Podcasts about Birmingham Royal Ballet

Send us a textIn this episode of Art and Processes, host Emeka Okereke sits down with renowned Cuban contemporary artist Alexandre Arrechea. Born in Trinidad de Cuba—a UNESCO World Heritage Site steeped in colonial history—Arrechea's work explores themes of power, surveillance, architecture, and public engagement. From his early days painting trucks for his uncle to co-founding the influential collective Los Carpinteros, and later forging a distinguished solo career, Arrechea's journey is a testament to the transformative power of art.The conversation spans his upbringing in Cuba, the robust educational system that shaped his worldview, and how his multidisciplinary practice—encompassing sculpture, installation, video, painting, and performance—continually challenges conventional notions of form and function. Arrechea also shares insights into collaborations with institutions such as the Birmingham Royal Ballet, and discusses monumental public works like No Limits on Park Avenue, New York, and the Hexagon Garden created for Balmain. He further reflects on earlier works such as White Corner (2006) and The Garden of Mistrust (2006), unpacking how they exemplify his approach to context-specific art-making.Employing the emotive lure of anecdotes, Arrechea takes us down memory lane, weaving an intertwining arc of a life of creative explorations that began as early as the age of 11 and continues to this day—a life that has come to mean, for him, a learning curve that never stops, driven by an ever-burning urge to expand language and correlate contexts across places and people. In one of his most striking interventions, he asked: “How can we turn straight lines into curved lines?” This question signals the subtle yet consistent quality of malleability that undergirds much of his artistic proposals. It is his way of bringing sensitivity, play, and humanness into the often heavy-handed world of sharp edges, fixed forms, and solid surfaces—hallmarks of structural integrity.Thus, listeners are invited into the nuanced thinking behind his practice—how it bridges personal and collective narratives, navigates sociopolitical tension, and partakes in the synthesis of the “I” and the “we,” the subjective and the collective—while positioning art as a tool for healing, dialogue, connection, and meaning-making. Key Topics Discussed:Early Influences: Growing up in Trinidad de Cuba, the impact of colonial architecture, and the familial environment that nurtured his artistic curiosity.Artistic Education: The rigorous Cuban art school system, mentorship under René Francisco, and the formative years of his collective, Los Carpinteros.Public Art & Architecture: The philosophies underpinning works like No Limits (Park Avenue) and Orange Functional (a basketball hoop tree), which invite public interaction and subvert structural hegemony.Collaborations: Designing sets for Black Sabbath: The Ballet and fusing rock culture with classical dance.Decolonizing Practice: How Arrechea's work reconciles contradiction, integrates the “I” and the “we,” and fosters cross-cultural dialogue.Art as Healing: The role of art in restorinSupport the showHi, amazing listeners! Emeka Okereke here. I am the founder and host of this show. If you've enjoyed the stories, insights, and creativity we bring to this podcast series, I invite you to join my Patreon community at patreon.com/EmekaOkereke.

On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance" we are joined by the legendary dancer, founder of Acosta Danza and director of Birmingham Royal Ballet Carlos Acosta. We hear from Carlos about the mission of unifying Cuban art forms under the umbrella of Acosta Danza, how he came to run the Birmingham Royal Ballet just months before COVID changed the world, why taking big risks, like commissioning a full evening length work to the music of Black Sabbath, has paid off, and what it means to him to watch both of these organizations flourish in upcoming engagements at the Kennedy Center. Acosta Danza will perform at the Kennedy Center May 1st through the 3rd, while Birmingham Royal Ballet will bring "Black Sabbath- The Ballet" to the venue June 4th through 8th. Tickets can be purchased at kennedy-center.org. LINKS:Website: conversationsondancepod.comInstagram: @conversationsondanceMerch: https://bit.ly/cod-merchYouTube: https://bit.ly/youtube-CODJoin our email list: https://bit.ly/COD-email Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

RNIB Connect Radio's Toby Davey is joined again by Vidar Hjardeng MBE, Inclusion and Diversity Consultant for ITV News across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands for the next of his regular audio described theatre reviews for 2025. This week Vidar was reviewing Birmingham Royal Ballet's production of Cinderella at the Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre with description by Professional Audio Describers Julia Grundy and Jonathan Nash. About ‘Cinderella' Step into the magical world of Cinderella, where Fairy Godmothers triumph over cruel stepmothers, pumpkins turn into sparkling carriages and a jewelled slipper changes one young woman's life forever. This timeless story of love, courage and kindness reminds us all to have faith in our wildest dreams; one day they might just come true. Praised by audiences and critics alike, former Company Director David Bintley's Cinderella is a sure-fire mix of wonderful dance, spectacular scenery, and a cast of characters that include mice, lizards and even a dancing frog – something to capture every imagination. This enchanting fairytale is a glorious celebration of ballet with the tour visiting Birmingham, Salford, Sunderland, Bristol, Plymouth and Tokyo. To find out more about Birmingham Royal Ballet's production of Cinderella including details of the tour venues do visit - https://www.brb.org.uk/shows/cinderella (Image shows the VocalEyes logo. A speech bubble with 'VOCALEYES' written in bold black letters next to it)

Dean's Chat is so excited to welcome back student doctor Miko Fogarty! As a current 4th year student at the Samuel Merritt University College of Podiatric Medicine, she shares unique insights into what her 4th year has been like traveling the country for her externship programs and what she is most excited for in the future.  In this interview, Drs. Jensen and Richey dive deeper into Miko's previous career as a professional ballerina. Born in London, Miko Fogarty is a former award-winning professional ballet dancer and a current podiatric medical student. At the age of 12, she was one of six ballet dancers featured in the critically acclaimed documentary "First Position: A Ballet Documentary", directed and produced by Bess Kargman. Aftertraining at the Indiana Ballet Conservatory in the U.S. and Jinushi Kaoru Ecole du Ballet in Japan, Mikojoined the Birmingham Royal Ballet as the youngest artist in 2015 and toured around the United Kingdom dancing in performances such as Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet, Midsummer's Night Dream, and the Nutcracker. Miko has received worldwide recognition for her performances. She was awarded the Gold Medal at theMoscow International Ballet Competition and was a Prize Winner at the Prix de Lausanne in Switzerland. Other accolades include the Silver Medal from Varna International Ballet Competition, a Bronze Medal from YAGP New York Finals, and two Gold Medals from the World Ballet Competition. Miko has been invited to perform in performances around the world including in countries such as Peru, Bulgaria, Russia, Switzerland, Mexico, Japan, Canada, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, China, Australia, Indonesia, Scotland, Northern Ireland, England, and all across the United States. Although Miko's dance career was flourishing, she could not ignore her goal of pursuing a college education and discovering more about the intricacies of medicine and healthcare. She started at Feather River College and Contra Costa College, where she earned her Chemistry and Biology Associate's Degrees before transferring to the University of California, Berkeley in 2018. Miko graduated with honors in Integrative Biology in 2020 while also researching brain cancer therapies at the University of California, San Francisco. Currently, Miko is a podiatric medical student studying to become a foot and ankle surgeon in California. Miko found her passion for teaching classical ballet in Thailand when she gave her first ballet class in 2016. Since then, Miko has continued to teach and has coached hundreds of students of all levels. She has taught masterclasses in New Zealand, Panama, Mexico, Australia, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Miko is also active on social media with over 230,000 followers on Instagram and 29 million views on Youtube and was listed as one of “The Most Influential People of 2011” in Dance Spirit Magazine. Miko was given the honor of sharing her inspiring journey on the National Public Radio in 2018 which led to a TEDxBerkeley talk in 2019 and Imagine Talks speech in 2020. She hopes to give her students and patients the inspiration they need to pursue their goals while also prioritizing their physical and mental health. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Q-KcrLGnco https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpZZZhJIemw https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikofogarty/

Kirsty Lang onFormer US President Jimmy Carter whose time in office between 1976 and 1980 was beset by economic and diplomatic crises. Caroline Miller OBE, the former Chief Executive of Birmingham Royal Ballet who commissioned bold and experimental productions to great acclaim. Former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh – considered to be the architect of the country's economic liberalisation. Children's author and illustrator Jean Adamson, whose Topsy and Tim books sold over 25 million copies around the world.Producer: Catherine Powell Archive: Outlook, BBC World Service, 1976; Jimmy Carter, BBC One, 1976; Jimmy Carter, Today, BBC Radio 4, 1976; Jimmy Carter sworn in as US President, BBC Radio Archive, 1977; Keeping Faith, BBC Radio 4, 1982; Chantry Dance Interviews Caroline Miller OBE, Chantry Dance, Uploaded to YouTube 12.06.2020; Analysis, BBC World Service, 2004; Walk The Talk with Dr Manmohan Singh, NDTV, Aired February 2004, Uploaded to YouTube 26.12.2024; BBC News, 1984; BBC News at Ten, 2008; BBC News at Six, 2008; PM Dr. Manmohan Singh's press conference, Sansad TV, Uploaded to YouTube 03.01.2014; Topsy and Tim's Christmas Eve, CBeebies, 2014

In the lead up to Christmas and with many productions of what is a real classic festive ballet treat The Nutcracker, what might it be like going to an audio described ballet performance from a blind or partially sighted persons point of view.  Well for a bit of a festive audio described theatre review RNIB Connect Radio's Toby Davey was not only joined by ITV News Inclusion and Diversity Consultant Vidar Hjarding MBE but also by our very own Allan Russell to go on a magical journey through a number of ballet productions of The Nutcracker. Following the whole AD experience from the pre-show introductory notes, to the touch tour prior to the performance and then to the live audio described performance itself. Allan reflected on going to see the recent Scottish Ballet production of The Nutcracker with Vidar looking back on many performances of Birmingham Royal Ballet's production of The Nutcracker which he has seen many times with audio description. To find out more about Scottish Ballet's access offer do visit - https://scottishballet.co.uk/discover/access/ And for more about Birmingham Royal Ballet do visit - https://www.brb.org.uk Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB' written in bold black capital letters and underline with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio' is written in black in a smaller font.

Welcome to “The Next Round,” where we explore the remarkable stories of those who found new beginnings once they stopped seeking answers at the bottom of the bottle. Today's episode is a reflection on recovery, redemption, and the power of turning the past into a foundation for the future.For some, the journey to the other side can feel like a wall between who they were and who they've become. But perhaps, just perhaps, the life they once lived holds the key to the one they're building now.In this episode, we meet Paul Bayes Kitcher, a man who never lost his love for dance. On the other side of recovery, he found himself uniquely placed to channel its transformative power—helping others navigate their own recoveries from addiction or mental health challenges through movement and artistry.Along with Claire Morris he co-founded Fallen Angels Dance Theatre (FADT) in 2011, fostering creativity and using dance to transform lives.In this podcast Josh Kelly, our brand manager who himself used to be a dancer interviews Paul. He shares his story, the life-changing work of his organisation,offering a future through dance. It's a story of resilience, creativity, and the beautiful steps forward when we reclaim what once felt lost. Find out more  you how you can join them or support their work by becoming a guardian angel.Fallen Angels Dance Theatre (FADT) has become a powerful symbol of transformation and hope, helping individuals in recovery from addiction and trauma reconnect with their bodies and rediscover joy. Founded by Paul Byers Kitchen, a former professional ballet dancer and someone in long-term recovery, FADT merges the therapeutic power of movement with the artistic discipline of dance. Over the past decade, it has grown into a flourishing community, offering a safe and creative space for people to heal and thrive.A Journey from Ballet to RecoveryPaul's story is one of both brilliance and struggle. Trained at world-renowned institutions such as the Royal Ballet School and Rambert, he had a successful career with companies like Scottish Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet. Yet behind the scenes, unresolved childhood trauma and the relentless pressures of the ballet world led him into addiction.“I never felt comfortable in my own skin – Alcohol and drugs became my solution—a way to escape myself.”Despite his talent and dedication, the demands of perfectionism combined with his personal struggles led him to resign from Birmingham Royal Ballet at 30. Without the structure of his career, his addiction spiraled into chaos.Through recovery, Paul found clarity and purpose. He realised the therapeutic potential of movement for people in recovery and began developing what would eventually become Fallen Angels Dance Theatre.The Birth of Fallen Angels Dance TheatreEstablished over 10 years ago, FADT was born from Paul's passion for recovery and his deep understanding of movement. Recognising that the word “dance” might intimidate some, particularly those unfamiliar with formal training, Paul instead emphasizes “movement.”“Everyone can move. We start with natural movement and somatic practices, creating a space where people feel safe to explore their bodies and emotions.”Read the full blog   Find Club Soda:The Club Soda Tasting Room is at 39 Drury Lane, London, WC2B 5RRFind us on Instagram

Kit Holder, Artistic Coordinator of Birmingham Royal Ballet 2, offers an inside look at life within the company, from what a typical day looks like to the performance opportunities they can expect to the career planning support provided. He also addresses how the company prepares dancers for the demands of a professional ballet career, both inside and outside of the studio. Drawing on his graduate education in psychology, Holder shares how empathy and understanding shape his leadership style and training philosophy, and how he hopes to create a nurturing environment for the next generation of artists, while still holding dancers to the highest of artistic standards that the company is known for. You can learn more about Birmingham Royal Ballet 2 on their website. Links: Ballet Help Desk Holiday Gift Guide Buy Corrections Journals Support Ballet Help Desk Instagram: @BalletHelpDesk Facebook: BalletHelpDesk Music from #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/ian-aisling/new-future License code: MGAW5PAHYEYDQZCI

RNIB Connect Radio's Toby Davey is joined again by Vidar Hjardeng MBE, Inclusion and Diversity Consultant for ITV News across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands for the next in his regular Connect Radio theatre reviews. This week Vidar is reviewing Birmingham Royal Ballet's revival of Frederick Ashton's ballet ‘La fille mal gardée' at the Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre with description by Professional Audio Describers Julia Grundy and Jonathan Nash. About ‘La fille mal gardée'  Lise has a choice to make. Loaded country bumpkin or penniless, hunky farmhand? Of course, there's no contest, but her mum has other ideas.  Heels are dug in and sparks fly, as a mother-daughter battle ensues. Mixing spectacular classical ballet with slick comedy, a clog-dancing dame, and a super-cute pony, as well as live music by the Royal Ballet Sinfonia, this is fantastic entertainment for you, your friends, and all your family whether it's their first ballet or a much-loved favourite. To find out more about Birmingham Royal Ballet do visit their website - https://www.brb.org.uk  And for more about access at Birmingham Hippodrome including details of audio described performances do visit the following pages of the theatre's website - https://www.birminghamhippodrome.com/plan-your-visit/access/ (Image shows RNIB logo. 'RNIB' written in black capital letters over a white background and underlined with a bold pink line, with the words 'See differently' underneath)

TRIGGER WARNING: this episode includes discussion of eating disorders. If you find this topic triggering, we encourage you to skip this episode and prioritize your mental health and well-being. If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, please seek support from a trusted healthcare professional.Dr. Stephanie Potreck is a former dancer turned doctor/sports nutritionist and founder of AusDancersOverseas. I invited Stephanie onto the podcast to get her professional take on a recent interview written for The Independent by Charlotte Cripps with the director of the Birmingham Royal Ballet, Carlos Acosta titled ‘It's hard to talk about weight in ballet' (linked below).It's no secret the ballet world is obsessed with weight, even with a growing body of medical evidence showing the lifelong harm of restrictive eating. In this episode Dr. Stephanie breaks down what happens to dancers physically, emotionally and mentally when they restrict food intake. She shares the markers she looks for as a medical professional to determine a dancer's health as well as her ideal scenario to foster happy, healthy dancers in ballet companies.Key Moments: Stephanie's initial thoughts upon reading the article [2:55] The ballet world's obsession with weight [5:28] The effect of restrictive eating on emotional maturity [9:22] Important elements to partnering beyond a female dancer's weight [10:34] What happens to the body when the diet is restricted [12:56] The first time I was told to lose weight as a dancer at 14 [16:19] What medical professionals screen for to determine a dancer's health [24:48] The lifelong implications of restrictive eating for dancers [29:16] Stephanie's ideal scenario for optimal dancer health in a ballet company [35:55]Connect with Dr. Stephanie:HER WEBSITE: https://ausdancersoverseas.com/INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/ausdancersoverseasLinks and Resources:Carlos Acosta Interview in The Independent: https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/features/carlos-acosta-carmen-sadlers-wells-cuba-birmingham-royal-ballet-b2547981.htmlRisk factors for lower back injury in male dancers performing ballet lifts: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19754984/1-1 Career Mentoring: book your complimentary career callLet's connect!My WEBSITE: thebrainyballerina.comINSTAGRAM: instagram.com/thebrainyballerinaQuestions/comments? Email me at caitlin@thebrainyballerina.com

Life changing moments with Why Dance Matters!We've made over 50 episodes of Why Dance Matters, and the conversations often hinge on life-changing moments. This special episode gathers some compelling chats about change. Some are personal choices which prove momentous: the unlikely decision to pursue ballet, or to host a ballet class in your front room. Others include being part of a major cultural event, like a movie the whole world is watching, or a period of historic change, happening before your eyes. From Carlos Acosta to Barbie, here are moments that changed our guests' lives: past, present, even future. And don't forget to explore our previous episodes, for more life-changing conversation with the people for whom dance matters.Carlos Acosta is artistic director of Birmingham Royal Ballet. Dame Monica Mason is a Vice-President of the Royal Academy of Dance and former director of the Royal Ballet. Victoria Treviño is an RAD dance teacher based in Mexico. Jennifer White is a stage and film choreographer. Wayne McGregor is a choreographer and director of Company Wayne McGregor.Find out more about the work of the RADRead a transcript of this episodeFollow 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 to keep in touch!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 or making a donation.Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

RNIB Connect Radio's Toby Davey is joined again by Vidar Hjardeng MBE, Inclusion and Diversity Consultant for ITV News across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands for the next in his regular Connect Radio theatre reviews. This week Vidar was reviewing the 40th anniversary revival of Sir Peter Wright's ' Birmingham Royal Ballet production of The Sleeping Beauty at the Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre on Saturday 26 February at 2pm with a touch tour prior to the performance with description by Professional Audio Describers Jonathan Nash and Kerry Elkins. About Birmingham Royal Ballet's The Sleeping Beauty: Cursed by a wicked fairy, a beautiful princess pricks her finger and falls into a deep sleep that can only be broken by true love's kiss. The Sleeping Beauty has been delighting audiences for well over a hundred years, sprinkling ballet magic on this favourite childhood story and its cast of familiar characters. And all wrapped up with sparkling virtuoso dance from BRB's brilliant dancers, fairy-tale characters, dazzling spectacle, and Tchaikovsky's glorious music played live by the acclaimed Royal Ballet Sinfonia. BRB's beautiful production was created by Sir Peter Wright, the genius behind the Company's famous The Nutcracker and Swan Lake. For more about Birmingham Royal Ballet, access to their performances including audio described performances please do visit the following link - https://www.brb.org.uk/access-performances# (Image shows RNIB logo. 'RNIB' written in black capital letters over a white background and underlined with a bold pink line, with the words 'See differently' underneath)

RNIB Connect Radio's Toby Davey is joined again by Vidar Hjardeng MBE, Inclusion and Diversity Consultant for ITV News across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands for a bit of a look back on his audio described theatre reviews of 2023 and some highlights for 2024 that Vidar may have already booked his tickets for! Vidar's highlights of 2023 included -  Matthew Bourne's Romeo and Juliet at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre,  Welsh National opera's production of Verdi's La Traviata at the Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre, the musical My Fair Lady again at the Birmingham Hippodrome,  Hamlet at the Royal Shakespeare company in Stratford-upon-Avon,  For 2024 Vidar is looking forward to seeing - Birmingham Royal Ballet's production of The Nutcracker over the festive period, Hamilton at the Birmingham Hippodrome next summer, more Matthew Bourne and Welsh National Opera productions plus many more to look forward to next year. You can listen to all of Vidar Hjardeng MBE audio described theatre reviews from 2023 by searching For RNIB Connect Radio from where ever you get your podcasts. Image: RNIB Connect Radio Bright Green 20th Anniversary Logo

RNIB Connect Radio's Toby Davey is joined again by Vidar Hjardeng MBE, Inclusion and Diversity Consultant for ITV News across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands for the next in his regular Connect Radio theatre reviews. This week we had a real festive treat with the return of Birmingham Royal Ballet's production of  The Nutcracker to the Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre on Saturday 25 November at 2.30pm with description provided by Professional Audio Describer Jonathan Nash. About The Nutcracker: At the stroke of midnight on Christmas Eve, Clara tiptoes downstairs and is swept away on an unforgettable magical journey… At her parents' lavish Christmas party, Clara is given a mysterious Nutcracker Doll. Once all the guests have left, she sneaks downstairs to find her present and comes face-to-face with the fearsome King Rat, ready to do battle with the Nutcracker and his band of toy soldiers. As soon as King Rat is vanquished, Clara is whisked away on a magical adventure with the Nutcracker, travelling through swirling snowflakes to an enchanting kingdom where she is transformed into the Sugar Plum Fairy. Tchaikovsky's glorious score, performed live by the 60-strong Royal Ballet Sinfonia, provides the captivating soundtrack to this festive classic. This sumptuous and timeless production boasts daring swordfights, falling snow, magic, and a 30-foot Christmas tree. Whether you're yearning for a hint of nostalgia or looking to start a whole new tradition for your family and friends, start your festive season with a little theatrical sparkle. For more about Birmingham Royal Ballet and details about access includuing audio described performances do visit their website - https://www.brb.org.uk/access-performances# Image: RNIB Connect Radio Bright Green 20th Anniversary Logo

Kevin O'Hare is the director of the Royal Ballet and he probably finds it hard to remember a time when dance wasn't part of his life. He started young, and joined the Royal Ballet School at the age of eleven. He went on to dance with Sadler's Wells and Birmingham Royal Ballet, taking on roles such as Prince Siegfried in Swan Lake, Albrecht in Giselle and Romeo in Kenneth MacMillan's Romeo and Juliet. He retired from the stage in 2000, at the age of 35, but before long he was back in the world of dance – this time behind the scenes. By 2009, he was Administrative Director of the Royal Ballet and oversaw their first tour to Cuba. Three years later he became overall director. He has since worked with a wide range of dancers, choreographers and composers, and helped steer the company through the Covid crisis. Kevin's choices include music by Tchaikovsky, Thomas Ades, Rachmaninov and Anna Clyne.

In Episode 96 we review a musical, and play and a ballet. We went to see Theatre Club FAVE, Jenna Russell, in the new production of Flowers For Mrs Harris at The River Side Studios; We have our second review of James Graham's play Dear England, about Gareth Southgate captaining the England squad, now that it has transfer into the West End after a sell out run at The National Theatre; and finally we went to see Birmingham Royal Ballet's new work, Black Sabbath: The Ballet at Sadlers Wells.-Opening/Closing Music: Little Lily Swing by Tri-Tachyonis: licensed under a CC Attribution License Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Get ready to unleash the beasts! Welcome back to another Osbournes podcast episode, where we invite all our lovable, cute, furry, and sometimes downright smelly friends into the room to discuss everything pets. The family begins by sharing exciting news about Sharon's recent trip to England to witness the Birmingham Royal Ballet's dance performance set to Black Sabbath music. But the surprises don't stop there – brace yourself for a jaw-dropping revelation, involving Sharon Osbourne and a disco album? Jack Osbourne goes on to divulge the juicy details of his epic wedding and conversation takes a turn as the Osbournes dive into heartwarming and hilarious stories about their beloved zoo of animals. From their cat, Tigerlilly's, peeing stove adventure to the allure of celebrities owning exotic animals, nothing is off limits for the Obsournes, after all wouldn't you clone your favorite fur baby if you had the chance? Thank you to our sponsor: Go to https://PrizePicks.com/osbournes and use promo code osbournes for a first deposit match up to $100  

Birmingham Royal Ballet is celebrating the city's pioneering heavy metal band in a new production, Black Sabbath – the Ballet. Tom Sutcliffe talks to the director of BRB Carlos Acosta about how the marriage of apparently conflicting cultures came about. He also hears from the composer and arranger Christopher Austin on adapting the music for contemporary choreography and the dramaturg Richard Thomas about creating a narrative structure for an abstract dance form. Today it was announced that Michael Gove has appointed commissioners to take over Birmingham Council. To find out how this might affect arts organisations in the city, Tom speaks to the Birmingham-based journalist and broadcaster Adrien Goldberg. In our occasional series on cultural bugbears we hear from the author and Guardian journalist Tim Dowling. As London Fashion Week draws to a close, we put the business of the British fashion industry under the spotlight with the Yorkshire-based designer and Professor of Fashion Matty Bovan, the New York Times fashion journalist Elizabeth Paton and the designer, academic and curator Andrew Ibi, whose exhibition The Missing Thread: Untold Stories of Black British Fashion is about to open at Somerset House. Presenter: Tom Sutcliffe Producer: Emma Wallace Black Sabbath Ballet 1:18 Birmingham Funding 17:20 Immersive Theatre 22:18 Fashion 28:12

Gavin Sutherland is a conductor, composer and orchestrator who specials in dance—he's conducted for Northern Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Royal New Zealand Ballet,  Norwegian and Finnish National Ballet as well as English National Ballet where he is principal guest conductor. He and Emma discuss his career as a conductor that starting aged 18, his favourite joke to tell an orchestra and why certain music has the power to pull on our heartstrings.Holst's Jupiter conducted by Susanna Mälkki www.gavinsutherland.co.ukThe three questions...What piece of art changed everything?The Towpath a paint by Christopher Nevinson, has a personal reason as well as artistic for being your pick.What piece of art do you nor like, but respect? Not a (Mark) Rothko fan, but I understand its scale and complexity in so few elements of its construction. Give us a recommendation...The symphonies of Sir Arnold Bax 

The Godmother of English - and Irish - ballet, Dame Ninette De Valois or ‘Madam' as she was known to those around her. She is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of ballet. She established the Royal Ballet School, the Royal Ballet and the UK's premiere touring ballet company, which went on to become the Birmingham Royal Ballet. Under the guidance of ‘Madam', these institutions grew and became celebrated around the world, with post WWII Ballet tours generating much needed funds for the British Treasury and company members, including Margot Fonteyn and Robert (Bobby) Helpmann, becoming international celebrities. Madam was also instrumental in the development of National Ballets in Turkey, Iran and Canada. She achieved all of this despite a childhood diagnosis of polio and was dedicated to ballet right up until her 102nd year. She is nominated by choreographer Sir David Bintley. He met Madam while studying at the Royal Ballet School in the mid 70's. To David, who was originally from Huddersfield, ‘Madam' was his ‘Southern Grandmother'. David is joined by Anna Meadmore – dance historian and curator of the Royal Ballet Schools Special Collections Archive. Together they reflect also on Madam's formidable character, her unprecedented contribution to English Ballet and her legacy as an adventurous traditionalist. Presented by Matthew Parris Produced in Bristol by Nicola Humphries

RNIB Connect Radio's Toby Davey is joined again by Vidar Hjardeng MBE, Inclusion and Diversity Consultant for ITV News across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands for the next in his regular Connect Radio theatre reviews. This week we have a triple bill of ballet performances by Birmingham Royal Ballet spanning 100 years with Still Life, Interlinked, and Apollo at the Birmingham Hippodrome on Saturday 10 June at 2.30pm with description by Professional Audio Describers Julia Grundy and Jonathan Nash.  Three contrasting ballets created across the last 100 years, from George Balanchine's exquisite Apollo, to Juliano Nunes's Interlinked, and David Bintley's engaging but poignant look at human impact on the world, 'Still Life' at the Penguin Café. A colourful host of endangered animals seek shelter from the storm in David Bintley's ‘Still Life' at the Penguin Café. Featuring a morris-dancing flea, a ballroom-dancing ram, a hoe-downing rat, a majestic zebra and many more, this is an ‘unforgettable' (Sunday Times), witty and enjoyable, yet bittersweet and poignant look at human impact on the world. All danced to Simon Jeffes's delightful score, originally composed for the Penguin Café Orchestra. 'Pure genius' (The Sunday Express on ‘Still Life') The ‘quiet perfection' (The Guardian) of Apollo highlighted the genius of its creator, the then 24-year-old George Balanchine, and launched his lifelong partnership with the composer Igor Stravinsky. This most exquisite of ballets was regarded by Balanchine as his artistic coming of age. Its pared back elegance gives the perfect platform for the Company's world-class dancers to shine. 'Sublime' (The Sunday Times on Apollo) Brilliant young Brazilian choreographer Juliano Nunes's Interlinked was premiered in summer 2022 as part of the Birmingham 2022 Festival. Described as ‘stretching ballet's mould' by The Guardian, with a specially composed score by Australian composer Luke Howard, this beautifully abstract piece explores ideas of grace, beauty and harmony in ways that push the usual boundaries of classical dance. For more about Birmingham Royal Ballet and audio described performances of their productions do visit their website - https://www.brb.org.uk/access-performances (Image shows RNIB logo. 'RNIB' written in black capital letters over a white background and underlined with a bold pink line, with the words 'See differently' underneath)

The pioneers of heavy metal music, Black Sabbath, and the Birmingham Royal Ballet in the UK may not seem like artistic soul mates. But that was before 'Black Sabbath - The Ballet' - the creation of Director Carlos Acosta, the renowned Cuban dancer. Its premier will be in September. Mr Acosta and Black Sabbath guitarist and founding father Tony Iommi talk about the project and its chances of success.

RNIB Connect Radio's Toby Davey is joined again by Vidar Hjardeng MBE, Inclusion and Diversity Consultant for ITV News across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the channel Islands for the next in his regular Connect Radio audio described theatre reviews. For this week's audio described theatre review Vidar was off to a magical land with the return of Sir Peter Wright's classic production of the timeless ballet, The Nutcracker by Birmingham Royal Ballet at the Birmingham Hippodrome theatre on Saturday 26 November at 2.30pm and touch tour at 12.15 with description by professional Audio Describer  At midnight on Christmas Eve, Clara creeps downstairs and is instantly swept away into an enchanting winter wonderland of dancing snowflakes, magical Christmas trees and a Sugar Plum Fairy. 60 dancers and the Royal Ballet Sinfonia returned to the Birmingham Hippodrome stage for this festive family treat. To find out more about Birmingham Royal Ballet and audio description of their productions do visit - https://www.brb.org.uk/access-performances (Image shows RNIB logo. 'RNIB' written in black capital letters over a white background and underlined with a bold pink line, with the words 'See differently' underneath)

Today I have the high honour of speaking with Miko Fogarty who has achieved so much in her life! Born in London, Miko has received worldwide recognition for her dancing. She was awarded the Gold Medal at the Moscow International Ballet Competition (considered the Olympics of Ballet) in 2013 and was one of the six dancers featured in the documentary First Position. Miko has taught masterclasses and danced in galas across the world. In 2015, she joined the Birmingham Royal Ballet. In 2016, she started teaching and in 2018, after an injury, she reevaluated her career and started studying pre-med at UC Berkeley where she is now becoming a foot and ankle surgeon and will no doubt help many future ballerinas! In her spare time she does coaching, masterclasses as well as a lot of public speaking. let's meet Miko! I hope you enjoy the interview! Please like, follow and subscribe! Send in your questions to isabellapodcast@gmail.com Follow me on social media - @BALLETWITHISABELLA Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Youtube --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/a-dancers-mindset/message

RNIB Connect Radio's Toby Davey is joined again by Vidar Hjardeng MBE, Inclusion and Diversity Consultant for ITV News across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands for the next in his regular Connect Radio audio described theatre reviews. This week Vidar was reviewing Birmingham Royal Ballet's production of Coppélia at the Birmingham Hippodrome on Saturday 29 October, 2.30pm with description by professional Audio Describers Julia Grundy and Jonathan Nash. Love conquers all in Sir Peter Wright's production of this joyous classic from the golden age of ballet, brought back to the stage by Birmingham Royal Ballet for the first time in five years, with Léo Delibes' glorious score performed live by the 60-piece Royal Ballet Sinfonia. Swanilda and Franz are getting ready to marry during their hometown's upcoming festival, just a few days away. When Franz finds his eye wandering towards the mysterious girl on Dr Coppélius's balcony, Swanilda takes matters into her own hands — but can she steer her fiancé away from the Doctor's mystery guest and back towards the path of true love? For more about Birmingham Royal Ballet and details of their productions with audio description do visit - https://www.brb.org.uk/access-performances. (Image shows RNIB logo. 'RNIB' written in black capital letters over a white background and underlined with a bold pink line, with the words 'See differently' underneath)

Look who's back……it's friend (and In Verity's case, husband) of the podcast Robert Simmons.It was brought to our attention that last time we had Rob on the pod he maybe didn't get the opportunity to chat about the things he wanted to discuss. With this in mind we've had him back on….and done exactly the same thing again!This conversation covers his job with Royal Ballet Sinfonia, fitness regimes, the Royal Family, feeling your age (or not), side by side schemes, what you find when you google Robert Simmons and much more - occasionally music related.If you like a good old waffly chat tune in, sit back and enjoy!Check out Birmingham Royal Ballet's current tour here: https://www.brb.org.uk/Take a look at what Estilo String Quartet are up to and have a listen to their latest album at https://www.estilostringquartet.com/You can follow Three In a Bar on Instagram @threeinabarpodhttps://www.instagram.com/threeinabarpod/We are on Twitter @threeinabarpod https://www.twitter.com/threeinabarpodAnything you'd like to share with us? Any guests you'd love to hear or anything you'd like us to do better? Drop us a line at hello@threeinabar.comSUPPORT THREE IN A BAR ON PATREONJoin our Members' Club for a bonus podcast feed plus many more rewards.Click here: https://www.patreon.com/threeinabar Click here to join the Members' Club on Patreon! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today I'm speaking with the divine Jenna Roberts. Jenna grew up in Newcastle and started dancing only because a local ballet studio set up shop on the same street as her family home.  But as fortune would have it, that local studio happened to be the Marie Walton Mahon Dance Academy, as it was known back then. And so Jenna, and little sister Callie, started dancing. For any outsider, it was clear the Robert's sisters were born to dance—with high arches and long, lean legs, genetics almost pre-determined their careers. By the time Jenna was a teen, she was winning scholarships and accolades before, at 16, she was accepted into the Royal Ballet School in London.In this courageous and extraordinary conversation, Jenna reveals it's not always as it seems—we talk about tough years at Royal Ballet School, about crippling home sickness, and then rising to become a principal artist with the Royal Birmingham Ballet. But more than that, Jenna also speaks about the pressures that continue to exist on body image in the dance world—and with that her own experience taking laxatives, the passing of her mum, and her decision to retire at the peak of her career on her own terms. Finally Jenna speaks about her years of infertility and IVF, before making a wonderful and unexpected life decision with her husband, Joe.Jenna and her husband Joe Caley have just relocated from London, and are now based in Melbourne—where Joe has joined the Australian Ballet as their newest principal artist. Jenna continues to coach and teach the rising starts of dance, all while running her own Pilates studio tailored for dancers and athletes. To continue follow all of Jenna's adventures, you can find her on Instagram at @Jenna_Caley_PilatesJenna and I recorded remotely, with Jenna dialling in from Melbourne on the land of the Kulin people. Jenna's episode was produced in Sydney on the land of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation, to whom we pay our greatest respects.We're delighted that Jenna Robert's episode of Talking Pointes is sponsored by Energetiks. Energetiks are a sustainable, Australian Made brand that specialise in creating world class dancewear for the stars of tomorrow. Perform and feel your best at every stage of your dance journey in Energetiks' premium, high performance fabrics. See their entire range online at energetiks.com.au, and for all Talking Pointes listeners there's a 20% discount on all Energetiks products—listen in for the code!Hosted by @byclaudialawsonProduced by @fjordreviewAdditional Production @clinttopicSound & Editing @outputmediaStudios @brightsidesydney@sawtoothstudios

Alexander Berlage is an award-winning director and lighting designer. He is co-artistic director of the Old Fitz Theatre. He is a graduate of the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Production, returning three years later to complete his Masters in Direction. Delivering a focused and creative flair since childhood, it would seem that his career was always assured. As a lighting designer, Alexander has worked for Sydney Theatre Company, Opera Queensland, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Sydney Chamber Opera, Sydney Dance Company, Griffin Theatre Company, and Redline Productions … just to name a few! Alexander's directing work includes American Psycho, Cry-Baby, Young Frankenstein; Gloria, There Will Be A Climax and Mr Burns. His productions command easy engagement and seduce with a vibrant and quirky aesthetic - guaranteeing audiences, delight and reward. In October Berlage stages Let the Right One in for the Darlinghurst Theatre Company - A supernatural thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat A visceral stage adaptation of the best-selling Swedish novel and film, Let The Right One In is a modern-day horror story with a twist … superbly crafted for the stage by Jack Thorne, the award-winning writer of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, this blood-thirsty thriller will set your heart racing with its shocking conclusion. To mark this new production directed by Alexander Berlage, we return to a conversation recorded in April 2019. A lot has happened since then but revisiting this chat gives us an insight into a theatre-maker at the dawn of his incredible output thus far. Let's revisit my conversation with - Alexander Berlage. The Stages podcast is available from Apple podcasts, Spotify, and where you find your favourite podcasts. www.stagespodcast.com.au

In this episode of EightyPercentMental, Dr Pete Olusoga gets to grips with ‘The Psychology of... Dance' with Kit Holder, First Soloist with Birmingham Royal Ballet and Dr Sanna Nordin-Bates, Associate professor in sport psychology, at the Swedish School of Sport & Health Sciences in Stockholm. What are the mental challenges involved in such a creative art form? Find out in this inspiring episode of EightyPercentMental.  Kit Holder has been a professional ballet dancer for over 20 years, touring throughout the UK and internationally. He has also choreographed professionally and holds a Master's Degree in Choreography. In additional to his work in dance he is now in the final year of an undergraduate degree in Psychology.    Dr Sanna Nordin-Bates is a Chartered psychologist with the British Psychological Society, teaches performance psychology to athletes and coaches, dancers and teachers, and is a world-leading authority on the psychology of dance  Kit Holder on Twitter: @KitHolder  Dr Sanna Nordin-Bates on Twitter: @DancePsychSanna  Check out Sanna's new book: https://us.humankinetics.com/collections/vendors?q=Sanna%20Nordin-Bates 

Katie's back with a new series of Just The Tonic, the podcast that shines a light on the positive power of the arts. In series one, we looked at how music can help mental and physical well-being and in this series, we'll explore the benefits of getting involved in other arts forms too. For this episode, Katie's stepping back into the fabulous world of dance - she was in the Strictly final with Anton du Beke! Last year, Eastenders actress Rose Ayling-Ellis was the first deaf contestant to take part and, with her professional dance partner Giovanni Pernice, she waltzed her way from Walford to the Strictly crown. Rose did so much to break down the stereotype that deaf people can't dance and can't enjoy music and that's exactly what dancers Billy Read and Sarah from Critical Mass want to do.  We hear from Billy about his Forbidden Identity performance at Birmingham's International Dance Festival which explores growing up as a Deaf child in a hearing world. Sarah talks about the huge benefits she gets from dancing with Critical Mass, an inclusive dance participation project bringing together young people from across the West Midlands with and without disabilities. And Katie chats to Cuban dance legend Carlos Acosta about his extraordinary life and his plans for the future as Director of Birmingham Royal Ballet. Plus we get a sneak peak of their fantastic show at the Birmingham International Dance Festival! We'll be following The People's Orchestra as they prepare for their performances at the Birmingham 2022 festival in the run-up to the Commonwealth Game and Chief Executive Sarah Marshall tells Katie what they have in store.https://thepeoplesorchestra.com/ Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From the Radio City Rockettes to the Birmingham Royal Ballet, Regan Hutsell's story is one of perseverance and learning to trust Jesus every step of the way. Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. ~Romans 5:1-5follow Regan on social media: @reganhutsell

Have we a got a fantastic episode for you this week?! A brilliant ‘In Conversation' with James Barton, originally recorded in October 2020. James has had, (and is still having) the most wonderful career having started as a Junior Associate of the Royal Ballet School, trained at Elmhurst school, and graduated into Birmingham Royal Ballet, performing on the west end stage, and then becoming ballet master at Scottish Ballet, he has done it all. James has worked some of the best people in the business from Gillian Lynne to Christopher Wheeldon, and the stories he can tell will leave you warm hearted.  He has an effervescent personality and that really comes through in this episode with the many hilarious tales he has to tell, and the many one liners that roll off his tongue. This episode is proudly produced and published by PodcastRecording.co.uk

Have we a got a fantastic episode for you this week?!  A brilliant ‘In Conversation' with James Barton, originally recorded in October 2020. James has had, (and is still having) the most wonderful career having started as a Junior Associate of the Royal Ballet School, trained at Elmhurst school, and graduated into Birmingham Royal Ballet, performing on the west end stage, and then becoming ballet master at Scottish Ballet, he has done it all.James has worked some of the best people in the business from Gillian Lynne to Christopher Wheeldon, and the stories he can tell will leave you warm hearted.  He has an effervescent personality and that really comes through in this episode with the many hilarious tales he has to tell, and the many one liners that roll off his tongue.

In today's episode, Conductor Alice Farnham will share her journey to the podium with us.Farnham started her career as a church musician playing organ and trumpet. She was an Organ Scholar at St. Hugh's College, Oxford University and trained for three years with the legendary pedagogue Ilya Musin in St. Petersburg. Alice is Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Women Conductors with the Royal Philharmonic Society.  She is listed in the Classic FM Today's Ten Best Women Conductors and in the BBC Woman's Hour Music Power List. Recent conducting engagements include the BBC Concert Orchestra, Royal Opera House, Mariinsky Theatre, Calgary Opera, Singapore Lyric Opera, and English Touring Opera.  Upcoming engagements include productions with Welsh National Opera, Belfast Ensemble, Opéra de Rouen, to name a few. She has been a Guest Conductor with the Royal Ballet Covent Garden, Birmingham Royal Ballet, English National Ballet and Danish Royal Ballet.

Carlos Acosta was the most acclaimed ballet dancer of his generation, taking starring roles around the world. His journey from the streets of Havana - where he grew up poor, the youngest of 11 children - to becoming principal male dancer of the Royal Ballet in London is the stuff of legend. Now he passes on his experience to the dancers of the Birmingham Royal Ballet, where he is artistic director. Susan Marling joins Carlos as he rehearses a new and challenging production of Don Quixote with the company. How has he made the transition from dancer to director, and how has he kept the life and energy of the company through the long dark months of the pandemic?

RNIB Connect Radio's Toby Davey is joined again by Vidar Hjarding MBE, Inclusion and Diversity Consultant for ITV News across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the channel Islands for the next in his regular Connect Radio audio described theatre reviews. This week Vidar was reviewing the audio described performance of Birmingham Royal Ballet's production of Don Quixote at the Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre on Saturday 26 February 2022. Audio description was provided by professional Describer Julia Grundy. Birmingham Royal Ballet's Director Carlos Acosta brings an explosion of Spanish sunshine, spectacular dance, and vivacious comedy to the stage in this new production created especially for Birmingham Royal Ballet. Don Quixote introduces us to Cervantes' famous knight himself, lovers Kitri and Basilio, and a host of supporting characters. As the Don sets out on a quest to track down his true love, with his loyal friend and servant Sancho Panza at his side, he finds himself embroiled in an unlikely adventure of love and dreams. Vidar began by stating that this was a production and story that he had not come across before but one that was definitely brought to life for him through the audio description by Julia Grundy. The movement and staging of Birmingham Royal Ballet's production of Don Quixote certainly took Vidar from Birmingham to the warmth of the Spanish summer sunshine through the very colourful design of the costumes and set  The Pre-show introductory notes from Julia gave Vidar a good insight into the feel of the production which again was enhanced through Julia's live audio description. Vidar shared how audio description makes it possible to be able to share the theatre experience with sighted friends and family. On this occasion Vidar was accompanied by a sighted friend who is very much a fan and follower of Birmingham Royal Ballet.   Vidar closed by encouraging other visually impaired people to catch Birmingham Royal Ballet's production of Don Quixote if they get the opportunity to do so or just experience other dance and ballet audio described performances. For more details about Birmingham Royal Ballet and any of their up-coming described performances do visit their website - https://www.brb.org.uk (Image shows RNIB logo. 'RNIB' written in black capital letters over a white background and underlined with a bold pink line, with the words 'See differently' underneath)

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 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

RNIB Connect Radio's Toby Davey is joined again by Vidar Hjarding MBE, Inclusion and Diversity Consultant for ITV News across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands for the next in his regular Connect Radio audio described theatre reviews. This week Vidar reviews the audio described performance of ‘Matthew Bourne's Nutcracker!' at the Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre with audio description by Caroline Burn. Matthew Bourne's re-imagining of Tchaikovsky's classic ballet returned to the stage for the first time in ten years following it's very first performance in Edinburgh back in 1992. With family-sized helpings of Bourne's trademark wit, pathos and magical fantasy, Nutcracker! follows Clara's bittersweet journey from a darkly comic Christmas Eve at Dr. Dross' Orphanage, through a shimmering, ice-skating winter wonderland to the scrumptious candy kingdom of Sweetieland, influenced by the lavish Hollywood musicals of the 1930s. Tchaikovsky's glorious score and Anthony Ward's newly-refreshed delectable sets and costumes combine with Bourne's dazzling choreography to create a fresh and charmingly irreverent interpretation of the classic.   Vidar began by telling Toby it was a very magical experience for him but very different to the traditional productions of The Nutcracker that he has seen with AD before by Birmingham Royal Ballet. Vidar appreciates the time and trouble that Caroline Burn the Audio Describers put into bringing dance and ballet to life for him and other visually impaired people and providing description that works for both him as someone who has not studied dance or ballet at all and those visually impaired people who may have been or who are dancers. The enthusiasm and passion certainly came through from Caroline's description and Vidar said that dance and ballet would be a ‘no, no' without the audio description.  Vidar ended his review by agreeing with Toby that Matthew Bourne's Nutcracker! Is a great dance production for all the family. Matthew Bourne's Nutcracker continues on tour until the end of April and for full details of the tour including dates of audio described performances do visit the New Adventures website - https://new-adventures.net/nutcracker#overview (Image shows RNIB logo. 'RNIB' written in black capital letters over a white background and underlined with a bold pink line, with the words 'See differently' underneath)

Hi everyone, and welcome back to another episode of The Hard Corps Podcast! Season 3, Episode 19, and we are joined by Regan Hutsell (@reganhutsell) corps de ballet dancer with Birmingham Royal Ballet! In this episode we chat about Regan's journey, her challengers, working as a Rockette, dealing with rejections, a torn ACL and so much more.

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 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out 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 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Hi everyone in this episode I'm joined by Hannah Martin, currently an apprentice with Birmingham Royal Ballet. In this episode I talk to Hannah about her journey training as a dancer and rhythmic gymnast, her journey to the World Championships in Brisbane, and then her decision to focus on ballet and how she ended up where is is now! I had such a lovely chat with Hannah so I hope you enjoy the episode! You can find Hannah on Instagram @hannahmartinrg Hope you enjoy the episode! Be sure to follow us on Instagram @the_hardcorps_podcast for all updates on the pod!

We speak to Artistic Director of The Royal Ballet, Kevin O'Hare about guiding one of the largest opera houses in the world through a pandemic, his thoughts on the Netflix series 'The Crown', his film debut at the age of 7 and much more!Kevin O'Hare is Director of The Royal Ballet. Appointed in July 2012, he is responsible for driving the artistic direction of the Company. He is committed to the promotion of outstanding creativity and artistic excellence, developing talent and widening the Company's performing platform.O'Hare was born in Yorkshire and trained at The Royal Ballet School. He began his performing career with The Royal Ballet's sister company Sadler's Wells Royal Ballet, and stayed with that company as a Principal during its transformation into Birmingham Royal Ballet. During this time he performed extensively in the UK and internationally, including as a guest artist with many leading companies. His repertory included all the leading classical roles, such as Prince Siegfried (Swan Lake), Prince Florimund (The Sleeping Beauty), Albrecht (Giselle) and Romeo (Romeo and Juliet). O'Hare worked with many leading figures in the ballet world, including Ninette de Valois, Peter Wright, Frederick Ashton, MacMillan and David Bintley, as well as creating many roles. He also produced many galas and choreographic evenings.O'Hare retired from the stage in 2000, entering into a traineeship in company management with the Royal Shakespeare Company. This led to the post of Company Manager with BRB in 2001, and in 2004 he joined The Royal Ballet as Company Manager. He was made Administrative Director in 2009 before being appointed to his current role. Under his directorship the Company has been distinguished with numerous honours including the Olivier Awards, Benois de la Danse and Critics' Circle National Dance Awards. His collaborative approach to the industry is demonstrated in such initiatives as World Ballet Day and inviting guest UK ballet companies to share the stage for the 2017 MacMillan celebrations. He is on the board of The Royal Ballet School, Northern Ballet and the Royal Academy of Dance and is a Trustee of the Frederick Ashton Foundation. He was appointed a CBE in 2018.

Occasionally we will be dropping 'in conversation' interviews with some leading people in the world of ballet. We'll be talking to them about their lives, careers and as always - there'll be funny stories along the way. This episode is with podcast team member, David Yow, former principal of Birmingham Royal Ballet. This episode is proudly produced and published by PodcastRecording.co.uk

Some days you just have to suck it up , keep it zipped and deliver because that allows you to get to the position where you are trusted and rated  enabling you to do what you really want to do. About Marverine Cole  Marverine Cole is a multi-award-winning Journalist and Broadcaster. She has worked for ITV Central, BBC, Sky News and QVC the first black female presenter. She has produced original radio documentaries for BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC 1Xtra and BBC Radio 4.  She sits on the Board of Directors of Birmingham Royal Ballet and is a Senior Lecturer and Director of Undergraduate Journalism courses at Birmingham City University.  Marverine is also a  Voiceover Artist and a consummate Events, Conference and Awards Host. Marverine is one of Britain's leading beer commentators and is a Beer Sommelier (Britain's first-ever black British beer sommelier) and has collaborated with breweries on her own beers. Connect with Marverine Website LinkedIn Twitter Some topics we cover in this episode: Being paid your worth Taking calculated risks Vowing to never work in Journalism after a poor experience Getting to “Rated” status and how that sets you apart  Thoughts on tabloid journalism Black Girls Don't Cry documentary The trope of the “strong black woman” Black-owned breweries & taking the beer industry by storm Leadership Definition Connect with me Website: https://mindsetshift.co.uk/ Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/sopeagbelusi/ LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/sopeagbelusi/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Sope_Agbelusi Email: hello@mindsetshift.co.uk  --- Have a question, comment or a topic you want to be discussed? Send me a voice message: https://mindsetshift.co.uk/#ask-me-anything

Some days you just have to suck it up , keep it zipped and deliver because that allows you to get to the position where you are trusted and rated enabling you to do what you really want to do. About Marverine Cole Marverine Cole is a multi-award-winning Journalist and Broadcaster. She has worked for ITV Central, BBC, Sky News and QVC the first black female presenter. She has produced original radio documentaries for BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC 1Xtra and BBC Radio 4. She sits on the Board of Directors of Birmingham Royal Ballet and is a Senior Lecturer and Director of Undergraduate Journalism courses at Birmingham City University. Marverine is also a Voiceover Artist and a consummate Events, Conference and Awards Host. Marverine is one of Britain's leading beer commentators and is a Beer Sommelier (Britains first-ever black British beer sommelier) and has collaborated with breweries on her own beers. Connect with Marverine Website LinkedIn Twitter Some topics we cover in this episode: Being paid your worth Taking calculated risks Vowing to never work in Journalism after a poor experience Getting to Rated status and how that sets you apart Thoughts on tabloid journalism Black Girls Dont Cry documentary The trope of the strong black woman Black-owned breweries & taking the beer industry by storm Leadership Definition Connect with me Website: https://mindsetshift.co.uk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sopeagbelusi/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sopeagbelusi/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Sope_Agbelusi Email: hello@mindsetshift.co.uk --- Have a question, comment or a topic you want to be discussed? Send me a voice message: https://mindsetshift.co.uk/#ask-me-anything

Today you don't get just one podcast host. You don't even get two. Instead you have four podcast hosts all chatting about their love of ballet and MUSIC! Yes that's right, the team from The Ballet Piano Podcast have crossed over (from London to Australia!) to be guests on the Balanced Ballerinas podcast today. I came across their podcast towards the end of last year and completely fell in love with its content, vibe and wealth of information. It's truly an amazing educational resource for anyone interested in ballet, but especially as a ballet teacher I found myself nodding along, learning and bringing more musicality knowledge into my classes. I have The Ballet Piano Podcast to thank for reminding me that students find this kind of thing really interesting and develops a more wholesome ballet education. So to say that I was excited to talk to Akiko, Chris and Matt would be an understatement! Matthew Gregory has been a freelance pianist for the past twelve years and has worked for English National Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet, English National Ballet School, London Contemporary Dance School and The Royal Ballet School - just to name a few! Akiko and Chris Hobson have very similar credits and are both married and met through the profession (which is very adorable!). You can find Chris's ballet class albums 'Modern Ballet Studio Melodies' on Spotify - they're superb and I use them all the time! And Akiko also works full-time as a ballet piano accompanist and shares the most glamorous venture into this world during our conversation... ____________ Get your FREE Balanced Ballerinas 'Intention Setting' worksheet HERE and start kicking GOALS: https://www.balancedballerinas.com/product/balanced-ballerinas-intention-setting-worksheet/ You can find more resources at www.balancedballerinas.com Instagram @thebalancedballerina Podcast @balancedballerinas Facebook - Balanced Ballerinas (ensure you join the *SECRET* Facebook group too!)

As a dancer, Miko has received worldwide recognition with her debut in the movie, First Position, as well as winning the Gold Medal at the Moscow International Ballet Competition. Miko received a contract with the Birmingham Royal Ballet in England at the age of 17 years old as she danced and taught in over 20 countries. She is now a graduating student majoring in Integrative Biology at UC Berkeley and researching brain cancer therapies at UCSF. She is also the Conservatory Director of San Jose Dance International, a non-profit arts organization with a mission to give dancers the chance to give back to the community.

In this podcast Russell Maliphant, the critically acclaimed, award winning choreographer, dancer and artistic director of Russell Maliphant Dance Company, discusses his career and work that firmly places this artist as one of Britain's most important choreographers creating work today.  Next year, Russell Maliphant Dance Company is set to celebrate their 25th Anniversary. Listen to Russell share his journey from training with The Royal Ballet School, dancing with Sadler's Wells Royal Ballet (now Birmingham Royal Ballet), before deciding to forge an independent dance career, that led to him establishing Russell Maliphant Dance Company. Russell is a deeply considered artist, eternally curious and highly academic. Listen to Russell as he discusses his interest and research into anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, Rolf Method of Structural Integration, somatic practice and more. He also talks about his exploration of flow and energy and the relationship between movement, light and music in his award winning work. Russell Maliphant (c) Panayiotis Sinnos At the time of this podcast recording, dance was just returning to the stage in London and unfortunately due to the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic hitting the UK and Europe, performances have again been cancelled or delayed. Russell Maliphant choreographed a piece for English National Ballet's REUNION - which was to be their first live performance since the initial lockdown - unfortunately this is currently delayed. Russell Maliphant Dance Company is scheduled to perform in Europe in early 2021. The company has also made their Digital Archives available and they are also holding online classes, workshops and more. Stay up to date with Russell Maliphant Dance Company performance dates and discover more here. PRESS PLAY!  

In this podcast, Royal Ballet Artist Leticia Dias joins us from Rio where she has been staying with her family during lockdown. Listen to Leticia talk about growing up and studying ballet in Rio, winning a Prix de Lausanne scholarship that took her to the Royal Ballet Upper School at the age of 16. She describes her experience of adjusting to life in the city, the amazing performance opportunities she received while at the school and joining the Birmingham Royal Ballet before finding her home with The Royal Ballet. Leticia shares her life as an artist of the company, how she's dealing with life in lockdown, staying in shape and taking care of her health and wellbeing, plus dancing in lockdown dance film 'SONO CON TE', (which means I Am With You in English). Created by Ruth Mair Howard-Jones, and choreographed via Zoom to share the message of love and unity during these challenging times. PRESS PLAY! https://djwpodcasts.s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/1wwwod/leticia.mp3 Also available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and with other podcast providers!