Conversations on Dance | Ballet & Dance Careers

This week we have the distinct pleasure of welcoming Patricia McBride, beloved Balanchine Ballerina.  Patricia McBride is one of the most treasured ballerinas of the 20th century. In a career that spanned nearly 3 decades, she performed dozens of leading roles in the repertoire of the New York City Ballet. In 1961, she was promoted to principal dancer, the youngest in the company’s history at that point. George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins both created signature works with McBride as their muse, in works like ‘Dances At a Gathering’, ‘Who Cares?’ and ‘Rubies’. McBride was named a Kennedy Center Honors recipient in 2014. She is presently the associate artistic director and master teacher of the Charlotte Ballet.

This week we have the distinct pleasure of welcoming Patricia McBride, beloved Balanchine Ballerina.  Patricia McBride is one of the most treasured ballerinas of the 20th century. In a career that spanned nearly 3 decades, she performed dozens of leading roles in the repertoire of the New York City Ballet. In 1961, she was promoted to principal dancer, the youngest in the company’s history at that point. George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins both created signature works with McBride as their muse, in works like ‘Dances At a Gathering’, ‘Who Cares?’ and ‘Rubies’. McBride was named a Kennedy Center Honors recipient in 2014. She is presently the associate artistic director and master teacher of the Charlotte Ballet.

Francis Veyette danced with Pennsylvania Ballet for 17 years, retiring in 2016. He performed a repertoire that ranged from the lead in Balanchine roles like ‘Square Dance’ and ‘Theme and Variations’, to Siegfried in ‘Swan Lake’, to many original works by resident choreographer Matthew Neenan. While still dancing with the company, Francis was asked to lead Pennsylvania Ballet II, where he was tasked with shepherding young dancers through the transition from student to professional. During his career as a dancer, Francis was regularly teaching students for 6 years before retiring from the stage last year. Most recently, Francis has relocated to Miami with his wife, and soloist with MCB, Lauren Fadeley, where he has joined the MCB school faculty. Today we are excited to welcome Fran to get his advice and insight into the world of Summer Intensive auditions. He shares some amazing tips, and offers a positive perspective for dancers and parents alike.

Francis Veyette danced with Pennsylvania Ballet for 17 years, retiring in 2016. He performed a repertoire that ranged from the lead in Balanchine roles like ‘Square Dance’ and ‘Theme and Variations’, to Siegfried in ‘Swan Lake’, to many original works by resident choreographer Matthew Neenan. While still dancing with the company, Francis was asked to lead Pennsylvania Ballet II, where he was tasked with shepherding young dancers through the transition from student to professional. During his career as a dancer, Francis was regularly teaching students for 6 years before retiring from the stage last year. Most recently, Francis has relocated to Miami with his wife, and soloist with MCB, Lauren Fadeley, where he has joined the MCB school faculty. Today we are excited to welcome Fran to get his advice and insight into the world of Summer Intensive auditions. He shares some amazing tips, and offers a positive perspective for dancers and parents alike.

This week we are joined by Brandon Stirling Baker, an american lighting designer for ballet, opera, and theater. His lighting can be seen in the repertory of New York City Ballet, Miami City Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Paul Taylor, and many others. Mr. Baker’s designs have been presented by major theaters internationally including Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, Theatre du Chatelet, Havana Ballet Festival Cuba, and Guggenheim Bilbao in Spain. Today we talk with him about how he got his start, his process, and how his collaborations with New York City Ballet Resident Choreographer Justin Peck catapulted him to the top of the dance scene.

This week we are joined by Brandon Stirling Baker, an american lighting designer for ballet, opera, and theater. His lighting can be seen in the repertory of New York City Ballet, Miami City Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Paul Taylor, and many others. Mr. Baker’s designs have been presented by major theaters internationally including Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, Theatre du Chatelet, Havana Ballet Festival Cuba, and Guggenheim Bilbao in Spain. Today we talk with him about how he got his start, his process, and how his collaborations with New York City Ballet Resident Choreographer Justin Peck catapulted him to the top of the dance scene.

As many of you are, we are taking a short break for the holidays: we will return on January 2nd with new content!  Subscribe now so you will automatically be notified of new content. In the meantime, you won’t want to miss the fun content we have planned for our social media. Follow us on Instagram, @conversationsondance, Facebook.com/conversationsondance, and Twitter, @convoondance. If you would like to suggest future content or offer feedback, email [email protected].

As many of you are, we are taking a short break for the holidays: we will return on January 2nd with new content!  Subscribe now so you will automatically be notified of new content. In the meantime, you won’t want to miss the fun content we have planned for our social media. Follow us on Instagram, @conversationsondance, Facebook.com/conversationsondance, and Twitter, @convoondance. If you would like to suggest future content or offer feedback, email [email protected].

Today we are joined by Sara & Leigh-Ann Esty of ‘An American in Paris’ Broadway Tour.  Sara danced with Miami City Ballet for 10 years before leaving in 2013 to join the original cast of ‘An American in Paris’ on Broadway.  During the show’s run in New York, Sara was an ensemble member, and the alternate for the show’s lead female role, Lise.  Leigh-Ann Esty left Miami City Ballet at the end of last season after 12 years with the company.  She has now joined Sara, her identical twin, on the nationwide tour of ‘An American in Paris.’  The pair are both staring in the lead role of Lise, and Leigh also is a member of the ensemble.  The show is choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon, a prolific choreographer in the ballet world, who won a Tony award for the production.  This interview was recorded just after the tour’s opening in November, and since then the girls have performed over 50 shows.  They are currently touring around Florida, and are prepping for their Miami homecoming the week of December 26th.  For ticket info, please visit, www.anamericaninparisbroadway.com

Today we are joined by Sara & Leigh-Ann Esty of ‘An American in Paris’ Broadway Tour.  Sara danced with Miami City Ballet for 10 years before leaving in 2013 to join the original cast of ‘An American in Paris’ on Broadway.  During the show’s run in New York, Sara was an ensemble member, and the alternate for the show’s lead female role, Lise.  Leigh-Ann Esty left Miami City Ballet at the end of last season after 12 years with the company.  She has now joined Sara, her identical twin, on the nationwide tour of ‘An American in Paris.’  The pair are both staring in the lead role of Lise, and Leigh also is a member of the ensemble.  The show is choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon, a prolific choreographer in the ballet world, who won a Tony award for the production.  This interview was recorded just after the tour’s opening in November, and since then the girls have performed over 50 shows.  They are currently touring around Florida, and are prepping for their Miami homecoming the week of December 26th.  For ticket info, please visit, www.anamericaninparisbroadway.com