Conversations on Dance

On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance" we are joined by the Artistic Director of the National Ballet Of Portugal, Fernando Duarte. Fernando takes us through ballet's cultural history in Portugal, his own connection to the company as a former principal dancer, ballet master and choreographer, how this led to his appointment as director and his future plans for the company. To learn more about the company or to purchase tickets at an upcoming performance, visit www.cnb.pt. THIS EPISODE'S SPONSORSNaturally relieve pain with Jelliebend- a supportive lower back hug.Jelliebend is a sleek wearable lower back support that applies the perfect amount of balanced compression to stabilize the spine and boost blood flow to your muscles. Founded by a contortionist with scoliosis, Jelliebend was born from Ellie's passion for spine health and injury prevention. Shop online now at https://jelliebend.com/. Use code ONDANCE all one word to receive 10% off your order.LINKS:Website: conversationsondancepod.comInstagram: @conversationsondanceMerch: https://bit.ly/cod-merchYouTube: https://bit.ly/youtube-CODJoin our email list: https://bit.ly/COD-email

On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance", we are joined by editor at the George Balanchine Foundation, Shane Horan. Shane tells us about how the Balanchine Foundation impacted his life as a ballet student, how he was brought on board as an editor learning the craft and the work the foundation is doing to expand its scope in preserving the Balanchine legacy. Apply to view Balanchine Foundation videos: https://balanchine.org/video-archives/interpreters-archive-archive-of-lost-choreography/Balanchine Finder: https://balanchine.org/find-balanchine/THIS EPISODE'S SPONSORSNaturally relieve pain with Jelliebend- a supportive lower back hug.Jelliebend is a sleek wearable lower back support that applies the perfect amount of balanced compression to stabilize the spine and boost blood flow to your muscles. Founded by a contortionist with scoliosis, Jelliebend was born from Ellie's passion for spine health and injury prevention. Shop online now at https://jelliebend.com/. Use code ONDANCE all one word to receive 10% off your order.New Jersey Symphony 'Firebird': https://www.njsymphony.org/events/detail/the-firebird-with-xian-zhangLINKS:Website: conversationsondancepod.comInstagram: @conversationsondanceMerch: https://bit.ly/cod-merchYouTube: https://bit.ly/youtube-CODJoin our email list: https://bit.ly/COD-email

On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance", we are joined by former Chief Dance Critic of the New York Times and performing arts historian Alastair Macaulay to discuss the legacy of composer Maurice Ravel around the corner from his 150th birthday. We talk about Ravel's major commissions for dance, how dance influenced his compositions outside of those meant for the concert dance stage, and his continued impact on major choreographers of the 20th century and onwards, like Frederick Ashton and George Balanchine. The Torvill and Dean “Bolero” referenced: https://www.olympics.com/en/video/torvill-and-dean-s-legendary-bolero-performance-music-mondaysLINKS:Website: conversationsondancepod.comInstagram: @conversationsondanceMerch: https://bit.ly/cod-merchYouTube: https://bit.ly/youtube-CODJoin our email list: https://bit.ly/COD-email

On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance" we are joined by street dancer, creator and teacher YungChris. Chris tells us about his early beginnings in dance, how stepping away during college refueled his desire to perform, and how traveling extensively feeds his creative impulses. The first artist to receive this commission twice, Chris is the creative mind behind one of three upcoming premieres at Performing Arts Houston's "New/Now" program, to be presented this March 6th and 7th. If you're in the Houston area, visit performingartshouston.org for to purchase tickets. 'Tip Toe Thomas' New/Now Commission from 2020: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzaOJWAMCKoTHIS EPISODE'S SPONSOR:New York Theatre Ballet’s 2025 Summer Repertory Session offers pre-professional, collegiate, and post-collegiate dancers full-day training sessions of classes, rehearsals, and new choreography at their studios in lower Manhattan. This year’s two-week session runs June 9 through June 20 and provides individualized instruction, movement analysis, and immersion into NYTB’s acclaimed repertoire. Tuition is $1,000 and merit-based scholarships are available. Aspiring students are invited to submit video auditions by April 30, 2025. For more information, please visit nytb.org/auditionsLINKS:Website: conversationsondancepod.comInstagram: @conversationsondanceMerch: https://bit.ly/cod-merchYouTube: https://bit.ly/youtube-CODJoin our email list: https://bit.ly/COD-email

On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance", we are joined by esteemed teacher and repetiteur Darla Hoover. Darla tells about how her early training at CPYB including teaching regularly, her time working with Balanchine at the School of American Ballet and later as a member of the New York City Ballet, her process to prepare for her stagings of Balanchine's work and how she tailor makes a syllabus for the needs of individual schools. Note: When Darla refers to Marcia, she is talking about Marcia Dale Weary who founded Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. LINKS:Website: conversationsondancepod.comInstagram: @conversationsondanceMerch: https://bit.ly/cod-merchYouTube: https://bit.ly/youtube-CODJoin our email list: https://bit.ly/COD-email

On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance" we are joined by Elizabeth Yntema the president and founder of Dance Data Project, an organization that promotes gender equity through its research and analysis. Dance Data Project has just released its Artistic and Executive Director compensation report and Elizabeth helps us comb through the data to explore things like the remaining gender pay gap and pay increases for executives in spite of deficits. Visit dancedataproject.com to view the full report. https://www.dancedataproject.com/ddp-research/artistic-and-executive-compensation-report-2024/* ADDITIONAL NOTE regarding dancer compensation * Follow up from DDP: "In FY22, 1 company within the Largest 10 reported dancer salaries - San Francisco Ballet. In FY23, 4 companies within the Largest 10 reported dancer salaries - San Francisco Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Houston Ballet, and Pacific Northwest Ballet. Notably, all of the dancers with reported salaries were principal dancers."According to the IRS, here are the guidelines for which persons must be listed on Form 990s: "The organization must also list up to 20 current employees who satisfy the definition of key employee (persons with certain responsibilities and reportable compensation greater than $150,000 from the organization and related organizations), and its five current highest compensated employees with reportable compensation of at least $100,000 from the organization and related organizations who are not officers, directors, trustees, or key employees of the organization."Be in touch with Dance Data Project: https://www.dancedataproject.com/contact-us/.LINKS:Website: conversationsondancepod.comInstagram: @conversationsondanceMerch: https://bit.ly/cod-merchYouTube: https://bit.ly/youtube-CODJoin our email list: https://bit.ly/COD-email

On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance", we are joined by choreographer Helen Pickett. We talk to Helen about her time working with William Forsythe at Ballett Frankfurt, how she began her own choreographic journey and the process creating "Crime and Punishment", the first full-length ballet choreographed by a woman at American Ballet Theatre. "Crime and Punishment" will be performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC from February 12th through 16th. To purchase tickets, visit Kennedy-Center.org. LINKS:Website: conversationsondancepod.comInstagram: @conversationsondanceMerch: https://bit.ly/cod-merchYouTube: https://bit.ly/youtube-CODJoin our email list: https://bit.ly/COD-email

On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance", we are joined by the co-founders of Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Dwight Rhoden and Desmond Richardson. They take us through the history of their artistic connection, the inauspicious beginnings of the company, and how they've built on the mission of Complexions over the course of its 30 year history. Complexions will be performing at Performing Arts Houston in Houston, TX on February 1st. To purchase tickets visit performingartshouston.org. Dwight on COD in June 2024: https://www.conversationsondancepod.com/episodes-transcripts/399-dwight-rhoden-choreographer-amp-artistic-director-of-complexions-contemporary-balletLINKS:Website: conversationsondancepod.comInstagram: @conversationsondanceMerch: https://bit.ly/cod-merchYouTube: https://bit.ly/youtube-CODJoin our email list: https://bit.ly/COD-email