Conversations on Dance

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(207) COD’s Best of 2020 Dec 03, 2020

Show notes

We are back! It’s been a minute, but unfortunately some work obligations took us away from the pod last month. Now, we are back and ready to get back to it! Today we catch up and go through our Conversations on Dance Best of 2020.

Brought to you by Yumiko (Yumiko.com.) “YUMIKO’s holiday collection, comprised of festive ready-to-wear options, will be available in-stores and online this month! Receive a first chance to shop the new items at their Instagram LIVE shopping event on December 15th, plus for the very first time the new 2021 colors will be revealed! These events are a lot of fun and discounts are offered, so be sure to tune in @yumiko on Instagram on the 15th.”

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(206) Leslie Andrea Williams, chorus dancer with the Martha Graham Dance Company Oct 13, 2020

Show notes

Today we are joined by Leslie Andrea Williams, chorus dancer with the Martha Graham Dance Company. Leslie was born in Newport News, Virginia and grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina. She received her BFA from The Juilliard School. Ms Williams has danced in the Martha Graham Dance Company for six seasons. She performs numerous featured roles in iconic Graham ballets such as The Woman in White in Diversion of Angels and The Pioneering Woman in Appalachian Spring. Her most notable role has been performing the Lead in Chronicle— thefirstBlack dancer to do so. Her performance recently earned Ms. Williams a mention in The New York Times’ “Best Dance of 2019” list. Ms. Williams’s work has been described as “hypnotic” and “larger than life,” and in 2016 she was named in dance magazine as a dancer “On the rise.”

Today we talk with Leslie about her training, her transition to the Graham technique, and her time with the company.

As a note: we wanted to let you know that we will be taking a short time off from Conversations on Dance due to other work commitments. This will be our last episode until the middle of November. We are hoping to make it up to you with some extra bonus content in November, so stay tuned. In the meantime, be sure to connect with us on social media @conversationsondance.

One more note. During the editing process of this episode we realized we had some background noises that were not apparent to us while we were recording. While we tried to edit the episode as much as possible, we appreciate your patience with at home Zoom recordings. Enjoy the episode and we can’t wait to be back with you in November!

This episode is brought to you by Yumiko (yumiko.com).

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(205) Jennifer Carlynn Kronenberg, Artistic Director of Dimensions Dance Theatre of Miami & former Miami City Ballet Principal Oct 06, 2020

Show notes

This week we are joined by one of our former colleagues, Jennifer Carlynn Kronenberg. Jennifer is a former Principal Dancer with the Miami City Ballet and is now the co-artistic director of Dimensions Dance Theatre of Miami. Jennifer began her dance training in her hometown of Queens, New York, before going on to study at the School of American Ballet. From there, she was spotted by Edward Villella, who asked her to join his company, Miami City Ballet, as an apprentice when she was just 17. She moved through the ranks and became a principal in 2001. She danced in the company’s vast repertoire through to her retirement from the company in 2016.

She and her husband, Carlos Guerra, also a former MCB Principal, went on to found Dimensions Dance Theatre of Miami, which is continuing to grow and prosper. Today we talk with Jen about her career, share some of our favorite memories of dancing with her in the company, talk about her transitions into directorship, and what challenges she and the company have faced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This episode is brought to you by Yumiko (yumiko.com) and Trey McIntyre’s FLTPK. Learn more at FLTPK.com.

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(204) Gabe Stone Shayer, American Ballet Theatre Soloist Sep 28, 2020

Show notes

This week we talk with American Ballet Theatre’s newest soloist dancer, Gabe Stone Shayer. Gabe was born in Philadelphia, where he began his dance training. At 14, he began training full time at the Rock School for Dance Education, before going on to move to Russia to continue his studies at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow. Shayer is the first African-American male to graduate from the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in its nearly 250-year history.

Gabe joined ABT Studio Company in September 2011, the main Company as an apprentice in April 2012 and the corps de ballet in November 2012. Just this month he was promoted to soloist. We talk with Gabe about his training, his time at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy, how he came to ABT, what his promotion was like, and some of the incredible projects he has been working on while the company is on hiatus due to COVID.

This episode is brought to you by Yumiko (yumiko.com) and Trey McIntyre’s FLTPK. Learn more at fltpk.com.

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(203) Ming Luke, Principal Guest Conductor for the San Francisco Ballet and Principal Conductor of the Nashville Ballet Sep 25, 2020

Show notes

Today, we welcome our first conductor to the podcast, Ming Luke. Ming holds a Master of Fine Arts in Conducting from Carnegie Mellon University and a Bachelor of Music in Music Education and Piano Pedagogy from Westminster Choir College of Rider University. With a background in ballet himself, Ming has conducted for ballet performances around the world. He is currently serving as Music Director for the Merced Symphony and Berkeley Community Chorus and Orchestra; Associate Conductor for the Berkeley Symphony; Principal Guest Conductor for the San Francisco Ballet; and Principal Conductor of the Nashville Ballet.

While live theatre is on hiatus due to COVID-19, Ming has started an online series called “Musical Point(e)s,” a virtual in-depth exploration of how movement and music work together in some of the most beloved ballet in the repertoire. Upcoming programming includes “Romeo and Juliet” on Saturday, Sept 26th, “The Winter’s Tale” on October 3rd, and “The Nutcracker” on October 10th. All events are at 12pm Pacific Time, 3pm Eastern. Access to these conversations are free. Register for access on his website, mingluke.com.

This episode is brought to you by Yumiko (yumiko.com) and Trey McIntyre’s FLTPK (flatpack.) Learn more at fltpk.com.

Links:

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(202) Janie Taylor, L.A. Dance Project Dancer & former NYCB Principal Sep 22, 2020

Show notes

Our guest today is Janie Taylor, a former principal ballerina with the New York City Ballet, present day dancer with LA Dance Project, repetiteur for the works of Benjamin Millepied, costume designer, and creator of the art newspaper Quarter Marks.

At the New York City Ballet, Janie amassed a broad rep that showcased the full depth and range of her talents in ballets by George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, Justin Peck, and Peter Martins. After her retirement in 2014, Janie began to explore her talents as a costume designer and repetiteur, creating designs for numerous new ballets and staging works for companies all over the world, such as Dutch National Ballet, Miami City Ballet, and American Ballet Theatre.

Janie returned to dancing with the Los Angeles Dance Project in 2016, enchanting audiences once again with her electrifying and unmistakable stage presence. Today we talk to Janie about her broad range of talents and unlikely career path.

This episode is brought to you by Yumiko (yumiko.com) and Trey McIntyre’s FLTPK (flatpack). Learn more at FLTPK.com.

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(201) Alastair Macaulay Sep 14, 2020

Show notes

Today we check in with listener favorite, Alastair Macaulay. We last spoke with Alastair in 2018 as he was preparing to step down from his post as chief dance critic at the New York Times. We catch up on what he has been working on over the past couple of years, including his research for his book on Merce Cunningham. He tells us about his virtual series for New York City Center that has been exceedingly popular and about his new blog that he will soon be introducing. Be sure to tune into the next installments of City Center’s “Studio 5 Live @ Home” on September 16th, 23rd, and 30th. More information can be found at nycitycenter.org.

This episode is brought to you by Yumiko (yumiko.com) and Veyette Virtual Ballet School (veyettevirtualballetschool.com).

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(200) Rebecca and Michael: Our 200th Episode Sep 08, 2020

Show notes

It’s our 200th episode of Conversations on Dance! To celebrate, Rebecca and Michael get together to chat about the beginnings of COD, some favorite memories, and catch up on what they have been up to recently.

If you would like to give to the Miami City Ballet dancer relief fund, you can do so here: https://tickets.miamicityballet.org/donate/q/dsf

Thank you as always to our amazing sponsor, Yumiko (yumiko.com). Be sure to check out their new release, the Camila, and enjoy a 15% off introductory rate on all ready to wear and custom orders this month.

This episode is also brought to you by Veyette Virtual Ballet School (veyettevirtualballetschool.com). Launching new group classes starting September 14th.

Links:

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(199) Susan Jaffe, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s New Artistic Director Aug 31, 2020

Show notes

Today we chat with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s newly appointed Artistic Director, Susan Jaffe. Susan was a Principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre for 22 years, appearing prominently in the international dance scene and frequently dancing with Mikhail Baryshnikov.

She retired from the stage in 2002 at age 40 and went on to serve as an adviser to the chairman of the board of American Ballet Theatre. From 2003-2010, she taught in the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School of American Ballet Theatre and from 2010-2012, she worked with American Ballet Theatre as ballet mistress. Since 2012, Ms. Jaffe has been the dean of dance at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem.

In April 2020, it was announced that Susan would be taking on the role of Artistic Director at PBT. We talk with Susan about her prolific career, dancing with and for Baryshnikov, her ambition, dealing with career stress, & her new position in the dance world.

Learn more about the Susan Jaffe Series: https://www.susanjaffe.com

This episode is brought to you by Yumiko (yumiko.com) and Veyette Virtual Ballet School (veyettevirtualballetschool.com).

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