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Conversations on Dance
(389) Michael and Rebecca check in
It's just us this week! We check in on some of the dance we have seen recently and talk about Michael's work as a repetiteur.
THIS EPISODE'S SPONSORS:
Unlock your potential with the Graduate Certificate in Arts Entrepreneurship from the Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts at the University of Oklahoma. In partnership with the prestigious Price College of Business, this innovative program is expertly designed for the aspiring arts entrepreneur, blending your creative and artistic talents with the business knowledge, skills, and strategies needed to successfully launch and manage arts-related enterprises. Affordable and fast-track, you can achieve this transformative education remotely in less than 12 months. To learn more and apply, visit ou.edu/finearts.
artÉmotion’s popular adult summer intensive program returns this May 27 - June 1. This program includes Advanced, Intermediate Advanced, Intermediate, and Beginner classes, with no prior dance experience needed for the beginner level. Let artÉmotion be the bridge between audience and the studio. Come dance this summer. For more information visit https://artemotionballetschool.com/.
The White Feather: A Persian Ballet
The Kennedy Center: https://www.kennedy-center.org/whats-on/explore-by-genre/dance/2023-2024/the-white-feather-persian-ballet/
New York City: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-white-feather-tickets-800305734997
LINKS:
Website: conversationsondancepod.com
Instagram: @conversationsondance
Merch: https://bit.ly/cod-merch
YouTube: https://bit.ly/youtube-COD
Join our email list: https://bit.ly/mail-COD
Conversations on Dance was the recipient of the 2024 Clive Barnes Award for Journalism and Media Achievement.
Access bonus episodes on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/conversationsondance
Website: conversationsondancepod.com
Join our email list: https://conversations-on-dance.kit.com/7f73880f5b
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(509) Pianists of Vail Dance Festival: Michael Scales, Derek Wang, Tony Yun, Joel Wenhardt
52:31|This episode was recorded live from the Vail Dance Festival on August 9th, 2026.Enjoy one month of Conversations on Dance on Patreon for free! Redeem here. In the final episode of our Vail Dance Festival series, Michael Sean Breeden is joined by guest co-host Kate Penner for a rare conversation with the festival's pianists: Michael Scales, Derek Wang, Tony Yun, Joel Wenhardt. Together they pull back the curtain on what most audiences never see: the musicians who make dance possible. They talk about how each of them found music in the first place, what it's actually like to collaborate with choreographers and dancers in the room, the tiny details that can make or break a piece, and some of their favorite moments from years of playing at Vail.
(508) Career Pathways at The Vail Dance Festival: Savannah Green, Kayla Mak, Brooks Landegger, Philip Duclos
45:46|Enjoy one month of Conversations on Dance on Patreon for free! Redeem here. This episode was recorded live from the Vail Dance Festival on August 9th, 2026.In this early-morning session from the final day of the festival, Michael Sean Breeden is joined by guest co-host Kate Penner (Rebecca had already headed home for her son's first day of school) for a conversation with four dancers who represent very different paths into the profession: Savannah Green (BalletX), Kayla Mak (ABT), Brooks Landegger (ABT), and Philip Duclos (Royal Danish Ballet). They talk about how differently each of their careers began, the moment each of them was "thrown in the deep end" at Vail, how they mentally and physically prepare for a performance, and what it's like bringing what they learn at the festival back to their home companies.
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(506) LIVE from the Vail Dance Festival with Alexei Ratmansky
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(505) LIVE from the Vail Dance Festival with Ryan Tomash, Principal Dancer with New York City Ballet
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(504) LIVE from The Vail Dance Festival with Composer & Musician Caroline Shaw
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(503) LIVE from the Vail Dance Festival with Lauren Lovette, Robbie Fairchild, and Unity Phelan
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(502) LIVE from The Vail Dance Festival with Michelle Dorrance and Trinity Irish Dance Company
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(501) LIVE from The Vail Dance Festival with Herman Cornejo, American Ballet Theatre Principal Dancer
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