Conversations on Dance is an award winning podcast hosted by former Miami City Ballet dancers Rebecca King Ferraro and Michael Sean Breeden. Since 2016, the podcast has provided an inside look at the world of dance through in-depth interviews with the field’s most influential dancers, choreographers, musicians, directors, and educators. With a mission to educate, inspire, and connect, Conversations on Dance goes beyond performance to uncover the stories, insights, and artistry that shape the dance world today.
Each week, listeners are invited into candid conversations that highlight the intelligence, passion, and creative process of those working at the highest levels of the art form. With hundreds of episodes and partnerships with institutions like the Vail Dance Festival, San Francisco Ballet, The Kennedy Center, Guggenheim’s Works & Process, and more, the podcast has become a trusted and celebrated voice in the global dance community.
Conversations on Dance was the recipient of the 2024 Clive Barnes Award for Journalism and Media Achievement.
Subscribe now wherever you get your podcasts.
Website: conversationsondancepod.com
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Conversations on Dance is an award winning podcast hosted by former Miami City Ballet dancers Rebecca King Ferraro and Michael Sean Breeden. Since 2016, the podcast has provided an inside look at the world of dance through in-depth interviews with the field’s most influential dancers, choreographers, musicians, directors, and educators. With a mission to educate, inspire, and connect, Conversations on Dance goes beyond performance to uncover the stories, insights, and artistry that shape the dance world today.
Each week, listeners are invited into candid conversations that highlight the intelligence, passion, and creative process of those working at the highest levels of the art form. With hundreds of episodes and partnerships with institutions like the Vail Dance Festival, San Francisco Ballet, The Kennedy Center, Guggenheim’s Works & Process, and more, the podcast has become a trusted and celebrated voice in the global dance community.
Conversations on Dance was the recipient of the 2024 Clive Barnes Award for Journalism and Media Achievement.
Subscribe now wherever you get your podcasts.
Website: conversationsondancepod.com
Join our email list: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/5taTM5H/COD
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@conversationsondance
Instagram: instagram.com/conversationsondance
Facebook: facebook.com/conversationsondance
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance", we are joined by Michéle Steinwald, guest curator of the 2025 Kaatsbaan Annual Festival. Michéle 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 at ticket to performances at the National Centre for the Arts 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 Michéle, please visit kaatsbaan.org.
Festival schedule & Ticketing: https://kaatsbaan.org/performances-festivals
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Join Conversations on Dance hosts Rebecca King Ferraro and Michael Sean Breeden for a live podcast recording with New York City Ballet’s exciting new generation of principal dancers: Chun Wai Chan, Mira Nadon, and Gilbert Bolden III. These dynamic artists are shaping the future of classical ballet with their exceptional talent, artistry, and fresh perspectives. Hear about their paths to principal status, experiences dancing with NYCB, and their aspirations both on and off the stage.
This episode is brought to you by Discover Vail and was recorded live from the Vail Dance Festival on August 3, 2025.
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Join Conversations on Dance hosts Rebecca King Ferraro and Michael Sean Breeden for a live podcast recording featuring BalletX dancers Savannah Green and Francesca Forcella. Known for their innovative artistry and bold performances, these talented dancers bring fresh energy and perspective from one of America’s leading contemporary ballet companies. Join us for an engaging conversation about their artistic journeys, creative process, and what it means to be part of BalletX’s groundbreaking repertoire.
This episode is brought to you by Discover Vail and was recorded live from the Vail Dance Festival on August 2, 2025.
Tickets to Conversations on Dance at the 2025 Vail Dance Festival on sale now! https://vaildance.org/conversations-on-dance/
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Website: conversationsondancepod.com
Instagram: @conversationsondance
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Join Conversations on Dance hosts Rebecca King Ferraro and Michael Sean Breeden for a vibrant live podcast recording spotlighting the Vail Dance Festival’s Rising Voices: Gianna Reisen, My’Kal Stromile, and Rachel Lockhart.
These dynamic emerging artists represent the new generation of dance innovators, each bringing a fresh voice and perspective to the art form. Hear about their journeys, creative visions, and the inspiration behind their work as they prepare to make their mark on the Festival stage. Reisen, Stromile, and Lockhart will be creating new work for this year’s NOW: Premieres program.
This episode is brought to you by Discover Vail and was recorded live from the Vail Dance Festival on August 1, 2025.
Tickets to Conversations on Dance at the 2025 Vail Dance Festival on sale now! https://vaildance.org/conversations-on-dance/
LINKS:
Website: conversationsondancepod.com
Instagram: @conversationsondance
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Conversations on Dance hosts Rebecca King Ferraro and Michael Sean Breeden welcome two of the Festival’s most beloved artists for a long-anticipated live podcast recording: Calvin Royal III, Principal Dancer with American Ballet Theatre, and Unity Phelan, Principal Dancer with New York City Ballet.
Royal and Phelan—widely regarded as one of the most iconic duos to emerge from the Vail Dance Festival—will reflect on their enduring partnership, born at Vail and nurtured through countless collaborations across stages and companies. This conversation explores the artistic trust, chemistry, and shared vision that have made them audience favorites.
This episode is brought to you by Discover Vail and was recorded live from the Vail Dance Festival on July 31, 2025.
Tickets to Conversations on Dance at the 2025 Vail Dance Festival on sale now! https://vaildance.org/conversations-on-dance/
LINKS:
Website: conversationsondancepod.com
Instagram: @conversationsondance
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Join our email list: https://bit.ly/COD-email
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Join Conversations on Dance hosts Rebecca King Ferraro and Michael Sean Breeden for a special live recording with American Ballet Theatre principal ballerinas Isabella Boylston and Chloe Misseldine. Powerhouses on the international stage and here at home, Boylston and Misseldine will share their journeys to principal status, their experiences performing with ABT, and their artistic perspectives as leading women in classical ballet today.
This episode is brought to you by Discover Vail and was recorded live from the Vail Dance Festival on July 30, 2025.
Tickets to Conversations on Dance at the 2025 Vail Dance Festival on sale now! https://vaildance.org/conversations-on-dance/
LINKS:
Website: conversationsondancepod.com
Instagram: @conversationsondance
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Join Conversations on Dance hosts Rebecca King Ferraro and Michael Sean Breeden for a live podcast recording with one of the Vail Dance Festival’s most celebrated returning artists and this year’s Artist-in-Residence, Melissa Toogood.
Toogood, a Bessie Award-winning dancer and former member of the Merce Cunningham Dance Company, has just been named Director of The Juilliard School’s Dance Division and will share her vision for the next chapter of one of the world’s most prestigious conservatories. She also debuts a new work for the Festival’s NOW: Premieres program this year.
This episode is brought to you by Discover Vail and was recorded live from the Vail Dance Festival on July 29, 2025.
Tickets to Conversations on Dance at the 2025 Vail Dance Festival on sale now! https://vaildance.org/conversations-on-dance/
LINKS:
Website: conversationsondancepod.com
Instagram: @conversationsondance
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MacArthur Fellow and tap visionary Michelle Dorrance joins Conversations on Dance for a live podcast recording with hosts Rebecca King Ferraro and Michael Sean Breeden. A festival mainstay, Dorrance shares insight into her newest work, The Center Will Not Hold, co-created with b-girl and choreographer Ephrat Asherie.
Following last year’s sold-out performance, this new evening-length piece blends rhythm tap with a wide range of street, club, and social dances—brought to life by an electric ensemble and live music by composer Donovan Dorrance and percussionist John Angeles.
Gain a behind-the-scenes look into Dorrance’s creative process, her collaborative spirit, and how she continues to expand the boundaries of tap dance.
This episode is brought to you by Discover Vail and was recorded live from the Vail Dance Festival on July 28, 2025.
Tickets to Conversations on Dance at the 2025 Vail Dance Festival on sale now! https://vaildance.org/conversations-on-dance/
LINKS:
Website: conversationsondancepod.com
Instagram: @conversationsondance
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Join Conversations on Dance hosts Rebecca King Ferraro and Michael Sean Breeden for a live podcast recording with Michael Novak, Artistic Director of the legendary Paul Taylor Dance Company. As the company returns to the Vail Dance Festival for the first time since 2018, Novak reflects on honoring the legacy of Paul Taylor—one of the most influential figures in American modern dance—on what would have been Taylor’s 95th birthday.
This special conversation offers insight into the company’s tribute performance, featuring the beloved Company B and the 50th anniversary presentation of Esplanade, a masterwork hailed for transforming everyday movement into mythic dance.
This episode is brought to you by Discover Vail and was recorded live from the Vail Dance Festival on July 27, 2025.
Tickets to Conversations on Dance at the 2025 Vail Dance Festival on sale now! https://vaildance.org/conversations-on-dance/
LINKS:
Website: conversationsondancepod.com
Instagram: @conversationsondance
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It's that time of year again! Get ready for daily drops from Conversations on Dance all throughout the 2025 Vail Dance Festival through August 3rd. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss a moment.
Today we are joined by four dancers from LINES Ballert: Adji Cissoko, Lorris Eichinger, Ilaria Guerra, and Shuaib Elhassan. In this morning’s conversation, explore the company’s return to the Vail Dance Festival with a program that includes Ode to Alice Coltrane—a tribute to the legendary spiritual jazz icon—and Mother Goose, a mesmerizing reimagining of Ravel’s beloved 1912 suite, Ma mère l’Oye.
Hear behind-the-scenes insights into the creative process behind these visionary works and get to know the artists shaping them. The conversation will be followed by an open audience Q&A.
This episode was recorded live from the Vail Dance Festival on July 26, 2025.
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The Vail Dance Festival is almost here! If you are going to be at the festival, please join us for our in-person events. Ticket and more information available here: https://vaildance.org/conversations-on-dance/.
If you can't be with us, please subscribe to the Conversations on Dance podcast wherever you get your podcasts to be notified as we are publishing episodes daily from the festival. Episodes will be running from July 26 - August 3.
Tickets to Conversations on Dance at the 2025 Vail Dance Festival on sale now! https://vaildance.org/conversations-on-dance/
LINKS:
Website: conversationsondancepod.com
Instagram: @conversationsondance
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On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance" we are joined by award winning ballerina Yuan Yuan Tan. We cover her meteoric rise, from entering San Francisco Ballet as a soloist at 18 directly from her schooling, a nearly unheard of feat, to anchoring the company as a principal for nearly three decades, and finally becoming a leader in the arts, most recently as the artistic director for the Chinese folktale production Lady White Snake, a stirring visual blend of dance, martial arts, music and costumes. To purchase tickets to Lady White Snake, coming to the David H Koch theater at Lincoln Center this July 26 and 27th, visit davidhkochtheater.com.
Tickets to Conversations on Dance at the 2025 Vail Dance Festival on sale now! https://vaildance.org/conversations-on-dance/
LINKS:
Website: conversationsondancepod.com
Instagram: @conversationsondance
Merch: https://bit.ly/cod-merch
YouTube: https://bit.ly/youtube-COD
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This is Part Two of our episode with Bart Cook. If you missed Part One, please check back in our feed.
On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance", we are joined by legendary New York City Ballet dancer and repetiteur for the Balanchine Trust Bart Cook. Bart was a favorite of both George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins, prized for his versatility and chameleon like ability to inhabit the inner worlds of the ballets he danced. Bart goes into detail with us about these experiences, both onstage as a dancer and offstage, ensuring that the care and beauty he imbued these works with as a dancer continues in the artists of today.
Tickets to Conversations on Dance at the 2025 Vail Dance Festival on sale now! https://vaildance.org/conversations-on-dance/
LINKS:
Website: conversationsondancepod.com
Instagram: @conversationsondance
Merch: https://bit.ly/cod-merch
YouTube: https://bit.ly/youtube-COD
Join our email list: https://bit.ly/COD-email
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On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance", we are joined by legendary New York City Ballet dancer and repetiteur for the Balanchine Trust Bart Cook. Bart was a favorite of both George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins, prized for his versatility and chameleon like ability to inhabit the inner worlds of the ballets he danced. Bart goes into detail with us about these experiences, both onstage as a dancer and offstage, ensuring that the care and beauty he imbued these works with as a dancer continues in the artists of today.
Tickets to Conversations on Dance at the 2025 Vail Dance Festival on sale now! https://vaildance.org/conversations-on-dance/
LINKS:
Website: conversationsondancepod.com
Instagram: @conversationsondance
Merch: https://bit.ly/cod-merch
YouTube: https://bit.ly/youtube-COD
Join our email list: https://bit.ly/COD-email
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Tickets to Conversations on Dance at the 2025 Vail Dance Festival on sale now! https://vaildance.org/conversations-on-dance/
Today it's just us as we catch up on the past few weeks: Miami City Ballet's recent announcement of Gonzalo Garcia as the new Artistic Director, Michael's time in Amsterdam, the Clive Barnes awards, and we go through all our events that are coming up at the 2025 Vail Dance Festival.
You can support the Clive Barnes Foundation by donating here: https://www.clivebarnesfoundation.org/.
SPONSOR:
Felice Lesser Dance Theater celebrates its 50th Anniversary with the live documentary, I AM A DANCER 2020, a real-time journey into the effects of the pandemic on the dance world. Combining live dance, projected video, and filmed interviews depicting how dance workers navigated the COVID-19 pandemic, I AM A DANCER 2020 will have four performances, June 26th to 28th at New York Live Arts in New York City. For tickets and information, please visit newyorklivearts.org.
LINKS:
Website: conversationsondancepod.com
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Since 1933, Jacob's Pillow has been a beacon for dancemakers, movers, scholars, students, and audiences. Located in Becket, Massachusetts, and founded by modern dance pioneer Ted Shawn, "the Pillow" (as it has affectionately come to be called) was the first dance site to be designated as a National Historic Landmark, and the first presenting organization to receive the National Medal of the Arts.
Opening June 25th and running through August 24th of this year, the Pillow's 93rd Festival season will feature nine weeks of performances, classes, workshops, events, exhibits and activations, spread across the indoor and outdoor venues of a sprawling 220-acre campus. With more than 40 dance companies lined up from around the world, this year's Festival is particularly significant as it marks the opening of the new state-of-the-art Doris Duke Theatre - a venue poised to become one of the dance world's most technologically advanced ever built.
Here to speak with us today about all of this is Jacob's Pillow Executive and Artistic Director, Pam Tatge. In her role, Pam is responsible for setting the artistic vision and strategic goals for all aspects of the organization, including Festival programming, education, preservation, audience engagement, residency programming and artist support, long-term planning, collaborative programming, fundraising, marketing, and more. Get tickets & learn more about this summer's programming: https://www.jacobspillow.org/festival/.
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Conversations on Dance is proud to be the recipient of the inaugural Clive Barnes Award for Journalism and Media Achievement. Join us for the 15th Anniversary Clive Barnes Awards, Monday, June 9 at 5:30pm at the National Arts Club in New York City. Hosted by Budd Mishkin, the Awards will feature guest presenter Tiler Peck and a special performance by Clive Barnes Award alumnus Victor Abreu of New York City Ballet. For tickets and information, please visit clivebarnesfoundation.org.
LINKS:
Website: conversationsondancepod.com
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Rebecca here to share some big news!!! Join us on Monday June 9th for the 15th Anniversary Clive Barnes Awards!
The Clive Barnes Foundation will honor outstanding theater and dance professionals at the 15th Anniversary Clive Barnes Awards, Monday, June 9 at 5:30pm at the National Arts Club in New York City. Carrying on the legacy of legendary dance and theater critic Clive Barnes and his encouragement of young artists, the annual Awards will recognize three theater performers and three dance performers as Honored Artists. This year, Conversations on Dance is proud to be the recipient of the inaugural Clive Barnes Award for Journalism and Media Achievement. Hosted by Budd Mishkin, the Awards will feature guest presenter Tiler Peck and a special performance by Clive Barnes Award alumnus Victor Abreu of New York City Ballet. For tickets and information, please visit clivebarnesfoundation.org.
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On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance", we are joined by Sarah Lane, former ballerina with American Ballet Theatre, teacher, coach and ally to furry, four legged friends everywhere. Sarah takes us through her illustrious career as a principal dancer who spent two decades with American Ballet Theater, to her present day passion working to find rescue animals homes. On Monday, June 2nd at Symphony Space in New York City, join Sarah at the inaugural Dance For Paws fundraising event, a night of charity that funds three different rescue organizations in the city. To purchase tickets to the event or to simply donate visit danceforpaws.org.
LINKS:
Website: conversationsondancepod.com
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On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance", we are joined by Stanton Welch, Artistic Director of Houston Ballet and choreographer of the company's upcoming premiere of the full length classic "Raymonda". Stanton talks about his deep love of the glorious Glazunov score, his approach to creating full length narrative works, and how he sculpts these ballets in a years long process. Houston Ballet's "Raymonda" runs May 29th through June 8th. Tickets can be purchased at houstonballet.org. Also available on their website, subscriptions for Houston Ballet's recently announced 25-26 season, a journey across centuries of composers, choreographers and ballet's greatest stories.
LINKS:
Website: conversationsondancepod.com
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On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance", we are joined by Abigail Simon, ballerina, dancer agent, mother, wife and survivor extraordinaire. Abigail takes us on her journey as a baby ballerina at the School Of American Ballet, through to her professional career at American Ballet Theater and the Joffrey, and finally her exploration of musical theater. Her incredible strength and resolve will be on full display at "Dance Against Cancer" this May 19th when she returns to the stage after her own battle against the disease. All performance information for this incredible fundraiser, including programming and ticket information: https://dacny.acsgala.org/. For those who cannot attend but wish to make a donation to one of the organizations mentioned by Abigail, you can find links below.
Resources and places to donate in Abigail's Honor:
American Cancer Society: https://www.cancer.org/donate.html
5 under 40: https://5under40.org/
Memorial Sloan Kettering: https://giving.mskcc.org/
LINKS:
Website: conversationsondancepod.com
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