Conversations with Ballet & Dance Icons

In this inspiring podcast, we share the remarkable story of strength and resilience of Ukrainian principal dancer Anna Muromtseva, who faced the most devastating and unimaginable experience of fleeing her home following the Russian invasion and restarting her life and dance career with the Hungarian National Ballet. Listen to Anna’s heartfelt interview as she looks back to growing up in Ukraine and rising through the ranks from corps de ballet to soloist and principal dancer. She gives an insight into the demanding yet fulfilling dance life with the National Ballet of Ukraine, their repertoire and the rigorous performance and rehearsal schedules. Anna’s deeply personal story takes a dramatic turn with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which forced her to flee her homeland along with her family. Leaving behind all her dancewear and pointe shoes, Anna faced the daunting task of finding a new company which led to auditioning for the Hungarian National Ballet alongside other displaced Ukrainian dancers. And although Anna successfully secured a contract, the only available position available was in the corps de ballet. Anna talks intimately about the physical and emotional challenges of transitioning from a principal dancer in Kyiv to the corps in Budapest. Fortunately, the company’s artistic director, Tamas Solymosi, provides opportunities for dancers of all ranks to perform a variety of roles. This has seen Anna return to dancing principal roles, such as Odette/Odile in Swan Lake and helped her rediscover the love of dance in the midst of so much devastation. PRESS PLAY! Follow Anna Muromtseva on Instagram: @g.anna.muromtseva Listen to the podcast interview on all major streaming platforms including Apple, Spotify and more. You can watch our interview on our YouTube. Anna Muromtseva

In this podcast, Principal Dancer Isaac Hernández shares his unique story of growing up in Mexico as one of 11 kids, being taught to dance by his father and dancing with ABT II, San Francisco Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, his move to English National Ballet, and the decision to return to San Francisco Ballet.  Isaac also shares his passion for inspiring the next generation of dancers in Mexico, where he has established projects that provide opportunities for future dance stars. Listen to Isaac talk about his experience of guesting around the world, and working with renowned choreographers, including Christopher Wheeldon as he reprises the role of Prince Guillaume in Wheeldon’s dazzling Cinderella. For more information visit: San Francisco Ballet PRESS PLAY Isaac Hernández in Forsythe’s Blake Works I © Lindsay Thomas

Cathy Marston, internationally renowned, award winning British Choreographer and Artistic Director has created critically acclaimed works for The Royal Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Northern Ballet, English National Ballet, Cuban National Ballet, Ballet Black and more. In this insightful podcast, Cathy shares her journey from dancer to choreographer, her inspiration for creating narrative ballets, her choreographic process and how she works with the dancers in the studio. We also discuss the importance of women choreographers and diverse voices in the dance industry. Houston Ballet Principals Jessica Collado as Alma, Chase O’Connell as John and Soloist Mackenzie Richter as the Angel in Cathy Marston’s Summer and Smoke. Photo by Lawrence Elizabeth Knox (2023), Courtesy of Houston Ballet. This month sees the world premiere of Cathy’s interpretation of Tennessee Williams’ Summer and Smoke with Houston Ballet, America’s fourth largest ballet company. Listen to Cathy describe this tragic tale of love and betrayal, how she developed the characters’ movement motifs and the inventive staging that it set to impress audiences. Houston Ballet Principal Jessica Collado as Alma and Soloist Mackenzie Richter as the Angel with Artists of Houston Ballet in Cathy Marston’s Summer and Smoke. Photo by Amitava Sarkar (2023), Courtesy of Houston Ballet. ​​The world premiere of Tennessee Williams’ Summer and Smoke runs to 19 March 2023. For more information and tickets visit: Houston Ballet PRESS PLAY

The Wonderful World of Dance has arrived in the vibrant city of Sydney, Australia to explore the dynamic dance scene of this beautiful country. And, of course, we couldn’t miss the chance to visit Sydney Dance Company, the leading contemporary dance company in Australia. In this podcast, we had the privilege to sit down with the company’s Artistic Director and Choreographer Rafael Bonachela at the stunning studio overlooking the magnificent Sydney Harbour. On the eve of Sydney Dance Company’s much-anticipated Sydney premiere of their latest triple bill Ascent, Bonachela shares his journey from Barcelona to London and then to Sydney, and how his vision has shaped the company over the past 14 years. Bonachela discusses the acclaimed choreographers that he has brought to work with the company and gives an insight into his process for creating his own works. He also shares the inspiration behind Ascent, which includes two world premieres – Bonachela’s I Am-ness and Marina Mascarell’s The Shell, A Ghost, The Host & The Lyrebird, plus the reprisal of Antony Hamilton’s award-winning Forever & Ever. Rafael Bonachela in rehearsal of I Am-ness with Sydney Dance Company. Photo by Pedro Greig Ascent runs from 15 March – 26 March 2023 at the Sydney Opera House, followed by an Australian national tour from May – August 2023. For more information and tickets visit: Sydney Dance Company PRESS PLAY

In this podcast Russell Maliphant, the critically acclaimed, award winning choreographer, dancer and artistic director of Russell Maliphant Dance Company, discusses his career and work that firmly places this artist as one of Britain’s most important choreographers creating work today.  Next year, Russell Maliphant Dance Company is set to celebrate their 25th Anniversary. Listen to Russell share his journey from training with The Royal Ballet School, dancing with Sadler’s Wells Royal Ballet (now Birmingham Royal Ballet), before deciding to forge an independent dance career, that led to him establishing Russell Maliphant Dance Company. Russell is a deeply considered artist, eternally curious and highly academic. Listen to Russell as he discusses his interest and research into anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, Rolf Method of Structural Integration, somatic practice and more. He also talks about his exploration of flow and energy and the relationship between movement, light and music in his award winning work. Russell Maliphant (c) Panayiotis Sinnos At the time of this podcast recording, dance was just returning to the stage in London and unfortunately due to the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic hitting the UK and Europe, performances have again been cancelled or delayed. Russell Maliphant choreographed a piece for English National Ballet’s REUNION – which was to be their first live performance since the initial lockdown – unfortunately this is currently delayed. Russell Maliphant Dance Company is scheduled to perform in Europe in early 2021. The company has also made their Digital Archives available and they are also holding online classes, workshops and more. Stay up to date with Russell Maliphant Dance Company performance dates and discover more here. PRESS PLAY!  

English National Ballet and Dutch National Ballet former Artistic Director, former Royal Ballet Senior Principal Dancer and world renowned choreographer Wayne Eagling, talks to The Wonderful World of Dance about his dance career, training with Dame Ninette de Valois, working with Sir Kenneth MacMillan and Sir Frederick Ashton, life at the famous Royal Opera House and hanging out with his friend Rudolf Nureyev. In this podcast, Wayne gives an insight into his 22 years with The Royal Ballet, his time as Artistic Director for the Dutch National Ballet and returning home after 14 years to become the Artistic Director of the English National Ballet. This wonderful conversation also looks into his extensive body of choreographic work for top companies around the world from The Royal Ballet, La Scala, Rome Opera Ballet, Hong Kong Ballet, Kremlin Ballet and during his tenures at English National Ballet and the Dutch National Ballet. New English Ballet Theatre in ‘REMEMBRANCE’ by Wayne Eagling. Photo by Deborah Jaffe Wayne talks about his latest project, working with the New English Ballet Theatre who premiered on YouTube, his dynamic narrative ballet, ‘REMEMBRANCE’, (available on YouTube until 15 December 2020). REMEMBRANCE tells the universal story of love, loss and war based on the life of Dame Marie Rambert – founder of Britain’s first and oldest ballet company – and her husband, the playwright Ashley Dukes. Listen to Wayne talk about working with the New English Ballet Theatre, rehearsing with the dancers and seeing his work move online during the coronavirus pandemic. NEBT in ‘REMEMBRANCE’ by Wayne Eagling. Photo by Deborah Jaffe PRESS PLAY!  

Viviana Durante is an international ballet star and former principal dancer with The Royal Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, La Scala and K-Ballet.  Hailed as one of the most dramatic dancers of her time, Viviana has forged an esteemed career as an Artistic Director, Producer, Coach, Judge and Author. In this podcast, Viviana talks about training at the Royal Ballet School, dancing with The Royal Ballet, establishing her own company and the influence on her new role as the Artistic Director of English National Ballet School, following her appointment just a year ago as the School’s Dance Director.  Viviana also shares her experience as the Artistic Director of Viviana Durante Company and curating ground breaking programmes, featuring a roster of famous dancers from The Royal Ballet, Ballet Black and Scottish Ballet. Listen to Viviana’s vision for the English National Ballet School, the rigours of ballet training, the challenges faced by students during the covid pandemic, and how the School is supporting their young dancers as they return to class. PRESS PLAY!

Tiler Peck, New York City Ballet Principal is not only a famous ballerina in the US, she has become a global household name following her uber successful live ballet classes #turnoutwithtiler, launched during the covid pandemic. In this podcast, Tiler gives an insight into her inspiration for starting the online classes and the incredible feedback received from dancers around the world. Tiler shares one special story about a dancer in Iran, who was able to take class in the privacy of her own home, in a country where dancing in public is forbidden. This is the power of dance, and the power of digital dance during the pandemic. Listen to Tiler talk about her experience of lockdown and months away from the studio, following an extensive break from dancing as a result of a serious neck injury last year. In Tiler’s uplifting style, she shares how she has been dealing with dancing at home and how she’s ensuring she’s ready for when the New York City Ballet is able to perform live. She also gives some insightful advice for other dancers, who are in a similar situation waiting for dance to return to the stage. Tiler has used this time away from the studio and rehearsals to create A New Stage, which is having its world premiere online on 16 October (then available to stream). Hear Tiler talk about curating and staring in A New Stage, which includes three new pieces from ballet to hip-hop to tap; working with Lil Buck, Sierra Boggess, Brooklyn Mack and the Syncopated Ladies, who take the stage in works by Chloe Arnold and Jennifer Weber, and a world premiere from Christopher Wheeldon. PRESS PLAY!

Hofesh Shechter is an award winning, critically acclaimed choreographer, composer and artistic director of the ground-breaking and mind-blowing Hofesh Shechter Company. The renowned contemporary dance company presents work that is deeply visceral with performances that are spellbindingly raw, often raging, completely unexpected and a full assault on the senses. Hofesh talks in this podcast about growing up in Israel, travelling to Europe, and arriving in London to dance with the Jasmin Vardimon Company, before deciding take a year out to create his own work, which led to the formation of his own company. Listen to Hofesh describe his movement language, how he creates new work, his inspirations, and how he works with the dancers to deliver powerful performances of his distinct choreographic vocabulary. Hofesh also talks about the impact of lockdown and the shift to focus on digital, with the collaboration with Sadler’s Wells. Their Digital Stage In Focus series gives you the opportunity to take one of Hofesh Shechter Company workshops and learn exerts from his distinctive choreography. PRESS PLAY!

American Ballet Theatre Soloist, Gabe Stone Shayer talks in this podcast about his journey from Philadelphia to becoming the first African-American male graduate of the Bolshoi Ballet Academy, the first in the 250 year history of this prestigious school. Gabe shares his experience of dancing and living in Moscow, touring with the Bolshoi Ballet and returning to the US to join the American Ballet Theatre. Having performed many soloist and principal roles over the years, and creating roles with the acclaimed choreographer Alexei Ratmansky, Gabe was promoted to Soloist during the lockdown and awaits to return to perform on stage. During the lockdown, Gabe has drawn on his love of choreography and launched the Creative Genesis project and has raised more than $30,000 to go towards creating and presenting new choreographic work. This project importantly helps support other dancers during these covid times, giving them work and an opportunity to perform as they wait for the theatres to reopen.   You can DONATE HERE to the Creative Genesis project! PRESS PLAY!