City Ballet The Podcast

Wendy Whalen interviews choreographer Kyle Abraham about bringing his pandemic-created film 'When We Fell' to the stage with New York City Ballet, exploring its origins and artistic significance.

This solo episode features host Claire Kretschmar interviewing principal dancer Chen Wei Chen about the experience of being a newcomer and transitioning to a new country for a dance career.

Two dancers discuss how ballet dancers find inspiration and maintain motivation despite the repetitive nature of their training and performances.

This episode explores the background and creation of Jerome Robbins' 1969 ballet 'Dances at a Gathering' for New York City Ballet, set to Chopin's music.

This episode explores the creation of Jerome Robbins' 1994 ballet 'A Suite of Dances' for Mikhail Baryshnikov, set to Bach's cello suites.

Two New York City Ballet dancers discuss the First Steps program, a week-long initiative that allows current dancers to explore choreography by creating short works with company members during a break.

This episode explores the choreography of William Forsythe, focusing on his ballet Herman Schmerman and its significance in the evolution of dance.

This episode features a discussion with New York City Ballet principal dancer Taylor Stanley about the essential role of props in ballet, using examples from productions like The Nutcracker to illustrate how props enhance storytelling and audience engagement.

This episode reflects on the successful completion of the New York City Ballet's ambitious 75th anniversary season, highlighting the collaborative planning and celebration efforts.

Wendy Whalen interviews Jamar Roberts about his upcoming ballet premiere for the Fall Fashion Gala, discussing his multidisciplinary background and collaboration with designer Iris Van Herpen on costumes.

Dancers from New York City Ballet discuss fashion and the Spring Gala in a casual backstage-style interview.

This episode explores George Balanchine's ballet 'Ballade', its creation in 1980 with music by Gabriel Fauré, and features interviews with ballerina Meryl Ashley and repertory director Glenn Keenan.

This episode features dancers discussing why dancers wear tights on the outside of their leotards during rehearsals, exploring comfort and performance traditions.

This episode explores how Igor Stravinsky composed his ballet 'Le Baiser de la Fée' by using 16 Tchaikovsky pieces as melodic inspiration, specifically highlighting the song 'None But the Lonely Heart'.

This episode explores the career and work of choreographer Justin Peck, focusing on his ballet 'Everywhere We Go' and his impact on New York City Ballet.

This episode explores George Balanchine's 1941 ballet Concerto Barocco, examining its origins with the American Ballet Caravan and how it embodies Balanchine's choreographic principles of visualizing music and creating a company of interchangeable soloists.

This episode features an interview with dancer Caili Quan, discussing her upbringing on Guam, how she started dancing at age six, and the unique ballet school founded by a former Houston Ballet principal dancer on the island.

This episode explores the role of a repetitor for the George Balanchine Trust in reconstructing and preserving Balanchine ballets for companies worldwide.

This episode explores Jerome Robbins' 1951 ballet 'The Cage', its plot about a female insect colony, key dancers, and connections to his Broadway work.

This episode explores Igor Stravinsky's ballet 'Le Baiser de la Fée', which pays homage to Tchaikovsky by incorporating 16 of his piano and song pieces into its composition.

This episode explains what company class is for ballet dancers, describing it as a daily morning warm-up session that prepares professional dancers for rehearsals with more freedom and self-catering compared to student training.

This episode explores common myths and stereotypes about ballet dancers, featuring insights from professional dancers to separate fact from fiction.

Wendy Whalen interviews Alexei about his new ballet piece 'The Naked King', discussing its origins in Hans Christian Andersen's story and its historical roots in medieval cautionary tales.

Wendy Whalen interviews choreographer Justin about his ballet Heatscape, exploring its origins, the 100-year-old music by Martinu, and its enduring artistic significance.

This episode discusses the historical ballet Paquita, its origins in 1846 Paris, its evolution through different choreographers like Mazelier and Peripa, and its layered cultural and artistic significance.

This bonus episode reflects on the 76th season of a dance company, highlighting major growth, momentum from the 75th anniversary, and the contributions of dancers and rehearsal directors to achieve exceptional performances.

Wendy Whalen interviews ballet dancers Tyler Peck and Roman Mejia about their experience performing in the new ballet 'Dig to Say' by Justin Peck, which was specifically created for them, featuring music by Vijay Iyer inspired by James Brown.

This episode explores Igor Stravinsky's 'Scènes de Ballet,' its creation for a Broadway review, and how it incorporates American jazz and blues influences despite its classical presentation.

This episode explores Modest Mussorgsky's challenging life and controversial musical style, focusing on his work 'Pictures at an Exhibition' and its adaptation into a ballet by Alexei Ratmansky.

Wendy Whalen interviews Justin about his upcoming ballet premiere set to Beethoven's Eroica Symphony, discussing the music's historical significance and creative inspiration.

This episode explores George Balanchine's 1972 ballet Duo Concertant through interviews with original dancer Kay Mazzo and current principal Anthony Huxley, discussing its choreography, musicality, and legacy at New York City Ballet.

This episode explores George Balanchine's ballet Sonatine, set to Maurice Ravel's music and premiered at the 1975 Ravel Festival, featuring insights from current New York City Ballet artists.

This episode features an interview with cellist Hannah Holman about her experience playing Jerome Robbins' ballet set to Bach's cello suites, exploring the musical intricacies and historical context.

Two New York City Ballet dancers host an interview with fellow dancer India Bradley, answering fan-submitted questions from Instagram in a casual, conversational format.

Two New York City Ballet dancers discuss how to handle unexpected issues on stage, such as slips, costume malfunctions, or missed cues, by relying on instinct and quick thinking.

This episode features interviews with two dancers at different career stages—a student from the School of American Ballet and a soloist with the New York City Ballet—discussing their experiences and the generational passing of roles in ballet.

This episode features a conversation with New York City Ballet repertory directors Christine Redpath and Jean-Pierre Froelich about Jerome Robbins' ballet The Goldberg Variations, focusing on their experiences as original cast members and current stewards of the work.

This episode explores how acting and reacting are integral to ballet, particularly in story ballets like The Nutcracker and Swan Lake, and discusses the balance between physicality and expressiveness in performance.

Two dancers from the New York City Ballet discuss the intersection of dance and pop culture, exploring its presence in media and digital platforms.

This episode explores Jerome Robbins' 1984 ballet 'Antique Epigraphs', inspired by ancient Greek art and set to Debussy's music, featuring its original cast and design elements.

This episode explores Jerome Robbins' ballet choreography for Bach's Goldberg Variations, examining his inspiration and challenges in adapting this monumental musical work for dance.

This episode of The Rosin Box explores ballet partnering, focusing on how dancers train from their teens to master pas de deux skills.

This episode features an interview with two ballerinas from New York City Ballet at different career stages—Megan Furchell, a principal dancer for 20 years nearing retirement, and Dominika Afanasenkoff, a core member for three years—exploring how they approach roles differently based on experience and generation.

This episode explores the dynamic relationship between choreographers and their muses in ballet, featuring principal dancers Tyler Peck and Roman Mejia discussing creative collaboration and inspiration.

Wendy Whalen interviews Justin about his new ballet piece 'Mystic Familiar', discussing its thematic inspiration from the five elements and its energetic impact on the company.

Andrew Litton explores why Tchaikovsky's second piano concerto is performed far less frequently than his first concerto by analyzing performance data from major American orchestras.

This episode discusses the adult workshops offered by the Education Department of New York City Ballet, exploring their structure, benefits, and personal experiences from hosts who are dancers.

In this episode of New Combinations, host Wendy Whelan interviews choreographer Amy Hall Garner about her work for New York City Ballet's 75th anniversary.

This episode of 'Hear the Dance' features an interview with NYCB dancers Miriam Miller and Russell Jansen, who discuss working with choreographer Pam Tanowitz on her ballet 'The Law of Mosaics'.

Dancers discuss the importance of music in ballet and George Balanchine's extensive musical training.

Dancers Claire Kretschmar and Aronne Sands interview Janelle Manzi, a ballet dancer and founder of Get Golden, about her healthy granola bar business and wellness knowledge.

Dancers Claire Kretschmar and Aronne Sands interview costume director Mark Happel about the role of costumes in ballet.

This episode of City Ballet The Podcast explores Igor Stravinsky's Symphony in Three Movements, used in George Balanchine's ballet, discussing its musical structure and film-inspired origins.

Silas Farley introduces an episode exploring George Balanchine's ballet Liebeslieder Walzer, discussing its choreography, music, and history.

Silas Farley introduces a season exploring Balanchine's Ballet Imperial, its historical context, and its connection to Tchaikovsky's music.

Dancers Claire Kretschmar and Aron Sands discuss Aron's recent tour with New York City Ballet in Madrid.

Wendy Whelan interviews collaborators about a new ballet piece for the Stravinsky Festival, exploring its origin from a Balanchine-Stravinsky gift exchange.

An interview with former NYCB principal dancer Helgi Thomason about his career, choreography, and role as Artistic Director of San Francisco Ballet.

An interview with former NYCB principal dancer Helgi Thomason about his career and acclimating to the company's style.