationsondance Facebook Group:  facebook.com/groups/conversationsondancefriends Twitter: twitter.com/convoondance conversationsondancepod.com

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. ________________________________ LINKS: Join our email list: https://bit.ly/3basX5g Instagram: instagram.com/conversationsondance Facebook: facebook.com/conversationsondance Facebook Group:  facebook.com/groups/conversationsondancefriends Twitter: twitter.com/convoondance conversationsondancepod.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. ________________________________ LINKS: Join our email list: https://bit.ly/3basX5g Instagram: instagram.com/conversationsondance Facebook: facebook.com/conversationsondance Facebook Group:  facebook.com/groups/conversationsondancefriends Twitter: twitter.com/convoondance conversationsondancepod.com

It’s just Michael and Rebecca this week as we come together for a catch up, plus we go through responses to our 2022 listener survey. Thank you to everyone who participated! Your feedback was very valuable and will help us plan our content moving forward. This past weekend we were together in Miami to see Miami City Ballet in ‘Jewels,’ which we will be discussing in an upcoming episode of COD. Be sure to subscribe to COD wherever you get your podcasts. Information on the 2022 Vail Dance Festival is now available on their website. Information coming soon regarding COD events: vaildance.org/conversations-on-dance. 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. ________________________________ LINKS: Join our email list: https://bit.ly/3basX5g Instagram: instagram.com/conversationsondance Facebook: facebook.com/conversationsondance Facebook Group:  facebook.com/groups/conversationsondancefriends Twitter: twitter.com/convoondance conversationsondancepod.com

Today we are joined by choreographer Cathy Marston. Cathy began choreographing while still at the Royal Ballet School, ultimately leaving life as a professional dancer to pursue choreography full time. She has carved out a unique identity for herself as a choreographer who dives head first into creating full length narrative works based on beloved literary classics and other preexisting source material. We talk to Cathy about her creative process in adapting text to steps, her upcoming premiere of ‘Of Mice and Men’ at the Joffrey and her plans for Ballet Zurich, where she will take over as artistic director in the coming year.  See ‘Of Mice and Men’ at the Joffrey Ballet April 27 – May 8, 2022 at Joffrey Ballet. Tickets and more information on their website: joffrey.org. 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. ________________________________ LINKS: Join our email list: https://bit.ly/3basX5g Instagram: instagram.com/conversationsondance Facebook: facebook.com/conversationsondance Facebook Group:  facebook.com/groups/conversationsondancefriends Twitter: twitter.com/convoondance conversationsondancepod.com

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.  ________________________________ LINKS: Join our email list: https://bit.ly/3basX5g Instagram: instagram.com/conversationsondance Facebook: facebook.com/conversationsondance Facebook Group:  facebook.com/groups/conversationsondancefriends Twitter: twitter.com/convoondance conversationsondancepod.com

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 ________________________________ LINKS: Join our email list: https://bit.ly/3basX5g Instagram: instagram.com/conversationsondance Facebook: facebook.com/conversationsondance Facebook Group:  facebook.com/groups/conversationsondancefriends Twitter: twitter.com/convoondance conversationsondancepod.com

Today on Conversations On Dance we are joined by New York based choreographer and dancer Caleb Teicher. Caleb began their career as a founding member of Michelle Dorance’s critically acclaimed company Dorrance Dance, quick achieving personal critical acclaim as well when they received a Bessie Award at age 17. In 2015, Caleb shifted their creative focus towards Caleb Teicher & Company, a creative home for incubating new concert dance works from Teicher’s unique perspective. We talk to Caleb about their unique early training, how musicality and broad range of musical styles play an integral role in their creative output, and their upcoming performances of ‘SW!NG OUT, directed by Caleb Teicher.’ If you are located in the Houston area, see SW!NG OUT on April 9, 2022 at 7:30 at Society for the Performing Arts. Ticket and performance information available at spahouston.org. Take our listener survey: https://conversationsondancepod.com/listener-survey ________________________________ LINKS: Join our email list: https://bit.ly/3basX5g Instagram: instagram.com/conversationsondance Facebook: facebook.com/conversationsondance Facebook Group:  facebook.com/groups/conversationsondancefriends Twitter: twitter.com/convoondance conversationsondancepod.com

Today we are joined again by listener favorite, Alastair Macaulay, former Chief Dance Critic for the New York Times. We asked Alastair to join us as he has been diligently chronicling the dance world’s reaction to the Russian-Ukraine war since it started last month. We talk with Alastair about what he has been seeing from both Russian and Ukrainian dancers, what leaders within the dance world are doing to help, and how this conflict could change dance moving forward. Please note: this episode was recorded on March 18, 2022. You can follow Alastair’s posts surrounding this topic on Instagram at @alastair.macaulay. Take our listener survey between now and April 1, 2022: https://conversationsondancepod.com/listener-survey _________________________ LINKS: Join our email list: https://bit.ly/3basX5g Instagram: instagram.com/conversationsondance Facebook: facebook.com/conversationsondance Facebook Group:  facebook.com/groups/conversationsondancefriends Twitter: twitter.com/convoondance conversationsondancepod.com

Today on Conversations On Dance we are joined by Michelle Manzanales, director of Ballet Hispánico’s School Of Dance. Michelle’s formative years as a dancer were spent training at the University of Houston, ultimately springboarding her to a career as a dancer at Luna Negra Dance Theater under the direction of Eduardo Vilaro, now director of Ballet Hispanico. She later became Artistic Associate and Rehearsal Director at Ballet Hispanico before transitioning to her present role as school director. She is also a prolific choreographer, with upcoming premieres for esteemed companies like Paul Taylor Dance Company and Oregon Ballet Theatre. We talk to Michelle about the importance of BIPOC visibility in dance and art, connecting to your cultural roots via ballet and how she brings her varied influences to her work as a teacher and choreographer. Learn more about Ballet Hispánico’s School Of Dance programs on their website: https://www.ballethispanico.org/school. Take our listener survey between now and April 1, 2022: https://conversationsondancepod.com/listener-survey _________________________ LINKS: Join our email list: https://bit.ly/3basX5g Instagram: instagram.com/conversationsondance Facebook: facebook.com/conversationsondance Facebook Group:  facebook.com/groups/conversationsondancefriends Twitter: twitter.com/convoondance conversationsondancepod.com

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). _________________________ LINKS: Join our email list: https://bit.ly/3basX5g Instagram: instagram.com/conversationsondance Facebook: facebook.com/conversationsondance Facebook Group:  facebook.com/groups/conversationsondancefriends Twitter: twitter.com/convoondance conversationsondancepod.com

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. _________________________ LINKS: Cleveland 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.com Dancespiration raffle – www.dancespiration.store ________________________ Join our email list: https://bit.ly/3basX5g Instagram: instagram.com/conversationsondance Facebook: facebook.com/conversationsondance Facebook Group:  facebook.com/groups/conversationsondancefriends Twitter: twitter.com/convoondance conversationsondancepod.com