Episodes

  • (468) Maria Calegari and Bart Cook, legendary dancers and coaches of Balanchine & Robbins rep
    Oct 8 2025

    Today on the Conversations on Dance podcast we are thrilled to have two fabulous guests: Maria Calegari and Bart Cook. We have have both Maria and Bart on the podcast before, but this married couple danced together and now sets ballets together, so we knew we had to get them on the podcast together to hear more about their careers and their work as repetiteurs for the Balanchine Trust and for the Robbins Trust. We talk through their experiences dancing together, then some of the specific ballets that they have set together: basically it’s just an hour and a half of bunhead time.


    Maria & Bart are currently offering virtual and in-person private lessons for pre-professional and professional ballet dancers ages 15 and up. Lessons are structured to focus on your specific artistic goals to identify the stylistic and technical nuances that you can use to improve your movement quality, advice that goes beyond the typical class format. For more information visit: https://calegariteacher.com/.


    Announcement:

    We are thrilled to announce that we will be returning to Miami City Ballet October 17th-19th to host live pre-performance talks for the opening weekend of the company’s 40th anniversary season. For each talk, we will be joined by Gonzalo Garcia as he ushers the company into its first season under his direction. Full details below.


    This program is truly not to be missed: the all Peck program includes ‘Year of the Rabbit’, ‘Chutes and Ladders’, and ‘Heatscape.’ If you are in the Miami area come join us. And if you aren’t, time to look for flights!


    DETAILS:


    FRI October 17 with Gonzalo Garcia at 6:30pm

    SAT October 18 with Gonzalo and Justin Peck at 6:30pm

    SUN October 19 with Gonzalo and Patricia Delgado at 1pm


    Admission to pre-performance talks at the Arsht Center is complimentary with ticket purchase. Tickets available here: https://www.miamicityballet.org/tickets-and-events/202526-season/peck/. If you are unable to join us in person, subscribe to the Conversations on Dance podcast feed through your favorite podcast app, where we will be publishing recordings of the events.


    SPONSOR:

    Friday through Sunday, November 7th through 9th, join Amanda Treiber and Company for their debut performances at the Mark O’Donnell Theater in Brooklyn! Featuring a cast of international artists, including dancers and musicians from New York City Ballet, and a world premiere to music by Philip Glass, these performances showcase NYC-based choreographer and dancer Amanda Treiber's ability to create worlds through unique movement vocabularies and her deep collaborations with dancers, musicians, and visual artists. You won't want to miss it! Reserve your tickets today at amandatreiber.com.



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    Instagram: @conversationsondance


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    1 hr and 24 mins
  • (467) Dante Puleio, Artistic Director of Limón Dance Company, and choreographer Diego Vega Solorza
    Oct 1 2025

    On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance", we are joined by Dante Puleio, Artistic Director of the Limón Dance Company, and esteemed choreographer Diego Vega Solorza, whose work for the company will premiere in the company's upcoming Joyce season. Dante tells us how he became familiar with Diego's work and why it was a natural fit for the company and the season, while Diego dives into his creative process and how the Limón dancers have shaped this particular work. The Limón Dance Company will perform at the storied Joyce theater in New York City from Tuesday, October 14th through Sunday October 19th. To purchase tickets visit joyce.org.


    SPONSOR:

    Friday through Sunday, November 7th through 9th, join Amanda Treiber and Company for their debut performances at the Mark O’Donnell Theater in Brooklyn! Featuring a cast of international artists, including dancers and musicians from New York City Ballet, and a world premiere to music by Philip Glass, these performances showcase NYC-based choreographer and dancer Amanda Treiber's ability to create worlds through unique movement vocabularies and her deep collaborations with dancers, musicians, and visual artists. You won't want to miss it! Reserve your tickets today at amandatreiber.com.

    LINKS:


    Website: conversationsondancepod.com


    Instagram: @conversationsondance


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    44 mins
  • (466) Gonzalo Garcia, Newly Appointed Artistic Director of Miami City Ballet
    Sep 24 2025

    On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance", we are joined by Gonzalo Garcia, former principal dancer with San Francisco Ballet and the New York City Ballet, and the new artistic director of the Miami City Ballet. Gonzalo gives us an inside view on his plans to shape Miami City Ballet as only the third director in its 40 year history, including his thoughts on repertoire he wants to bring, honing his fundraising skills for the company's long term financial health and how he plans to be involved in daily coaching and teaching. Miami City Ballet's 40th anniversary season kicks off at the Arsht Center on October 17th with an all Justin Peck program. To purchase tickets, visit miamicityballet.org.


    SPONSOR:

    Chicago's Wrightwood 659 presents Joffrey + Ballet in the U.S., a large-scale exhibition celebrating the rich history of The Joffrey Ballet and the life of Robert Joffrey. Drawing from the Joffrey archive, acquired by the Jerome Robbins Dance Division in 2017 as the Library’s largest acquisition in a decade, the exhibition offers an in-depth look at the Joffrey’s contributions to ballet in the U.S. Highlights include rare film from the original performance of the groundbreaking ballet Astarte and Anna Sokolow’s Opus 65, as well as costumes, props, pointe shoes, posters, correspondence, and other ephemera from the company and Robert Joffrey’s life. On view October 3rd through Dec 20th. For more information, visit wrightwood659.org

    LINKS:


    Website: conversationsondancepod.com


    Instagram: @conversationsondance


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    53 mins
  • (465) Houston Ballet's "Rock, Roll & Tutus" with choreographers Christopher Bruce and Jacquelyn Long
    Sep 17 2025

    On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance", we are joined by choreographers Christopher Bruce and Jacquelyn Long, whose works will be featured on the upcoming Houston Ballet program "Rock, Roll & Tutus". They take us through their creative processes, how they select and interpret music through dance and each of their long artistic relationships with Houston Ballet, with Christopher honing his work with the company for decades and Jacquelyn rising to the rank of soloist before being singled out for her choreographic talents. To purchase tickets to "Rock, Roll & Tutus", premiering September 18th and running through the 28th, visit houstonballet.org.


    SPONSOR:

    Chicago's Wrightwood 659 presents Joffrey + Ballet in the U.S., a large-scale exhibition celebrating the rich history of The Joffrey Ballet and the life of Robert Joffrey. Drawing from the Joffrey archive, acquired by the Jerome Robbins Dance Division in 2017 as the Library’s largest acquisition in a decade, the exhibition offers an in-depth look at the Joffrey’s contributions to ballet in the U.S. Highlights include rare film from the original performance of the groundbreaking ballet Astarte and Anna Sokolow’s Opus 65, as well as costumes, props, pointe shoes, posters, correspondence, and other ephemera from the company and Robert Joffrey’s life. On view October 3rd through Dec 20th. For more information, visit wrightwood659.org

    LINKS:


    Website: conversationsondancepod.com


    Instagram: @conversationsondance


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    50 mins
  • (464) Michael & Rebecca, catching up + 10th anniversary season!
    Sep 10 2025

    This week on Conversations on Dance, it's just Michael and Rebecca. We catch up on what we have been up to since Vail Dance Festival in August. Michael talks about working as a rehearsal director for James Whiteside in Mexico, and staging Justin Peck's 'Heatscape' at New York City Ballet this Fall.


    SPONSOR:

    San Francisco-based choreographer Alyssa Mitchel presents the premiere of Endure, a multimedia dance production taking place at Dance Mission Theater on October 3rd, 4th and 5th. The piece features six dancers, the graphic art and animations of designer Zach Litoff and recorded interviews with six marathon runners. This new work celebrates running while paying tribute to the enduring human spirit, with the intention of empowering audience members to persevere through difficult challenges. Tickets are on sale now at dancemissiontheater.org. You can follow Alyssa Mitchel on Instagram at @alymitchel or visit alyssaevemitchel.com for more information.

    LINKS:


    Website: conversationsondancepod.com


    Instagram: @conversationsondance


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    34 mins
  • (463) Dominika Afanasenkov, ballerina with New York City Ballet, from the Vail Dance Festival
    Aug 27 2025

    Today on Conversations on Dance we are joined by Dominika Afanasenkov from the Vail Dance Festival. Dominika is a ballerina with the New York City Ballet. She talks to us about how growing up in cities all over the world impacted her training, how she’s approached the breakthrough opportunities she’s received so far, and what her first experience at the Vail Dance Festival was like.


    This episode is brought to you by Discover Vail and was recorded at the 2025 Vail Dance Festival.


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    LINKS:


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    44 mins
  • (462) Nikolaj Hübbe, star dancer of the New York City Ballet, from The Vail Dance Festival
    Aug 20 2025

    On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance", we are joined by Nikolaj Hübbe, star dancer of the New York City Ballet, and both former principal and artistic director of the Royal Danish Ballet. Nikolaj takes us through his story, from his starry eyed fascination as a child with the productions in Denmark, his meteoric rise to principal and subsequent leap of faith joining the New York City Ballet, and his years as leader of the Royal Danish Ballet. He also shares his experiences in his first year as a coach at the Vail Dance Festival, highlighting what it is that makes the artistic process in Vail so special.


    This episode is brought to you by Discover Vail and was recorded at the 2025 Vail Dance Festival.


    LINKS:

    Website: conversationsondancepod.com

    Instagram: @conversationsondance

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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • (461) Curating for Kaatsbaan Annual Festival, with Michèle Steinwald
    Aug 13 2025

    On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance", we are joined by Michèle Steinwald, guest curator of the 2025 Kaatsbaan Annual Festival. Michèle takes us through their artistic beginnings, as a teenager shaped by experiences as diverse as being in a punk rock band, posing in a meat dress for an installation or simply buying a at ticket to performances at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, to where they are now, shaping artistic experiences and interactions with communities that are everywhere from the gorgeous surroundings of Kaatsbaan to a neighborhood bar. If you are in the Hudson Valley area of New York state, or would like to make the trip to see this year's dynamic and artistically varied lineup at the festival, as curated by Michèle, please visit kaatsbaan.org.


    Festival schedule & Ticketing: https://kaatsbaan.org/performances-festivals


    LINKS:

    Website: conversationsondancepod.com

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    LINKS:


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    52 mins