Thanks for checking in with us at Ballet and Beyond. We hope you enjoyed Season 1. Thanks so much to all of our guests this season! Season 2 is coming soon so make sure you check back in.

Ballet and Beyond Podcast

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Today we hear from dancer and director Charlie Abel. We talk about how he got started in dance, as well as some of his strategies and focuses as a director.A former high-school wrestler and semi-pro baseball player, Charlie fell in love with ballet in his home state of Louisiana where he performed with the Louisiana Ballet. Since then he has performed principal roles with the Yugoslav National Ballet, New Jersey Ballet, and the Baltimore Ballet. He has appeared in numerous theater production including two Helen Hayes nominated stage plays with the Keegan Theatre in Washington, DC. Charlie has taught classical and theater dance at Dance Institute of Washington, Mid-Atlantic Center for the Performing Arts, Ballet Royale Institute of Maryland, and the Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts. He has served on the faculty at Catholic University and University of Maryland in Baltimore County, and he is currently the Director of Ballet Performance at Metropolitan School of the Arts.

Charlie Abel

Today we're joined by Goucher College professor, Rick Southerland. We talk about his career path in dance education and some of his experiences as both a teacher and performer.Rick is Associate Professor of Dance at Goucher College and past president of the National Dance Education Organization. Rick spent more than 20 years teaching in PK12 dance education in North Carolina, Maryland, Georgia, Nevada, and Washington, DC. Rick currently oversees the K12 dance education certification program and teaches dance education, modern dance technique, composition, and study abroad courses on the African continent.

Rick Southerland

Today we're joined by Washington Ballet principal Tamako Miyazaki. We discuss her transition from Japan to the U.S., what it was like for her to compete, and her experience in Washington Ballet.Tamako began her ballet training in Japan, before moving to the US, where she has won many awards and scholarships on the competition circuit, including first place in the Youth America Grand Prix finals in 2002. After dancing for two seasons with the Washington Ballet Studio Company, and then briefly with Columbia Classical Ballet, she joined the Washington Ballet as a company member and is currently in her sixth season. 

Tamako Miyazaki

Today we chat with former Dayton Ballet principal Annalise Bodamer about her experience in professional life, how she got to where she is, and her current work as an artistic director.Annalise began dancing at six years old, later graduating from Goucher College with honors in dance performance and a minor in mathematics. She was a principal dancer with Boulder Ballet then with The Dayton Ballet (OH), performing in Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Romeo & Juliet, various classics by Gerald Arpino, and more. Favorite performances showcased contemporary ballets by Jirí Kylián, Amy Seiwert, and Gina Patterson.  She has taught all over the country at Goucher College Summer Dance Intensive, Dayton Ballet, Boulder Ballet, Charm City Ballet and Rise Vineyard Performing Arts School.**from contemporarydanceacademy.com/faculty

Annalise Bodamer

Today we talk to Brian Carey Chung about the changing culture of ballet. We hear about some of his experiences, both as a dancer and choreographer, and discuss some of the deeper themes of dance and art.Brian Carey Chung has been a company member with LINES Ballet, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Ballet Hispanico of NY, and Armitage Gone! Dance, where he was a principal dancer, rehearsal director and assistant choreographer to Karole Armitage. He has taught on the faculties of LINES Ballet at SF Dance Center, Peridance Capezio Center, Broadway Dance Center, and Joffrey Ballet School. He was also an Assistant Professor of Ballet at Northern Illinois University and has guest lectured and taught master classes internationally at NYU TISCH, Stanford University, University of Hawaii, and University of Arizona. Brian is currently the resident choreographer at Dance Alive National Ballet in Gainesville, FL.

Brian Carey Chung

In this episode, we hear from ABT company member Alex Basmagy and talk about the path she took to get to ABT, the importance of character in ballet, and the role of the corps de ballet. After starting her training at the Academy of Dance Arts and later at Studio Maestro in New York, Alex joined JKO school in 2004. After graduating, Alex moved to Spain where she spent three years as an inaugural member of Corella Ballet Castilla y León in Segovia. In 2011, she returned to New York and joined ABT as a corps member. 

Alex Basmagy

In this episode, we hear from former Washington Ballet soloist Becca Voelpel. She talks to us about her experience in the filming of "First Position" and what followed during her professional career. Becca trained at the Kirov Academy, as well as Maryland Youth Ballet, and was featured in the award-winning 2011 documentary First Position. After high school, Becca became a company member at Washington Ballet before pursuing higher education at Towson University. She currently resides in Baltimore and is a guest teacher at local studios and schools.

Becca Voelpel

In our opening episode, we hear from American Ballet Theatre soloist Katie Williams. We talk about her background, training techniques, experiences as a professional, and more. After starting her early training with the Hawaii State Ballet, Katie moved with her family to Maryland where she began training at the Ballet Royale Academy. She joined the JKO School at ABT in 2005, and she was brought into the company as an apprentice in December 2007. She was promoted to the corps in June 2008 and to Soloist in September 2018. 

Katie Williams

Welcome to the Ballet and Beyond Podcast, where we interview current and former professionals, teachers, patrons, and more from the world of ballet and dance. You’ll get insight from top dancers and instructors in the industry, as well as local performers and educators, as they talk about their experiences in the business.

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Ballet and Beyond Podcast

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