Ballet & Dance Podcast

Argentinian-born Herman Cornejo joined the American Ballet Theatre almost two decades ago, rising through the ranks to principal dancer in 2003. His stellar career has seen him dance all the major roles, working with an impressive roster of choreographers and artists, receiving multiple nominations, awards and distinctions. And he’s just about to add another award to the collection, with the honour of the prestigious ‘Positano Premia la Danza‘ 2018 Award as a ‘Dancer of the Year‘. Herman follows an esteemed line of dancers who have been bestowed this award, including Margot Fonteyn, Rudolf Nureyev, Vladimir Vasiliev, Ekaterina Maximova, Natalia Makarova, Carla Fracci, Alessandra Ferri, Roberto Bolle, Alicia Alonso, Uliana Lopatkina, Ivan Vassiliev, Natalia Osipova, Yuri Grigorovich, Mats Ek, Ana Laguna, Lutz Förster, Vladimir Vassiliev. The Wonderful World of Dance has attended the glamorous award ceremony, that takes place in Positano, Italy every year. In this podcast episode, Herman talks about what it means to receive this award, as he prepares to head to the Amalfi Coast for the star-studded gala event. Listen to Herman talk about growing up and dancing in Buenos Aires, his move to the US and joining the American Ballet Theatre, the company of his dreams and his special relationship with the incredible Alessandra Ferri. PRESS PLAY. https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/djwpodcasts/1wwwod/Herman+Cornejo.mp3  

Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo – the multi-award winning all-male, comedy ballet company – is set to tour UK/Ireland from September to October. Although a comic ballet company, the dancers are serious trained artists. In this podcast, Italian born ballet dancer Alberto Pretto gives us an insight into the life in this company that’s steeped in history and honoured with countless awards. Alberto talks about his obsession with pointe shoes and learning to dance en pointe, and leaving a traditional dance company to join the all male company to dance the classical ballets in tutus and gorgeous costumes. Listen to Alberto explain his hilarious stage names – Nina Immobilashvili & Stanislas Kokitch – his makeup routine, and life on the road with Les Trocks.  In his spare time (where does he find the time!), Alberto has launched his own dance wear range – Alby Pretty (check insta @albypretty). Alberto tells us about his love of dance and fashion and growing a business on the side of his dance career. Book tickets for a show near you! The tour runs 8 weeks, over 12 venues beginning at The Peacock, London on 11 September and concluding at Grand Opera House, Belfast on 3 November. PRESS PLAY! https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/djwpodcasts/1wwwod/Alberto+Pretto.mp3  

It is inspiring to see young dancers taking their futures into their own hands, creating their own companies and creating their own work. Australian born Briar Adams is one of those inspiring ballet dancers. She left her home country to embark on a dance career in London – one of the toughest dance centres in the world – and alongside a successful 15 year career, Briar also created her own dance company, ‘Hack Ballet’.  Now in it’s 6th year, Hack Ballet maintains it’s mission of a strong aesthetic vision of the world as it is and as it could be – celebrating diversity and equality, tradition and originality. As a choreographer, Briar creates thought provoking work, that blends classical ballet and contemporary dance techniques to create athletic, lyrical dance with a focus on social issues. Listen to Briar talk about her dance journey, growing up and studying dance in Australia and her experience of coming to the UK and carving out a dance career and finding her own dance tribe. Briar also shares her inspiration and experience of creating Hack Ballet and talks about her roles of Artistic Director, choreographer and dancer. PRESS PLAY! https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/djwpodcasts/1wwwod/Hack+Ballet.mp3 Hack Ballet goes to Edinburgh Festival Fringe Briar has also set out to take Hack Ballet to this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe, to present 15 performances of “Elicitations”, a triple bill showcasing: To The Edge, Argil and Grace. Watch the video and support Hack Ballet by contributing to their tour fund!    Briar Adams. Photo by James Markland

Katie McCann is a former ballet dancer, a performer and dance teacher. She is also the founder of the innovative dance company and dance event ‘Dance in the Parks‘, which presents dance in parks throughout the Chicago. Katie is committed to showcasing dance across Chicago and giving the community the chance to see professional dancers on stage in their local area. Dance In The Parks also gives many local dancers and dance students the chance to participate in this annual event, that is part of Chicago’s Night Out In The Parks. As a former professional dancer with Kentucky Ballet Theater, Katie maintains professional standards for Dance In The Parks. She holds a tough annual audition, where she puts the dancers through their paces to select those who best suited to the challenging dance event. Listen to Katie talk about how she has grown Dance In The Parks almost single-handedly from a small event to one that has seen 10,000 people come to the event over the last 9 seasons. Katie is an inspiration, she has taken an idea and built it into a celebrated event through sheer hard work. Her passion is unbound, matched by her determination and creative vision that delivers a professional and exciting experience for all. Katie is celebrating the 10th season of Dance In The Park – support Dance In The Parks here. PRESS PLAY! https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/djwpodcasts/1wwwod/dance+parks+full.mp3

American choreographer, dancer, filmmaker and artist Juel D. Lane was voted Dance Magazine Top 25 To Watch and made history as the first black local independent choreographer from Atlanta to have a work commissioned by Atlanta Ballet. In this podcast, Juel talks about growing up with severe anxiety as a child in Atlanta, Georgia and how dance gave him the confidence and creative outlet for his energy that took him from his hometown to dancing in New York City. Listen to Juel talk about his fast paced choreography that that addresses political and gender issues. As Juel says, he’s a “black, gay, male dancer” and creates work that reflects his personal experiences. Juel has also participated in the Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation New Directions Choreography Lab, and collaborated with dance legends across the United States.  As a passionate dance teacher, he’s also helping shape the next generation of young contemporary dancers and inspiring others following in his footsteps. PRESS PLAY! https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/djwpodcasts/1wwwod/Juel+Lane.mp3  

BBC London Radio host Jo Good is a former dancer and avid dance lover. After a successful stage career she has forged a high profile career on London’s airwaves. Jo Good invited our editor, Savannah Saunders, to join the popular radio show to talk about the new and exciting launch of The Wonderful World of Dance magazine. Listen to Jo Good asking Savannah about how she turned her passion into a beautiful magazine. Jo Good goes through the glossy pages of the magazine and picks out some of her favourite photos and features. Jo Good says that “it’s the most beautiful dance magazine and one of a kind!” She loves the the stunning photos of Iana Salenko photographed by Dean Barucija of Pickled Thoughts Photography. Also favourites are the dance history feature by our dance historian, Caroline Hamilton with images provided by the Royal Academy of Dance. Jo Good loves the photos of Royal Ballet dancers by Rick Guest, as well as the gorgeously designed dance wear pages, fashion and travel section. Listen to the BBC London Radio interview. PRESS PLAY. https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/djwpodcasts/1wwwod/bbc_23aug17.mp3

London contemporary dance artist Valerie Ebuwa’s work incorporates Hip Hop, African, Dancehall, Jazz and other movement forms such as Yoga and Capoeira. Growing up in a family of lawyers, she carved out her own parth in pursuit of her passion for dance, which led her to performing internationally and being awarded the ‘Young Stoff’ award at Stockholm Fringe Festival. As a freelance dance artist, Valerie is also a dance teacher, model and dance writer for I am Hip Hop magazine and she shares her views and dance experience on her own blog. Valerie is the host of Woman SRSLY – a female-led performance platform which champions bold new performance by female-identified and socialised female artists through platforms and networking support. In this podcast show we discuss domestic violence, diversity and feminism, the challenges facing female artists in the dance industry and how Woman SRSLY is creating a voice for female creators. PRESS PLAY. https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/djwpodcasts/1wwwod/Valerie+Ebuwa.mp3

Italian ballerina Alice Mariani grew up in the rolling hills of Tuscany and went on to study at the prestigious La Scala Ballet School in Milan. After a visit from Semperoper Ballett Aristic Director Aaron S. Watkin, Alice was invited to join the company in Dresden, Germany. In 2011 she joined the corps de ballet and has risen through the ranks to First Soloist. She is currently preparing to perform a triple bill of the acclaimed choreographer William Forysthe‘s work in London (Sadler’s Wells 21-23 June), which will be her first visit to the capital. Listen to Alice talk about working with Forysthe in the studio and the feeling of performing his work on stage. She also tells us about life as a First Soloist, and the joy of performing the company’s repertoire of classical, neoclassical and contemporary works. PRESS PLAY! https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/djwpodcasts/1wwwod/Alice+Mariani.mp3    

Spanish born Jón Vallejo is a principal dancer with Semperoper Ballett (Dresden, Germany), a company with a long history with the acclaimed choreographer William Forsythe. In this podcast, Jón shares his experience of working with Forsythe over his 12 year career with the company, and gives us an insight into how Forsythe breathes new life into his revered pieces to keep them fresh for the dancers and the audience. Semperoper Ballett is showcasing three works by William Forsythe in triple bill All Forsythe, at London’s Sadler’s Wells (21 – 23 June). The triple bill includes the groundbreaking In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated, which famously changed ballet forever, with its deconstruction of classical ballet technique. Neue Suite, created especially for the company, is made up of a series of pas de deux choreographed between 1987 and 1999, which gives highlights of Forsythe’s repertoire.  Enemy in the Figure features 11 cavorting dancers, lit by a single spotlight. Jón also shares with us what makes Semperoper Ballett unique and how they realise the artistic vision of “breaking down the borders that traditionally exist between classical and contemporary dance and redefining dance as a culmination of both.” Listen to his personal journey of growing up in the Spanish Basque country to becoming a principal dancer. PRESS PLAY! https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/djwpodcasts/1wwwod/jon+vallejo.mp3

Alyssa Lisle is a 24 year old contemporary dancer born in the north east of England. She graduated with a 1st class BA (Hons) in Professional Dance Practise at Dance City, Newcastle upon Tyne. In this podcast episode, Alyssa shares her experience of forging a career in the north east of England as a dancer and a dance teacher.  Alyssa talks about touring with Fertile Ground – the North East’s leading professional early career dance company. The company is presenting ‘Fully Grounded’ (until 21 July), an exciting new double bill of world premieres from choreographers ReGina Wielingen and Robby Graham. Listen to Alyssa talk about the opportunities for dancers in the north east, her experience of working with Fertile Ground, the two different choreographers and her aspirations for the future of the local dance scene. PRESS PLAY! https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/djwpodcasts/1wwwod/Fertitle+Ground.mp3   Fertile Ground:

Jinyeob Cha is a household name in Korea, after she was propelled to celebrity status as a judge on the Korean version of Dancing with the Stars. And while that has made Jinyeob a famous personality, it’s her incredible choreography and celebrated career that has firmly established her as a pioneering Korean dance artist. She was prestigiously chosen to choreograph the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics ceremonies, an opportunity that not only showcased Jinyeob’s work to people in her own country, but introduced Korean contemporary dance to a worldwide audience. Jinyeob trained at the London Contemporary Dance School and has performed with the acclaimed Hofesh Shechter Company, an experience that shaped her own choreography and creative process. Jinyeob is an innovator of Korean contemporary dance and after a decade of making work in Seoul, she is returning to present her work ‘Riverrun’ at the Festival of Korean Dance, being held in London at The Place, 9-16 May. Jinyeob shares her fascinating experience and the challenges of creating one of world’s greatest productions, seen by millions globally who tuned in to watch the  2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics ceremonies. She also shares insights into the dance scene in Korea and how contemporary dance is perceived within the Korean culture, and how the popularity of dance is increasing through commercial dance TV shows. PRESS PLAY. https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/djwpodcasts/1wwwod/Jinyeob+Cha.mp3

New technologies like virtual reality and social media are opening up new ways of presenting and interacting with dancers, creators and performances. It is definitely an exciting and interesting time for the art-form and choreographer and former Birmingham Royal Ballet dancer Alexander Whitley, is pioneering the tech dance space with the launch of a dance virtual reality (VR) App.   Alexander Whitley and Natalie Allen in Pattern. Photo by Tristram Kenton In this podcast episode, Alex explains how VR and dance work together and how audiences can see and experience his piece ‘Celestial Motion’ in a new and interactive way. Put on a VR headset and you can be on stage, you can look 360 degrees and get up close to the dancers. Celestial Motion was adapted by Alex from his original stage production 8 Minutes, which received rave reviews when the piece premiered last year. You can listen also to our podcast with Alex, which gives a deep insight into the intellectual foundations and creative process behind  8 Minutes. Alexander Whitley – Frames The Celestial Motion App was produced by The Guardian’s award-winning in-house VR team, and made in association with Sadler’s Wells. Download The Guardian VR app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store. PRESS PLAY. https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/djwpodcasts/1wwwod/Alex+Whiteley.mp3  

Breakin’ Convention is the award-winning, critically acclaimed international hip hop festival and this year marks 15 sensational years of bringing hip hop culture into the theatre. Jonzi D, MC, dancer and spoken word artist is the Founder and Artistic Director of Breakin’ Convention and Associate Artist of Sadler’s Wells, the home of this ground breaking hip hop festival.   Jonzi D gives us the low down on this year’s hot line up of international artists hitting the stage in London. There’s hip hop dancers, DJs, graffiti artists and an incredible ensemble of 15 leading jazz musicians. Jonzi D shares his journey over the last 2 decades from hip hop artist to pioneer of hip hop theatre. We talk about the evolution of the UK hip hop scene over the years, the emerging artists breaking out in the battles and coming together for the festival. Jonzi D shares his vision for the future of hip hop theatre and the legacy for Breakin’ Convention. Breakin’ Convention is an exhilarating family friendly festival that brings together the most respected, innovative and inspirational artists from around the world and is not to be missed! Breakin’ Convention hits London 5-7 May at Sadler’s Wells. Get a taste of what’s to come at the free Park Jam hip hop event in London on 29 April. PRESSS PLAY. https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/djwpodcasts/1wwwod/Jonzi.mp3

World Dance for Parkinson’s Day sees 23 dance organisations and individual teaching artists from 16 countries offering classes for people with Parkinson’s throughout April, in honor of Parkinson’s Awareness Month and International Dance Day. Dance is scientifically proven to help people who suffer from Parkinson’s, with dance classes and programs offering more than just lessons – they also provide social, emotional, and creative experiences that enhance lives of the dance students and their families. Jody White Van de Klippe, Program Director for Hamilton City Ballet’s Dance for Parkinson’s and dance student Stan Tick talk about how dance classes are transforming lives for people with Parkinson’s. Listen to Stan talk about his diagnosis and the affects of the disease before he discovered Dance for Parkinson’s in his home town in Canada. Stan’s personal journey and experience of the positive benefits of dance is inspiring and he is filled with wise words of encouragement for anyone who is living with Parkinson’s. Jody tells us about how World Dance for Parkinson’s Day has grown and brings together a global network of research, dance artists and organisations to make lives better through dance. Companies involved include Mark Morris Dance Group, who founded Dance for PD®, and who as Jody says “without their pioneering spirit and efforts, the global expansion of dance based programming for people who have Parkinson’s disease would not exist”; Dutch National Ballet, English National Ballet, Hamilton City Ballet, Mark Morris Dance Group, Canada’s National Ballet School, Houston Ballet, Queensland Ballet, Scottish Ballet, Skånes Dansteater and many more. Learn more about World Dance for Parkinson’s Day and explore dance classes, watch documentaries and find diverse programs near you in Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, France, Portugal, Israel, India, England, Malta, Scotland, South Africa, South Korea, and the United States. PRESS PLAY. https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/djwpodcasts/1wwwod/Jody+White.mp3

Daria Klimentová, prima ballerina, dance teacher and photographer, is one of the most acclaimed dancers of our times. After a glittering career as a senior principal dancer with the English National Ballet, she is now moulding the future dance stars at the Royal Ballet Upper School. Listen to Daria share her experience of deciding to hang up her pointe shoes and step off the stage and her transition to becoming a dance teacher. Daria talks about her partnership and friendship with the incredible principal dancer Vadim Muntagirov, her passion for passing on her professional experience to the next generation of dancers and her love of photography. Daria gives us an insight into the training at the Royal Ballet School and the challenges for dancers today; she also talks about her renowned International Ballet Masterclass in Prague, which attracts dancers from around the world. It was a privilege to speak with Daria and to feature her in The Wonderful World of Dance Magazine Act II, photographed by the wonderfully talented Karolina Kuras at The Library in London, dressed by Teatum Jones and having a make-up by Paulina Kozdra! PRESS PLAY. https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/djwpodcasts/1wwwod/Daria+Klimentova%CC%81.mp3