Conversations on Dance Podcast hosts Rebecca King Ferraro and Michael Sean Breeden, former Miami City Ballet Dancers, record in-depth discussions with artists throughout the Vail Dance Festival. They give audiences an inside look into the world of professional dancers through discussions about ballet training, techniques, choreography, and conduct interviews with some of the dance world’s best and brightest. A limited number of tickets are sold to each Conversations on Dance during the Vail Dance Festival or listeners can tune in from anywhere once the episodes are posted online at conversationsondancepod.com. Read the listener testimonials HERE. Want to stay in touch with Conversations on Dance? Sign up for their email list HERE.
2022 Podcast Episodes
Damian Woetzel
POSTED JUNE 16, 2022
Today we are joined by Vail Dance Festival’s Artistic Director, Damian Woetzel. While we have had Damian on the podcast many times, we ask him about his earliest memories in Vail as a dancer, we talk about some of his memories from over the years, and what to expect from this year’s festival coming to the stage July 29 – August 9. Audiences are in for another great year of new works, classics, new artists, familiar faces, and new collaborations.
For more information on performances, programming, and festival artists, visit the Vail Dance Festival website. Tickets are on sale now at validance.org, or click the link in the description of this episode.
Mira Nadon
POSTED JUNE 23, 2022
Today we are joined by New York City Ballet soloist Mira Nadon. Mira last joined us on the podcast in April 2020, episode 180, where we talked about her training, early career and the early days of the pandemic. For her second appearance, we catch up with Mira about navigating the year and a half without performances at NYCB, her promotion to soloist and the numerous debuts she’s conquered in the first half of 2022.
Ephrat Asherie
POSTED JUNE 27, 2022
On today’s episode of ‘Conversations On Dance’, we are joined by Ephrat Asherie, Bessie Award winning b-girl and choreographer. We caught up with Ephrat on her artistic output since her first appearance on the podcast in January 2021, including her work for Guggenheim Works & Process, collaborating with the elders of the underground dance scene, and touring her work ‘Odeon’. Ephrat is returning to the Vail Dance Festival this year where ‘Odeon’ and a new choreographic work will be performed. Catch Ephrat Asherie Dance at the festival on July 31st. Tickets available at vaildance.org.
Patricia Delgado
POSTED JULY 7, 2022
Today we are joined by our friend and former colleague at Miami City Ballet, Patricia Delgado. While we have had Patricia on the podcast many times in the past, it has been a few years since we have had her back. We catch up with her on her work she did as a part of the West Side Story movie, working closely with her husband, Justin Peck. She talks about her experience as a producer on both Broadway and as a part of #QueertheBallet with friend of the pod, Adriana Pierce.
This summer, Patricia will be back at the Vail Dance Festival and making her return to the stage for the first time in years and after the birth of her daughter, Lucia. She will also be stepping in as a Conversations on Dance guest host with Michael for some live events from Vail.
This is our last episode before the Vail Dance Festival. Our Festival Forum events will be published on the COD feed, so be sure to subscribe to Conversations on Dance wherever you get your podcasts so that you will automatically be notified when these episodes go live. For tickets to the performances and Festival Forum events, visit, validance.org.
Justin Peck
POSTED AUGUST 5, 2022
Few choreographers have impacted the dance world in the past decade the way Justin Peck has. He burst onto the scene ten years ago with major commissions for New York City Ballet, eventually becoming the company’s Resident Choreographer. This was followed by his Tony Award-winning Broadway debut choreographing Carousel, and his cinematic debut for Steven Spielberg’s award-winning film remake of West Side Story. Peck joins the ‘Conversations On Dance’ podcast to talk about his world premiere at VDF this year, where he will collaborate with bluegrass artist Chris Thile (Punch Brothers, National Public Radio), as well as the Vail premiere of his most recent New York City Ballet work, Partita.
Pam Tanowitz & Sara Mearns
POSTED AUGUST 7, 2022
Sara Mearns and Pam Tanowitz are two of the most talked about dance artists of their generation, both regarded for their bold, fearless and personal interpretations of their respective art forms. At this years’ festival, Mearns will be premiering in a new work by Bobbi Jene Smith, while Tanowitz will create a new work to the music of Kate Davis. Join these mavericks of the industry for a discussion with the ‘Conversations On Dance’ podcast about these premieres and the collaboration Mearns and Tanowitz most recently worked on together at the New York City Ballet.
Limón Dance Company
POSTED AUGUST 9, 2022
At the vanguard of American modern dance since its inception, Limón Dance Company is celebrating its landmark 75th anniversary this season. Making their VDF debut this summer, come celebrate the incredible dance legacy of this beloved and historic company. Artistic Director Dance Puleio will join the ‘Conversations On Dance’ podcast in a discussion about preserving the company’s incredible heritage while pushing forward into the future with new commissions.
Jodi Melnick
POSTED ON AUGUST 10, 2022
Choreographer Jodi Melnick has found international acclaim with her unique approach to the art form, encapsulating seemingly disparate moments of subtlety, nuance, recklessness and drama. The ‘Conversations On Dance’ podcast leads a discussion with Melnick about her artistic identity, creative process and her new work premiering at VDF this year, set to a commissioned score by Andreia Pinto-Correia.
Lil Buck & KJ Takahashi
POSTED ON AUGUST 15, 2022
Join the ‘Conversations On Dance’ podcast in a discussion with one of Vail’s most celebrated mainstays, Lil Buck, and one of its newest artists, New York City Ballet dancer KJ Takahashi. Buck and KJ will take us on a tour of their own relationships with ballet and street dance and how these two forms of dance have intersected for each of them in their own artistic identity.
DanceAspen's Laurel Winton and Kaya Wolsey
POSTED ON AUGUST 17, 2022
Vail Dance Festival is thrilled to welcome Dance Aspen in its inaugural season. Artistic Director Laurel Winton joins the ‘Conversations On Dance’ podcast in a discussion about Colorado’s newest dance company, and how dancers and director alike will seek to implement the company’s artistic goals and identity.
Choreographer Justin Peck and Musician Johnny Gandelsman
POSTED AUGUST 23, 2022
Join the ‘Conversations On Dance’ podcast in an exploration of two art forms and how they coalesce into a single harmonious ballet. Join musician, Johnny Gandelsman of Brooklyn Rider and Choreographer Justin Peck as they will talk about how the ways in which their art forms intersect and diverge and how the collaborative process informs and elevates their own work.
Claudia Schreier and Lauren Lovette
POSTED ON AUGUST 30, 2022
Acclaimed Choreographer Claudia Schreier returns to the Vail Dance Festival this year with a new work to commissioned music by Conrad Tao. A classic Vail success story, join the ‘Conversations On Dance’ podcast as they talk to Claudia about her origins at VDF as an intern and chart her path to one of the most highly sought after choreographers in the country.
Jovani Furlan
POSTED ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2022
In his first year at VDF, New York City Ballet soloist Jovani Furlan is set to take Vail audiences by storm. Joining the ‘Conversations On Dance’ podcast, Furlan will discuss his dance upbringing in his native Brazil, the leap to american stages and what dancing at VDF for the first time has been like.