PODCAST · arts
Conversations on Dance
by Michael Sean Breeden & Rebecca King Ferraro
Conversations on Dance is an award winning podcast hosted by former Miami City Ballet dancers Rebecca King Ferraro and Michael Sean Breeden. Since 2016, the podcast has provided an inside look at the world of dance through in-depth interviews with the field’s most influential dancers, choreographers, musicians, directors, and educators. With a mission to educate, inspire, and connect, Conversations on Dance goes beyond performance to uncover the stories, insights, and artistry that shape the dance world today. Each week, listeners are invited into candid conversations that highlight the intelligence, passion, and creative process of those working at the highest levels of the art form. With over 500 episodes and partnerships wi
Episodes
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[Excerpt] Merrill Ashley, Balanchine Ballerina - Patreon Bonus Episode
Welcome to our bonus episode with Merrill Ashley, which is available now on our Patreon page. If you are a member of our Supporter, Ruby or Emerald tier on Patreon, you can listen to this entire episode, as part of your membership. Here on our main feed, we are sharing an excerpt of our interview...
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(514) Choreographer Houston Thomas, on reimagining 'Firebird' for Royal Winnipeg Ballet
ccess upcoming BONUS episodes plus listen ad-free when you join our Patreon page. Membership starts as low as $3 a month and every dollar helps support the future of the podcast. Thank you for your support. https://www.patreon.com/cw/conversationsondance Conversations on Dance hosts Michael Sean...
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(513) Ashley Wheater on Joffrey Ballet at Performing Arts Houston with Alexander Ekman's Midsummer Night's Dream
Access upcoming BONUS episodes plus listen ad-free when you join our Patreon page. Membership starts as low as $3 a month and every dollar helps support the future of the podcast. Thank you for your support. https://www.patreon.com/cw/conversationsondance Conversations on Dance hosts Rebecca King...
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[Excerpt] Choreographer William Forsythe - Patreon Bonus Episode
Welcome to our first Bonus episode of Conversations on Dance, which is available now on our Patreon page. If you are a member of our Ruby or Emerald tier on Patreon, you can listen to this entire episode, as part of your membership. Here on our main feed, we are sharing an excerpt of our…
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(512) Choreographer Alysa Pires on her new work for New York City Ballet
Access upcoming BONUS episodes plus listen ad-free when you join our Patreon page. Membership starts as low as $3 a month and every dollar helps support the future of the podcast. Thank you for your support. https://www.patreon.com/cw/conversationsondance Today on Conversations on Dance, hosts...
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(511) James Whiteside announces retirement from American Ballet Theatre and tells us what's next
Access upcoming BONUS episodes plus listen ad-free when you join our Patreon page. Membership starts as low as $3 a month and every dollar helps support the future of the podcast. Thank you for your support. https://www.patreon.com/cw/conversationsondance Hosts Rebecca King Ferraro and Michael…
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(510) Summer recap and a COD restructure with Michael and Rebecca
Access upcoming BONUS episodes plus listen ad-free when you join our Patreon page. Membership starts as low as $3 a month and every dollar helps support the future of the podcast. Thank you for your support. https://www.patreon.com/cw/conversationsondance Interested in signing up? Enjoy one month...
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(509) Pianists of Vail Dance Festival: Michael Scales, Derek Wang, Tony Yun, Joel Wenhardt
This episode was recorded live from the Vail Dance Festival on August 9th, 2026. Enjoy one month of Conversations on Dance on Patreon for free! Redeem here. In the final episode of our Vail Dance Festival series, Michael Sean Breeden is joined by guest co-host Kate Penner for a rare conversation...
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(508) Career Pathways at The Vail Dance Festival: Savannah Green, Kayla Mak, Brooks Landegger, Philip Duclos
Enjoy one month of Conversations on Dance on Patreon for free! Redeem here. This episode was recorded live from the Vail Dance Festival on August 9th, 2026. In this early-morning session from the final day of the festival, Michael Sean Breeden is joined by guest co-host Kate Penner (Rebecca had...
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(507) LIVE from the Vail Dance Festival with Nikolaj Hubbe, Carla Korbes, Margaret Tracey, & Melissa Toogood
Watch NOW: PREMIERES from the 2026 Vail Dance Festival here: https://www.youtube.com/live/IWR7IJTIUjM?si=Hew1Dst2yyijlh9k. Enjoy one month of Conversations on Dance on Patreon for free! Redeem here. Join Conversations on Dance hosts Rebecca King Ferraro and Michael Sean Breeden for a live podcast...
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(506) LIVE from the Vail Dance Festival with Alexei Ratmansky
Enjoy one month of free access to Conversations on Dance on Patreon and listen ad-free. Click here to redeem. Join Conversations on Dance hosts Rebecca King Ferraro and Michael Sean Breeden for a live podcast recording with this summer’s Artist-in-Residence, Alexei Ratmansky. Ratmansky is widely...
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(505) LIVE from the Vail Dance Festival with Ryan Tomash, Principal Dancer with New York City Ballet
Enjoy one month of free access to Conversations on Dance on Patreon and listen ad-free. Click here to redeem. Join Conversations on Dance hosts Rebecca King Ferraro and Michael Sean Breeden for a live podcast recording with one of ballet’s most exciting rising stars: Ryan Tomash, newly promoted...
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(504) LIVE from The Vail Dance Festival with Composer & Musician Caroline Shaw
Enjoy one month of free access to Conversations on Dance on Patreon and listen ad-free. Click here to redeem. Join Conversations on Dance hosts Rebecca King Ferraro and Michael Sean Breeden for a special live podcast recording celebrating a remarkable milestone: the 10th year of Pulitzer Prize…
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(503) LIVE from the Vail Dance Festival with Lauren Lovette, Robbie Fairchild, and Unity Phelan
Enjoy one month of free access to Conversations on Dance on Patreon and listen ad-free. Click here to redeem. Join Conversations on Dance hosts Rebecca King Ferraro and Michael Sean Breeden for a live podcast recording with Three of Vail’s most beloved returning artists: Lauren Lovette, Unity...
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(502) LIVE from The Vail Dance Festival with Michelle Dorrance and Trinity Irish Dance Company
Enjoy one month of free access to Conversations on Dance on Patreon and listen ad-free. Click here to redeem. Join Conversations on Dance hosts Rebecca King Ferraro and Michael Sean Breeden for a live podcast recording with tap visionary and MacArthur “Genius Grant” recipient Michelle Dorrance…
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(501) LIVE from The Vail Dance Festival with Herman Cornejo, American Ballet Theatre Principal Dancer
Enjoy one month of free access to Conversations on Dance on Patreon and listen ad-free. Click here to redeem. Today we are live from Vail with one of the Vail Dance Festival’s most beloved returning artists, ABT Principal Dancer Herman Cornejo. Called “the most technically accomplished male…
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(500) LIVE from The Vail Dance Festival: Martha Graham Dance Company Centennial Celebration
Enjoy one month of free access to Conversations on Dance on Patreon and listen ad-free. Click here to redeem. Join Conversations on Dance hosts Rebecca King Ferraro and Michael Sean Breeden for a live podcast recording featuring Lloyd Knight and Laurel Dalley Smith from the Martha Graham Dance...
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(499) Michael and Rebecca catch up, plus we preview our incredible Vail Dance Festival line up!
Enjoy one month of free access to Conversations on Dance on Patreon and listen ad-free. Click here to redeem. Tickets are on sale now for our live events at the 2026 Vail Dance Festival. For more information and to purchase tickets, click here: https://vaildance.org/conversations-on-dance/...
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(498) Jack Ferver on Curating “Martha Graham: The Mother of Psychological Dance” at NYPL
Enjoy one month of free access to Conversations on Dance on Patreon and listen ad-free. Click here to redeem. Today on the Conversations on Dance podcast we are joined by Jack Fever to discuss their curation of "Martha Graham: The Mother of Psychological Dance" on display now at the New York…
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(497) American Ballet Theatre's Summer Season with Susan Jaffe
Today on the Conversations on Dance podcast we are joined by Susan Jaffe, Artistic Director of American Ballet Theatre. Susan reflects on ABT’s Spring Season, the challenges of the Met season shifting later into summer, and the company exceeding attendance goals while continuing strong ticket...
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(496) Paul Boos, Repetiteur and former Balanchine dancer
Listen to Conversations on Dance ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/conversationsondance Today on the Conversations on Dance podcast we are joined by Paul Boos, Repetiteur and former Balanchine dancer. Paul recounts growing up in South Dakota, being enrolled in ballet with his…
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(495) Padraic Moyles, Executive Producer and Director of 'Riverdance 30 - The New Generation'
Listen to Conversations on Dance ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/conversationsondance On today's episode of Conversations On Dance we are joined by Padraic Moyles, Executive Producer and Director of 'Riverdance 30 - The New Generation'. Padraic tells us about his own journey as a...
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(494) Ariel Rose, Choreographer and former Soloist with Miami City Ballet
Listen to Conversations on Dance ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/conversationsondance Today on the Conversations on Dance podcast we are joined by Ariel Rose, choreographer and former soloist with Miami City Ballet. Ariel traces his path from Ballet Academy East to Boston Ballet…
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(493) Alexandra Damiani, Executive and Artistic Director of Ballets Jazz Montréal
Listen to Conversations on Dance ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/conversationsondance Today on the Conversations on Dance podcast we are joined by Alexandra Damiani, Artistic Director of Ballets Jazz Montréal. Alexandra traces her path from early training in France, then heading to...
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(492) Amy Watson, Artistic Director of the Royal Danish Ballet
Listen to Conversations on Dance ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/conversationsondance On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance", we are joined by Amy Watson, Artistic Director of the Royal Danish Ballet. Amy relays her experience as an American born dancer adjusting to the...
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(491) Co-founders of Barre Trash, Lucas Labrador and Louis DeFelice
Listen to Conversations on Dance ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/conversationsondance On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance", we are joined by Lucas Labrador and Louis DeFelice, co-founders of Barre Trash, the dancewear line everyone from professionals to students to…
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(490) LIVE from Works & Process: Philadelphia Ballet: Romeo and Juliet by Juliano Nunes
Listen to Conversations on Dance ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/conversationsondance Welcome to a special episode of Conversations on Dance recorded live at Works & Process at the Guggenheim. In the conversation, we sit down with Philadelphia Ballet resident choreographer Juliano...
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(489) Eduardo Vilaro, Artistic Director & CEO of Ballet Hispánico New York, on upcoming City Center season
On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance", we are joined by Eduardo Vilaro, Artistic Director & CEO of Ballet Hispánico New York. Eduardo makes his fourth appearance on the show, running through a broad range of topics, from how the political climate is directly impacting his arts…
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(488) Choreographer Akram Khan, on his new 'Lady Macbeth' for Royal Danish Ballet
On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance", we are joined by acclaimed choreographer Akram Khan, weeks before his brand new full length production "Lady Macbeth" premieres at the Royal Danish Ballet. He tells us how the dancers of the company have immersed themselves through months of…
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(487) Royal Danish Ballet soloist Tobias Praetorius
Listen to Conversations on Dance ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/conversationsondance On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance" we are joined by Royal Danish Ballet soloist Tobias Praetorius. He takes us on his journey as a young student falling in love with the theater,...
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(486) March Madness Balanchine Bracket with Maria Calegari and Bart Cook
Listen to Conversations on Dance ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/conversationsondance On Conversations on Dance, we welcome Maria Calegari and Bart Cook to revisit a March Madness-style bracket of George Balanchine ballets created by Indiana University students during COVID, using...
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(485) Ken Browar and Deborah Ory of NYC Dance Project on Photographing Martha Graham Dance Company’s 100 Years
Listen to Conversations on Dance ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/conversationsondance Today, on "Conversations on Dance", we talk with Ken Browar and Deborah Ory, the minds (and cameras) behind NYC Dance Project. We talk with Ken and Deborah about their book, Martha Graham Dance...
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(484) Deborah Wingert on Marcia Dale Weary, Balanchine, and Preserving Ballet Lineage
Listen to Conversations on Dance ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/conversationsondance Today on the Conversations on Dance podcast, we talk with former New York City Ballet dancer and Balanchine répétiteur Deborah Wingert about her early training at Central Pennsylvania Youth…
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(483) Stanton Welch and Julie Kent on Houston Ballet’s Creative Culture and the Season Ahead
Stanton Welch and Julie Kent join the Conversations on Dance podcast this week and reflect on nearly three years leading Houston Ballet, praising the dancers’ versatility, focus, and the engaged Houston community, and describing the value of sharing leadership. They discuss how the company’s...
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(482) Dance writer Marina Harss, on documenting dance in Vienna and Copenhagen
On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance" we are joined by dance writer Marina Harss. Marina tells us about her recent excursions to Vienna and Copenhagen, where she traveled to document some of the most exciting new dynamics in European dance companies, including a renewed focus on...
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(481) Robert Battle, resident choreographer at Paul Taylor Dance Company
On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance" we are joined by choreographer Robert Battle. Robert tells us about how he started a company to push his own choreographic work, what it was like to become the third director in the history of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and how he's just…
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(480) LIVE with Alexei Ratmansky & Gonzalo Garcia, Works & Process at the Guggenheim with Miami City Ballet
WATCH the program on YouTube here. On February 7, 2026, Miami City Ballet presented a first look of world-renowned choreographer Alexei Ratmansky’s new commission celebrating MCB founder Toby Lerner Ansin’s 85th birthday, before its February premiere in Florida. This work blends history…
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(479) Aesha Ash and Jenifer Ringer, Educational Directors at The School of American Ballet
On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance" we are joined by two leaders of the School Of American Ballet, Jenifer Ringer, Director Of Intermediate/Advanced Divisions and Artistic Programming, and Aesha Ash, Head Of Artistic Health and Wellness. They tell us about their own experiences as...
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(478) The new documentary film "About Face: Disrupting Ballet" with Jennifer Lin and Cory Stieg
Today on "Conversations On Dance", our episode centers on the new documentary film "About Face: Disrupting Ballet", which follows two asian dancers, Phil Chan and Georgina Pazcougin, in their effort to eliminate racial stereotypes pervasive in ballet performances across the world.…
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(479) Zimmi Coker, American Ballet Theatre ballerina
On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance" we are joined by American Ballet Theatre ballerina Zimmi Coker. Zimmi recounts how, as a former dance herself, her mother gently guided her through her initial training, how she fell in love with ABT and began to receive plum roles in major full…
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(478) Professional dancers turned therapists and coaches: The founders of ILUMN Collective
Listen to Conversations on Dance ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/conversationsondance On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance", we are joined by Kari Brunson Wright, Josh Spell and Rachel Coats, founders of the ILUMN Collective and former professional dancers turned…
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(477) The Best of 2025 with Michael and Rebecca
Today it's just Michael and Rebecca for our annual look back over the year. Enjoy! Happy Holidays and Happy New Year everyone! We will be back with a new episode on January 7th, 2026. Listen to Conversations on Dance ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/conversationsondance Miami City...
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(476) "The Nutcracker At Wethersfield" with Troy Schumacher & Ashley Laracey, soloists with The New York City Ballet
On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance", we dive into the new documentary "The Nutcracker At Wethersfield", a film that explores the chaotic, thrilling experience of a huge team of dancers, artists and volunteers coming together to ensure that the "Nutcracker" holiday tradition could...
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(475) Author, Elizabeth Kendall, on her new book "Balanchine Finds His America: A Tale Of Love Lost And Ballet Reborn"
On today's episode of Conversations On Dance, we are joined by author Elizabeth Kendall. Elizabeth has written numerous books on dance, her most recent, "Balanchine Finds His America: A Tale Of Love Lost And Ballet Reborn" is on shelves now. Elizabeth takes us through her journey to writing on...
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(474) Alastair Macaulay on Suzanne Farrell
Today on Conversations on Dance, we welcome back a listener favorite and our friend, Alastair Macaulay, former Chief Dance Critic for the New York Times. This past week, on Friday November 14th, Alastair hosted an event at the New York Public Library where he examined films of revered Balanchine...
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(473) "The Sky Was On Fire" - Ballet and War in Ukraine
Today on Conversations on Dance, we hear about a new documentary film about ballet and war in Ukraine, "The Sky Was On Fire." We are joined by the film's Producer Julie Meyer and EP/DP Michael Murray. Julie and Michael tell us about how this story came to them, how they built trust with the...
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(472) LIVE from Miami City Ballet with Patricia Delgado and Gonzalo Garcia
This episode was recorded live on October 19, 2025 at The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami before the opening of Miami City Ballet's 40th anniversary season. Guests in this episode are Tony Award winning choreographer and former Miami City Ballet Principal Dancer, Patricia...
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(471) LIVE from Miami City Ballet with Justin Peck and Gonzalo Garcia
This episode was recorded live on October 18, 2025 at The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami before the opening of Miami City Ballet's 40th anniversary season. Guests in this episode are is Tony Award winning choreographer, Justin Peck, and Miami City Ballet Artistic Director,...
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(470) LIVE from Miami City Ballet with Gonzalo Garcia, Artistic Director of Miami City Ballet
This episode was recorded live on October 17, 2025 at The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami before the opening of Miami City Ballet's 40th anniversary season. This pre-performance talk coordinated with the all Peck program that the company opened their season with, which...
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(469) Tiler Peck and Garen Scribner, on the new documentary, "Tiler Peck: Suspending Time"
On today's episode of "Conversations On Dance" we are joined by superstar NYCB ballerina Tiler Peck and Garen Scribner, former SFB soloist and the Artistic Director of the San Francisco Dance Film Festival. Tiler recounts how her harrowing recovery from a potentially life altering injury was...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Conversations on Dance is an award winning podcast hosted by former Miami City Ballet dancers Rebecca King Ferraro and Michael Sean Breeden. Since 2016, the podcast has provided an inside look at the world of dance through in-depth interviews with the field’s most influential dancers, choreographers, musicians, directors, and educators. With a mission to educate, inspire, and connect, Conversations on Dance goes beyond performance to uncover the stories, insights, and artistry that shape the dance world today.
Each week, listeners are invited into candid conversations that highlight the intelligence, passion, and creative process of those working at the highest levels of the art form. With over 500 episodes and partnerships wi
HOSTED BY
Michael Sean Breeden & Rebecca King Ferraro
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Conversations on Dance have?
Conversations on Dance currently has 493 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Conversations on Dance about?
Conversations on Dance is an award winning podcast hosted by former Miami City Ballet dancers Rebecca King Ferraro and Michael Sean Breeden. Since 2016, the podcast has provided an inside look at the world of dance through in-depth interviews with the field’s most influential dancers,...
How often does Conversations on Dance release new episodes?
Conversations on Dance publishes regularly with 493 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Conversations on Dance?
You can listen to Conversations on Dance on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Conversations on Dance?
Conversations on Dance is created and hosted by Michael Sean Breeden & Rebecca King Ferraro.
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