(474) Alastair Macaulay on Suzanne Farrell

(474) Alastair Macaulay on Suzanne Farrell

Author: Michael Sean Breeden & Rebecca King Ferraro November 20, 2025 Duration: 53:02


Today on Conversations on Dance, we welcome back a listener favorite and our friend, Alastair Macaulay, former Chief Dance Critic for the New York Times. This past week, on Friday November 14th, Alastair hosted an event at the New York Public Library where he examined films of revered Balanchine ballerina, Suzanne Farrell. Alastair tells us about how research for this event, talks about the films he showed, and other tidbits on Suzanne’s career and dancing. At the end, Alastair talks about his City Center Studio 5 event which is available to watch now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAkP-QnDpL0 


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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
(146) James Whiteside LIVE From Vail Dance Festival [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:34
Today we are brining you a live podcast recording from the Vail Dance Festival with American Ballet Theatre Principal Dancer, James Whiteside. This episode was recorded on July 27th, the morning before the premier of his…
(145) Agnes De Mille’s ‘The Other’ at Lake Tahoe Dance Festival [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:20
This week we have the pleasure of diving into one of the works that will be presented this year at the Lake Tahoe Dance Festival, Agnes De Mille’s ‘The Other.' We speak with dancers Stephen Hanna (formerly of NYCB) and A…
(144) Rebecca and Michael: Catching Up & Vail Dance Festival Preview [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:29
It's just Rebecca and Michael this week on the pod. We talk about looking forward to this year's Vail Dance Festival, our 3 year anniversary, what Michael has been up to, and we answer your questions from social media.Th…
(140) LIVE from The Kennedy Center: Women Leading the Way in Ballet [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:22
Today’s episode was recorded live at The Kennedy Center on Saturday June 1, 2019 before the matinee performance of Miami City Ballet as a part of Ballet Across America. We were joined by Virginia Johnson, the Artistic Di…
(138) Tegan Rich, Festival Ballet Providence [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:24
This week we are joined by Tegan Rich, a dancer with Festival Ballet Providence, who is currently recovering from a full rupture of her achilles tendon. Originally from Stuart, Florida she began her training at the Dance…