(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
(125) Glenn Allen Sims of Alvin Ailey LIVE from the Kennedy Center [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:41
This week on Conversations on Dance we are bringing you a live podcast we recorded yesterday, February 4th, 2019 at the Kennedy Center. The Kennedy Center has wonderful Ballet and Contemporary Dance Class Series that off…
(124) Patricia Delgado and Jared Angle [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:57
This week we head back into our vault from our time at the Vail Dance Festival last summer. Today we speak with former Miami City Ballet Principal dancer, Patricia Delgado, and New York City Ballet Principal, Jared Angle…
(123) Madison Keesler, dancer with San Francisco Ballet [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:49
This week on Conversations On Dance, we are joined by San Francisco Ballet dancer Madison Keesler. Madison began her professional career at age 17, and soon found herself learning some of the most coveted roles in the re…
(121) Frances Chung, Principal with San Francisco Ballet [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:00
Today we are returning to our time at San Francisco Ballet last April for the company’s Unbound Festival. This week we talk with Frances Chung, Principal Dancer with San Francisco Ballet. Frances was born in Vancouver, C…
(120) Alastair Macaulay on Marius Petipa [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:47
This week on Conversations On Dance, we are joined by the chief dance critic of the New York Times, and one of our most frequent guests, Alastair Macaulay. Alastair, an expert on dance history, has previously guided us t…
(119) Juliet Doherty, LIVE from Yumiko’s New York Flagship Boutique [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:31
This episode was recorded live on Saturday, December 8th, 2018 at the Yumiko New York Flagship Boutique. We sit down with dancer and actress, Juliet Doherty. Juliet comes from a family of dancers, spending her entire chi…
(118) Cameron Grant, New York City Ballet Pianist [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:03
This week on Conversations On Dance we are joined by one of the ballet world's most celebrated pianists, Cameron Grant. Cameron joined the New York City Ballet in 1984, where he was appointed pianist of the New York City…
(117) Eric Trope of Miami City Ballet on a dancer’s mental health [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:49
This week on Conversations On Dance, we are joined by Miami City Ballet dancer Eric Trope. While so much attention is understandably given to the physical health of dancers, Eric has been an outspoken advocate for suppor…
(116) Lourdes Lopez, Artistic Director of Miami City Ballet [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:23
Today we are joined by Miami City Ballet Artistic Director, Lourdes Lopez, and our former boss. Born in Havana, Cuba and raised in Miami, Lopez began taking ballet lessons at the age of five and continued her training fu…