“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey

In this episode of "Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey , host Joanne Carey interviews author, Juliet Prowse.

In this episode of  "Dance Talk” ®, host Joanne Carey speaks with Juliet Prowse, the niece of the legendary dancer Juliet Prowse. They discuss the journey of writing the book 'Juliet Prowse, Born to Dance', inspired by a suitcase of letters and articles.

Juliet shares insights into her aunt's life, career, and the challenges she faced as a woman in the entertainment industry during the 50s and 60s. The conversation highlights Juliet's resilience, her love for dance, and the impact she had on those around her. Juliet also reflects on her personal relationship with her aunt and the legacy she hopes to leave for future generations of dancers.

Juliet Prowse never intended on becoming an author, but when she spotted a little red suitcase in her parents’ attic, filled to the brim with articles about her famous aunt, Juliet Prowse, the dancer and entertainer, curiosity drove her to explore her aunt's extraordinary journey and write her story.
Known as big Juliet and little Juliet in the Prowse household, little Juliet’s initial desire was to uncover her aunt’s experience as a teenager in 1950s London, but it grew to her wanting to tell Juliet's story of how she became a triple threat (can dance, sing, and act) on the stage, screen and television for four decades.
To ensure the authenticity of this story, Juliet waded through more than 1000 articles and letters, written mainly by her aunt, but also her managers and secretary, to her grandmother, and spoke to over 20 people in the entertainment industry who shared their stories about working with and love for Juliet, the dancer.
Juliet Prowse: Born to Dance is Juliet's first book and a love letter to her aunt.

Information

https://julietprowse.com/

Book Informaiton

“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey 

"Where the Dance World Connects, the Conversations Inspire, and Where We Are Keeping Them Real."

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://dancetalkwithjoannecarey.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Joanne Carey on Instagram

@westfieldschoolofdance

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Join host Joanne Carey as she chats with Special Guest: Michael Novak Artistic Director of the Paul Taylor Dance Company

In this episode of "Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey , host Joanne Carey interviews Michael Novak, the artistic director of the Paul Taylor Dance Company.

Michael shares his journey into dance, overcoming personal challenges such as stuttering, and his transition from musical theater to ballet and modern dance. He discusses the importance of authenticity in dance, the role of resident choreographers, and the exciting new educational initiatives at the company's new space. The conversation also highlights the upcoming season at Lincoln Center, featuring a mix of new works and classic pieces, and Michael's vision for the future of the company.

Michael Novak: became the second Artistic Director in the history of the Paul Taylor Dance Foundation in September 2018, having been selected by Mr. Taylor months earlier to succeed him upon his death. Novak was nominated for the Clive Barnes Foundation Dance Award for his debut Season. During his career with the Company, he performed fifty-six roles in fifty Taylor dances.

Raised in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, Novak began studying dance at age ten and by age seventeen was offered a Presidential Scholarship to attend The University of the Arts in Philadelphia to pursue training in jazz and ballet. In 2005 Novak was admitted to Columbia University’s School of General Studies, where he was awarded scholarships for academic excellence. He became a member of the Columbia Ballet Collaborative, the University’s critically acclaimed resident company, and was named Artistic Associate responsible for advising on the curation of resident choreographers and directing the group’s branding and promotion. At Columbia, Novak became immersed in the study of dance history, which ignited a passion for modern dance. He developed a keen interest in the work of François Delsarte, the 19th Century French movement theorist who codified the system linking emotion and gesture that would inspire the first generation of American modern dancers. At Columbia he performed Mr. Taylor’s solo in Aureole, which led him to embrace the Taylor repertoire. In a 2009 program celebrating Diaghilev at Columbia’s Miller Theatre, Novak embodied Vaslav Nijinsky’s role in L’Après-midi d’un faune with an authenticity that brought him to the attention of dance critics and scholars. Upon graduation, he received his BA in Dance magna cum laude with Departmental Honors, and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. As a distinguished alumnus, he was the Keynote Speaker for the Class of 2020.

The Paul Taylor Dance Company continues to be one of the world’s premier dance companies. New York Times hailed his inaugural season as Artistic Director as “groundbreaking and inspirational.” In memory of Mr. Taylor, he launched “The Celebration Tour,” a multi-year international touring retrospective of the Taylor repertoire. He co-directed the Company’s first virtual live-streamed benefit, Modern is Now: Stories of our Future,. And during the height of the Covid pandemic, he brought the Taylor Company to sixteen venues in eleven American cities for a total of fifty-one performances, earning the designation “Best of Dance 2021” from The Washington Post. 2021 he selected Taylor alumna and dance educator Carolyn Adams to head the Taylor School showing his commitment to broadening the Foundation’s impact in arts education. 2022 Novak selected former New York City Ballet dancer Lauren Lovette to be the Taylor Company’s first Resident Choreographer.

https://paultaylordance.org/

“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey 

"Where the Dance World Connects, the Conversations Inspire, and Where We Are Keeping Them Real."

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://dancetalkwithjoannecarey.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Joanne Carey on Instagram

@westfieldschoolofdance

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Join host Joanne Carey as she chats with Special Guest: Dante Puleio, Artistic Director of Limón Dance Company

In this episode of "Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey welcomes back Dante Puleio, the artistic director of the Limón Dance Company. They discuss the upcoming season, which celebrates the 80th anniversary of the company, and explore themes of masculinity, queerness, and the legacy of José Limón. Dante shares insights into his journey from dancer to artistic director, the importance of restaging classic works, and the challenges of funding the arts. The conversation highlights the collaborative nature of the rehearsal process and the significance of bridging generations in dance.

Dante Puleio is the Artistic Director​ of the Jose Limón Dance Company. A widely respected former member of the Limón Dance Company for more than a decade, Puleio is the sixth Artistic Director in the Company’s 75-year history, a position that originated with Doris Humphrey. After a diverse performing career with the Limón Dance Company, touring national and international musical theatre productions, television and film, he received his MFA from University of California, Irvine. His research focuses on contextualizing mid 20th century dance for the contemporary artist and audience. He is committed to implementing that research by celebrating José Limón's historical legacy and reimagining his intention and vision to reflect the rapidly shifting 21st century landscape.

You can find information on the Limón Dance Company and all the performances and programs offered on their website

https://www.limon.nyc/

Instagram @limondance

“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey 

"Where the Dance World Connects, the Conversations Inspire, and Where We Are Keeping Them Real."

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://dancetalkwithjoannecarey.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Joanne Carey on Instagram

@westfieldschoolofdance

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Please leave us review about our podcast! 

Join "Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey and special guest Tamar Rogoff.

In this episode of "Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey, host Joanne Carey interviews Tamar Rogoff, a renowned dancer and choreographer, about her extensive career in dance, her influences, and her upcoming performance 'Drop Dead ...Gorgeous.' which is a multimedia dance performance that explores our obsession with the one “perfect“ youthful body and the intersection of money, media and madness that keeps us going to greater and greater lengths in the hopes of finding happiness in the mirror. 
Joanne and Tamar discuss the importance of storytelling in dance, the impact of social media on body image, and the need for diversity and body positivity in the dance community. They discuss the unique way Tamar is presenting this new work.

Tamar shares her journey through various dance forms and her reflections on the insecurities that many face regarding their bodies. The conversation also touches on the significance of audience engagement through talkbacks and the collaborative nature of creating art.

Tamar Rogoff is a New York filmmaker and choreographer who explores the outer limits of how people negotiate extreme circumstances. Rogoff’s large scale site works, films, and more traditional proscenium performances house her life-long experimental process. The Ivye Project took place in Belarus, at the mass graves of Rogoff’s relatives killed in the Holocaust. This became the subject of Summer in Ivye, a documentary by Rogoff and Daisy Wright which screened at the Hamptons International Film Festival. Rogoff choreographed a solo at P.S.122 for Claire Danes, and was her movement coach in HBO's Emmy award winning movie Temple Grandin. 

Rogoff was a Sundance Institute Documentary Film Fellow where she worked with Daisy Wright on Enter The Faun. Rogoff’s methods of release through unorthodox body practices address protagonist Mozgala’s cerebral palsy. The documentary, Enter the Faun, toured festivals and was broadcast on PBS America Reframed and in Belgium. Rogoff’s short, Wonder About Merri, won “Most Daring Film” at Dare to Dance in Public Festival.

Rogoff received grants from National Endowment for the Arts, Rockefeller, Fledgling Fund and is a Guggenheim Fellow. She teaches at LaMama and NYU’s Experimental Theater Wing. Rogoff was a founding member of Montreal’s Theater 1.

More about Tamar Rogoff

https://tamarrogoff.com/

Tickets to the performance of Drop Dead Gorgeous at La Mama on Oct 17-Nov 2

https://ci.ovationtix.com/42/production/1248081

“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey

wherever you listen to your podcasts. ⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://dancetalkwithjoannecarey.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Joanne on Instagram @westfieldschoolofdance 

Tune in. Follow. Like us. And Share. 

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“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey 

"Where the Dance World Connects, the Conversations Inspire, and Where We Are Keeping Them Real."

Join "Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey and special guest Janet Eilber this episode of  "Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey, host Joanne Carey  speaks with Janet Eilber, the artistic director of the Martha Graham Dance Company. They discuss Janet's early beginnings in dance, her time at the Juilliard School, being a teenager in NYC as well as her experiences with the Martha Graham Technique, and the profound impact of Martha Graham's teachings on her career.

Janet shares insights into her roles within the company, the creative process of Martha Graham, and the legacy she aims to uphold as artistic director. They also explore the upcoming celebrations for the 100th anniversary of the company, innovative projects, and the importance of engaging audiences through open rehearsals.

Janet Eilber has been Artistic Director of the Martha Graham Center of Contemporary Dance Company since 2005 pioneering new forms of audience access to the Graham legacy.

Ms. Eilber is a graduate of the Juilliard School where she was mentored by teachers of the Graham and Limón legacies and directed by José Limón in several of his classics. While still at Juilliard, she was invited to join the Graham Company where she worked closely with Martha Graham for almost a decade. She danced many of Graham’s greatest roles, had roles created for her by Graham, and was directed by Graham in most of the major roles of the repertory. She soloed at the White House, was partnered by Rudolf Nureyev, starred in three segments of Dance in America, and worked with Graham’s major collaborators such as Isamu Noguchi, Aaron Copland and Halston.  She has since taught, lectured, and directed Graham ballets internationally for companies such as the Dutch National Ballet and the Paris Opera Ballet. 

Apart from her work with Graham, Ms. Eilber has co-starred in films such as Whose Life is it Anyway? with Richard Dreyfuss, and Romantic Comedy with Dudley Moore.  She was featured in several television series in the 1980s, and danced and acted on and off Broadway directed by such greats as Agnes DeMille and Bob Fosse. For her performance in Stepping Out directed by Tommy Tune, she was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for Featured Actress in a Play.

Ms. Eilber received four Lester Horton Awards for her reconstruction and performance of seminal American modern dance. She served as Director of Arts Education for the Dana Foundation, guiding the Foundation’s support for Teaching Artist training and contributing regularly to its publications. She is a Trustee Emeritus of the Interlochen Center for the Arts and was recently honored with a Doctorate of Fine Arts from the Juilliard School.

At the 2022 celebration of the 50th anniversary of her first performance with the Martha Graham Dance Company, Ms. Eilber received a congratulatory letter from President and First Lady Biden saluting her half-century contribution to the arts in America.  She is married to screenwriter/NYU professor John Warren, with whom she has two daughters, Madeline and Eva.

To find out more

⁠https://marthagraham.org/company/⁠

⁠⁠⁠Follow the company on Instagram

@marthagrahamdance

⁠

“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey

wherever you listen to your podcasts. ⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://dancetalkwithjoannecarey.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Joanne on Instagram @westfieldschoolofdance 

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“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey 

"Where the Dance World Connects, the Conversations Inspire, and Where We Are Keeping Them Real."

Join "Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey and special guest Cristina Krigolson

In this episode of  "Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey, host Joanne Carey speaks with Christina Krigolson about her journey from competition dancing to a professional ballet career . Cristina candidly shares her experiences from starting out in the ballet world, dealing with injury, making the transition to a different career and then the challenges of leaving the ballet world, that lead her to the launch of her successful online ballet coaching business, Face the Barre. They discuss the importance of positive teaching methods, mental health awareness in the dance community, and the significance of cherishing moments in the dance journey. Clearly both ladies LOVE ballet and all it offers!

Christina Krigolson: graduated from Tallinn Ballet School in 2011 and joined the Estonian National Ballet where she danced until 2023. After retiring early, she tried her hand at something completely different— working in the real estate sector. At the same time, she was teaching company classes for the dancers of the Estonian National Ballet and quickly realized that the world of real estate wasn't for her. Through giving those company classes, Cristina discovered her true calling: teaching.

In March 2024, Cristina launched her own online ballet coaching business, Face the Barre, which started growing rapidly about half a year later. Since then, I've taught over 100 dancers and now offer classes both online and in person in Tallinn. She is very active on all social media platforms, helping dancers of all levels and ages achieve their ballet goals. Recently becoming a certified personal trainer and nutrition coach Cristina will be able help students even further. December 2025, Cristina will be opening up her own ballet studio in Tallinn, Estonia. 

To find out more

https://www.face-thebarre.com/

Follow her on Instagram

@face_thebarre

“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey

wherever you listen to your podcasts. ⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://dancetalkwithjoannecarey.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Joanne on Instagram @westfieldschoolofdance 

Tune in. Follow. Like us. And Share. 

Please leave a review! 

“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey 

"Where the Dance World Connects, the Conversations Inspire, and Where We Are Keeping Them Real."

Join "Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey and special guests husband and wife team, Jessica Lopes and Isaac Sharratt

In this episode of  "Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey , host Joanne Carey interviews Jessica Lopes and Isaac Sharratt, a married couple who both dance with the Minnesota Ballet. Joanne met Jessica & Isaac while working together on The Raffaella Ballet in South Bend , Indiana. The couple caught Joanne's eye early on during the rehearsal process standing out in their style of partnering and support of each other.

Jessica & Isaac share their individual journeys into the world of ballet, how they met, and the challenges and joys of being a couple in the dance industry. The conversation also touches on the impact of the pandemic on their careers and the intricacies of partnering in dance.

Together, Jessica and Isaac discuss the dynamics of their dance partnership, emphasizing the importance of communication, conflict resolution, and personal growth. They reflect on their experience working on the Raffella Ballet .

As they transition from performance to choreography, they share insights on embracing change and the realities of a dance career, offering valuable advice for those navigating similar paths.

Jessica Lopes was born in Brazil ,trained in 2014 at Escola de Dança Alice Arja, joined Miami City Ballet’s Pre-Professional Program in 2016. Returning to Brazil she joined Cia de Ballet do Rio de Janeiro as a Corps de Ballet member. Jessica returned to the states in 2017 and joined Milwaukee Ballet 2 Program where she had the opportunity to perform in ballets such as Michael Pink’s Swan Lake and Dracula, excerpts of August Bournonville’s “Napoli”, and Bruce Well’s “ A Midsummer Night’s Dream." In 2019 Jessica joined American Midwest ballet for three seasons, including a digital series during the lockdown where Mrs. Lopes had the pleasure to perform Frank Chavez's “If Only” with her husband, Isaac. Jessica has had the opportunity to work with many renowned choreographers during her training and career .

Issac Sharratt began ballet training in Tucson, Arizona, training first at Tucson Regional Ballet and then Ballet Tucson in 2004. He was awarded scholarships to attend several summer intensive programs including; San Francisco Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Houston Ballet, and Milwaukee Ballet.  At 16 he spent three more years with Ballet Tucson as a company member. He worked closely with ballet superstars John Gardner and Amanda McKerrow, as well as renowned Jeffery Graham Hughs, Pamela Raymond, and Lawrence Peck. He moved from Ballet Tucson in 2008 to join the Milwaukee Ballet II program, spending only one year in the program before being asked into the company. Mr. Sharratt was cast in several world premiere full-length ballets by Michael Pink, doing lead roles in many and playing the title role in Michael Pink’s Beauty and the Beast. Over his time in Milwaukee Ballet Mr. Sharratt has had the opportunity to work with many renowned choreographers. Most recently Mr. Sharratt danced with American Midwest Ballet from its 2019-2022 seasons. During the company's digital series Mr. Sharratt was given the opportunity to perform Frank Chaves’ “If Only” with his wife, Jessica. Mr. Sharratt is also an aspiring choreographer, having set many pieces on Milwaukee Ballet’s second company and main company, as well as having choreographed on Ballet Minnesota in 2017, and various solos for both domestic and international competitions.

The Raffaella Ballet

https://raffaellaballet.org/

“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey

wherever you listen to your podcasts. ⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://dancetalkwithjoannecarey.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Joanne on Instagram @westfieldschoolofdance 

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“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey 

"Where the Dance World Connects, the Conversations Inspire, and Where We Are Keeping Them Real."

Join "Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey and special guest Lucie André

In this episode of  "Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey engages with delightful author Lucie André about her debut novel 'Never Ready' and her unique journey into the dance world. They discuss the profound impact of the AIDS epidemic on the dance community in the 90s, the importance of storytelling in fundraising for the arts, and the emotional intelligence of dancers.

Lucie shares insights into her writing process, the themes of readiness and personal growth in her book, and the significance of community in the arts. The conversation highlights the interconnectedness of art, life, and the experiences that shape us. She confirms Dance Talk with Joanne Carey's mission that telling these dance stories is SO important

If you want to join a "Never Ready" book club, please message us! It'll be fun!!

Lucie André grew up loving stories. After finishing a degree in English, she went to New York where she learned you could eke out a living connecting generous artists with generous patrons. An epic fundraiser for major dance companies was born! This taught Lucie just how much she liked hanging around with big thinkers - especially the ones who sing, dance, paint, and draw.

In her late twenties, Lucie worked for a remarkable dance company where two of the nine male dancers died of AIDS. For years she waited for someone else to write about this beautiful terrible time, when we were all growing into ourselves despite the suffering.

Post-pandemic, in Baltimore, Lucie was finally “ready.”

Learn more about Lucie and order her book!

https://www.neverready.net/

Find her on Instagram

@luciemillerandre

“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey

wherever you listen to your podcasts. ⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠https://dancetalkwithjoannecarey.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Joanne on Instagram @westfieldschoolofdance 

Tune in. Follow. Like us. And Share. 

Please leave a review! 

“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey 

"Where the Dance World Connects, the Conversations Inspire, and Where We Are Keeping Them Real."

Join "Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey and special guest Felice Lesser

In this episode of "Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey speaks with choreographer Felice Lesser about her extensive career in dance, the founding of her dance company, and her upcoming performance 'I Am a Dancer 2020.' They discuss Felice's journey into dance, her experiences with various dance styles, and the impact of COVID-19 on freelance dancers. Felice shares insights into her creative process, the integration of multimedia in her work, and the importance of supporting smaller dance companies. The conversation concludes with reflections on the past 50 years in dance and an invitation to the audience to attend her performance.

Felice Lesser's multi-media works have been seen inthe U.S. and abroad, at venues including Lincoln Center Out-ofDoors, The Duke on 42nd Street, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival,Baryshnikov Arts Center, Dixon Place, Carnegie Recital Hall, JoyceSoHo, Symphony Space, Sarasota Ballet, and the 1991 TokyoInternational Choreography Competition.

Her dance & video work,"AI" (from LIGHTNING) was chosen for the 2019 Carson City (NV)International Film Weekend.

Lesser won the Lawrence S. Epstein Prize for Choreography, Lesser's company, Felice Lesser Dance Theater, received a "Creative Engagement" Grant fromLMCC . Her company received 27 grants from The Harkness Foundation for Dance, a grant from the Puffin Foundation, and ongoing inkind support from Freed of London.

I AM A DANCER won two Accolade Awards A member of the Dramatist’s Guild, Lesser was one of three playwrights chosen for New Perspectives Theatre’s 2013 “Women’s Work” Project, where her play about global warming,was premiered. She produced, wrote, directed, choreographed, filmed, and edited fivetelevision programs on dance, all broadcast on Manhattan Neighborhood Network. Her articleon using technology in dance education (“Dancing on the Keyboard”) was published inDance/USA’s Journal, and she was designated one of Credo Interactive’s “Master Animators”for her work with LifeForms dance animation software.Lesser is currently an Adjunct Professor of Dance at UCONN/Stamford, an Artist-in-Residencefor the state of Nevada (and formerly, Idaho), was a Mentor for the NYFA (New York Foundationfor the Arts) Immigrant Artist Program (2017-18), and performed in Philippe Parreno’s “TheCrowd” shown at the NY Armory in 2015.

Felice served as an adjudicator for the Ohio DanceFestival, the National Federation of Music Clubs’ Ballet Competition, and the NYC Parks Foundation’s Green/Arts. She holds a B.A. from Barnard College in Music, cum laude, and anM.A. from Columbia University in Dance & Dance Education.
⁠

More about Felice Lesser Dance Company

https://www.fldt.org/

Tickets for the June 26, 27 & 28 at New York Live Arts

https://newyorklivearts.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/#/events/a0SVt0000048epBMAQ

“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey

wherever you listen to your podcasts. ⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠https://dancetalkwithjoannecarey.com/⁠⁠⁠

Follow Joanne on Instagram @westfieldschoolofdance 

Tune in. Follow. Like us. And Share. 

Please leave a review! 

“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey 

"Where the Dance World Connects, the Conversations Inspire, and Where We Are Keeping Them Real."

Join "Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey and special guest Lourdes Lopez, former Artistic Director of Miami City Ballet

In this episode of "Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey interviews Lourdes Lopez, a prominent figure in the ballet world. They discuss Lourdes's early beginnings in dance, her immigrant experience, and her journey to becoming a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet.

Lourdes shares insights on her transition to artistic director at Miami City Ballet, the importance of diverse repertory, and her vision for the future of the performing arts. The conversation highlights the profound impact of dance as a soul's journey as well as the challenges and opportunities facing the arts today.

Lourdes Lopez was named one of The Most Influential People in Dance Today by Dance Magazine, became Artistic Director of Miami City Ballet in 2012, bringing with her a nearly 40-year career in dance, television, teaching and arts management. As a Soloist and Principal Dancer with New York City Ballet, Lopez danced for two legends of the art form, George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins. Under Lopez direction, Miami City Ballet has become one of the country premier Ballet companies. According to The New York Times, This troupe [is] at the forefront of all those dancing choreography by George Balanchine today. Bold, light, immediate, intensely musical, the dancing of Miami City Ballet flies straight to the heart.

Born in Havana, Cuba in 1958 and raised in Miami, Lopez began taking ballet lessons at the age of five, on the recommendation of a doctor. At the age of 11 she received a full scholarship to the School of American Ballet (SAB), the official school of New York City Ballet, splitting the year between Miami and New York City.

At fourteen, she moved to New York permanently to devote herself to full-time studies at SAB, and shortly after her sixteenth birthday, joined the corps de ballet of New York City Ballet. Under the direction of George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins, her star rose quickly at New York City Ballet; In 1984, she was promoted to Soloist and then Principal.

Upon retirement, Lopez joined WNBC-TV in New York as a Cultural Arts reporter,. She was also a full-time senior faculty member and Director of Student Placment, Student Evaluation and Curriculum Planning at New York Ballet Academy East. In 2002, Lopez became the Executive Director of The George Balanchine Foundation, which works to educate the public about dance and to further the art of ballet, with a special phasis on the work and achievements of George Balanchine. In this position, she oversaw the 2004 Balanchine Centennial Celebration, a worldwide festival honoring the choreographer and his legacy. Lopez co-founded The Cuban Artists Fund, which supports Cuban and Cuban-American artists in their endeavors. In 2007 she received an award from the American Immigration Law Foundation honoring Cuban Americans for their accomplishments and contributions to American society. She also co-founded Morphoses with Christopher Wheeldon in 2007 a New York-based dance company aiming to revitalize dance through innovative collaborations with important artists from the worlds of music, visual arts, design, film and fashion; and by inviting younger and broader audiences to engage in and actively experience dance.

2014 Lopez was elected to serve on the Ford Foundation Board of Trustees, marking the first time an artist was elected to serve on its board and in 2011, she received the prestigious Jerome Robbins Award for her years in dance.

“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey

wherever you listen to your podcasts. ⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠https://dancetalkwithjoannecarey.com/⁠⁠⁠

Follow Joanne on Instagram @westfieldschoolofdance 

Tune in. Follow. Like us. And Share. 

Please leave a review! 

“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey 

"Where the Dance World Connects, the Conversations Inspire, and Where We Are Keeping Them Real."