Terpsichore: Voices in Dance – Details, episodes & analysis

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Terpsichore: Voices in Dance

Emily May

Arts

Frequency: 1 episode/49d. Total Eps: 36

Named after the Greek goddess of dance and chorus and also an allusion to historian Sally Banes’ seminal book on postmodern dance “Terpsichore in Sneakers,” Terpsichore is a podcast celebrating dancers, choreographers, and bodies in motion. Curated and hosted by dance critic and writer Emily May, Terpsichore interviews leading voices from the dance industry about their lives, careers, and the artists that have inspired them.

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Episode 36: Choreographer Léa Tirabasso on why questions are more important than answers

Episode 36

Monday, August 11, 2025 • Duration 41:21

Léa Tirabasso is a choreographer and performer whose work is rooted in physicality, instinct, and a deep curiosity about what it means to be human. She was born in eastern France, and before training at London Contemporary Dance School, studied Modern Literature and History of Art in Lyon. It was here that she first became interested in the Fluxus movement and the idea of dissolving boundaries between art and life — something that continues to resonate through her work today.

As a performer, Léa danced with companies and choreographers across the UK, Luxembourg, Germany, and Chile — including Clod Ensemble, José Vidal, Seke Chimuntengwende, and Johannes Wieland. She was also a member of the TanzEnsemble at the Staatstheater Kassel between 2011 and 2013.

Since 2012, Léa has been creating her own choreographic work, which often explores humour, dysfunction, brutality, exhaustion, and the body as a site of instinct. Her practice is deeply research-driven. For example, for her work ‘The Ephemeral Life of an Octopus’, she collaborated with oncologists, gynaecologists, and geneticists, exploring the mystery of cells and the relationship between mind and body. She’s also worked closely with a philosophy lecturer from University College London, contributed to open conversations at the Wellcome Collection, and regularly speaks with medical students about her creative process.

Léa’s latest piece, ‘In the Bushes’, celebrates the incomprehensible and magnificent contradictions of life whilst mocking the idea of human exceptionalism. Quirky, exuberant and witty, it questions our humanity with ferocious joy. Premiered in Marseille last year, it’s about to be performed as part of the Luxembourg selection at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival from 13th - 25th August.

Ahead of this run, I couldn’t wait to talk to Léa about how her early studies in literature and art continue to shape her work, how philosophy and science have become collaborators in her creative process, and why playfulness, absurdity, and instinct matter now more than ever.

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Episode 35: Visual artist Megan Rooney on the dance between paint and movement

Episode 35

Wednesday, July 23, 2025 • Duration 54:26

Based in London, visual artist Megan Rooney grew up between South Africa, Brazil, and Canada. She completed her BA at the University of Toronto before earning an MA in Fine Art from Goldsmiths College, London, in 2011. Working across painting, sculpture, installation, performance, and language, the body has long played a central role in her practice. Megan describes her painting process as deeply physical—using her own body to engage with the canvas in shifting ways. Whether swaying gently or rushing forward, her bodily stance and mood directly shape the gestures that unfold in her work.

Performance is often an integral part of Megan’s exhibitions. She regularly collaborates with choreographer Temitope Ajose, with whom she shares a long-standing creative partnership. For her recent solo exhibition ‘Yellow Yellow Blue’ at Thaddaeus Ropac gallery in London, Ajose and dancer Leah Marjovec performed a duet titled ‘Spin Down Sky II’, accompanied by live saxophone from multidisciplinary artist tyroneisaacstuart. This performance—first developed through earlier works at Kettle’s Yard in 2024—continued the poetic narrative of the night butterfly and the bolas spider, symbolic characters that have become recurring figures in Rooney’s evolving universe.

Listen to our full conversation with Megan and, if you’re based in London, make sure to head over to Thaddaeus Ropac to see the final performance of ‘Spin Down Sky II’ at 7pm on 27th July.

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Episode 34: Ballet Zurich director Cathy Marston choreographs new perspectives on old narratives

Episode 34

Wednesday, May 7, 2025 • Duration 48:03

Formerly the director of Bern Ballet from 2007 to 2013, Cathy Marston is currently the Director of Ballet Zürich in Switzerland, as well as an internationally renowned choreographer of contemporary ballet. Originally trained at the Royal Ballet School, she’s known for her inventive approach to storytelling—translating seminal works from the English literary canon onto stage and into movement to offer new perspectives on familiar narratives.

For example, her Mrs Robinson (2023) was an adaptation of Charles Webb’s The Graduate for San Francisco Ballet, and Snowblind (2018), created for the same company, was inspired by Edith Wharton’s Ethan Frome. Other literary adaptations include D. H. Lawrence’s Lady Chatterley’s Lover and John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men. Similarly, her biographically inspired ballets bring historical women to the fore: while The Cellist, created for The Royal Ballet in 2020, tells the story of celebrated cellist Jacqueline du Pré; Victoria made for Northern Ballet in 2019, explores the life and legacy of renowned British monarch Queen Victoria.

Originally choreographed on Northern Ballet in 2016, Cathy’s adaptation of Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre has been regularly restaged since its creation. It’s currently on tour around the UK, with upcoming dates at Sadler’s Wells (13th-17th May 2025) and Norwich Theatre Royal (20th-24th May 2025). In light of the revival, Terpsichore spoke to Cathy about her choreographic voice, collaborative methods, and the stories that continue to inspire her to reimagine narrative through movement.

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Episode 33: South African choreographer Robyn Orlin on the importance of not forgetting history

Episode 33

Thursday, March 20, 2025 • Duration 39:40

Robyn Orlin was born in 1955 in Johannesburg. Known in South Africa as "the permanent irritation," through her work she reveals the difficult and complex reality of her country. Originally trained at London Contemporary Dance School before later completing an MA at the Chicago School of Fine Arts on a Fulbright scholarship, she combines various artistic expressions including text, video, and the plastic arts to explore a theatricality that is reflected in her choreographic vocabulary.

Robyn's work includes 'Daddy, I've seen this piece six times before and I still don't know why they're hurting each other' (1999), which won the Laurence Olivier Award for the Most Outstanding Achievement of the Year. Her 2012 work 'Beauty remained for just a moment then returned gently to her starting position...' (2012) was the opening performance of the South African season in France in 2013.

From the 21-22nd March, Robyn’s work 'WE WEAR OUR WHEELS WITH PRIDE' will be performed at London’s Southbank Centre as part of Dance Reflections festival by Van Cleef & Arpels. A homage to the rickshaw drivers of South Africa’s past, it is a celebration of dance and song imbibed with a joyous thirst for life.

Performed by Moving into Dance Mophatong (MIDM), a Johannesburg-based company nourished by Zulu traditions and a flagship for contemporary dance in South Africa, 'WE WEAR OUR WHEELS WITH PRIDE' was inspired by Robyn’s experience as a child in the 1970s when, at the height of apartheid, she would watch the ornate decorations of Zulu men’s vehicles and headdresses with awe, as well as their sprightly dance like steps. Coincidentally, this was also the period when MIDM was founded.

Ahead of the performance, I was privileged to speak to Robyn about the role of art in times of political struggle, why she loves working with her fellow South Africans, and the main message she wants people to take away from her latest production—not to forget history.

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Episode 32: South Korean dance icon Eun Me Ahn on movement, colour, curiosity, and fantasy

Episode 32

Thursday, March 13, 2025 • Duration 47:10

Eun Me began training in Traditional Korean Dance at just 12 years old before attending Ewha Womans University in Seoul. She later continued her studies in New York, graduating from Tisch School of the Arts in 1994. During her time in the U.S., she refined her craft as a choreographer, exploring how to translate Korean dance philosophies onto the bodies of American dancers. After 10 years in the States, Eun Me returned to Korea to become the Artistic Director of Daegu City Dance Company, where she created bold works featuring surreal costumes, daring stunts (including duets with live chickens and jumping from a crane to destroy a piano with an axe), and even choreographed the 2002 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony.

Now, Eun Me leads her own company. One of her latest works, 'Dragons', features a pan-Asian cast born in the Year of the Dragon (2000). Though conceived before the pandemic, it underwent significant changes due to the unprecedented situation. For example, it came to feature hologram projections of dancers who couldn't travel. 'Dragons' is currently touring the UK for a second time, with stops at Theatre Royal Newcastle, Eden Court Theatre, Alhambra Theatre, and Birmingham Hippodrome.

Before the tour kicked off, I had the privilege of chatting with Eun Me about 'Dragons', her creative process, and what she thinks of being dubbed “The Pina Bausch of Asia.”

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Episode 31: UK-based choreographer Jasmin Vardimon on 25 years of bold, theatrical storytelling

Episode 31

Friday, February 28, 2025 • Duration 32:45

Born and raised on Kibbutz Ein Hahoresh, Jasmin Vardimon was a member of the Kibbutz Dance Company for five years before being awarded the prestigious British Council ‘On the Way to London’ Choreography Award in 1995. This led her to move to the UK permanently, where she went on to establish her eponymous company. Under this banner, she has developed a distinctive choreographic voice, defined by highly physical, detailed movement language, insightful humour, theatricality, and incisive socio-political commentary. For example, 'Justitia' (2007) examined the complexities of the justice system, while 'Park' (2005) explored themes of urban society, land ownership, and the tension between private and public spaces.

Beyond the stage, Jasmin has choreographed for leading musical artists, earning a nomination for Best Choreography at the 2018 UK Music Video Awards for Paloma Faith’s 'Loyal'. She is also deeply committed to training the next generation of dancers, serving as the first guest artistic director of the UK’s National Youth Dance Company in 2013 and running JV2, a full-time Professional Development Diploma programme at JV Home, her creative hub in Ashford, Kent.

To celebrate 25 years of her company, Jasmin has created NOW, a programme revisiting iconic moments from her body of work that remain as relevant today as ever. Ahead of the performances at Sadler’s Wells East from 5th–8th March, I couldn’t wait to speak to Jasmin about her creative process, the evolution of her choreography, and the enduring themes that drive her work.

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Episode 30: Paris-based choreographer Leila Ka on exploring femininity through dance and dresses

Episode 30

Tuesday, February 4, 2025 • Duration 33:49

Paris-based Leïla Ka began her dance journey by engaging with hip-hop and street dance styles before discovering contemporary and modern dance. Notably, she danced in ‘May B’ the seminal work by renowned French choreographer Maguy Marin, which is a powerfully theatrical response to the writings of Samuel Beckett. Leila now imbues her own choreography with the powerful theatricality she experienced while working with Marin. Her first solo, Pode Ser, premiered in 2018 and has gone on to be performed extensively, receiving many awards and accolades around the world. Her first evening length group piece, Maldonne, premiered at La Garance, Scène nationale de Cavaillon, where Leila is an associate artist, at the end of 2023. The work explores multiple identities within femininity as the cast changes between 40 different dresses, from ball gowns to wedding dresses to nighties. Described by Le Monde as a demonstration of the Paris-based choreographer’s “feminist commitment,” it has now been nominated for The Bloom Prize, a new award for works by emerging choreographers that is part of London’s Sadler’s Wells’ inaugural Rose International Dance Prize. The work will be performed twice on the theater’s Lilian Baylis stage in February before the winner is announced, marking Leila's UK debut. Ahead of the performances, I couldn’t wait to speak to Leila to find out more about her creative process, the themes that drive her work, and how her experiences as a dancer and choreographer have shaped her unique approach to movement and storytelling.

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Episode 29: Glasgow-based disabled artist Claire Cunningham on choreographing care

Episode 29

Wednesday, December 4, 2024 • Duration 01:13:56

Based in Glasgow, Scotland, Claire Cunningham is one of the UK’s most acclaimed and internationally renowned disabled artists. Her work, which is often biographical and deeply personal, explores Crip & disabled experiences, practices of care, and questions societal ideas of knowledge and value. The movement vocabulary she uses to delve into these these topics is often rooted in the use/misuse, study and distortion of crutches – the objects she uses to engage physically with the world.

Claire has made everything from solos to large ensemble works. Notably, in 2012, she created ‘12’, an exploration of the word crutch in a metaphorical sense, on Candoco Dance Company. Since then, she’s made the solo 'Give Me a Reason to Live', inspired by the role of beggars and cripples in the work of Dutch medieval painter Hieronymus Bosch, and the full length show  'Guide Gods', looking at the perspectives of the major faith traditions towards the issue of disability. Claire’s new show ‘Songs of the Wayfarer’, is inspired by Gustav Mahler's 'Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen' as well as her life experience as a disabled person, the memory of her training as a singer, and the expertise of mountaineers and disabled friends. In this, her first solo piece in 10 years, she asks what it means to hike, and to strive for great heights.

After seeing her perform ‘Songs of the Wayfarer’ at HAU in Berlin, and ahead of its run at Sadler’s Wells' Lilian Bayliss theatre from 4th-6th December, I couldn’t wait to talk to Claire about how she challenges conventions around virtuosity in dance, making work that attracts disenfranchised audiences to the theatre, and how she’s going to continue her work in a new context as as Professor of Choreography, Dance, and Disability Arts at the Hochschule fur Zeitgenössische Tanz in Berlin.

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Episode 28: Tanztheater Wuppertal's Malou Airaudo on living through dance

Episode 28

Friday, November 8, 2024 • Duration 40:06

Born in Marseille in 1948, Malou Airaudo began her dance journey at just eight years old at the Opéra de Marseille’s ballet school. She later joined the opera’s ensemble and went on to perform with prominent companies, including the Ballet de Monte Carlo and Ballet Théâtre Contemporain, before eventually moving to New York. There, in 1971, she met Pina Bausch, who would invite her to join the newly formed Tanztheater Wuppertal in Germany two years later.

As a core member of the company, Malou played a pivotal role in the creation of some of Bausch's most iconic works, including 'Iphigenie auf Tauris' and 'Cafe Muller'. In addition to her work in Wuppertal, Malou continued to perform internationally, and in 1975, she co-founded the Paris-based company La Main. Teaching has also been a significant part of her career: in 1984, Bausch invited her to become a professor of Modern Dance at Folkwang Hochschule, and from 2012, she directed the university’s institute of contemporary dance.

Since 2018, Malou has been active in staging new productions of Bausch’s repertoire, including 'Iphigenie auf Tauris' at Dresden’s Semperoper, a process captured in the documentary Dancing Pina. She's also created her own work on the likes of Folkwang Tanzstudio, and hip-hop and breakdancers from pottporus company. In 2020, she collaborated with Germaine Acogny, the Senegalese dancer choreographer and teacher known as the mother of contemporary African dance, to create 'common ground[s]', a duet where they explore their shared histories and emotional experiences. Over recent years, Malou has continued to perform this deeply personal work, and as goes through its final run at Sadler’s Wells in London from November 6-10, I couldn’t wait to sit down with her to reflect on her amazing life and career.

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Episode 27: Brazilian choreographer Lia Rodrigues on being an artist and a citizen

Episode 27

Monday, October 28, 2024 • Duration 56:37

Rio de Janeiro-based choreographer Lia Rodrigues began her dance journey by training in classical ballet alongside studying history at the University of São Paulo. After cutting her teeth as a dancer in France, most notably performing with modern dance legend Maguy Marin and being part of the creation of her seminal Samuel Beckett-inspired work May B, Lia moved back to her home country of Brazil and founded her eponymous dance company in 1990. Lia works extensively at the intersection between art and social activism. Since 2004, her company has helped to develop outreach and arts actions in the Maré favela in Rio de Janeiro, in conjunction with an NGO based in the neighboruhood. This partnership gave rise to the Maré arts center, which opened in 2009; and to the Maré free dance school, which has been open since October 2011.

Over the years, Lia has accrued many accolades, from receiving the Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters from France to receiving a portrait at Paris’ Festival d’Automne in 2021. Recently, it was announced that her work ‘Encantado’ has been nominated for the Rose Prize, a new international choreography award established by Sadler’s Wells in London. Ahead of the announcement of the Rose Prize winner in February 2025, I couldn’t wait to speak to Lia about the inspirations behind 'Encantado', how what she's learnt from motherhood has influenced her career, the responsibility that comes with privilege, and how she strives to make contemporary dance more accessible in her unequal home town.

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Terpsichore: Voices in Dance – Details, episodes & analysis

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Terpsichore: Voices in Dance – Details, episodes & analysis

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