Conversations on Dance

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, ABT’s 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

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

This week we are joined by Eugenia Zinovieva, Co-Director of Rhode Island Women’s Choreography Project and dancer with Festival Ballet Providence. Born in Moscow, Russia, Eugenia moved to the United States at a young age and began her classical ballet training at the Boston Ballet School while also competing as a rhythmic gymnast. She graduated from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts’ high school program under the artistic direction of Ethan Stiefel. She spent a year coaching with SLK Ballet in New York City before coming to Festival Ballet Providence. Eugenia got her start in choreography through a unique program, which she now co-directs called, Rhode Island Women’s Choreography Project or RIWCP. RIWCP returns on June 26st, 2021. This year’s digital production features six short dance films by up-and-coming women choreographers from New England and beyond. Enjoy inspired works filmed in settings such as mountains, sand dunes, a city apartment, and more. Each dance creator has also had the opportunity to connect with a personal mentor to deepen her creative process this year.  For more information on the project and for tickets for their virtual event on June 26th, visit: riwomenschoreographyproject.com. Eugenia got in touch with us after listening to episode 221, where we discussed our fantasy ballet company. She let us know about RIWCP, so we knew we had to have her on to share her work with our listeners. 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

Listener favorite and former Chief Dance Critic at the New York Times, Alastair Macaulay returns to the podcast this week. We realize that we have never asked Alastair his origin story in dance, so he gives us background on how the love affair began. We take a few detours to discuss the late Jacques d’Amboise, ‘Dances at a Gathering’, Anthony Tudor, and stories of Balanchine Ballerinas. Then, Alastair talks with us about the virtual return of City Center’s ‘Studio 5’ series that he hosts. This year, with ‘Studio 5 | Dancing Across Continents’ New York City Center brings us an intimate look at rare pairings of exceptional dance artists from around the world. To watch the films already available, and to be notified when new content goes live, subscribe to City Center’s YouTube Channel, or click here: https://bit.ly/3vqqZrZ. Read Alastair’s recent essays on dance on his website, alastairmacauly.com. 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

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 Feld’s 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 Magazine’s 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

This week we welcome back Phil Chan and Georgina Pazcoguin, founders of the Final Bow For Yellowface. We first spoke with Gina in 2017 in episode 52 and with Phil in May of 2020 in episode 186. This dynamic duo shares with us some background on their organization and their advocacy efforts. We chat about what they have been up to over the past year and what they are working towards in the years to come. You also won’t want to miss their extraordinary digital festival happening now. This month, Final Bow For Yellowface is hosting the 10,000 Dreams virtual choreography event as an occasion to celebrate a different choreographer of asian descent every day of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. This programming is designed to help elevate Asian American choreographic voices and push past the negative racial tropes that have permeated famous ballets of the past. For more information and to watch, visit yellowface.org. Get Georgina’s book: https://amzn.to/3mvEIw3 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

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 company’s return to live shows this past weekend.  For more information on the company’s 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

Today we are joined by our friends Reid Bartelme and Harriet Jung. Reid and Harriet are exceptionally talented costume designers working with many of the dance world’s most prolific choreographers. The duo come on the pod this week for their third time to share with us what this past year has been like for them, how they participated in virtual works in the summer of 2020, starting to get back to normal with a commission in Australia last month, and what comes next for them. Listen to our earlier episodes with Reid and Harriet in episodes 21 and 84. This episode is brought to you by Yumiko (yumiko.com). This month, join our friends at Final Bow For Yellowface, as they host the “10,000 Dreams Virtual Choreography Event,” an occasion to celebrate a different choreographer of asian descent every day of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. This programming is designed to help elevate Asian American choreographic voices and push past the negative racial tropes that have permeated famous ballets of the past. Join co-founder of Final Bow For Yellowface, Phil Chan, as he moderates a panel of esteemed guests Rohan Barghava, Edward Liaang, Jessica Chen and Brinda Guha on Monday May 3rd, 2021 at 6PM to discuss this project. You can view this event at www.yellowface.org or click the link in the description of this episode. Links: Join our email list: https://bit.ly/3basX5g instagram.com/conversationsondance facebook.com/conversationsondance twitter.com/convoondance conversationsondancepod.com

Today we are re-joined by friend of the pod, Gavin Larsen, former principal dancer with Oregon Ballet Theatre. We first spoke with Gavin in May 2020 in episode 185 about her career and the then timely topic, teaching ballet on Zoom. Today, Gavin returns to talk with us about her book that is officially being released on April 27, 2021. We got advanced copies of the book, which is truly so wonderful and beautifully written. We talk with Gavin about her writing style, her process, and we share and react to small excerpts. If you would like to get Gavin’s book, ‘Being a Ballerina: The Power and Perfection of a Dancing Life,’ it is available on Amazon, Indiebound, and Bookshop. Links are available in the description of this episode. A note: We were deeply saddened by the news last week of the passing of our friend, Liam Scarlett.  The world has lost a special talent and a bright light.  He will be missed by many within the ballet world, as he impacted so many dancers and their careers.  We are sending love to his family and his friends around the world, as we mourn with them.   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

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

This week we are joined by National Ballet of Canada Principal Dancer, Jillian Vanstone. A native of Nanaimo, British Columbia, Jillian trained at the Kirkwood Academy of the Performing Arts and Canada’s National Ballet School. She joined The National Ballet of Canada in 1999 and was promoted to Principal Dancer in 2011. We talk to Jillian all the way from Australia about her career, break out roles, stage fright, what COVID has been like for the dancers of National Ballet of Canada, and about hope for the future. This episode is brought to you by Yumiko (yumiko.com). Join our email list: https://bit.ly/3basX5g instagram.com/conversationsondance facebook.com/conversationsondance twitter.com/convoondance conversationsondancepod.com

Today we are joined by Andrea Renee Long-Naidu, Former Principal with Dance Theatre of Harlem and current Boston Ballet School Faculty Member. Andrea began her ballet training at the Pennsylvania Ballet School, accepting an apprenticeship position with the company at just 14 years-old. After a year working with the company, she went on to continue her training at the School of American Ballet, then went on to join the New York City Ballet. She was a corps member with NYCB for eight years, before going on to join Dance Theatre of Harlem under the direction of Arthur Mitchell, where she would go on to rise to the rank of Principal. She began her second career as a teacher in 2008 and joined the Boston Ballet School Faculty in 2020. We talk with Andrea about her incredible career, working with countless dance legends, her time working with Arthur Mitchell, and her second career as a teacher. 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

This week we are re-joined by our very special co-host and friend, Evelyn Kocak. Recently, there was an article in the New York Times surrounding “What is a ballet body?” We decided, that as these kinds of conversations continue about how to evolve our art form, we thought we would sit down and talk about creating a fantasy company of our own. How could we change things for the better? What would our repertory be? Who would we bring in to be a part of the artistic team? Join us for this fun fantasy experiment. Catch Evelyn’s last co-host appearance on the pod in episode 211. 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

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

It’s just Rebecca and Michael this week on the pod. We do a check in on what we have been up to (Michael got the vaccine!), we take a couple detours, then share a few books we are looking forward to getting our hands on. Thank you to Yumiko for their continued support of the pod. Shop online at Yumiko.com and connect with them on Instagem: @yumiko. Links: Join our email list: https://bit.ly/3basX5g instagram.com/conversationsondance facebook.com/conversationsondance twitter.com/convoondance conversationsondancepod.com