Conversations on Dance | Ballet & Dance Careers – Details, episodes & analysis

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Conversations on Dance | Ballet & Dance Careers

Michael Sean Breeden & Rebecca King Ferraro | Former Miami City Ballet Dancers

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Frequency: 1 episode/7d. Total Eps: 496

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.

Subscribe now wherever you get your podcasts. Access bonus episodes on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/conversationsondance

Website: conversationsondancepod.com

Join our email list: https://conversations-on-dance.kit.com/7f73880f5b

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.

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(516) Michael's Fall 2026 Repetiteur journey for George Balanchine, Justin Peck, and Alexei Ratmansky

Wednesday, October 28, 2026 • Duration 34:08

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/2D104

Rebecca 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/conversationsondance

Website: conversationsondancepod.com

Join our email list: https://conversations-on-dance.kit.com/7f73880f5b

Instagram: instagram.com/conversationsondance

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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(515) Peter Boal, Pacific Northwest Ballet Artistic Director, looking back over 22 years and upcoming season highlights

Thursday, October 22, 2026 • Duration 41:43

Rebecca 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/.

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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:

[Excerpt] Merrill Ashley, Balanchine Ballerina - Patreon Bonus Episode

Wednesday, October 14, 2026 • Duration 07:24

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/2D104

Also 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/conversationsondance

Website: conversationsondancepod.com

(514) Choreographer Houston Thomas, on reimagining 'Firebird' for Royal Winnipeg Ballet

Thursday, October 8, 2026 • Duration 58:42

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/conversationsondance

Conversations 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/conversationsondance

Website: conversationsondancepod.com

Join our email list: https://conversations-on-dance.kit.com/7f73880f5b

(513) Ashley Wheater on Joffrey Ballet at Performing Arts Houston with Alexander Ekman's Midsummer Night's Dream

Wednesday, September 30, 2026 • Duration 45:51

Conversations 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/conversationsondance

Website: conversationsondancepod.com

Join our email list:

[Excerpt] Choreographer William Forsythe - Patreon Bonus Episode

Wednesday, September 23, 2026 • Duration 05:29

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/2D104

Also 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/conversationsondance

Website: conversationsondancepod.com

Join our email list: https://conversations-on-dance.kit.com/7f73880f5b

Instagram: instagram.com/conversationsondance

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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(512) Choreographer Alysa Pires on her new work for New York City Ballet

Wednesday, September 16, 2026 • Duration 58:04

Today 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-gala

00:00 Support on Patreon

00:40 Meet the Hosts

01:29 Early Dance Roots

03:14 Finding Contemporary Path

06:34 Choreography Takes Hold

09:28 Mentors and Ballet Return

11:46 Prepping a New Work

14:25 Music Charts and Logistics

18:57 Discovery in the Studio

20:55 Leading the Room

24:37 Breakthrough Commissions

(511) James Whiteside announces retirement from American Ballet Theatre and tells us what's next

Wednesday, September 9, 2026 • Duration 29:12

Hosts Rebecca King Ferraro and Michael Sean Breeden welcome American Ballet Theatre principal dancer James Whiteside, who announces he will retire from the ABT stage on June 30, 2027, dancing Giselle with Isabella Boylston at the Metropolitan Opera House.

Whiteside explains the decision felt simple after 25 professional years, post-COVID recovery and a knee injury, and seeing peers retire, while emphasizing he values new colleagues and feels his body is ready. He reflects on industry changes, his growth as a dancer, and his early social media trailblazing that supported queerness in ballet and created income beyond the company, though he’s largely stepping away from being an influencer.

He discusses future plans in choreography and writing, including a new Indiana University work inspired by George Platt Lynes and Debussy titled Stone Blossom, upcoming premieres, a restaging of City of Women, and his ABT fall performances including Ballet Imperial, Petal, and Petite Mort, plus final California Nutcracker shows.

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/conversationsondance

Website: conversationsondancepod.com

Join our email list: https://conversations-on-dance.kit.com/7f73880f5b

(510) Summer recap and a COD restructure with Michael and Rebecca

Wednesday, September 2, 2026 • Duration 35:41

Interested in signing up? Enjoy one month access to our Patreon for free: CLICK HERE.

Conversations on Dance: Patreon Updates, Vail Highlights, and Michael’s First Balanchine Staging

Rebecca King Ferraro and Michael Sean Breeden discuss a format shift for Conversations on Dance, encouraging listeners to support the podcast via Patreon to help sustain production while keeping three free episodes per month and the full back catalog free. They outline tiers—Emerald ($3, ad-free episodes), Ruby ($8, ad-free plus one monthly bonus episode), and Diamond ($15, same as Ruby)—and offer a free one-month trial link in the show notes. They recap their 10th year at the Vail Dance Festival, highlighting guests including Alexei Ratmansky, Caroline Shaw, Hermán Cornejo, and an episode with four pianists. Michael shares staging his first Balanchine ballet, Allegro Brillante, at Nashville Ballet, and previews upcoming work at Indiana University, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, and Hamburg Ballet. They also share details on Miami City Ballet’s Young Patron Society (ages 26–45) and its upcoming events.

00:00 Iconic Guests Teaser

01:01 Patreon Format Change

02:00 Tiers and Bonus Episodes

04:06 Why Support Matters

05:34 Social Media and New Listeners

08:05 Vail Festival Highlights

11:21 Interviewing Without Cards

13:31 Staging Balanchine Debut

17:39 Working With Familiar Dancers

25:18 Upcoming Projects Tour

(509) Pianists of Vail Dance Festival: Michael Scales, Derek Wang, Tony Yun, Joel Wenhardt

Wednesday, August 26, 2026 • Duration 52:31

This episode was recorded live from the Vail Dance Festival on August 9th, 2026.

Enjoy one month of Conversations on Dance on Patreon for free! Redeem here.

In the final episode of our Vail Dance Festival series, Michael Sean Breeden is joined by guest co-host Kate Penner for a rare conversation with the festival's pianists: Michael Scales, Derek Wang, Tony Yun, Joel Wenhardt. Together they pull back the curtain on what most audiences never see: the musicians who make dance possible. They talk about how each of them found music in the first place, what it's actually like to collaborate with choreographers and dancers in the room, the tiny details that can make or break a piece, and some of their favorite moments from years of playing at Vail.

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/conversationsondance

Website: conversationsondancepod.com

Join our email list: https://conversations-on-dance.kit.com/7f73880f5b

Instagram: instagram.com/conversationsondance

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Conversations on Dance | Ballet & Dance Careers – Details, episodes & analysis

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Conversations on Dance | Ballet & Dance Careers – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

Other99+

Patreon4

Facebook4

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

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Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Other99+

Patreon4

Facebook4

Apple Podcasts

Spotify