Podcast appearances and mentions of leanne benjamin

Kathleen Stock was until last week a professor of philosophy at the University of Sussex. In the last few years she has become better known for her gender critical views, contributing to the highly charged public debate over trans rights and what she and others see as the re-defining of the word ‘woman'. This year she published a book called Material Girls: Why Reality Matters for Feminism, in which she argues that we are in an era of Emperor's New Clothes, that it isn't possible for people to change their biological sex, and that someone's sex should sometimes takes precedence over their gender identity. She is also clear that “Trans people deserve lives free from fear. They deserve laws and policies that properly protect them from discrimination and violence. But as she says…laws and policies based around gender identity are not the right route.” She gives an exclusive interview to Emma Barnett. Leanne Benjamin OBE was principal for 20 years with the Royal Ballet. As one of the most important ballet dancers of the past 50 years, she looks back on her career spanning from 18 to 49, in her new autobiography, ‘Built for Ballet'. Richard Ratcliffe, the husband of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe who's still detained in Iran, is on hunger strike again in Whitehall, close to government buildings. Today is Day 10. He wants the government to do more to secure Nazanin's release. She's been held in Iran for five years on spying charges - which she denies - and recently lost her appeal against a second prison sentence. Richard joins Emma from outside the Foreign Office in Whitehall. Presenter: Emma Barnett Producer: Kirsty Starkey Interviewed Guest: Kathleen Stock Interviewed Guest: Leanne Benjamin Interviewed Guest: Richard Ratcliffe

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.

Sparkling lights, twinkly music, frothy tutus and perfectly pirouetting dancers: what could be more magical – and festive – than ballet? This is an art-form that’s been revered over generations, romanticised by books, magazine and movies… but it hasn’t always had the best of reputations when it comes to health and well-being. Ballet dancers are ethereal, elegant, poised – and were, traditionally, often tiny. Over the years, around the world, there have been stories of ballet dancers having unhealthy diets, eating disorders and mental health issues. In more recent decades, the ballet world has recognised this – and a shift is well underway, in attitudes towards food, eating, diet and nutrition… one that’s seen the big ballet companies employing dedicated nutritionists and strength training coaches, training their dancers like professional athletes. The evolution of the art-form has seen ballet become more demanding - and as a result, the ideal ballet body image has shifted to strong, lean and toned; meaning dancers need to be on top of their diet and nutrition, in order to perform. Today, the industry says its focus is on education, and building positive relationships with food and body image right from the start of a dancer's career. So how far has the industry come - and what more could yet be done? Sheila Dillon dons her tutu and ventures into the world of British ballet, to ask: does playing the Sugar Plum Fairy still mean sacrificing any hint of a sugar plum? Presented by Sheila Dillon, produced in Bristol by Lucy Taylor. PICTURED: Yasmine Naghdi, principal dancer with The Royal Ballet, dancing Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty. ©ROH, 2017. Photographed by Bill Cooper. * * * Special thanks to The Royal Ballet for letting us attend and record their rehearsals for Coppélia, featuring dancers Laura Morera in the role of Swanilda and Bennet Gartside as Dr Coppelius - with coaches and former Royal Ballet dancers Leanne Benjamin and Stephen Wicks, accompanied by pianist Kate Shipway. Also thanks to the staff and students of Elmhurst Ballet School for letting us watch and record one of their dance classes, taught by Gloria Grigolato and accompanied by pianist Dominic Mason.

Ballet dancer Leanne Benjamin shares her passion for music with Sarah, including works she's danced to, and featuring music by Faure, Beethoven and Stravinsky.

Hear from an exceptional dancer who is recognised as one of the true prima ballerinas of The Royal Ballet with a large repertoire of roles and an insatiable appetite and energy for new choreography, as well as her wonderful versatility in the great classical roles. Interviewed by Christopher Cook.

Lauren Cuthbertson, Leanne Benjamin, Tamara Rojo, Edward Watson and Mara Galeazzi talk about their journeys from their first ballet experience to becoming Principal dancers with The Royal Ballet.

Leanne Benjamin, Lauren Cuthbertson, Edward Watson, Mara Galeazzi and Tamara Rojo Principal dancers with The Royal Ballet talk about what motivated them to become a dancer and why they still love what they do.

Tamara Rojo, Lauren Cuthbertson, Edward Watson, Mara Galeazzi and Leanne Benjamin Principals for The Royal Ballet, talk about how they personally make a role specific to their own bodies and make the performance their own.

Mara Galeazzi, Edward Watson, Tamara Rojo, Leanne Benjamin and Lauren Cuthbertson Principal dancers for The Royal Ballet talk about the highlights of their careers as a dancer.

Mara Galeazzi, Edward Watson, Tamara Rojo, Leanne Benjamin and Lauren Cuthbertson Principal dancers for The Royal Ballet talk about the highlights of their careers as a dancer.

Tamara Rojo, Lauren Cuthbertson, Edward Watson, Mara Galeazzi and Leanne Benjamin Principals for The Royal Ballet, talk about how they personally make a role specific to their own bodies and make the performance their own.

Lauren Cuthbertson, Leanne Benjamin, Tamara Rojo, Edward Watson and Mara Galeazzi talk about their journeys from their first ballet experience to becoming Principal dancers with The Royal Ballet.

Monica Mason, Director of the Royal Ballet introduces the programming behind three short ballets: Mikhail Fokine's The Firebird and Les Sylphides and Alister Marriott's new commission. Leanne Benjamin, Mara Galeazzi and Tamara Rojo talk of their experience playing roles in these ballets.