Conversations on Dance

Listen to Conversations on Dance ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/conversationsondanceOn today's episode of "Conversations On Dance" we are joined by Royal Danish Ballet soloist Tobias Praetorius. He takes us on his journey as a young student falling in love with the theater, ultimately rising to the rank of soloist in the company, while coming to embrace and explore the company's rich Bournonville history. Tobi's own choreographic talents and love of Bournonville will converge when he will choreograph the lost second act of Bournonville's "Napoli" in an upcoming Royal Danish Ballet staging. Until then, you can catch him in regular performances with the company.

Listen to Conversations on Dance ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/conversationsondanceOn Conversations on Dance, we welcome Maria Calegari and Bart Cook to revisit a March Madness-style bracket of George Balanchine ballets created by Indiana University students during COVID, using head-versus-heart choices to spark memories and discussion about dancing and staging the repertory. As we debate matchups, Maria and Bart reflect on musicality, design collaborations, costuming, performance traditions, coaching details, and more. The bracket ultimately yields different winners among the four of us.Follow along with a bracket of your own. Click here to view and download.

Listen to Conversations on Dance ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/conversationsondanceToday, on "Conversations on Dance", we talk with Ken Browar and Deborah Ory, the minds (and cameras) behind NYC Dance Project. We talk with Ken and Deborah about their book, Martha Graham Dance Company, 100 years, and how their backgrounds in dance and editorial fashion shaped their approach. They explain how early dancer sessions evolved into a slow, highly collaborative process focused on a few images that suggest continuing movement rather than freezing it. For the Graham centennial, they installed a studio setup at the company for three years, photographed 25 works from largely current repertory, combined studio and location shoots, used historical research and images as references. The resulting book, Martha Graham Dance Company, 100 Years" is available for purchase here.00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro01:24 Deborah Dance to Camera02:28 Ken Fashion Roots03:55 First Dancers and Launch05:50 Instagram and Early Growth06:18 Fashion Meets Dance Craft08:48 Shooting Movement Not Freeze10:41 Slow Shoots and Safe Space14:04 Dancer Perfection and Control15:21 Graham Company Shift17:17 Why the Centennial Book18:31 Building the Studio Setup19:30 Building the Book Archive19:46 Choosing 25 Iconic Works21:15 Studio Shoots and Coaching22:05 Editing and Page Sequencing23:07 Outdoor Locations Strategy24:15 Researching Graham Repertory25:52 No Reshoots and Costume Logistics26:26 Group Shots and Precision28:45 Costumes and Fabric Movement31:47 Where to Buy and Signed Copies33:10 Future Projects and Farewell

Listen to Conversations on Dance ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/conversationsondanceToday on the Conversations on Dance podcast, we talk with former New York City Ballet dancer and Balanchine répétiteur Deborah Wingert about her early training at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, where rigorous daily classes, musical and artistic context, and early teaching responsibilities shaped her discipline and curiosity. Wingert recounts being accepted to the School of American Ballet, performing key workshop roles, and joining NYCB at 16, including formative experiences and personal coaching from George Balanchine before his death in 1983. She describes thriving as a detail-oriented “sponge,” navigating later casting and body-image pressures, and building a wide repertory across Balanchine and Robbins works. After leaving NYCB, she began teaching privately and at multiple New York schools, then expanded into staging Balanchine works around the world.00:00 Meet The Hosts00:11 Debra Wingert Overview01:35 First Ballet Spark04:16 CPYB Magic And Context06:31 Rigor And Early Teaching14:24 SAB Audition And Move16:50 Workshop Breakthrough Roles18:57 Joining NYCB At Sixteen25:10 Balanchine Coaching Moments27:21 Life After Balanchine28:19 Other SAB Teachers33:22 Body Image And Confidence35:09 Backstage Ballet Devotion35:34 Staying in the Company36:39 Outside Projects and Robbins38:07 Leaving NYCB and Starting to Teach40:55 Outreach and Repertory Staging43:10 Learning to Stage New Works45:33 Musicality and Version Options51:18 Keeping Patterns and Details Alive55:56 Dream Ballets and Future Stagings01:04:06 Closing Thanks and Signoff

Stanton Welch and Julie Kent join the Conversations on Dance podcast this week and reflect on nearly three years leading Houston Ballet, praising the dancers’ versatility, focus, and the engaged Houston community, and describing the value of sharing leadership. They discuss how the company’s identity is shaped by having a prolific choreographer as artistic director in Stanton and what they look for in dancers. Looking ahead, they highlight a variety of works still to come this season including Welch’s new 12-minute piece to Mason Bates featuring electronics and live percussion, and they outline how Welch’s Giselle differs musically and dramatically, with expanded characters and staging, while Kent coaches intention and relationships.For more information on performances still to come this season, visit houstonballet.org.Houston Ballet 25/27 Season announced here: https://www.houstonballet.org/seasontickets/2026-2027-season-announced/Listen to Conversations on Dance ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/conversationsondanceTIMESTAMPS:00:00 Welcome Back Catch Up02:14 Partnership Leading Together03:01 Studio Time And Support04:21 Choreographic Hub Culture07:54 Auditions Finding Versatility13:35 Season Variety Story Ballets18:44 Programming And Identity21:39 New Work Alice Topp25:43 Staging Hazards and Effects25:57 Avatar as Ballet Pitch26:22 More Dancers on Stage27:17 New Work Mason Bates29:08 Reimagining Giselle31:32 Coaching Story Over Steps34:39 Technique vs Artistry Debate38:12 Season Highlights Dances39:50 Rehearsal Timing and Stamina41:21 Next Season Tease and Farewell

On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance" we are joined by choreographer Robert Battle. Robert tells us about how he started a company to push his own choreographic work, what it was like to become the third director in the history of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and how he's just begun to explore his recent post as resident choreographer of Paul Taylor Dance Company. To see Robert's latest work for Paul Taylor on tour visit paultaylordance.org/performances.Listen to Conversations on Dance ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/conversationsondance

WATCH the program on YouTube here.On February 7, 2026, Miami City Ballet presented a first look of world-renowned choreographer Alexei Ratmansky’s new commission celebrating MCB founder Toby Lerner Ansin’s 85th birthday, before its February premiere in Florida. This work blends history, tradition, and forward-thinking creativity, with a score by Johann Strauss. Ratmansky and Miami City Ballet’s new artistic director Gonzalo Garcia will participate in the discussion, and MCB dancers perform excerpts.Miami City Ballet's 'Into The Magic City' program runs February 20th - March 1 in Miami and West Palm Beach. The program includes the World Premiere of 'Roses from the South, Three Waltzes for Toby' as discussed here, as well as George Balanchine's 'Serenade' and 'Tarantella'. Tickets available here.Works & Process at the Guggenheim is a non-profit organization dedicated to championing the creative process from studio to stage, with programs just like this one. Find more information and ways to support on their website: https://www.worksandprocess.org/.Listen to Conversations on Dance ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/conversationsondance

On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance" we are joined by two leaders of the School Of American Ballet, Jenifer Ringer, Director Of Intermediate/Advanced Divisions and Artistic Programming, and Aesha Ash, Head Of Artistic Health and Wellness. They tell us about their own experiences as students at the school before heading onto illustrious careers at the New York City Ballet, what goes into planning the curriculum and various programs the school offers, and most excitingly, how the recently opened wellness center is impacting the day to training and student experience at SAB. For more information on all things SAB, visit sab.org. Listen to Conversations on Dance ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/conversationsondance