SPECIAL MID-WEEK BONUS POD! This week on the show we are joined by ballerina-turned-conductor Maria Seletskaja. Currently Conductor-in-Residence at the National Ballet of Canada, and simultaneously preparing for debuts with Royal Danish Ballet and Estonian National Ballet, she actually began as a ballet dancer. During her 15-year ballet career she danced for companies like Staatsoper Berlin, Estonian National Ballet, and Royal Ballet of Flanders; yet it wasn't until she lifted the baton in her first production as a conductor that she felt she was where she belonged. Maria joins us on the eve of an auspicious premiere, as she returns home to Estonian National to conduct Swan Lake for the first time, in the same theatre where she premiered the roles of Odette/Odile 11 years ago. In this episode we discuss the difference between performing on stage as a dancer and standing in front of the stage as a conductor. Further, Maria explains how she was able to make this difficult transition, dishes on the challenges of leading an orchestra, and tells us how preparations are coming for her upcoming Swan Lake premiere. Make sure to come back on the weekend for Part 2 when we check in post-premiere and see how it all went! Host: Kealan McLaughlin Guest: Maria Seletskaja @mariaseletskaja Two Two Guys can be reached at: Instagram and Facebook: @twotwoguys Email: twotwoguyspod@gmail.com Leave a review! Send us a message! Let us know what topics are important to you! And if you can, take a few moments over the next few days to try something new. You never know how you'll feel about something until you try it.