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Conversations on Dance | Ballet & Dance Careers: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Michael Sean Breeden & Rebecca King Ferraro | Former Miami City Ballet Dancers
Dance, ballet, and contemporary dance take center stage on Conversations on Dance, hosted by former Miami City Ballet dancers Rebecca King Ferraro and Michael Sean Breeden. Each week, influential artists and leaders share candid stories about performance, creative work, and dance careers. With more than 500 episodes since 2016 and conversations spanning the global dance community, the award-winning podcast offers an inside look at the people shaping the art form. Conversations on Dance received the 2024 Clive Barnes Award for Journalism and Media Achievement.
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- Today43 min
Alicia Graf Mack on Leading Ailey, Lessons from Juilliard, and Curating a Bold City Center Season - Episode 517
Hosts Rebecca King Ferraro and Michael Sean Breeden welcome Alicia Graf Mack back to discuss her transition from leading Juilliard’s dance division (2018–2025) to becoming head of the Alvin Ailey organization. Alicia reflects on building relationships, gaining confidence in arts leadership, and pivoting during the pandemic to sustain community and support dancers. She explains how the Ailey opportunity emerged through a search process and her growing belief in “why not me,” and describes Ailey’s strong organizational and financial foundation and her holistic responsibilities across the company, Ailey II, school, and education programs. She outlines her City Center season coming December 2 - January 3: https://ailey.org/series/ailey-new-york-city-center.Access upcoming BONUS episodes plus listen ad-free when you join our Patreon page. Membership starts as low as $3 a month and every dollar helps support the future of the podcast. Thank you for your support. https://www.patreon.com/cw/conversationsondance. If you're not a Patreon member yet, join us over there, for a free month. Click here: https://www.patreon.com/conversationsondance/redeem/2D104Conversations 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/conversationsondanceWebsite: conversationsondancepod.comJoin our email list: https://conversations-on-dance.kit.com/7f73880f5bInstagram: instagram.com/conversationsondance Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- 1 weeks ago34 min
(516) Michael's Fall 2026 Repetiteur journey for George Balanchine, Justin Peck, and Alexei Ratmansky
Access upcoming BONUS episodes plus listen ad-free when you join our Patreon page. Membership starts as low as $3 a month and every dollar helps support the future of the podcast. Thank you for your support. https://www.patreon.com/cw/conversationsondance. If you're not a Patreon member yet, join us over there, for a free month. Click here: https://www.patreon.com/conversationsondance/redeem/2D104Rebecca King Ferraro and Michael Sean Breeden share a catch-up episode. Michael recounts recent travel and staging work: time at IU and Chicago, then Nashville for the premiere of Balanchine’s Allegro, reflecting on the ballet’s joy, difficulty, and the dancers’ investment, alongside mention of Miami City Ballet performing Allegro and Ashley Knox’s retirement. He returns to Royal Winnipeg Ballet to stage Alexei Ratmansky’s The Fairy’s Kiss, describing its personal significance, Ratmansky’s brief visit, and Ratmansky’s formative history in Winnipeg, including meeting a key supporter from that era. Michael also praises Houston Thomas’s Firebird. Now in Hamburg staging Justin Peck’s Copland Dance Episodes, he discusses seeing John Neumeier’s Cinderella and Lady of the Camellias and the company’s strong theatrical acting, with Alice in Wonderland also in repertory. 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/conversationsondanceWebsite: conversationsondancepod.comJoin our email list: https://conversations-on-dance.kit.com/7f73880f5bInstagram: instagram.com/conversationsondance Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- 1 weeks ago41 min
(515) Peter Boal, Pacific Northwest Ballet Artistic Director, looking back over 22 years and upcoming season highlights
Access upcoming BONUS episodes plus listen ad-free when you join our Patreon page. Membership starts as low as $3 a month and every dollar helps support the future of the podcast. Thank you for your support. https://www.patreon.com/cw/conversationsondance. If you're not a Patreon member yet, join us over there, for a free month. Click here: https://www.patreon.com/conversationsondance/redeem/2D104Rebecca King Ferraro and Michael Sean Breeden welcome Pacific Northwest Ballet artistic director Peter Boal back to Conversations on Dance to discuss PNB’s major facilities project: building a new school four miles south (finishing in March), temporarily moving all operations there, then renovating the 1993 headquarters for a year. Boal explains the growth and inclusion-driven space needs, highlights plans to feature the costume shop prominently, and reflects on 22 seasons of repertoire building by developing ongoing relationships with choreographers (Jessica Lang, Alejandro Cerrudo, Crystal Pite) rather than one-offs, balancing familiar classics with experimentation. He discusses coaching and stagers such as Karla Korbes, updates on Balanchine works including La Sonnambula, and previews the season’s programs: “Ghost Stories” (Cerrudo, Kyle Davis’ The Raven, George Balanchine's La Sonnambula), Director’s Choice (Kyle Abraham, Eva Stone, Chris Wheeldon), Swan Lake, Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Ballet on Broadway (Twyla Tharp, Susan Stroman, Wheeldon).Explore PNB's season here: https://www.pnb.org/.____________Listen to Ballet Help Desk wherever you get your podcasts. Click here for more information. 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/conversationsondanceWebsite: conversationsondancepod.comJoin our email list: https://conversations-on-dance.kit.com/7f73880f5bInstagram: instagram.com/conversationsondance Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- 3 weeks ago7 min
[Excerpt] Merrill Ashley, Balanchine Ballerina - Patreon Bonus Episode
Welcome to our bonus episode with Merrill Ashley, which is available now on our Patreon page. If you are a member of our Supporter, Ruby or Emerald tier on Patreon, you can listen to this entire episode, as part of your membership. Here on our main feed, we are sharing an excerpt of our interview with Balanchine Ballerina and Repetiteur, Merrill Ashley.If you're not a Patreon member yet, join us over there, for a free month, and enjoy this bonus episode. Click here: https://www.patreon.com/conversationsondance/redeem/2D104Also as a Patreon member, you get early and ad-free access to other episodes, and we will be having other bonus episodes that you surely won't want to miss over there. So give it a try!Hosts Rebecca King Ferraro and Michael Sean Breeden interview former New York City Ballet star principal and Balanchine coach Merrill Ashley about her path from early training, to the School of American Ballet on a Ford Foundation scholarship and joining NYCB at 16.Ashley describes weak early technique, learning step names late, using Pilates to build strength, and being shaped by Balanchine’s precision, Monday classes, and belief that dancers can exceed what they think possible. She recounts first roles and challenges and Balanchine choreographing for her, especially Ballo della Regina, her later guesting in Sleeping Beauty, and her focus on coaching, archiving, and preserving Balanchine tradition through projects like Balanchine Essays and current work.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/conversationsondanceWebsite: conversationsondancepod.comJoin our email list: https://conversations-on-dance.kit.com/7f73880f5bInstagram: instagram.com/conversationsondance Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- 3 weeks ago58 min
(514) Choreographer Houston Thomas, on reimagining 'Firebird' for Royal Winnipeg Ballet
ccess upcoming BONUS episodes plus listen ad-free when you join our Patreon page. Membership starts as low as $3 a month and every dollar helps support the future of the podcast. Thank you for your support. https://www.patreon.com/cw/conversationsondanceConversations on Dance hosts Michael Sean Breeden and Rebecca King Ferraro interview choreographer Houston Thomas. Houston recounts starting dance in Chicago inspired by Savion Glover, shifting from tap to ballet through Joffrey community classes, then training at the School of American Ballet and joining Dresden Semperoper Ballet, where he danced for 10 years. He describes growing choreographic ambitions through SAB’s workshop and Dresden’s young choreographers program. After winning the Emergence Choreographers Contest, he pursued commissions by widely sharing work, ultimately leaving Dresden as choreography opportunities grew in the U.S. In Winnipeg, he premieres a new, corporate-America reimagining of Firebird aimed at drawing audiences from streaming to live theater.Royal Winnipeg's 'Stravinsky Stories' program runs in Winnipeg October 8 - 11th, 2026. Tickets and more information available here.Listen to Ballet Help Desk wherever you get your podcasts. Click here for more information.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/conversationsondanceWebsite: conversationsondancepod.comJoin our email list: https://conversations-on-dance.kit.com/7f73880f5bInstagram: instagram.com/conversationsondance Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- Sep 30, 202645 min
(513) Ashley Wheater on Joffrey Ballet at Performing Arts Houston with Alexander Ekman's Midsummer Night's Dream
Access upcoming BONUS episodes plus listen ad-free when you join our Patreon page. Membership starts as low as $3 a month and every dollar helps support the future of the podcast. Thank you for your support. https://www.patreon.com/cw/conversationsondanceConversations on Dance hosts Rebecca King Ferraro and Michael Sean Breeden welcome back Ashley Wheater, Artistic Director of The Joffrey Ballet, to discuss the company’s upcoming tour to Houston (Performing Arts Houston, Oct. 23–24) with Alexander Ekman’s Midsummer Night’s Dream and preparations for the season. He explains Joffrey’s marketing approach, long-range planning and budgeting through 2029, and balancing risk with audience draws like Christopher Wheeldon’s streamlined Sleeping Beauty. Wheater details Ekman’s Swedish Midsummer concept, hay-covered stage, surreal dinner party structure, and commissioned music featuring singer Anna von Hausswolff, and reflects on 20 years building Joffrey’s artistic identity, finances, community ties, and dancer wellness support.If you are in the Houston area, don't miss the Joffrey Ballet at Performing Arts Houston. Tickets available here.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/conversationsondanceWebsite: conversationsondancepod.comJoin our email list: https://conversations-on-dance.kit.com/7f73880f5bInstagram: instagram.com/conversationsondance Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- Sep 23, 20265 min
[Excerpt] Choreographer William Forsythe - Patreon Bonus Episode
Welcome to our first Bonus episode of Conversations on Dance, which is available now on our Patreon page. If you are a member of our Ruby or Emerald tier on Patreon, you can listen to this entire episode, as part of your membership. Here on our main feed, we are sharing an excerpt of our interview with choreographer William Forsythe. If you're not a Patreon member yet, join us over there, for a free month, and enjoy this bonus episode. Click here: https://www.patreon.com/conversationsondance/redeem/2D104Also as a Patreon member, you get early and ad-free access to other episodes, and we will be having other bonus episodes that you surely won't want to miss over there. So give it a try!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/conversationsondanceWebsite: conversationsondancepod.comJoin our email list: https://conversations-on-dance.kit.com/7f73880f5bInstagram: instagram.com/conversationsondance Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- Sep 16, 202658 min
(512) Choreographer Alysa Pires on her new work for New York City Ballet
Access upcoming BONUS episodes plus listen ad-free when you join our Patreon page. Membership starts as low as $3 a month and every dollar helps support the future of the podcast. Thank you for your support. https://www.patreon.com/cw/conversationsondanceToday on Conversations on Dance, hosts Rebecca King Ferraro and Michael Sean Breeden welcome choreographer Alysa Pires, who's new work for New York City Ballet will be premiering October 1 as a part of NYCB's fashion gala. Alysa who shares how she gravitated to dance as a child, discovered contemporary dance in high school, and began choreographing early. She discusses mentorship at Toronto Metropolitan University and explains her creative process: coming into ballet settings highly prepared with music charts and organizational planning while developing steps collaboratively in the studio. Byers describes managing imposter syndrome, the people-focused side of choreographing, and a career turning point when the National Ballet of Canada opened its choreographic workshop to outside artists, leading to bigger opportunities. She previews her second NYCB commission, inspired by motherhood, protection, and sacrifice. Tickets and more information: https://www.nycballet.com/season-and-tickets/fall-2026/fall-fashion-gala00:00 Support on Patreon00:40 Meet the Hosts01:29 Early Dance Roots03:14 Finding Contemporary Path06:34 Choreography Takes Hold09:28 Mentors and Ballet Return11:46 Prepping a New Work14:25 Music Charts and Logistics18:57 Discovery in the Studio20:55 Leading the Room24:37 Breakthrough Commissions28:53 City Ballet Nerves30:10 Family Sacrifice Balance31:48 Who Gets Choreography36:06 Second Commission Process37:49 Casting For Collaboration43:59 NYCB commission Inspiration48:19 Fashion And Motherhood53:51 Title And Bird Imagery55:49 Premiere Dates And Runs56:57 Thanks And CreditsInterested in signing up? Enjoy one month access to our Patreon for free: CLICK HERE.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/conversationsondanceWebsite: conversationsondancepod.comJoin our email list: https://conversations-on-dance.kit.com/7f73880f5bInstagram: instagram.com/conversationsondance Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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About Conversations on Dance | Ballet & Dance Careers
Dance, ballet, and contemporary dance take center stage on Conversations on Dance, hosted by former Miami City Ballet dancers Rebecca King Ferraro and Michael Sean Breeden. Each week, influential artists and leaders share candid stories about performance, creative work, and dance careers. With more than 500 episodes since 2016 and conversations spanning the global dance community, the award-winning podcast offers an inside look at the people shaping the art form. Conversations on Dance received the 2024 Clive Barnes Award for Journalism and Media Achievement.
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