Conversations on Dance

Latest Episodes:

(228) Final Bow For Yellowface’s Phil Chan and Georgina Pazcoguin May 13, 2021

Show notes

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).

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(227) Xin Ying, Principal with Martha Graham Dance Company May 05, 2021

Show notes

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).

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(226) Reid & Harriet: Designing Through The Pandemic Apr 29, 2021

Show notes

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.

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(225) ‘Being a Ballerina: The Power and Perfection of a Dancing Life’ with Gavin Larsen Apr 21, 2021

Show notes

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).

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(224) Christopher Charles McDaniel, Dance Theatre of Harlem Apr 14, 2021

Show notes

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).

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(223) Jillian Vanstone, The National Ballet of Canada Principal Dancer Apr 05, 2021

Show notes

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).

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(222) Andrea Renee Long-Naidu, Former Principal with Dance Theatre of Harlem and current Boston Ballet School Faculty Member Mar 25, 2021

Show notes

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).

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(221) Fantasy Ballet Company – with Evelyn Kocak Mar 18, 2021

Show notes

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).

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(220) Tamisha Guy, Dancer with Kyle Abraham’s, A.I.M Mar 09, 2021

Show notes

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.

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(219) Rebecca and Michael, a check in Mar 04, 2021

Show notes

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.

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