Podcast appearances and mentions of Kenneth MacMillan

Welcome to The Wonderful World of Dance Podcast! We're excited to share our new podcast with Christopher Marney, award-winning dancer, teacher, choreographer and Artistic Director of London City Ballet. London City Ballet was first established in 1978 as the resident company of London's Sadler's Wells and was one of the world's leading dance companies. Before the company closed in 1996, Diana, Princess of Wales was the Royal Patron and often visited the company in Covent Garden. Under Chris' visionary leadership, the company has been reformed and is embarking on its first season in 30 years, with a tour spanning the UK and international stages. Listen to Chris as he shares memorable moments from his time dancing with renowned companies such as Balletboyz and Matthew Bourne's New Adventures. He also discusses his experience of working with acclaimed choreographers and the inspiration that ignited his passion for choreography. Discover his journey from dancer, choreographer to the artistic director leading London City Ballet's exciting new chapter. London City Ballet is presenting an exciting programme 'Resurgence' that includes the revival of Kenneth MacMillan's 1972 one-act ballet Ballade, unseen in Europe for over 50 years. Ashley Page's Larina Waltz marks the ballet's 30th anniversary, and Olivier award-winner Arielle Smith premieres a new work. Eve, a full company work by Christopher Marney (which premiered at Sadler's Wells in 2022) will close the evening. At tour venues in Portugal and China the pas de deux from Kenneth MacMillan's Concerto will also be performed. London City Ballet 18-venue UK and international tour starts on 7 July.  Find venues and tickets: londoncityballet.com PRESS PLAY   Concerto, Choreographer Kenneth MacMillan. Dancers: Ayca Anil & Mischa Goodman Larina Waltz, Choreographer Ashley Page. Dancers: Ayca Anil & Mischa Goodman Creation, Choreographer Arielle Smith. Dancer Harry Alexander Eve, Choreographer Christopher Marney. Dancers Kanika Skye Carr & Alvaro Madrigal

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.

Continuing this week's Shakespearean theme, Sally describes a recent trip to a screening of a new cinematic adaptation of Kenneth Macmillan's 1988 balletic interpretation of Hamlet, Sea of Troubles. Join her for a meditation on choreography, interpretation, and prayer. Dance Scholarship Oxford (DANSOX), who made the screening possible, run a wide variety of events relating to dance at St. Hilda's College, Oxford. More information is available here: https://dansox3.wordpress.com/about/ This episode was edited and produced by James Bowen. Special thanks to Andrew Smith, Violet Henderson, Kris Dyer, and Maeve Magnus.

This week: Thom Yorke and Stanley Donwood on their collaborative art, Wayne McGregor on his new choreographic work—a collaboration with the late Carmen Herrera—and Whistler's Mother returns to Philadelphia.Ahead of an exhibition of their work in London in September, we talk to Radiohead's Thom Yorke and Stanley Donwood—who has created the artwork with Yorke for every Radiohead album since 1994, as well the visuals accompanying Thom's solo records and side projects including the recent records by The Smile—about their collaboration. A new work for the UK's Royal Ballet by the choreographer Wayne McGregor premieres at the Royal Opera House in London on 9 June. Untitled, 2023 is a collaboration with the Cuban-American artist Carmen Herrera, developed before Herrera's death last year at the age of 106. We talk to McGregor about the piece and the intersection between visual art and choreography. And this episode's Work of the Week is one of the most famous pictures in the world: Arrangement in Grey and Black, better known as Whistler's Mother, by James Abbott McNeill Whistler. It's part of an exhibition called The Artist's Mother: Whistler and Philadelphia, curated by Jenny Thompson, and we speak to Jenny about the work and the show.Thom Yorke and Stanley Donwood: The Crow Flies will be at Tin Man Art, Cromwell Place, London in September – exact dates to be confirmed, visit tinmanart.com.Untitled, 2023, is at the Royal Opera House in London until 17 June, as part of the triple bill with Corybantic Games, a tribute to Leonard Bernstein by the Royal Ballet's artistic associate Christopher Wheeldon, and a revival of Anastasia Act III by Kenneth MacMillan.The Artist's Mother: Whistler and Philadelphia, Philadelphia Museum of Art, 10 June-29 October. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy Birthday Rita Moreno, Harald Kreutzberg, Kenneth MacMillan, Teri Garr, and Camille A. Brown! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dawn-davis-loring/support

Dorothée Gilbert et Hugo Marchand, danseurs étoiles à l'Opéra de Paris, sont les invités exceptionnels de "Paris Direct". Ils se produisent sur la scène du Palais Garnier, à Paris, dans la sensation de l'automne : le ballet "Mayerling" de Kenneth MacMillan, dans lequel il est question de désir, de violence, de désespoir, de petite et de grande Histoire.

Dame Monica Mason May you live in interesting times may be an ancient curse, but Monica Mason has voyaged through some very interesting times and places. She spent most of her career at The Royal Ballet, eventually as its artistic director – but was born in South Africa, moving to London in the 1950s to ignite her astonishing career. She later toured through segregated America, behind the Iron Curtain, and to Cuba and China. As a Vice-President at the RAD she was a key figure in realising its dream of a new home, so is perfectly placed to discuss what it means to a dancer to feel at home and far away. About Dame Monica Mason Dame Monica Mason is a Vice-President of the RAD. Born in Johannesburg, she came to England aged 14. She joined The Royal Ballet in 1958 and was promoted to Principal in 1968. She created the Chosen Maiden in Kenneth MacMillan's The Rite of Spring and many other roles in her wide repertoire. She later became Assistant Director, Acting Director and then Director of The Royal Ballet, from 2002–12, leaving the Royal Opera House after 54 years. She was made a Dame Commander for her services to dance and received the Queen Elizabeth II Award from the RAD in 2011. Find out more about the work of the RAD Follow the RAD on social media, and join the conversation with host David JaysInstagram @royalacademyofdanceFacebook @RoyalAcademyofDanceTwitter @RADheadquartersYouTube / royalacademydanceDavid Jays @mrdavidjays Sign up to our mailing listRAD 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 make a donation Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adelaide born Shane Placentino graduated from The Australian Ballet School in 1990 and was accepted into the The Australian Ballet in 1991.He also worked with Graeme Murphy and Janet Vernon appearing in Murphy's Nutcracker and Beyond Twelve. After ten years with The Australian Ballet, Shane departed in 2000.He joined The Sydney Dance Company in 2002. His repertoire with the company includes Ellipse, Air and other invisible forces, Salome, Free Radicals, the role of ‘Jack' in Tivoli, Underland, Random Play, Some Rooms, Grand, Hua Mulan, Berlin and Ever After Ever. Dance credits with The Australian Ballet encompass the full classical and contemporary repertoire including Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, The Merry Widow, Jiri Kylian's Sinfonietta, Nacho Duato's Jardi Tancat, Stanton Welch's Red Earth, John Cranko's Romeo and Juliet and Kenneth MacMillan's Manon. In 2008 Shane has assisted and performed in Meryl Tankard's Inuk2 and was appointed the stage manager for Rafael Bonachela's recent work with The Sydney Dance Company.A move in to the world of opera has seen him embrace the various guises of choreographer and director. For Opera Australia he has assisted on productions of The Merry Widow (2018), West Side Story, Madama Butterfly (2019) and Faust. As Revival Director his work has brought to vivid life the operas Faust (2020), The Merry Widow (2021), Aida, Madama Butterfly (2022) and Turandot. In May he directs global opera sensation Jonas Kaufmann in Olivier Py's celebrated production of Wagner's Lohengrin. The opera plays May 14th to 24th at the State Theatre, Arts Centre, Melbourne. It is a stunning production, bound to thrill and delight.Shane Palcentino joined STAGES to describe the task ahead of him in reviving the opera for its Australian season and an indication of what's in store for the fortunate Melbourne audience. He also reflects on a journey through Dance that has lead him to his cherished role as a director/choreographer with Opera Australia.The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Whooshkaa, Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Recipient of Best New Podcast at 2019 Australian Podcast Awards. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).www.stagespodcast.com.au

Happy Birthday to David Winters, Therese Elssler, Jennifer Penney, and Kenneth MacMillan! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dawn-davis-loring/support

Julie Kent became the Artistic Director of The Washington Ballet in July 2016. She is the longest-serving ballerina in American Ballet Theatre's 79-year history. She began her dance training with Hortensia Fonseca at the Academy of the Maryland Youth Ballet in Bethesda, MD and attended summer sessions at American Ballet Theatre II and the School of American Ballet before joining American Ballet Theatre as an apprentice in 1985. In that same year, Kent won first place in the regional finals of the National Society of Arts and Letters at the Kennedy Center. In 1986, she was the only American to win a medal at the Prix de Lausanne International Ballet Competition, and she became a member of ABT's corps de ballet.Kent starred in the Herbert Ross film “Dancers” in 1987 opposite Mikhail Baryshnikov. She was appointed a Soloist with ABT in 1990 and a Principal Dancer in 1993, the year in which she became the first American to win the Erik Bruhn Prize in Toronto and was named one of People Magazine's “50 Most Beautiful People.” In April 2000, Kent achieved another triumph, becoming the first American to win the “Prix Benois de la Danse.” Later that year, Kent starred in the motion picture “Center Stage” directed by Nicholas Hytner. In 2012, she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Performing Arts from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts as well as a “Lifetime Achievement Award” from Dance Magazine. Since 2014, she has been the Brand Ambassador for HANIA New York, a luxury line of hand-knit cashmere in NYC.During Kent's long performing career, she has acquired a vast repertoire dancing over 100 ballets, including all of the major classical, dramatic and neo-classical roles in works by Marius Petipa, George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, Frederick Ashton, Kenneth MacMillan, John Cranko, Anthony Tudor, Michel Fokine, Agnes DeMille, Merce Cunningham, Jose Limon, Jiri Kylian, Ronald Hynd, Ben Stevenson and Christopher Wheeldon. As well, she has had roles created on her by John Neumeier, Lar Lubovitch, Mark Morris, Twyla Tharp, Alexei Ratmansky, Nacho Duato, Stanton Welch, James Kudelka, Jorma Elo, David Parsons, Jessica Lang, and Natalie Weir. Her appearances as a guest include invitations from the Mariinsky Theatre, Teatro alla Scala, New York City Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet, Berlin Staatsballett, Australian Ballet, Bayerisches Staatsballett, Teatro Colon, Ballet de Santiago, and others. In August of 2015, after a 30-year performing career, Kent was named Artistic Director of ABT's Summer Intensive, a comprehensive summer dance program for 1,400 students at five campuses across the US.Since Kent arrived at The Washington Ballet, she has brought important classical and contemporary masterworks into the repertoire, including her and Victor Barbee's own critically acclaimed staging of The Sleeping Beauty, described by New York Times former chief dance critic Alastair Macaulay as “one of the world's finer Sleeping Beauties.” Kent's steadfast commitment to the development of artists, rising choreographers, and the creation of arts education initiatives that benefit the community of our Nation's Capital, showcase her dedication to creativity, expression, and to propelling ballet forward into the 21st century.Kent is married to The Washington Ballet's Associate Artistic Director Victor Barbee, and, as a mother of two children, she has helped redefine the image of the American Ballerina.

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.

Shane goes Back Stage with Regina Botros to talk about Aida the Opera and his life on the stage. OPERA AUSTRALIA- AIDA ASSISTANT DIRECTOR AND CHOREOGRAPHER Adelaide born Shane Placentino graduated from The Australian Ballet School in 1990 and was accepted into the Australian Ballet in 1991. As a member of the Ballet, Shane danced in the entire classical and contemporary repertoire. He also worked with Graeme Murphy and Janet Vernon appearing in Murphy's Nutcracker and Beyond Twelve. After ten years with The Australian Ballet, Shane left in 2000. He joined Sydney Dance Company in 2002. Sydney Dance Company repertoire: Ellipse, Air and other invisible forces, Salome, Free Radicals, the role of ‘Jack' in Tivoli, Underland, Random Play, Some Rooms, Grand, Hua Mulan, Berlin and Ever After Ever. Other credits: The Australian Ballet: full classical and contemporary repertoire including Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, The Merry Widow, Jiri Kylian's Sinfonietta, Nacho Duato's Jardi Tancat, Stanton Welch's Red Earth, John Cranko's Romeo and Juliet and Kenneth MacMillan's Manon. In 2008 Shane has assisted and performed in Meryl Tankard's Inuk2 and was appointed the stage manager for Rafael Bonachela's recent work with Sydney Dance Company.  

Episodio en Inglés, si deseas verlo con subtítulos, te invito a ir a nuestro canal de YouTube. Julie Kent ha estado al frente del Washington Ballet desde julio de 2016 y fue la primera bailarina con mayor carrera en los 80 años de historia del American Ballet Theatre. Comenzó su formación en danza con Hortensia Fonseca en la Academy of the Maryland Youth Ballet en Bethesda, MD y asistió a sesiones de verano en American Ballet Theatre II y en la School of American Ballet antes de unirse a American Ballet Theatre como aprendiz en 1985. Ese mismo año , Kent ganó el primer lugar en las finales regionales de la Sociedad Nacional de Artes y Letras en el Kennedy Center. En 1986, fue la única estadounidense en ganar una medalla en el Concurso Internacional de Ballet Prix de Lausanne y se convirtió en miembro del cuerpo de ballet de ABT. Kent protagonizó la película de Herbert Ross "Dancers" en 1987 junto a Mikhail Baryshnikov. Fue nombrada solista con ABT en 1990 y bailarina principal en 1993, año en el que ganó el premio Erik Bruhn, en Toronto, y fue nombrada una de las "50 personas más bellas" de la revista People. En abril de 2000, Kent ganó el "Prix Benois de la Danse" siendo la primera estadounidense en ganar este premio. Más tarde ese año, Kent protagonizó la película "Center Stage" dirigida por Nicholas Hytner. En 2012, recibió un Doctorado Honoris Causa en Artes Escénicas de la Escuela de Artes de la Universidad de Carolina del Norte, así como un "Premio a la Trayectoria" de la Dance Magazine. Desde 2014, ha sido la embajadora de la marca de HANIA New York, por Anya Cole, una línea de suéteres tejidos a mano. Durante su carrera interpretativa, Julie Kent adquirió un vasto repertorio de más de 100 ballets, incluídos los principales papeles clásicos, dramáticos y neoclásicos en obras de Marius Petipa, George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, Frederick Ashton, Kenneth MacMillan, John Cranko, Anthony Tudor, Michel Fokine, Agnes de Mille, Merce Cunningham, José Limón, Jiří Kylián, Ronald Hynd, Ben Stevenson y Christopher Wheeldon. Además, ha tenido papeles creados para ella por coreógrafos como John Neumeier, Lar Lubovitch, Mark Morris, Twyla Tharp, Alexei Ratmansky, Nacho Duato, Stanton Welch, James Kudelka, Jorma Elo, David Parsons, Jessica Lang y Natalie Weir. Sus apariciones como invitada incluyen invitaciones del Teatro Mariinsky, Teatro alla Scala, New York City Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet, Berlin Staatsballett, Australian Ballet, Bayerisches Staatsballett, Teatro Colón, Ballet de Santiago y otros. Antes de unirse al Washington Ballet, en agosto de 2015, después de una carrera de 30 años, Julie fue nombrada Directora Artística del Summer Intensive de ABT, un programa integral de verano para 1,400 estudiantes que se lleva a cabo en cinco localidades en los Estados Unidos. Julie Kent está casada Victor Barbee, director artístico asociado del Washington Ballet, desde 1996 y tiene dos hijos. Es una de las pocas mujeres líderes en todo el mundo en el papel de directora artística, Kent está redefiniendo la imagen y el impacto de la bailarina estadounidense.

Jon Ali continues season two of his On Track interview series with Leon Else!The London-bred multi-talent began exploring his love for music at the age of 12, using his creativity as escapism from his rough upbringing. Interested in all things the arts, Leon saved his money to ditch life at home to attend dance school, and over the years has performed in Kenneth MacMillan's ballet "Winter Dreams" and musicals, including "Sinatra" and "Oklahoma!" After an opportunity to star in Guido Contini-directed film Nine, Leon decided to leave the dance world to pursue music. In 2018, Leon was properly introduced to the pop scene with the glorious "My Kind of Love" from the hit Netflix series, 13 Reasons Why. Since then, he's been quietly claiming his independence as an artist and individual, and creating music he feels is authentically himself.On this episode, Jon Ali dives into his challenging upbringing, struggles with mental health, dancing career, that Elton John phone call, the advice Kate Hudson game him... yes that Kate Hudson, the music he's been working on, as well as his plans for the future and much much more.Follow Leon Else on Instagram: @leonelseFollow Jon Ali on Instagram: @jon_aliFor more visit jonalisblog.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Darcey Bussell became principal dancer of the Royal Ballet at the age of only twenty; she went on to become a household name thanks to her seven years as a judge on Strictly Come Dancing, a job she unexpectedly stepped down from earlier this year. In conversation with Michael Berkeley, she looks back at a career which started when, against the wishes of her mother, she went to ballet school at thirteen – and was desperately unhappy, thinking she’d made the worst mistake of her life. Alone, away from her family, she used to listen to Mozart’s Requiem again and again. She had little hope of becoming a star ballerina as she was “too tall” at five foot seven, and “not British-looking”; what this amounted to is that most British male dancers were not tall enough to partner her. But then she met choreographer Kenneth Macmillan, and he saw her potential. She reflects candidly on the “disciplines and sacrifices” of a life devoted to dance: the long hours training, dancing till your stamina runs out and you literally can’t feel your legs. Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty pushed her to the limit. She reveals how becoming a judge on Strictly gave her new confidence to speak in public for the first time and why she doesn’t mind being labelled as the judge who was “too nice”. She talks too about creating a new post-performance life out of the glare of the public eye, her mission to bring dance to all schoolchildren, about injuries and the battle for fitness, and about the toll dancing has taken on her feet. Her music choices range from the intensely serious – Stravinsky's 'Agon, Poulenc's Gloria, the Mozart and Faure Requiems - to Dinah Washington’s “Mad about the Boy” and “Roxanne” by The Police. A Loftus production for BBC Radio 3 Produced by Elizabeth Burke

Katie Derham explores the adventurous choreography of Sir Kenneth MacMillan 25 years after his death, in conversation with the former director of the Royal Ballet Dame Monica Mason and the Royal Ballet principal dancer Edward Watson, uncovering the key elements of Macmillan's style and the importance of narrative in his works. The classic score of the week is Stravinsky's The Fairy's Kiss, which Macmillan choreographed in 1960.

Tales of The City writer Armistead Maupin discusses his new memoir Logical Family, which details his early life in an ultra-conservative family in the deep South, serving in Vietnam, and his move to San Francisco, the city with which he is most associated. On the 25th anniversary of the death of choreographer Sir Kenneth MacMillan, Viviana Durante, former principal ballerina of the Royal Ballet, and dance critic Debra Craine discuss the legacy of the man whose work is currently being celebrated at the Royal Opera House.The UK's first gallery dedicated to mining art has just opened in Bishop Auckland in County Durham. The Mining Art Gallery celebrates the 'pitmen painters' - the miners who also made art. David Maddan, Chief Executive of the Auckland Project, as well as two local mining art collectors, Dr Robert McManners and Gillian Wales who have donated their entire collection, discuss the project. And local artist and former miner Bob Olly gives a guided tour. Presenter: John Wilson Producer: Edwina Pitman.

Jeremy Paxman; Priscilla Presley; ballet dancer Thiago Soares and writer and photographer iO Tillett Wright join Libby Purves. Priscilla Presley is an actress. She starred in the Naked Gun series of films, the television series Dallas and for the last few years has appeared on the British stage in pantomimes including Aladdin and Snow White. Married to Elvis Presley from 1967 to 1973, she is executive producer of the Wonder of You, an album featuring Elvis's voice with an orchestral accompaniment by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Priscilla also appears as part of a UK arena tour in which Elvis is on screen - accompanied by the orchestra - performing songs including If I Can Dream and Suspicious Minds. The Wonder of You is released on Sony Music. If I Can Dream - Elvis in Concert with The Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra starts in Glasgow at the SSE Hydro. Jeremy Paxman is a journalist and broadcaster. In his memoir, A Life in Questions, he looks back on his career including his long stint as the combative presenter of the BBC's current affairs programme, Newsnight. His working life has been defined by questions and the book features many of his legendary encounters with politicians, musicians, Hollywood stars and esteemed writers. A Life in Questions is published by William Collins. iO Tillett Wright is a photographer, writer, film maker, activist and actor who is currently co-hosting a new MTV show called Suspect with Nev Schulman. In his memoir, Darling Days, he recounts his tumultuous life growing up during the 1980s and 1990s in the urban bohemia of New York's Lower East Side. Born female, he describes how, at the age of six, he adopted a new persona - a boy named Ricky. His TED Talk, 50 Shades of Gay, has been watched by more than two million people. Darling Days is published by Virago. Thiago Soares is a Brazilian dancer and a principal of The Royal Ballet. Born in Rio de Janeiro, he initially was drawn to hip hop before taking up ballet aged 12, joining the Royal Ballet in 2002. He is dancing the role of Rasputin in the Royal Ballet's production of Anastasia by Kenneth MacMillan. It tells the true story of Anna Anderson, who claimed to be the Grand Duchess Anastasia, youngest daughter of Tsar Nicholas II and sole survivor of the brutal assassination of the Russian Royal Family in 1918. Anastasia is at the Royal Opera House, London. Producer: Paula McGinley.

With Kirsty Lang. American musician and performer Ice-T has directed a cinema documentary Something From Nothing: The Art of Rap in which he talks to leading performers including Snoop Dogg, Dr Dre and Eminem about the culture of hip-hop. Ice-T discusses the origins of the music, and its continuing influence. Tom Hanks, Jerry Seinfeld and Larry King are just three high-profile entertainers who have launched new online film and video projects. Boyd Hilton considers the growing phenomenon of big stars creating productions solely for the internet. On the eve of her retirement Monica Mason, director of The Royal Ballet Company, reflects on her 54 years with the company which she joined as a 16 year old dancer in 1958. She recalls working with stars such as Margot Fonteyn and Rudolph Nureyev, becoming a muse to the choreographer Kenneth MacMillan, and why, as a young dancer, she was terrified of Royal Ballet founder Ninette de Valois. Producer Jerome Weatherald.

The New Elizabethans: Margot Fonteyn. James Naughtie considers the life and legacy of Dame Margot Fonteyn, widely considered to be one of the greatest classical dancers of the 20th century. She spent her whole career with the Royal Ballet and was appointed prima ballerina absoluta by The Queen. Her greatest artistic work was with the Russian star Rudolf Nureyev. Beginning in the 1960's when she was 42, he 24 - they formed an on and off stage partnership that lasted until her retirement in 1979. They debuted Kenneth MacMillan's Romeo and Juliet, and Frederick Ashton choreographed Margeurite and Armand for them, a role which wasn't performed by any other artists until the 21st century. The New Elizabethans have been chosen by a panel of leading historians, chaired by Lord (Tony) Hall, Chief Executive of London's Royal Opera House. The panellists were Dominic Sandbrook, Bamber Gascoigne, Sally Alexander, Jonathan Agar, Maria Misra and Sir Max Hastings. They were asked to choose: "Men and women whose actions during the reign of Elizabeth II have had a significant impact on lives in these islands and/or given the age its character, for better or worse." Producer: Alison Hughes.

Monica Mason, Director of The Royal Ballet and Guest Ballet Master, Christopher Carr, compare and contrast the works of Frederick Ashton and Kenneth Macmillan with emphasis on The Dream and Song of the Earth. Interviewed by Clare Thurman.

Kirsty Young's castaway is the director of the Royal Ballet, Dame Monica Mason. Her working life has been dedicated to dance. When she joined the Royal Ballet at fifteen she was the youngest dancer to be admitted to the company and, during her career, its legendary choreographer Kenneth MacMillan created five roles for her. She became director ten years ago and is due to step down this summer. She says: "I couldn't bear it if I thought that, behind closed doors, somebody was saying 'she's here again, you know', so I shall keep my distance and only go in when asked."Producer: Leanne Buckle.

Kirsty Young's castaway is the director of the Royal Ballet, Dame Monica Mason. Her working life has been dedicated to dance. When she joined the Royal Ballet at fifteen she was the youngest dancer to be admitted to the company and, during her career, its legendary choreographer Kenneth MacMillan created five roles for her. She became director ten years ago and is due to step down this summer. She says: "I couldn't bear it if I thought that, behind closed doors, somebody was saying 'she's here again, you know', so I shall keep my distance and only go in when asked." Producer: Leanne Buckle.

Dame Monica Mason has spent all of her working life at the Royal Ballet in London. Now 70 she is about to start her final season as Director of the Royal Ballet. In conversation with Norman Lebrecht she talks frankly and warmly of the experiences her various roles in the company have given her. Born in South Africa she first encountered ballet in Johannesburg and began to dance. After the sudden death of her father when she was just 13 she tells Norman how her mother brought her to London where they lived frugally in a bedsit in Finsbury Park. Monica got a place at the Royal Ballet School and then unexpectedly was put in the company. Here she immediately encountered some of the great figures in international ballet whom she talks about in this interview.. The founder of the Royal Ballet was Dame Ninette de Valois who was then at the helm and a figure who fought for the company throughout the war years but who inspired fear in many. Frederick Ashton was the founder choreographer of the company and later held the post of Artistic Director. Monica Mason tells of dancing in his full length ballet Ondine to music by Henze which he found difficult to work to, but generally she was not one of his favourite dancers. Monica also talks about Margot Fonteyn who for many years danced many of the best roles and continued past the normal age when dancers retire partly due to the arrival of Rudolf Nureyev with whom she formed a memorable partnership. Mason also talks of dancing with Nureyev herself. She found a more direct working partnership with Ashton's successor Kenneth Macmillan who built his version of Rite of Spring around her . Macmillan was a troubled man subject to dark moods who, when he discovered Monica was considering leaving as her dancing years came to an end, persuaded her to stay as his assistant. She agreed and worked closely with him and was there when he died suddenly backstage during an evening performance. Monica Mason remained during the difficult years of the 90s when the Royal Opera House went through a troubled period, continuing as assistant to Norman Morrice, Anthony Dowell and then Ross Stretton. And it was only after Stretton's sudden dismissal that she went into the role of Director herself, at first she thought, on a temporary basis. Soon after she was offered the job. She reflects on her experiences as Director and how she has tried to move the company on, appointing Wayne McGregor as resident choreographer and commissioning a new full length ballet from Christopher Wheeldon. Producer Tony Cheevers.

Jonathan Cope, répétiteur for The Royal Ballet talks about his experience of working as a dancer with Kenneth MacMillan and coaching Principal dancers for the latest production of Mayerling.

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the Artistic Director of the Royal Ballet, Sir Anthony Dowell. His future was determined as a child when he stood before Dame Ninette de Valois with his trousers rolled to the knee. It took only a short glance at his legs for her to accept him into the Royal Ballet School. As he grew and developed as a dancer, his talent was spotted and soon the great choreographers Kenneth Macmillan and Frederick Ashton began creating roles for him. His outstanding technique and dramatic sense inspired generations of dancers. But now, as Director of the Royal Ballet, he fights to keep dance at the top of the arts agenda in the face of much criticism and controversy. [Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Eight English Dances by London Philharmonic Orchestra Book: Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame Luxury: Sketch pad and paints

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the Artistic Director of the Royal Ballet, Sir Anthony Dowell. His future was determined as a child when he stood before Dame Ninette de Valois with his trousers rolled to the knee. It took only a short glance at his legs for her to accept him into the Royal Ballet School. As he grew and developed as a dancer, his talent was spotted and soon the great choreographers Kenneth Macmillan and Frederick Ashton began creating roles for him. His outstanding technique and dramatic sense inspired generations of dancers. But now, as Director of the Royal Ballet, he fights to keep dance at the top of the arts agenda in the face of much criticism and controversy. [Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Eight English Dances by London Philharmonic Orchestra Book: Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame Luxury: Sketch pad and paints

Roy Plomley's castaway is choreographer Kenneth Macmillan.Favourite track: Students' Chorus by Romberg Book: The Rack by A E Ellis Luxury: Godiva chocolates from Belgium

Roy Plomley's castaway is choreographer Kenneth Macmillan. Favourite track: Students' Chorus by Romberg Book: The Rack by A E Ellis Luxury: Godiva chocolates from Belgium