Meet Pontus Lidberg, Sweden’s award-winning young dancer, choreographer and filmmaker. Over the course of this interview, he relates his early desire to create contemporary dance works and the opportunities that followed withStockholm 59°North, The Norwegian National Ballet, Morphoses, The Royal Swedish Ballet, Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo, and his own company Pontus Lidberg Dance. He describes his dance language, choreographic process and passion for filmmaking as well as his connection to the U....
May 06, 2015•37 min
In this second of two episodes, the artists featured in Face 2 Face 2015, Experiences of Africa, describe the work they have done in their respective countries –alongside successful international careers-- in an effort to develop contemporary dance on the African continent. The podcast ends with a reflection on the term ‘African dance’ and how this art form has evolved over the last decade.
Mar 13, 2015•46 min
In this first of 2 episodes of a bilingual podcast, we meet the 5 artists featured in the National Arts Centre's 2015 Face 2 Face series, Experiences of Africa. They speak of their background and how they came to work in dance.
Mar 10, 2015•37 min
National Arts Centre Executive Producer of Dance Cathy Levy speaks with Lourdes Lopez, Artistic Director of Miami City Ballet, shortly before the company’s March 5-7, 2015 NAC presentation. Lourdes talks about her early introduction to ballet and her 24-year career with New York City Ballet where she danced under the legendary George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins. A brief career in television follows. She then leads The George Balanchine Foundation and co-founds the innovative dance company Morp...
Mar 02, 2015•24 min
Cathy Levy talks with Virginia Johnson, artistic director, founding member, and former principal dancer of the Dance Theatre of Harlem. They discuss her career, the life of the dance company, the school, founding Pointe Magazine, and becoming Artistic Director of Dance Theatre of Harlem.
Jun 16, 2014•48 min
Cathy Levy chats with dancer-choreographer Kyle Abraham who was at Canada’s National Arts Centre in February 2014 to perform The Radio Show with his company Abraham.In.Motion. Kyle talks about his childhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and how his passion for music led him to dance. With the support and guidance of his parents and teachers he pursued dance studies and eventually joined David Dorfman Dance and Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company. Kyle explains how The Radio Show, originally co...
Apr 14, 2014•1 hr 1 min
In this third and final episode, Aakash Odedra describes his projects in development, including Murmur, an exploration of dyslexia through dance and technology, and Inked, a solo created in collaboration with French-Belgian choreographer Damien Jalet, about the markings on the body of Aakash’s grandmother. In closing, Aakash explains his need to balance life on and off the stage.
Apr 07, 2014•20 min
In this second of three episodes, Aakash talks about his first encounter with celebrated British dancer and choreographer Akram Khan and how their meeting changed the course of his destiny. In 2011, Akram and world-renowned choreographers Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui and Russell Maliphant each made a solo for Aakash who also contributed his own work to create the full evening program Rising. Aakash then speaks of his involvement in the choreographic project James Brown: Get on the Good Foot.
Apr 04, 2014•23 min
In this first of three episodes, Cathy Levy speaks to the up-and-coming young star of British dance Aakash Odedra who performed Rising at Canada’s National Arts Centre in February 2014. Aakash describes his early obsession with dance and the degree to which his family recognized his gift and supported him. He explains how he trained in the classical Indian dance styles of Kathak and Bharat Natyam in India and the United Kingdom, never differentiating between dancing and choreography.
Apr 03, 2014•21 min
In this final episode, Akram Khan explains the origin and development of his first full-length solo piece, the autobiographical DESH, which took him and his team of close collaborators including Tim Yip, Jocelyn Pook, Michael Hulls and Karthika Nair to Bangladesh, the homeland of his parents. He then reveals his intention to create one last solo work. In closing, he describes how the experience of choreographing a section of the London 2012 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony altered the way he looks...
Dec 11, 2013•24 min
In this second episode, Akram Khan describes his fascination with learning about the science of movement and the similarities and contradictions of ballet, contemporary dance and kathak. This exploration leads to the development of his signature style and the creation of a short solo followed by a more substantial piece that attract media and public attention. Akram comments on his jewel relationship with Farooq Chaudhry, producer and co-founder of Akram Khan Company, and his collaborations with...
Dec 10, 2013•23 min
In this first of three episodes, the celebrated British choreographer-performer Akram Khan talks about his very early training and performing in kathak, the north Indian classical dance form. At the age of 10 he joins the acting cast of the stage adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book, and at 13 he tours the world with Peter Brook’s The Mahabharata. His return home at 15 is followed by an extreme and solitary journey into dance. While seeking admission to the contemporary dance program ...
Dec 09, 2013•27 min
In this third and final episode, Emily Molnar describes the tremendous opportunity she saw in heading Ballet BC at a turning point in its history. She outlines the three-year plan she developed before taking on its artistic directorship out of concern for its survival and place in the dance landscape of British Columbia and Canada. She attributes the success achieved to date to a small but strong group of highly committed individuals willing to reevaluate everything. Since July 2009, Ballet BC b...
Mar 05, 2013•30 min
In this second of three episodes, Emily Molnar speaks about the difficult decision of leaving Frankfurt Ballet, as she was turning 26, to branch out on her own. After contemplating quitting dance altogether, she chooses to become a principal dancer with Ballet BC where she interprets many roles, guided by then artistic director John Alleyne, including Puck in the production of The Fairie Queen. Emily talks about her work as an independent choreographer for, among others, Alberta Ballet, Ballet B...
Mar 04, 2013•21 min
In this first of three episodes, Cathy speaks to Emily Molnar, Artistic Director of Ballet BC, the day after the company’s return to the National Arts Centre Southam Hall stage following a 10-year absence. Emily recalls her early dream of becoming a prima ballerina; her training at the National Ballet School; and her subsequent four years at the National Ballet of Canada where she was discovered by William Forsythe commissioned by The National to create The Second Detail. At 21, Emily relocates ...
Mar 03, 2013•25 min
In this final episode, Stanton Welsh speaks about his full-length classical ballet Marie based on the life of the legendary 18th-century French queen Marie Antoinette. He comments on the task of finding new talent, and describes the Houston Ballet Center for Dance, the company’s new state-of-the-art facility. In closing, he reveals his next choreographic project and his 10-year plan for Houston Ballet.
Nov 30, 2012•37 min
In this second of three episodes, Stanton Welch shares his impressions of Houston, Texas, its people and its arts and culture. He touches on his artistic vision, comments on his dual role of choreographer and artistic director, and tells us what he looks for in a dancer.
Nov 29, 2012•21 min
In this first of three episodes, Stanton Welsh, Artistic Director of Houston Ballet, reminisces about his youth in Australia, his ballet training, and his career as a dancer. Since turning to choreography in 2000, he has created an impressive number of works. He was appointed Artistic Director of Houston Ballet in 2003. Stanton speaks of the company’s early years, its unique place among American ballet companies, and the immense contribution made by its first Artistic, Director Ben Stevenson.
Nov 28, 2012•21 min
In this second of two episodes, Masazumi Chaya talks about the 21-year tenure of Judith Jamison –former star dancer and muse to Alvin Ailey– as Artistic Director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. He describes his own 40-year contribution to the company as well as his future plans, and speaks about the company’s touring and pioneering in the fields of outreach and education. In closing, he talks about Robert Battle, AAADT’s current Artistic Director.
Jun 04, 2012•40 min
In this first of two episodes, Masazumi Chaya, former dancer, rehearsal director and current Associate Artistic Director at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, reminisces about his young life in Japan, his move to New York City in 1970, and his early years at the company. Chaya shares fond memories of the American contemporary dance icon Alvin Ailey and his fabled dance creations, including the critically-acclaimed and enduring Revelations.
May 28, 2012•28 min
In this second of two episodes, Marie Chouinard reacts to the view that her early solo work was provocative, and that she pushes her dancers to extremes, referring in particular to bODY_rEMIX / gOLDBERG_vARIATIONS. She talks about her latest choreographic achievement, THE GOLDEN MEAN (LIVE), which premiered at the Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad, and about her collaboration with Montreal composer Louis Dufort. In closing, Marie touches on her dual role within Compagnie Marie Chouinard.
Feb 13, 2012•31 min
In this first of two episodes, we are introduced to Marie Chouinard, choreographer and Artistic and Executive Director of Montreal-based Compagnie Marie Chouinard and NAC Associate Dance Artist. Marie describes her fascination with the human body and recalls her introduction to dance and choreography, explaining that her 15-year solo career began with a chance meeting with Dena Davida. Marie then tells us about her transition to group works and describes her creative process.
Feb 01, 2012•29 min
In this second of two episodes, we learn that London has been a city of opportunity for Hofesh Shechter. In 2007 its three major venues, Sadler’s Wells, Southbank Centre and The Place, invite him to develop and present a full evening of work. He creates the complex piece In your rooms. Hofesh chats about the choreographies he has since created for companies such as Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet, Scottish Dance Theatre and Carte Blanche, as well as for the UK Chanel 4 series Skins. He shares som...
Jun 23, 2011•46 min
In this first of two episodes, Israeli-born and UK-based contemporary artist Hofesh Shechter, former rock drummer and dancer with Batsheva Dance Company, talks about striking out on his own as a choreographer. An encounter with John Ashford, Theatre Director at The Place in London, UK, mentor to numerous artists and presenters, results in an invitation to become an associate artist of The Place where he creates a group piece that receives an audience award. Hofesh goes on to describe his early a...
Jun 22, 2011•31 min
In this final episode, Edouard Lock talks about his collaborations with David Bowie and Frank Zappa, and creating work for the Ballet de l’Opéra de Paris. He expands on his notion of evolution and revolution in the context of Amelia and Amjad, tells us about the process of transposing Amelia to film, and shares some details of his new work. Prompted, he talks about music, the significance of honours and awards and audience feedback.
May 11, 2011•41 min
In this second of three episodes, Edouard Lock challenges the notion that the movement vocabulary of his early works is violent and explains how the accompanying music contributed to this perception. He then talks about his other choreographies, what inspires him to create, his first international commission for the Het Nationale Ballet of Holland –directed at the time by Rudi Van Dantzig—and the introduction of pointe work into his productions.
May 10, 2011•26 min
In this first of three episodes, Edouard Lock, choreographer and Artistic Director of Montreal-based La La La Human Steps, recalls his family’s move to Canada and the period and events that led to the creation of La La La Human Steps including his involvement with Le Groupe Nouvelle Aire and Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal. Edouard comments on first choreographies Lily Marlene in the Jungle, Oranges and Businessman in the Process of Becoming an Angel and the sensation they caused. The e...
May 09, 2011•29 min
In this last episode, Wayne McGregor talks about his future projects, including his first full-length piece for Paris Opera Ballet, his first virtual reality ballet, his collaboration with Mark-Anthony Turnage, and Big Dance Trafalgar Square for the 2012 London Olympics. Wayne describes his involvement in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, opera, and with Dame Judi Dench and Andrew Lloyd Webber. We also learn about Akili, the retreat on an island along the coast of Kenya which he founded in 20...
Apr 28, 2011•26 min
In this second episode, Wayne McGregor reflects on his dancing career, describes the point of departure in his creative process, and what fascinates him as a contemporary choreographer. He then speaks of his groundbreaking collaborations and ongoing investigations into the relationship between body and space with British and American cognitive scientists which is contributing to his artistic development. Also, he touches on his association with The Royal Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet and The National...
Apr 27, 2011•36 min
In this first of three episodes, Wayne McGregor, choreographer and Artistic Director of UK-based Wayne McGregor | Random Dance, talks about his youth and his early and active involvement with dance, theatre and computers. Summer employment during his studies in choreography and semiotics at the University of Leeds triggers a lifelong interest in exploring the connection between body and brain. Following a brief stay in New York, he returns to London and forms his company. Wayne explains the role...
Apr 26, 2011•37 min
