Why Dance Matters

Why Dance Matters is a series of conversations with extraordinary people from the world of dance and beyond. It traces the impact of dance on their lives and asks why dance matters to them – and why it might matter to us all. The RAD inspires the world to dance, and we hope these insightful personal conversations – hosted by David Jays, editor of Dance Gazette, the RAD magazine – will delight and even surprise you.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Xander Parish tells a story of snatching triumph from the jaws of frustration. After a great start – winning a silver medal in the RAD’s Genée International Ballet Competition (now named The Fonteyn) and joining The Royal Ballet – his career seemed to be going nowhere. Then a coach from St Petersburg visited London, saw Xander’s passion to prove himself, and snapped him up for the Mariinsky Ballet. Xander is now a Principal at one of the world’s great companies, dancing the princes he was born to play. Listen to his rollercoaster ride, described with unfailing honesty and good humour.About Xander ParishXander was born in East Yorkshire, England. He trained at the Royal Ballet School in London and in 2005 joined The Royal Ballet Company with his sister Demelza. In 2009, he was invited to join the Mariinsky Ballet by its director Yuri Fateyev, becoming the company’s first and only British dancer. Now a Principal, his roles include Albrecht in Giselle, Siegfried in Swan Lake, Romeo in Romeo and Juliet and the title role in Apollo, for which he won Best Male Performance (Classical) at the UK’s Critics Circle National Dance Awards. In 2019, he was awarded an OBE. In 2004, Xander won a silver medal in the RAD’s then-named Genée International Ballet Competition.Find out more about the RAD’s flagship event, The Margot Fonteyn International Ballet Competition: https://bit.ly/2RV9Qb7Follow the RAD on social mediaInstagram- @royalacademyofdanceFacebook- @RoyalAcademyofDanceTwitter- @RADheadquartersYouTube- royalacademyofdanceDavid Jays - @mrdavidjaysSign up to our mailing list: https://bit.ly/3frWPh9RAD is an independent educational charity and does not receive regular government funding. Every penny we make goes back into the work we do. You can support us by either naming a seat as part of our Name A Seat Campaign: https://bit.ly/3fnxEwm  or make a donation: https://bit.ly/3bxA6z5Xander is launching balletclass.com this summer: leading dancers from the UK and Russia are recording classes which students and fans can follow. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gurinder Chadha doesn’t make dance films or musicals – but with the slightest nudge, films like Bend It Like Beckham, Bride and Prejudice and Blinded by the Light could easily become full-blown song-and-dance spectaculars. On Why Dance Matters, Gurinder describes how dance formed her own British-Asian identity – from kathak classes to daytimers – and how she encourages her cast and crew to have a bop on set. And, speaking as the UK edges out of lockdown, she explains why live audiences are just as crucial in cinema as in dance. About Gurinder Chadha Gurinder Chadha is one of the UK’s most proven and respected film directors and producers. Her award-winning films include Bhaji on the Beach, Bend It Like Beckham, Bride and Prejudice, Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging and Viceroy’s House. Recently, Gurinder created Beecham House, an epic drama series set in India in 1795 (ITV and Masterpiece/PBS). Her films have received awards and nominations from, among others, the Golden Globes, BAFTA, European Film Academy, and the Writers Guild of America. Find out more about the RAD: https://bit.ly/2T8RkNd Follow the RAD on social media, and join the conversation with host David Jays Instagram @royalacademyofdanceFacebook @RoyalAcademyofDanceTwitter  @RADheadquartersYoutube royalacademydance David Jays @mrdavidjays Sign up to our mailing list: https://bit.ly/3frWPh9 RAD is an independent educational charity and does not receive regular government funding. Every penny we make goes back into the work we do. You can support us by either naming a seat as part of our Name A Seat Campaign: https://bit.ly/3fnxEwm or make a donation: https://bit.ly/3bxA6z5Gurinder’s websitehttps://www.benditnetworks.com/ Gurinder’s 1989 film I’m British But… is free to view on BFI Playerhttps://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-im-british-but-1989-online Dream Palace season at the BFIhttps://whatson.bfi.org.uk/Online/default.asp?BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::permalink=dreampalace&BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::context_id=  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The choreographer Cathy Marston has a rare gift for telling stories in dance. Now a major player in leading ballet companies (including The Royal Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, American Ballet Theatre) that until recently were a boys’ own club, her starting point is often literature or history – in ballets about Jane Eyre or Lolita, Queen Victoria or Jacqueline du Pré. One chapter in the Oxford Handbook of Contemporary Ballet (which is released with a special online launch hosted by the Royal Academy of Dance) peeks inside Cathy’s rehearsal room: Why Dance Matters also asks her how she creates eloquent stories through dance. About Cathy Marston  Cathy Marston is an award-winning choreographer and artistic director. She spent two years at the Royal Ballet School, before launching a successful international career. She was Associate Artist of the Royal Opera House and director of Bern Ballett. In major creations for The Royal Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Northern Ballet and Danish Royal Ballet, she lends new perspectives to old narratives: in Jane Eyre, Lolita, Lady Chatterley’s Lover, or the historically-inspired The Cellist, Victoria and Witch-hunt. She won the South Bank Sky Arts Award for Victoria (Northern Ballet), the UK National Dance Award for The Suit (Ballet Black) and in 2020 the prize for Excellence in International Dance from the International Institute for Dance and Theatre.  Find out more about the launch for the Oxford Handbook of Contemporary Ballet, co-edited by RAD’s Head of Research Dr Kathrina Farrugia-Kriel: https://bit.ly/3wTKvNN Follow the RAD on social media, and join the conversation with host David JaysInstagram @royalacademyofdanceFacebook @RoyalAcademyofDanceTwitter @RADheadquartersYouTube / royalacademydanceDavid Jays @mrdavidjaysSign up to our mailing list: https://bit.ly/3frWPh9RAD is an independent educational charity and does not receive regular government funding. Every penny we make goes back into the work we do. You can support us by either naming a seat as part of our Name A Seat Campaign: https://bit.ly/3fnxEwm  or make a donation: https://bit.ly/3bxA6z5 Cathy Marston’s website http://www.cathymarston.com/Cathy has co-founded Companie La Ronde, a new Swiss, independent company producing dance-led, theatrical works. https://www.cielaronde.com/Oxford Handbook of Contemporary Ballet https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-oxford-handbook-of-contemporary-ballet-9780190871499 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dance, and especially ballet, can sometimes seem remote from people’s lives. How do you bolt it into the heart of a community?The answer often lies with an RAD Teacher. In this case, Victoria Treviño, who teaches in Mexico City, has used ballet to change the lives of young people facing very challenging circumstances. After the ballet school she taught at was suddenly and unexpectedly forced to shut, leaving 30 young people with nowhere to turn, Victoria offered her home as a makeshift studio. This is surprisingly more common than you might think in Mexico, but it makes her story and passion no less compelling. With the support of the students’ parents, Victoria opened her home to students wishing to learn ballet - little did she know this would become so much more than a ballet school to her local community. Nor that she would face so many obstacles to simply keep them dancing. Here she shares how much of an impact dance can have, far beyond pirouettes and pliés.About Victoria TreviñoVictoria Treviño began studying classical ballet with Patricia Pallmann in Cuernavaca, Morelos Mexico. She later completed her studies with Royal Academy of Dance Syllabus and the Cuban Ballet system under the tutelage of Claudia Trueba and Gustavo Herrera in Mexico City. Dancer of the Neo-classical Company Danzanté (1999-2005). Certified teacher of the Royal Academy of Dance and Diploma of the University of Surrey in Dance Education (2006). Founder of Wimbledon Ballet Club for Children and Youth (2007). In 2010 she founded her school: Ballet Club Mexico and in 2014 the non-profit Civil Association: Ballet Teatro del Olmo Azul, A.C. that focuses on funding studies and opportunities for unpriviliged ballet students. She saw the most success amongst the boys only programme: Ballet para Chavos. Later on, saw the need to create a youth ballet company: Ballet Joven CDMX. She has been hired as a guest teacher / choreographer in: Mexico, United States (2020), Canada (2012-14) and England (2004-06).  The RAD has a network of teachers across the world in 85 countries. Find your local teacher: https://bit.ly/3cs67JAFind out more about the work of the RAD: https://bit.ly/2T8RkNdFollow the RAD on social media, and join the conversation with host David Jays  Instagram @royalacademyofdanceFacebook @RoyalAcademyofDanceTwitter @RADheadquartersYouTube / royalacademydanceDavid Jays @mrdavidjaysSign up to our mailing list: https://bit.ly/3frWPh9RAD is an independent educational charity and does not receive regular government funding. Every penny we make goes back into the work we do. You can support us by either naming a seat as part of our Name A Seat Campaign: https://bit.ly/3fnxEwm  or make a donation: https://bit.ly/3bxA6z5 Read more about Ballet Joven: https://balletjoven.org/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Phil Chan is a dancer, arts advocate and activist born in Hong Kong and now based in New York. With Georgina Pazcogin of New York City Ballet, he co-founded Final Bow For Yellowface in 2017. Provoked by stereotypes of Asian characters and culture in classic ballets – mostly notably in The Nutcracker – their campaign has already had impact in the US and beyond, offering resources for companies striving for change. As the dance world examines its entrenched culture and its historic and current abuses, Phil’s is an eloquent voice leading difficult conversations. He explains what meaningful change looks like – and how we make it happen. About Phil ChanPhil Chan is a co-founder of Final Bow for Yellowface, and most recently served as Director of Programming for IVY, a networking organisation for young professionals. He is a graduate of Carleton College and an alumnus of the Ailey School. As a writer, he was Executive Editor for FLATT magazine and contributed to Dance Europe, Dance and the Huffington Post. He was founding General Manager of the Buck Hill Skytop Music Festival, and General Manager for Armitage Gone! Dance. He is the author of Final Bow for Yellowface: Dancing between Intention and Impact, and was a 2020 New York Public Library Dance Research Fellow. The RAD hosts an interactive webinar with Phil Chan as part of Making Connections: A Symposium for Dance Teachers. Find out more and book here: https://bit.ly/3vtNkEaFollow the RAD on social media, and join the conversation with host David JaysInstagram @royalacademyofdanceFacebook @RoyalAcademyofDanceTwitter @RADheadquartersYouTube / royalacademydanceDavid Jays @mrdavidjaysSign up to our mailing list: https://bit.ly/3frWPh9RAD is an independent educational charity and does not receive regular government funding. Every penny we make goes back into the work we do. You can support us by either naming a seat as part of our Name A Seat Campaign: https://bit.ly/3fnxEwm  or make a donation: https://bit.ly/3bxA6z5Find out more about Final Bow for Yellowface: https://www.yellowface.org/Teachers seeking resources to make their classes more inclusive can contact Phil at https://www.yellowface.org/contact Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dance touches lives beyond performers, so the guests on Why Dance Matters aren’t only professional dancers. Guddi Singh is a paediatrician and BBC broadcaster, and eloquent on the important part the arts can play in healthcare. In a warmly reflective conversation, she explains how, earlier in her career, a Bollywood dance class helped restore joy and purpose to the extreme pressures of a hospital career. She went on to introduce a pioneering dance programme on the children’s ward where she was working, and describes the remarkable effect it had on patients, staff, and on Guddi herself. About Guddi SinghGuddi is a paediatric doctor, health campaigner and TV broadcaster based in London. Passionate about social justice and health equity, Guddi has worked around the world, including with the World Health Organization and Health Education England and in resource-poor settings. She is the Secretary for the Paediatrics and Child Health Section of the Royal Society of Medicine and Advocacy Lead for the British Association for Child and Adolescent Health. She is keen to humanise healthcare and experiment with the arts and humanities – including dance – to make this happen. As a broadcaster, Guddi has appeared on BBC2, Channel 4, ITV, Al-Jazeera and Sky News.Find out more about RAD’s programmes and upcoming activities which aim to widen access to dance for all, and promote health and wellbeing:Silver Swans for over 55s: https://bit.ly/3j3AWbKSilver Swans workshop: https://bit.ly/3d3bZJyRADiate, inclusive dance classes for primary school children with additional learning needs: https://bit.ly/3xIAP9rRADiate inclusive dance workshop: https://bit.ly/2UsxbClStep into Dance, inclusive secondary school dance programme: https://bit.ly/3xzL9R8Dance for Lifelong Wellbeing: https://bit.ly/3j3CaDSFollow the RAD on social media, and join the conversation with host David JaysInstagram @royalacademyofdanceFacebook @RoyalAcademyofDanceTwitter @RADheadquartersYouTube / royalacademydanceDavid Jays @mrdavidjaysSign up to our mailing list: https://bit.ly/3frWPh9RAD is an independent educational charity and does not receive regular government funding. Every penny we make goes back into the work we do. You can support us by either naming a seat as part of our Name A Seat Campaign: https://bit.ly/3fnxEwm or make a donation: https://bit.ly/3bxA6z5Content warning: discussion of mental illness.Please call the Samaritans on 116 123 or contact jo@samaritans.org if you are in distress or need help with any of the issues discussed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Céline Gittens first made her name as a teenager, winning both a gold medal and the Audience Choice Award at Sadler’s Wells in London, in the RAD’s Genée International Ballet Competition (now named The Fonteyn). Her serenity and clarity marked her out as something special. Born in Trinidad and later moving to Canada, she is now a Principal at Birmingham Royal Ballet, where in 2012 she became the first woman of colour in the UK to dance the leading role in Swan Lake. On Why Dance Matters, Céline discusses this landmark, and also learning ballet with her mother, an RAD teacher; dancing during lockdown; and sharing her passion for dance through her own coaching, including for this year’s inaugural Fonteyn competition.About Céline GittensCéline Gittens was born in Trinidad and grew up in Vancouver, Canada. She trained with her mother, Janet Gittens, and at Vancouver’s Goh Ballet Academy. In 2005 Céline was awarded a gold medal and Audience Award at the RAD’s Genée International Ballet Competition. Joining Birmingham Royal Ballet in 2006, she was promoted to Principal in 2016. Notable roles include Juliet, Odette/Odile, Aurora and Giselle. She gained a Master of Philosophy from the University of Birmingham. Céline has taught and coached with Elmhurst Summer School and BRB. For the RAD, she was an Artistic Examiner for the Solo Seal 2019, and coached dancers for The Fonteyn 2021. Find out more about the RAD’s Margot Fonteyn International Ballet Competition: https://bit.ly/3joH3HJThe RAD has a network of teachers located around the world. Find your local RAD teacher: https://bit.ly/3hgHPnxFollow the RAD on social media, and join the conversation with host David JaysInstagram @royalacademyofdanceFacebook @RoyalAcademyofDanceTwitter @RADheadquartersYouTube / royalacademydanceDavid Jays @mrdavidjaysSign up to our mailing list: https://bit.ly/3frWPh9RAD is an independent educational charity and does not receive regular government funding. Every penny we make goes back into the work we do. You can support us by either naming a seat as part of our Name A Seat Campaign: https://bit.ly/3fnxEwm or make a donation: https://bit.ly/3bxA6z5 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Even for non-dancers, dance gets to the heart of things which matter to them the most. This week, for the final instalment of series 1 of Why Dance Matters, we go into the RAD itself and meet Chief Executive, Luke Rittner. Luke has led the RAD since 1999 and overseen substantial change at the RAD, culminating in a move to a new purpose built global headquarters for the RAD in London’s Battersea later this year. Whilst Luke has weathered many storms at the helm of a number of arts organisations, he, along with other arts leaders, could not have predicted how a pandemic and its fallout would hit the industry. How has this time made Luke reflect upon dance, dance teaching and its place in all our lives? And how does Luke see the RAD’s new home for dance as a catalyst for change for the organisation at large and an opportunity to strengthen ties with its local communities? We find out in this episode. About Luke Rittner Luke Rittner has been Chief Executive of the RAD since 1999. Previously he was Secretary General of the Arts Council of Great Britain, Communications Director for Sotheby’s Europe, and ran the Bath Festival. He was also Founder-Director of the Association for Business Sponsorship of the Arts (now Arts & Business). Luke has served on many arts boards, including the Victoria & Albert Museum and the British Council, and was Chairman of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA). He holds honorary doctorates from the Universities of Bath and Durham, and in 2017 was awarded a CBE for services to the arts, particularly dance.Find out more about RAD’s new home for dance: https://bit.ly/3wfVnoNFollow the RAD on social media, and join the conversation with host David JaysInstagram @royalacademyofdanceFacebook @RoyalAcademyofDanceTwitter @RADheadquartersYouTube / royalacademydanceDavid Jays @mrdavidjaysSign up to our mailing list: https://bit.ly/3frWPh9RAD is an independent educational charity and does not receive regular government funding. Every penny we make goes back into the work we do. You can support us by either naming a seat as part of our Name A Seat Campaign:  https://bit.ly/3fnxEwm or make a donation: https://bit.ly/3bxA6z5 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This one-off special episode of Why Dance Matters marks the final of The Margot Fonteyn International Ballet Competition, the RAD’s flagship event. Talented young dancers from across the world test themselves in challenging solos, including work by a leading choreographer. This year, the Commissioned Choreographer is Ashley Page – formerly a dancer and dance maker with The Royal Ballet, then Artistic Director of Scottish Ballet and now creating work for leading international companies. His work is bold, spiky and lush. As well as roaming across his multifarious career, and learning what dance means to him, we hear about creating The Fonteyn solos remotely. About Ashley Page Ashley Page trained at the Royal Ballet School and entered the Royal Ballet company in 1975, becoming a Principal Dancer. As a choreographer, he has created many works for The Royal Ballet and elsewhere. Fearful Symmetries (1994) won both an Olivier Award and Time Out Dance Award. After 27 years at Covent Garden, he became Artistic Director of Scottish Ballet from 2002–2012, developing them into an award-winning, internationally renowned modern ballet company. Since 2012 he has been freelancing as a choreographer and opera director, working with ballet, contemporary dance and opera companies in the UK and internationally. He was awarded an OBE in 2006. Find out more about The Fonteyn and book your tickets to the online final: https://bit.ly/2RV9Qb7 Follow the RAD on social media, and join the conversation with host David Jays.Instagram @royalacademyofdanceFacebook @RoyalAcademyofDanceTwitter @RADheadquartersYouTube / royalacademydanceDavid Jays @mrdavidjays Sign up to our mailing list: https://bit.ly/3frWPh9 RAD is an independent educational charity and does not receive regular government funding. Every penny we make goes back into the work we do. You can support us by either naming a seat as part of our Name A Seat Campaign: https://bit.ly/3fnxEwm or make a donation: https://bit.ly/3bxA6z5 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James Whiteside is not only a principal at American Ballet Theatre, dancing all iconic classical princes as well as ambitious contemporary work, but also has two alter egos: musician JB Dubs and the drag queen Uhu Betch. He has always worked to break down the mystique that surrounds classical ballet: he has a strong social media presence and frequently collaborates on digital work. Center Center, his eye-wateringly candid new memoir, is a rollercoaster through his professional and emotional life, since his early ballet lessons with two RAD dance teachers in Connecticut. He speaks to us frankly about his multiple performing lives.Content warning: this episode contains some explicit language.About James WhitesideJames Whiteside is a principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre, a pop star (as JbDubs), and a member of the NYC-based drag posse, the Dairy Queens (as Uhu Betch). Born in Fairfield, Connecticut, he began his training at the D'Valda & Sirico Dance and Music Centre. After dancing with Boston Ballet, he joined ABT in 2012 and was named a principal in 2013. He has choreographed for music videos, commercials, film and ballet, and starred in Arthur Pita's The Tenant (Joyce Theater). He also hosts his own popular podcast, The Stage Rightside with James Whiteside. Center Center, his 'almost-memoir' is published by Penguin Random House.Find out more about RAD’s new home for dance: https://bit.ly/3wfVnoNThe RAD has a network of teachers across the world located in 85 countries across the world - many qualified in a range of styles. By choosing an RAD registered Teacher you are choosing quality, safety and professionalism. Find your nearest teacher: https://bit.ly/3EW4L6xFollow the RAD on social media, and join the conversation with host David JaysInstagram @royalacademyofdanceFacebook @RoyalAcademyofDanceTwitter @RADheadquartersYouTube / royalacademydanceDavid Jays @mrdavidjaysSign up to our mailing list: https://bit.ly/3frWPh9RAD is an independent educational charity and does not receive regular government funding. Every penny we make goes back into the work we do. You can support us by either naming a seat as part of our Name A Seat Campaign: https://bit.ly/3fnxEwm or make a donation: https://bit.ly/3bxA6z5 James Whiteside's website: http://jamesbwhiteside.com/homeJames Whiteside's new book Center Center: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/670038/center-center-by-james-whiteside/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The hip-hop choreographer, dancer and teacher Yami Löfvenberg is also known as 'Rowdy'. As that name suggests, hers is a wonderfully confident, engaged presence - but growing up in Sweden, she was racially bullied and called stupid, because she struggled with maths. Only later did she realise she had dyscalculia: a deep-seated difficulty in understanding numbers. Discovering a talent for dance transformed her life. As well as creating choreography, she's worked in schools with the RAD's Step into Dance programme, and has a gift for reaching young people who might be struggling as she once did.About Yami 'Rowdy' LöfvenbergYami 'Rowdy' Löfvenberg is a multidisciplinary artist working between movement and theatre as a creative movement director, director, hip-hop theatre maker, performer and lecturer. Alongside making her own work, she also mentors, creates and delivers workshops across the UK and internationally. A One Dance UK DAD Trailblazer Fellow and Marion North Recipient, she was on the creative choreographic team for the 2012 Olympics opening ceremony and is a member of performance collective Hot Brown Honey. A fierce advocate for intersectional feminism and hip-hop dance culture, she is a highly respected role model and teacher within the art sector.Step into Dance is a Royal Academy of Dance programme in partnership with the Jack Petchey Foundation. The largest inclusive dance programme in the UK, it reaches over six thousand secondary school students annually across London and Essex by offering regular dance classes. Find out more: https://bit.ly/3ozsjs3Follow the RAD on social media, and join the conversation with host David JaysInstagram @royalacademyofdanceFacebook @RoyalAcademyofDanceTwitter @RADheadquartersYouTube / royalacademydanceDavid Jays @mrdavidjaysSign up to our mailing list: https://bit.ly/3frWPh9RAD is an independent educational charity and does not receive regular government funding. Every penny we make goes back into the work we do. You can support us by either naming a seat as part of our Name A Seat Campaign: https://bit.ly/3fnxEwm or make a donation: https://bit.ly/3bxA6z5 Yami Löfvenberg’s website: https://yamilofvenberg.wixsite.com/yamilofvenberg Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gerard Charles arrived at the Royal Academy of Dance as its new Artistic Director in 2018, having been in leadership positions at some of America's liveliest ballet companies. As the RAD prepares to move to a new purpose-built headquarters in London's Battersea, we ask Gerard how a new home will help it grow, and reach into the community. As a seasoned director, how did he reconfigure the RAD's flagship event, The Margot Fonteyn International Ballet Competition, as an online experience? And in these uncertain times, we ask how he sees the future of dance and dance teaching.About Gerard CharlesBorn in Folkestone, England, Gerard trained at the Royal Ballet School, then spent most of his professional career in America. He danced at Ballet International, Milwaukee Ballet and BalletMet in roles ranging from corps de ballet to Principal. He then served as Education Director for Ballet Met Columbus; Ballet Master for BalletMet and Les Grands Ballets Canadiens; Artistic Director for BalletMet and most recently Director of Artistic Operations at Joffrey Ballet. Gerard has choreographed and staged works internationally and received an NEA Choreographic Fellowship. He was appointed as Artistic Director of the RAD in 2018.Find out more about World Ballet Day and how you can tune into the RAD's section: https://bit.ly/2YFqbogFind out more about RAD’s new home for dance: https://bit.ly/3wfVnoNDiscover more about the work of the RAD at www.royalacademyofdance.orgFollow the RAD on social media, and join the conversation with host David JaysInstagram @royalacademyofdanceFacebook @RoyalAcademyofDanceTwitter @RADheadquartersYouTube / royalacademydanceDavid Jays @mrdavidjaysSign up to our mailing list: https://bit.ly/3frWPh9RAD is an independent educational charity and does not receive regular government funding. Every penny we make goes back into the work we do. You can support us by either naming a seat as part of our Name A Seat Campaign: https://bit.ly/3fnxEwm or make a donation: https://bit.ly/3bxA6z5 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Libby Clegg loved dance and ballet when she was little, but became a multi-medal-winning Paralympic athlete. She won five medals games, capping her amazing career in Tokyo with a silver medal for Team GB in the 100m relay - then announced her retirement from the track. Last year she returned to dance in the tv competition Dancing on Ice, reaching the final. Libby, who has Stargardt macular dystrophy, is also candid about struggles with her mental health, even at what should have been her greatest moment of triumph - winning two gold medals at the Rio games.Content warning: our conversation will discuss mental health and some of the darker moments of Libby's journey.About Libby CleggLibby Clegg MBE was a keen ballet dancer as a child before taking up athletics, specialising in sprinting. In 2008 she made her Paralympic debut in Beijing winning a silver medal in the T12 100m and won another silver medal in London 2012. She struck gold at Rio in 2016, winning both the T11 100m and T11 200m finals. She announced her retirement at the Tokyo Paralympics where she won a relay silver. She appeared in Dancing on Ice in 2020 and wrote My Life with Hatti, a book about her guide dog.Discover more about the work of the RAD at www.royalacademyofdance.orgFollow the RAD on social media, and join the conversation with host David JaysInstagram @royalacademyofdanceFacebook @RoyalAcademyofDanceTwitter @RADheadquartersYouTube / royalacademydanceDavid Jays @mrdavidjaysSign up to our mailing list: https://bit.ly/3frWPh9RAD is an independent educational charity and does not receive regular government funding. Every penny we make goes back into the work we do. You can support us by either naming a seat as part of our Name A Seat Campaign: https://bit.ly/3fnxEwm or make a donation: https://bit.ly/3bxA6z5 Libby's book, My Life with Hatti, available now: https://www.quercusbooks.co.uk/titles/libby-clegg/my-life-with-hatti/9781529416701/The RNIB's See Sport Differently campaign: https://www.rnib.org.uk/about-us/see-sport-differently Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Australian ballerina Leanne Benjamin is a self-declared perfectionist - difficult in ballet, where the perfect performance is a tantalising impossibility. Her career took her from rural Queensland to the heights of The Royal Ballet in London. She conquered the great 19th-century ballets, created challenging new work, and revelled in the complex stories of Kenneth MacMillan. Leanne revisits her career in a new memoir, Built for Ballet (written with Sarah Crompton) and discusses her love of coaching, including of young dancers in the RAD's Margot Fonteyn International Ballet Competition.About Leanne BenjaminLeanne Benjamin was born in Rockhampton in Queensland, Australia, and began dancing at the age of three. At 16, she followed her older sister to the Royal Ballet School, then won the RAD's Genée Gold Medal and the Prix de Lausanne. She graduated into Sadler's Wells Royal Ballet (later Birmingham Royal Ballet) in 1983, then danced with London Festival and Deutsche Oper Ballets. She joined The Royal Ballet in 1992, retiring in 2013 after 20 years as a Principal. She was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia and received an OBE for services to dance.Find out more about the RAD's Fonteyn Competition: https://bit.ly/2RV9Qb7 Follow the RAD on social media, and join the conversation with David Jays.Instagram @royalacademyofdanceFacebook @RoyalAcademyofDanceTwitter @RADheadquartersYouTube / royalacademydanceDavid Jays @mrdavidjaysSign up to our mailing list: https://bit.ly/3frWPh9RAD is an independent educational charity and does not receive regular government funding. Every penny we make goes back into the work we do. You can support us by either naming a seat as part of our Name A Seat Campaign: https://bit.ly/3fnxEwm or make a donation: https://bit.ly/3bxA6z5Leanne Benjamin: Built for Ballet by Leanne Benjamin and Sarah Crompton is published by Melbourne Books. https://bit.ly/3vRhpiM Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At just 19, Hannah Martin has already achieved remarkable things. In September 2021, the young ballet dancer won a medal in the RAD's flagship event, The Margot Fonteyn International Ballet Competition. And before that, she was a top flight gymnast, the youngest official member of the England team at the 2018 Commonwealth Games when she was only 15. It is rare to shine in two disciplines at an elite level, competing with some of the very best international dancers and gymnasts. Now an apprentice with Birmingham Royal Ballet, Hannah discusses the similarities and differences between the different disciplines.About Hannah MartinHannah Martin is an apprentice at Birmingham Royal Ballet, after graduating from Elmhurst Ballet School earlier in 2021. She was also a bronze medallist at The Margot Fonteyn International Ballet Competition 2021, and won the London Ballet Circle Sir Peter Wright Performance Prize. She previously competed in rhythmic gymnastics for Team England in the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia (as the youngest official member of the team), and reached the semi-finals of the BBC's The Greatest Dancer in 2020.Find out more about the RAD's Fonteyn Competition: https://bit.ly/2RV9Qb7Watch Hannah Martin's journey to The Fonteyn vlog: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyXArRmOieE Follow the RAD on social media, and join the conversation with host David Jays.Instagram @royalacademyofdanceFacebook @RoyalAcademyofDanceTwitter @RADheadquartersYouTube / royalacademydanceDavid Jays @mrdavidjays Sign up to our mailing list: https://bit.ly/3frWPh9 RAD is an independent educational charity and does not receive regular government funding. Every penny we make goes back into the work we do. You can support us by either naming a seat as part of our Name A Seat Campaign: https://bit.ly/3fnxEwm or make a donation: https://bit.ly/3bxA6z5 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we meet portrait artist Ralph Heimans as the RAD prepares to celebrate a landmark in its 100 year history - a move to a new purpose built headquarters - with a brand new portrait competition. The competition will invite artists of all abilities to create a portrait of world famous ballerina and founding President of the RAD Dame Adeline Genée. Ralph sits on the judging panel of this competition and will be responsible for selecting the new commission, which will hang pride of place for all to enjoy in the new building when it formally opens in 2022.Known for high profile commissions of royalty, how would Ralph approach the portrait of a dancer? And what's the point of portraiture in this selfie-ridden age? Join us for this portrait of the artist.About Ralph HeimansLondon-based Australian artist Ralph Heimans is one of today's leading portrait artists. His official portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth, produced for the Diamond Jubilee in 2012, hangs in Westminster Abbey, while his portraits of the Duke of Edinburgh (2017) and Prince of Wales (2018) are in the Royal Collection. In 2018, the National Portrait Gallery of Denmark held a mid-career retrospective, including portraits of artists like Dame Judi Dench, Vladimir Ashkenazy and Margaret Atwood. Ralph's large-scale portraits are renowned for innovative compositions that offer engaging narratives about his subjects and their life stories. His works are held in major international collections and in 2014 he became a Member of the Order of Australia.Find out more about the RAD: https://bit.ly/3qqFBrWFollow the RAD on social media, and join the conversation with host David JaysInstagram @royalacademyofdanceFacebook @RoyalAcademyofDanceTwitter @RADheadquartersYouTube / royalacademydanceDavid Jays @mrdavidjaysSign up to our mailing list: https://bit.ly/3frWPh9RAD is an independent educational charity and does not receive regular government funding. Every penny we make goes back into the work we do. You can support us by either naming a seat as part of our Name A Seat Campaign: https://bit.ly/3fnxEwm or make a donation: https://bit.ly/3bxA6z5 Ralph Heimans' website: https://www.ralphheimans.comv7eqwOLQa4MuTR1dl6MP Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Carlos Acosta has an electric connection to audiences – a combination of elegance, fire and rare charisma. Starting life in one of Havana’s poorest neighbourhoods, the Cuban dancer became a favourite at The Royal Ballet and the Bolshoi. His inspirational effect has been widely recognised – including, in 2018, by the RAD’s Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Award. He now leads his own contemporary company, Acosta Danza, and is director of Birmingham Royal Ballet (BRB). He describes how he came to love ballet, keeping motivated through the pandemic and a new partnership between BRB and the RAD, designed to share the love of ballet among teachers, students and audiences.Carlos Acosta is Director of Birmingham Royal Ballet and of Acosta Danza. Born in Havana in 1973, he trained at the National Ballet School of Havana in Cuba, winning awards including the Prix de Lausanne in 1990. He went on to dance with the world’s most prestigious companies, with London’s Royal Ballet becoming his home. He retired from ballet in 2016, having performed almost every classical role from Spartacus to Romeo. He created award-winning shows including Tocororo, and choreographed Royal Ballet productions of Don Quixote and Carmen, plus Guys and Dolls in the West End. He has also written Pig’s Foot, a novel, and his autobiography No Way Home. His awards include a CBE and the RAD’s Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Award.Find out more about RAD’s new partnership with BRB: https://bit.ly/3Ifx3dmFollow the RAD on social media, and join the conversation with host David JaysInstagram @royalacademyofdanceFacebook @RoyalAcademyofDanceTwitter @RADheadquartersYouTube / royalacademydanceDavid Jays @mrdavidjaysSign up to our mailing list: https://bit.ly/3frWPh9RAD is an independent educational charity and does not receive regular government funding. Every penny we make goes back into the work we do. You can support us by either naming a seat as part of our Name A Seat Campaign: https://bit.ly/3fnxEwm or make a donation: https://bit.ly/3bxA6z5 Carlos reflects on his career after receiving the Royal Academy of Dance QEII Award: https://bit.ly/3H53I3WCarlos' new production of Don Quixote for BRB is on tour: https://bit.ly/36mUALiAcosta Danza is also touring the UK: https://bit.ly/35lauFm Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The American mezzo soprano Joyce DiDonato has won deserved acclaim in the world’s great opera houses – in Rossini, Handel and brand new works – and she’s a passionate communicator. Growing up in Kansas she originally planned to become a music teacher. Even after committing to a singing career, the breaks only followed a whole heap of rejection. A very present, physical performer, the temperature always rises when she comes on stage. She tells us about art and activism, including her work in prisons and with refugees. Joyce’s journey has helped her think about why her work is valuable – why art matters. Joyce DiDonato was born in Kansas. A multi-Grammy Award winner and 2018 Olivier Award winner for Outstanding Achievement in Opera, the New Yorker proclaimed her ‘perhaps the most potent female singer of her generation.’ Acclaimed as both a performer and a fierce advocate for the arts, she has gained international prominence in operas by Handel and Mozart, and in the bel canto roles of Rossini and Donizetti. She has held residencies at Carnegie Hall and London’s Barbican Centre and appeared as guest soloist at the BBC’s Last Night of the Proms. The latest release in her award-winning discography is Eden, a multi-faceted initiative embracing a global tour, an album and a ground-breaking education programme all exploring our connection to nature.Find out more about the work of the RAD: https://bit.ly/3KcB5UBFollow the RAD on social media, and join the conversation with host David JaysInstagram @royalacademyofdanceFacebook @RoyalAcademyofDanceTwitter @RADheadquartersYouTube / royalacademydanceDavid Jays @mrdavidjaysSign up to our mailing list: https://bit.ly/3frWPh9RAD is an independent educational charity and does not receive regular government funding. Every penny we make goes back into the work we do. You can support us by either naming a seat as part of our Name A Seat Campaign: https://bit.ly/3fnxEwm or make a donation: https://bit.ly/3bxA6z5 Joyce DiDonato’s new album EDEN is released on 25 February and her international tour begins on 2 March, with performances at the Barbican Centre in London on 5 and 6 April.Learn more about Joyce DiDonato and The Walk: https://bit.ly/3MgaWWI Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Barbara Peters, a life-enhancing RAD teacher from Yorkshire, has been teaching for over 60 years. She has travelled the world as an RAD examiner, and continued teaching throughout the pandemic over Zoom, attracting some devoted international students. A couple of years ago, in her 80s, she passed the RAD’s Grade 7 and 8 exams, attracting much media interest, and has now been recognised by a fellowship of the RAD and the British Empire Medal. Dance is crucial to the way she approaches the world: we are proud to be her first podcast interview.About Barbara PetersBorn in Huddersfield, Barbara Peters began her dance journey over 75 years ago when she had her first RAD ballet class, at the age of nine. Between 1948 and 1950, she passed Grades 1 to 5 all with Honours, as it was then. In 1954, after passing Intermediate, she became a full member of RAD. Following an audition to attend the RAD teachers’ training course, she became a student in 1956. In 1957, she passed Advanced and the next year, she was elected Senior Student. She then moved to Italy to help establish the RAD Children’s Ballet in Education syllabus there.Barbara has been teaching dance for 66 years and at the age of 80, passed Grades 7 and 8, and Discovering Repertoire, all with Merit. In 2022, Barbara was named in the New Year’s Honours list as a recipient of the British Empire Medal for services to dance.Find out more about Silver Swans for over 55s: https://bit.ly/3pJiOX6Learn more about Discovering Repertoire: https://bit.ly/37buiw3Find your nearest RAD teacher: https://bit.ly/3EW4L6xFind out more about RAD exams: https://bit.ly/34jJdDcFollow the RAD on social media, and join the conversation with host David JaysInstagram @royalacademyofdanceFacebook @RoyalAcademyofDanceTwitter @RADheadquartersYouTube / royalacademydanceDavid Jays @mrdavidjaysSign up to our mailing list: https://bit.ly/3frWPh9RAD is an independent educational charity and does not receive regular government funding. Every penny we make goes back into the work we do. You can support us by either naming a seat as part of our Name A Seat Campaign: https://bit.ly/3fnxEwm or make a donation: https://bit.ly/3bxA6z5 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.