Company Secrets: Ballet Unfiltered

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Company Secrets: Ballet Unfiltered

Jared Redick

24 episodes

2 weeks ago

The season finale of Company Secrets: The Nutcracker Paradox closes with a powerful conversation featuring Sir Matthew Bourne, one of the most influential dance theatre makers of our time. Bourne reflects on his landmark 1992 Nutcracker, a bold reimagining that begins in a Dickensian orphanage and transforms into a vivid fantasy world, redefining how this holiday classic can tell an emotionally grounded story. In this wide-ranging finale, Bourne shares his creative philosophy of finding the “...

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Performing Arts

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The season finale of Company Secrets: The Nutcracker Paradox closes with a powerful conversation featuring Sir Matthew Bourne, one of the most influential dance theatre makers of our time. Bourne reflects on his landmark 1992 Nutcracker, a bold reimagining that begins in a Dickensian orphanage and transforms into a vivid fantasy world, redefining how this holiday classic can tell an emotionally grounded story. In this wide-ranging finale, Bourne shares his creative philosophy of finding the “...

Show more...

Performing Arts

Episodes (20/24)

Company Secrets: Ballet Unfiltered

S2 EP11: The Nutcracker Paradox- From Orphanage to Fantasy

The season finale of Company Secrets: The Nutcracker Paradox closes with a powerful conversation featuring Sir Matthew Bourne, one of the most influential dance theatre makers of our time. Bourne reflects on his landmark 1992 Nutcracker, a bold reimagining that begins in a Dickensian orphanage and transforms into a vivid fantasy world, redefining how this holiday classic can tell an emotionally grounded story. In this wide-ranging finale, Bourne shares his creative philosophy of finding the “...

2 weeks ago

14 minutes

Company Secrets: Ballet Unfiltered

S2 EP10: The Nutcracker Paradox- De-Centering the Nutcracker with Dr. Brenda Dixon-Gottschild

In this episode of Company Secrets: The Nutcracker Paradox, Jared Redick is joined by renowned dance scholar and cultural critic Dr. Brenda Dixon-Gottschild for a bracing conversation about why The Nutcracker may no longer deserve its outsized place in American ballet culture. Rather than arguing for yet another reinvention of the holiday classic, Dixon-Gottschild challenges the field to de center The Nutcracker altogether, questioning its cultural neutrality, its mythologized role as an entr...

2 weeks ago

22 minutes

Company Secrets: Ballet Unfiltered

S2 EP9: The Nutcracker Paradox- Building a City, Building a Dream with Christopher Wheeldon

In this episode of Company Secrets, Jared Redick is joined by choreographer and director Christopher Wheeldon for a deep dive into The Nutcracker as narrative, tradition, and opportunity for reinvention. Wheeldon reflects on why The Nutcracker has become the definitive holiday ballet, from its concise storytelling and iconic Tchaikovsky score to its role as both a family introduction to ballet and a vital economic engine for companies. Drawing on his background in creating richly layered narr...

3 weeks ago

20 minutes

Company Secrets: Ballet Unfiltered

S2 EP8: The Nutcracker Paradox- Magic at the World's Fair with Helgi Tomasson

In this episode of Company Secrets, The Nutcracker Paradox: Magic at the World’s Fair, host Jared Redick sits down with legendary former San Francisco Ballet artistic director Helgi Tomasson to explore how The Nutcracker became both a beloved holiday tradition and a living, evolving work of art. Tomasson reflects on nearly four decades of leadership at San Francisco Ballet and his deep personal relationship with The Nutcracker, from dancing it as a principal at New York City Ballet to reimagi...

3 weeks ago

15 minutes

Company Secrets: Ballet Unfiltered

S2 EP7: The Nutcracker Paradox- Progressive Classicism and 2 Pairs of White Tights

In this episode of Company Secrets: The Nutcracker Paradox, Jared Redick sits down with Ethan Stiefel; principal dancer, film star, choreographer, and arts leader. From performing The Nutcracker at New York City Ballet and American Ballet Theatre to choreographing his own version and leading major institutions, Stiefel reflects on a lifetime spent inside the ballet. Together, they explore why The Nutcracker remains a powerful gateway for audiences, what it gets right artistically, and where i...

3 weeks ago

23 minutes

Company Secrets: Ballet Unfiltered

S2 EP6: The Nutcracker Paradox- Ballet’s Marvel Movie with Stanton Welch

In this episode of Company Secrets: The Nutcracker Paradox, host Jared Redick speaks with Stanton Welch, Artistic Director of Houston Ballet, about his 2016 production of The Nutcracker and the unique role the ballet plays in American culture. Welch reflects on how differently The Nutcracker functions in the United States compared to other parts of the world, describing it as ballet’s version of a shared, multi-generational cultural event—an increasingly rare experience in the age of streamin...

4 weeks ago

14 minutes

Company Secrets: Ballet Unfiltered

S2 EP5: The Nutcracker Paradox: From Clara to CEO with Victoria Morgan

In this episode of Company Secrets: The Nutcracker Paradox, host Jared Redick sits down with Victoria Morgan, former principal dancer with San Francisco Ballet and Ballet West, and longtime artistic director and CEO of Cincinnati Ballet, to explore the enduring legacy, complexity, and future of The Nutcracker. Morgan reflects on the ballet as a powerful “teacher,” tracing its role in artistic development from childhood through professional careers and its importance as both an educational gat...

1 month ago

16 minutes

Company Secrets: Ballet Unfiltered

S2 EP4: The Nutcracker Paradox- Ritual, Myth-Making, & Mouse Kings! With Dr. Jennifer Fisher

In this episode, Jared Redick sits down with Dr. Jennifer Fisher, renowned dance scholar, cultural critic, former dancer, and author of Nutcracker Nation and The Routledge Introduction to Ballet. With her signature blend of insight, humor, and cultural analysis, Dr. Fisher unpacks why The Nutcracker has become one of America’s most enduring secular rituals. She reflects on the ballet’s evolution from its Russian roots to its distinctly American identity, why Act II still casts an irresistible...

1 month ago

21 minutes

Company Secrets: Ballet Unfiltered

S2 EP3: The Nutcracker Paradox: Nutcracker Through Her Eyes: Empowerment, Tradition, and Holiday Magic with Amy Seiwert

Jared Redick sits down with choreographer and artistic director Amy Seiwert of Smuin Contemporary Ballet to explore her approach to The Nutcracker and holiday storytelling in ballet. With a career spanning 19 years as a dancer and over a decade as a choreographer and artistic director, Amy reflects on her world-premiere Nutcracker at Sacramento Ballet, the only full-length Nutcracker created by a woman that season, and the importance of telling the story through a female perspective. They dis...

1 month ago

14 minutes

Company Secrets: Ballet Unfiltered

S2 EP2: The Nutcracker Paradox: Keeping the Magic, Losing the Harm with Phil Chan

In the second episode of Company Secrets: The Nutcracker Paradox, Jared Redick talks with arts administrator, educator, author, and choreographer Phil Chan about how ballet can honor tradition while confronting its outdated and harmful elements. As co-founder of the arts advocacy organization Final Bow for Yellowface, Phil has spent years guiding ballet companies toward more inclusive practices, particularly in productions of The Nutcracker, ballet’s most enduring and widely performed classic...

1 month ago

17 minutes

Company Secrets: Ballet Unfiltered

S2 EP1: Nutcracker Secrets: The Art and Pressure of The Nutcracker with Val Caniparoli

In the Season 2 premiere of Company Secrets: The Nutcracker Paradox, Jared Redick sits down with the fantastic choreographer Val Caniparoli, whose five different Nutcracker productions, created for companies across the U.S. and abroad, give him an unmatched perspective on ballet’s biggest holiday tradition. With over 50 years at San Francisco Ballet and more than 200 ballets to his name, Val shares how he approaches reinventing a story that must remain both financially essential and artistica...

1 month ago

12 minutes

Company Secrets: Ballet Unfiltered

EP 12: Company Secrets with Gillian Murphy: Prima Ballerina and Icon

In this season finale, Jared sits down with the incomparable Gillian Murphy, whose extraordinary 29-year career with American Ballet Theatre made her one of the defining ballerinas of her generation. From Swan Lake to new works by Ratmansky and Wheeldon, Gillian reflects on her remarkable journey—what it means to dance with freedom, the power of presence, and the perspective that comes from a lifetime on stage. Now retired from performing and serving as Artistic Associate at American Reperto...

2 months ago

39 minutes

Company Secrets: Ballet Unfiltered

EP 11: Company Secrets with Susan Jaffe: Directing American Ballet Theatre

In this episode, Jared sits down with the incomparable Susan Jaffe, Artistic Director of American Ballet Theatre and one of the most celebrated ballerinas of her generation. Declared by The New York Times as “America’s quintessential American ballerina,” Susan reflects on her extraordinary performing career, her leadership journey from the stage to the boardroom, and what it takes to sustain excellence in one of the world’s great ballet companies. From shaping ABT’s 85th anniversary season to...

3 months ago

29 minutes

Company Secrets: Ballet Unfiltered

EP 10: Company Secrets with Cervilio Amador: Directing Cincinnati Ballet

In this episode, Jared sits down with Cervilio Amador, Artistic Director of Cincinnati Ballet, to explore what it means to lead one of the nation’s most respected ballet companies. Born and trained in Cuba, Cervilio began his professional journey with the National Ballet of Cuba before joining Cincinnati Ballet, where he quickly rose to become one of the youngest principal dancers in the company’s history. Now, after a remarkable 16-year stage career and a powerful transition into leade...

3 months ago

26 minutes

Company Secrets: Ballet Unfiltered

EP 9: Company Secrets with Aaron Watkin: Directing English National Ballet

In this episode, Jared sits down with Aaron Watkin, Artistic Director of English National Ballet. A former principal dancer with Ballet Frankfurt under William Forsythe, Aaron has built an extraordinary career bridging classical tradition and contemporary innovation. After 17 years leading Semperoper Ballett in Dresden, he returned to ENB in 2023 to shape a new chapter for the company. Aaron shares candid insights into the realities of running a major ballet organization, from building a five...

3 months ago

41 minutes

Company Secrets: Ballet Unfiltered

EP 8: Company Secrets with Daniela Cardim: Directing Ballet Arizona

In this episode, Daniela Cardim, artistic director of Ballet Arizona, delves into the audition process and what she looks for in dancers. She emphasizes the importance of personality and artistry, noting that dancers who express themselves and show creativity during auditions stand out. Daniela explains that while technical skill is crucial, the ability to convey emotion and engage with the audience is equally important. She advises dancers not to be discouraged by rejections, as auditions ar...

3 months ago

34 minutes

Company Secrets: Ballet Unfiltered

EP 7: Company Secrets with Ma Cong: Directing Richmond Ballet

Join us as we delve into the inspiring journey of Ma Cong, the new Artistic Director of Richmond Ballet. From his beginnings at the Beijing Dance Academy to his rise as a principal dancer and renowned choreographer, Ma shares his vision for the future of the company. Discover how his unique blend of creativity and leadership is shaping Richmond Ballet's path forward, fostering a collaborative and innovative environment for dancers and audiences alike. Aspiring dancers will gain valuable insig...

3 months ago

37 minutes

Company Secrets: Ballet Unfiltered

EP 6: Special Episode- Company Secrets with Larissa Saveliev: Directing Youth America Grand Prix

In this special episode of Company Secrets: Ballet Unfiltered, Jared sits down with Larissa Saveliev, Founder and Artistic Director of Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP), the world’s largest international student ballet competition. This special episode is a must-listen for students, dancers, teachers, and parents who are competing or considering competing in Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP). Larissa shares candid insights on what dancers need to know to stand out, YAGP's origins and global...

4 months ago

40 minutes

Company Secrets: Ballet Unfiltered

EP 5: Company Secrets with Septime Webre: Directing Hong Kong Ballet

In this episode, we delve into the artistic vision and leadership of Septime Weber, the dynamic Artistic Director of Hong Kong Ballet. With a commitment to nurturing young talent, Weber shares invaluable insights for aspiring dancers, emphasizing the importance of self-motivation and understanding the broader context of their craft. Discover how his innovative productions, like "Romeo and Juliet" set in 1960s Hong Kong, reflect the unique cultural fusion of the city. Learn how Hong Kong Balle...

4 months ago

36 minutes

Company Secrets: Ballet Unfiltered

EP 4: Company Secrets with Kathleen Breen Combes: Directing Ballet Rhode Island

This week on Company Secrets, Jared sits down with Kathleen Breen Combes, Artistic and Executive Director of Ballet Rhode Island. A former principal dancer with Boston Ballet — once described by The New York Times as “a ballerina of colossal scale and boldness” — Kathleen brings both artistic depth and business acumen to her leadership role. In this candid conversation, she shares what it’s really like to wear both the artistic and executive hats, how she curates seasons, and the challenges a...

4 months ago

34 minutes