(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
(69) Allynne Noelle, Suzanne Farrell Ballet First Soloist [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:34
This week we are joined by Allynne Noelle, Suzanne Farrell Ballet First Soloist. Allynne started her training at the age of five in Southern California and began her professional career at age 15 with Ballet Pacifica. In…
(65) Kevin McKenzie, American Ballet Theatre Artistic Director [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:53
This week we have the pleasure of being joined Kevin McKenzie, American Ballet Theatre Artistic Director. A native of Vermont, McKenzie recieved his ballet trianing from the Washington School of Ballet. He was a leading…
(64) Isabella Boylston, American Ballet Theater Principal Dancer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:03
This week we are joined by Isabella Boylston, American Ballet Theater Principal Dancer. Isabella was born in Sun Valley Idaho and started dancing at the age of 3. In 1994 she began training at a small studio, and by the…
(62) Gonzalo Garcia, New York City Ballet Principal [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:51
Today we are joined by Gonzalo Garcia, New York City Ballet Principal. Born in Spain, Mr. Garcia began studying ballet at the age of eight at Maria Avila's school. In 1995 he came to the U.S. to study at the San Francisc…
(61) Unity Phelan, New York City Ballet Soloist [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:36
This week we are joined by New York City Ballet soloist, Unity Phelan. Born in Princeton, New Jersey, Unity began her training at the age of 5 at the Princeton Ballet School. In 2008 and 2009 she attended the School of A…
(60) Heather Watts, Balanchine Ballerina [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:17
This week we are joined by distinguished Balanchine ballerina, Heather Watts. Immediately noticed for her stunning physicality and the individuality of her interpretations, Watts was one of the last ballerinas to inspire…