(263) Alastair Macaulay on ‘The Nutcracker’

(263) Alastair Macaulay on ‘The Nutcracker’

Author: Michael Sean Breeden & Rebecca King Ferraro December 7, 2021 Duration: 50:35

As Nutcracker performances return to stages around the world, we decided to celebrate the return of the beloved classic by chatting with friend of the pod, Alastair Macaulay. As a historian of the performing arts and the former Chief Dance Critic of the New York Times, Alastair has a wealth of information to share with us about the history of this ballet that has become a staple for schools and companies across the country. We chat about the ballet's origins, elements of the production that have been lost over time, different versions Alastair has reviewed, and finally, he tells us which production he finds to be the best. For his current musings on dance and performing arts history, visit alastairmacaulay.com, or click the link in the description of this episode.

_______________________________

LINKS:

• Conversations on Dance Reading List, our favorite dance-related reads: https://bit.ly/3GFVWi8

• Shop juledancewear.com. Use code: HOHOHO15 for 15% off your entire order.

• Trey McIntyre Project new website: Treycool.com

• Photo credit: Maria Tallchief, a famed Native American dancer, as the Sugar Plum Fairy in a 1954 production. George Balanchine designed the choreography of the Sugar Plum Fairy for Tallchief. Fred Melton / Jerome Robbins Dance Division. See more historic photos here.

Join our email list: https://bit.ly/3basX5g

Instagram: instagram.com/conversationsondance

Facebook: facebook.com/conversationsondance

Facebook Group:  facebook.com/groups/conversationsondancefriends

Twitter: twitter.com/convoondance

conversationsondancepod.com

The post (263) Alastair Macaulay on ‘The Nutcracker' appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

LINKS:


Website: conversationsondancepod.com


Instagram: @conversationsondance


COD Merch


Listen to COD on YouTube


Join our email list


Sponsorship information


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


For anyone who has ever watched a performance and wondered about the life that happens in the wings, Conversations on Dance offers a rare and thoughtful backstage pass. Hosted by former Miami City Ballet dancers Rebecca King Ferraro and Michael Sean Breeden, this award-winning podcast builds on a simple, powerful premise: the most compelling stories in dance aren't always told under the lights. Since 2016, their interviews have provided an essential, grounded look at the art form, moving far beyond reviews or technique to explore the real human endeavors behind the curtain. Each episode is a deep, considered dialogue with the field's most influential voices-not only dancers and choreographers, but also the musicians, directors, and educators whose work shapes the entire ecosystem. Listening feels like pulling up a chair in a studio lounge, where the conversation might cover the gritty reality of a choreographer's creative process, the collaborative tension with a composer, or an educator's philosophy on cultivating the next generation. The hosts' own professional backgrounds inform a dialogue that is both knowledgeable and genuinely curious, fostering connections between the art and its audience. This podcast consistently uncovers the discipline, vulnerability, and sheer hard work that define a life in dance, making the vast world of performance feel intimately accessible. It’s for the dedicated student, the lifelong enthusiast, and the simply curious-anyone who believes understanding the struggle and joy behind the steps only deepens the appreciation of the final, fleeting bow.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 466

Conversations on Dance
Podcast Episodes
(172) Kate Penner, on Ballet’s Race Problem [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:15
This week we are joined by our friend, Kate Penner. Kate received her early dance training from Arlington Center for Dance, now BalletNova, in Arlington, VA and participated in the Kennedy Center's Dance Theatre of Harle…
BONUS: Rebecca and Michael: Nutcracker Gigs, Part Deux [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:01
Last week, in episode 168, we talked about Michael's coming out of retirement for Nutcracker guesting. Unfortunately due to scheduling, this episode was cut short, so in a BONUS episode this week, we are finishing that c…
(168) Rebecca and Michael: Nutcracker Gigs [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:17
Nutcracker may be over, but this week Rebecca and Michael sit down to catch up and discuss Michael's Nutcracker gigs. Rebecca asks Michael about coming out of retirement for his return to the Nutcracker this past Decembe…
(167) Hope Boykin, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Dancer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:45
This week, for our first episode of 2020, we are joined by Hope Boykin, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Dancer, from the 2019 Vail Dance Festival. Hope is from Durham North Carolina, and attended Howard University. Sh…
(166) Joseph Gordon, New York City Ballet Principal Dancer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:28
This week we are joined from the 2019 Vail Dance Festival by Joseph Gordon, New York City Ballet Principal Dancer. Joe was born in Phoenix, Arizona, and began his dance training at the age of five at The Phoenix Dance Ac…
(165) Charlotte Landreau, Dancer with Martha Graham Dance Company [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:11
This week we are joined from the 2019 Vail Dance Festival last summer by Charlotte Landreau, dancer with Martha Graham Dance Company. A native of France, she trained first as a rhythmic gymnast, where she was the third i…
(164) Christopher Grant, New York City Ballet Dancer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:20
This week we are joined from the 2019 Vail Dance Festival this past summer, by Christopher Grant, New York City Ballet dancer. Christopher was born in Jamaica, Queens. He began his dance training at the School of America…