Conversations on Dance

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

Today we are joined by Sara Mearns, Principal Dancer with New York City Ballet. Ms. Mearns entered the School of American Ballet in 2001, became an apprentice with the New York City Ballet in 2003 and by 2008 she was a Principal.  Sara is one of today’s most celebrated classical ballerinas.  She has an extensive rep with the company, and has originated roles in work’s by renowned choreographers including Alexei Ratmansky, Justin Peck, and Christopher Wheeldon.  In addition to her busy dancing career, Sara serves on the advisory board of Dance NYC, is an Ambassador for Nigel Lythgoe’s Dizzy Feet foundation, and has a partnership with Cole Haan where she collaborates for a 3-year campaign designing ballet flats and handbags.

Today we are joined by Sara Mearns, Principal Dancer with New York City Ballet. Ms. Mearns entered the School of American Ballet in 2001, became an apprentice with the New York City Ballet in 2003 and by 2008 she was a Principal.  Sara is one of today’s most celebrated classical ballerinas.  She has an extensive rep with the company, and has originated roles in work’s by renowned choreographers including Alexei Ratmansky, Justin Peck, and Christopher Wheeldon.  In addition to her busy dancing career, Sara serves on the advisory board of Dance NYC, is an Ambassador for Nigel Lythgoe’s Dizzy Feet foundation, and has a partnership with Cole Haan where she collaborates for a 3-year campaign designing ballet flats and handbags.

This week we are joined by Doug Fullington, assistant to the artistic director at Pacific Northwest Ballet and their education program’s manager. Mr. Fullington is a lauded dance historian, capable of reading Stepanov notation, a classical ballet notation system developed in Russia. He’s contributed to the reconstruction of many 19th century works, including ‘The Daughter of Pharaoh’, ‘Le Corsaire’, and recently, PNB’s ‘Giselle’. In 2000, he was named principal researcher for the George Balanchine Foundation’s  project entitled ’Popular Balanchine’.  We are thrilled today to talk to Doug about the compelling and perhaps little known history behind America’s most beloved holiday tradition, the Nutcracker.

This week we are joined by Doug Fullington, assistant to the artistic director at Pacific Northwest Ballet and their education program’s manager. Mr. Fullington is a lauded dance historian, capable of reading Stepanov notation, a classical ballet notation system developed in Russia. He’s contributed to the reconstruction of many 19th century works, including ‘The Daughter of Pharaoh’, ‘Le Corsaire’, and recently, PNB’s ‘Giselle’. In 2000, he was named principal researcher for the George Balanchine Foundation’s  project entitled ’Popular Balanchine’.  We are thrilled today to talk to Doug about the compelling and perhaps little known history behind America’s most beloved holiday tradition, the Nutcracker.