PODCAST · arts
Talking Pointes
by Claudia Lawson, Fjord Review
The podcast that shines a light on life in the performing arts. Talking Pointes explores the lives and careers of superstar dancers, artistic directors and choreographers, discussing everything from confidence and body image, to auditions, sexuality, bullying and navigating retirement.
Episodes
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Sue Mayes, Healing Hands
Today I have the immense privilege of speaking with Dr. Sue Mayes. She's the current director of the Australian Ballet's globally recognized artistic health team. Sue was born in Victoria, and like many physios who work with dancers, Sue learned classical ballet in her youth and studied full-time...
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James Boyd, the Light Inside
Today I have the immense privilege of speaking with Bangarra Dance Theatre’s James Boyd. James is a proud Aboriginal man with connections to the Kunja and Muruwari people of southwest Queensland. Born on Wiradjuri country in Orange, as a little boy, James wasn't quick to use his words, and had...
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Lucia Field, Family Ties
Today I have the immense privilege of speaking with Lucia Field. Lucia grew up with her family in Sydney, but with her dad, Anthony, as the original Blue Wiggle. It's not the childhood you might imagine. As the Wiggles became global superstars, Lucia didn't see her dad for nearly nine months a...
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Riley Lapham, the Come Back
Today I have the immense privilege of speaking with Riley Lapham. Riley started dancing early in her home town of Wollongong, and by age 14, she had joined the Australian Ballet School. But from here, Riley's journey takes twists and turns. In her graduation year, Riley missed her final…
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Brooke Cassen, Back in the Studio
Today we have the pleasure of speaking with former Australian Ballet dancer Brooke Cassen. On Season Three of Talking Pointes, I spoke with Brooke on what became one of our most listened-to episodes of all time. Today, Brooke returns to the podcast to speak about the success of her episode, and…
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Juliet Doherty, Following the Light
Today I have the privilege of speaking with the divine Juliet Doherty. Juliet was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, which is slightly more Breaking Bad than “Swan Lake,” but Juliet's grandparents owned a ballet studio which passed to Juliet's mother, and so the artistic genes ran deep. Juliet was...
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Get Well with Dr Brandi Cole
In today's episode we speak with superstar Doctor Brandi Cole. You may have seen Dr Brandi on your screens as she worked to keep the Matilda's on the field during the Women's World Cup in 2023, and then at the Paris Olympics. Doctor Brandi is a Sports & Exercise Physician, working with athletes…
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Talking Pointes Season Four
Listen up! Talking Pointes, the podcast that shines a light on life in dance and the performing arts, is back for a fourth season. This season we focus on health— we'll be talking about injury recovery, the psychology of returning to the stage, about body image, disordered eating, and mental...
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Dana Stephensen, Bonus Chapter
For our Season Three bonus episode, we speak again with the divine Dana Stephensen. Dana and I initially spoke about 18 months ago, and in that conversation we covered Dana’s journey into the Australian Ballet, managing her hyperthyroidism and weight gain. We talked about promotions, meeting her...
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John Lam in Motion
This week we head to Boston, where I'm speaking with Boston Ballet's legendary principal dancer, John Lam. John has the most incredible story: His Vietnamese parents were refugees who settled in the US and John, together with his brother and sister grew up in relative poverty in California....
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Evie Ferris, Finding her Voice
Today we’re speaking with the quite incredible Evie Ferris. Evie was born in Cairns in far north Queensland, and she's a proud Taribelang and Djabugay woman. Growing up, Evie danced alongside her sister, a talent so bright that by the age of 12, her family, including two of her five siblings were...
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Adam Blanch, the Real Billy Elliot
Today, I'm speaking with my lifelong friend, Adam Blanch. Adam's story has often been compared with Billy Elliot. He grew up in a tiny town in regional Australia called Weston. It's about an hours drive west of Newcastle. In this tiny town everyone can always remember that Adam was dancing. And…
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Brooke Cassen: Different Dreams
Today we are speaking with the divine Brooke Casson. Brooke Lockett, as she was known throughout her career, grew up in Ballarat and had a dream run to the stage. She was accepted into the Australian Ballet School by the age of 14, and then straight into the company on graduation. In this…
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Shaun Parker King Maker
Today we’re speaking with the phenomenal Shaun Parker. Shaun’s path to artistic director and choreographer of an internationally renowned contemporary dance company is totally unexpected. Shaun grew up on a farm in Mildura in regional Victoria, but he had a double life in dance, theatre and...
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Danielle Rowe, New Frontiers
Today we're speaking with the divine Danielle Rowe. Dani grew up in South Australia, and by 14 she had moved interstate to train [in ballet] under Marie Walton Mann. Within a year of that, she'd been accepted into the Australian Ballet School, and on graduation, she was offered a position with…
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Adam Bull, Man in the Mirror
On our first episode of season three, I'm speaking with the former principal dancer of the Australian Ballet, the much loved Adam Bull. Adam grew up in outer Melbourne and by a stroke of luck, his primary school teacher at his local school suggested he try dance. He did, and it became a love…
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David Hallberg, One Year On
For our bonus episode this season, we’re catching up with the Australian Ballet’s Artistic Director David Hallberg. Last season, David and I spoke about his life growing up in South Dakota, being bullied, training at the Paris Opera, becoming principal at American Ballet Theatre, and being the...
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Paul Mercurio, A life lived in fear is a life half lived
30 years ago this year, a small independent film, by a first time director, and an unknown cast, hit our screens. That film was Strictly Ballroom. And so, for our final episode of Season 2 of Talking Pointes, I’m speaking with the legendary Paul Mercurio. Paul was born in Swan Hill in regional...
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Jenna Caley, Born to Dance
Today I’m speaking with the divine Jenna Roberts. Jenna grew up in Newcastle and started dancing only because a local ballet studio set up shop on the same street as her family home. But as fortune would have it, that local studio happened to be the Marie Walton Mahon Dance Academy, as it was…
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Beau Dean Riley Smith, Stories to Tell
Today I’m speaking with Beau Dean Riley Smith. Beau was born on Wiradjuri Country in Dubbo, Western NSW. But as a little kid the family moved to Culburra on the NSW South Coast where Beau spent his childhood surrounded by siblings, love and chaos while growing up at the beach. Beau didn’t learn…
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Mary Li's Last Dance
Today I’m speaking with Mary Li, ballet mistress and principal répétiteur at the Queensland Ballet. Mary's story to the stage is an unlikely one—one of eight children, Mary grew up in a small town in Central Queensland called Rockhampton. She was the first person in her family to try ballet, but…
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Summer Series: Steven McRae, Full Throttle
Today I am speaking with Steven McRae, Principal Dancer with the Royal Ballet, London. Steven grew up in Western Sydney, in a suburb called Plumpton, 45kms West of Sydney. His Dad was a drag car racer, and no one in the family had ever learnt to dance. But somehow, dance found Steven, And at the...
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Summer Series: Lucinda Dunn's Key to Success
Today I am speaking with the Artistic Director of the Tanya Pearson Academy, Lucinda Dunn. Lucinda started her life in dance destined for London’s West End - where her Mum had been a performer, but a chance meeting with a ballet teacher named Tanya Pearson saw a change of direction, and at 15 she...
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Summer Series: Dancing with Dana Stephensen
Today I am speaking with the divine Dana Stephensen. Dana grew up in Brisbane learning tap, jazz and singing, and never dreamed of being a ballerina. But ballet had a way of finding her. And strangely enough, it was a rejection letter from the Australian Ballet School and the disappointment that...
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Reflections with Deborah Brown
Today I am speaking with the divine Deborah Brown. Deborah is a descendant of the Wakaid Clan of Badu Island, the Meriam people of Murray Island, and also has Scottish heritage. Deborah grew up in Brisbane, learning jazz, ballet and tap at her local dance school, while also dancing around the...
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Summer Series - Rafael Bonachela Revisited
Today I am speaking with the Artistic Director of Sydney Dance Company, Rafael Bonachela. Rafael grew up in the small town of La Garriga near Barcelona in Spain, the eldest of four brothers. With no dance school in the town, the young Rafael would instead create dances for himself and his...
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Amy Harris, Another Fine Day
Today we're am speaking with the magnificent Amy Harris, Principal Dancer with the Australian Ballet. Amy, grew up in the small town of Ararat in rural Victoria, and along with her two sisters, learnt tap, ballet and jazz at her local hall. From there it was the dream run—at 15, Amy was accepted...
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Ethan Stiefel, Center Stage
It’s likely that every single one of our listeners knows the name Cooper Nielson. He briefly broke Jody Sawyer's heart in the cult ballet movie Center Stage, and yet today, we speak with the man who played that role, Ethan Stiefel, who is far more interesting than the notorious Cooper Nielson....
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Shaun Parker, King-maker
Today we’re speaking with the phenomenal Shaun Parker. Shaun’s path to artistic director and choreographer of an internationally renowned contemporary dance company is totally unexpected. Shaun grew up on a farm in Mildura in regional Victoria, but he had a double life in dance, theatre and...
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Talking Pointes Season Three
Talking Pointes returns for an epic third season. On this season, we're speaking with some of the biggest dance superstars in Australia. We're chatting about their lives and careers, navigating everything from promotion, pregnancy, and making principal. But we are also going overseas, speaking to...
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Dana Stephensen's Final Bow
A rejection letter from the Australian Ballet School changed the trajectory of Dana Stephensen's life. This episode revisits Dana's incredible story as she announces her retirement from the Australian Ballet. Hosted by Claudia Lawson Dana grew up in Brisbane learning tap, jazz and singing, and...
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Mao's Last Dancer Speaks Auslan
Li Cunxin, artistic director of the Queensland Ballet, joins us today on Talking Pointes. Most of you will know Li from his early life. He is Mao's Last Dancer. Li was born into complete poverty in rural China, where he was plucked from obscurity to join the Beijing Dance Academy. He was put...
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Signing and Dancing with Emma Memma
For our summer season bonus episode, we’re catching up with the divine Emma Watkins. In season one, Emma and I spoke about her life growing up in Sydney. We spoke about her early dance years, about injuries and auditions, and then being selected to be the first ever female Wiggle. We spoke about...
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David Hallberg, One Year On
For our bonus episode this season, we’re catching up with the Australian Ballet’s Artistic Director David Hallberg. Last season, David and I spoke about his life growing up in South Dakota, being bullied, training at the Paris Opera, becoming principal at American Ballet Theatre, and being the...
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David Hallberg, Wild at Heart
Today I'm speaking with David Hallberg, the new Artistic Director of The Australian Ballet. David was born in a small American town called Rapid City in South Dakota. David started dancing at nine years old, after seeing Fred Astaire on the television. And he only started ballet when he was 13.…
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Alice Topp's Lucky Break
Today I'm speaking with The Australian Ballet's resident choreographer, Alice Topp. Alice was born and raised in Bendigo, a small town in regional Victoria. She started dancing at the age of four and was destined for a career as a ballerina. While Alice's career at The Australian Ballet is widely...
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Daniel Riley leads Australian Dance Theatre
Daniel Riley is the newly appointed artistic director of Australian Dance Theatre. Daniel is a proud Wiradjuri man of Western New South Wales. He grew up around Canberra, inspired by the Tap Dogs, learning contemporary dance, ballet, and tap. But it was a chance encounter with ADTs founder,...
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The Rise of Frances Rings
The incredible Frances Rings, Bangarra's Associate Artistic Director, joins us on this episode of Talking Pointes. A descendant of the Kokatha people, Frances was born in Adelaide and spent her childhood traveling, dancing, and living all around Australia while her father worked on the railways....
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Becoming Emma Wiggle
Many of you will know Emma Watkins as the supremely talented Emma Wiggle. Emma grew up like many aspiring dancers, dreaming of becoming a ballerina, but her dreams took an unexpected change after sustaining an injury as a teenager. Her dreams changed direction and she embarked on a different…
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Marie Walton Mahon's Personal Best
Marie Walton Mahon has taught and trained literally thousands of dancers here in Australia and around the globe. A dance prodigy in her own right, she was selected as a teenager to train in France with the great Rosella Hightower, and then danced professionally in Marseille, under the artistic...
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Lana Jones Gives Back
Lana Jones' journey in ballet seems like the dream run for many aspiring youngsters. As a teenager, she won the silver medal at the international ballet competition, the Genée Awards in London, was accepted into the Australian Ballet School, graduated dux and was accepted straight into the...
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Season One re-release
Congratulations to Talking Pointes, bronze medal winner of Best Arts & Culture podcast for the Australian Podcast Awards. To celebrate, we are revisiting conversations with our guests from Season One. Talking Pointes is produced on the lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation, to whom we…
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Show Reel
Our show reel for Talking Pointes! All the best bits and a taste of what's to come. Talking Pointes is produced on the lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation, to whom we pay our greatest respects. Production dream team ✨ Hosted by @byclaudialawson Produced by @fjordreview Additional...
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Paul Mercurio, A life lived in fear is a live half lived
30 years ago this year, a small independent film, by a first time director, and an unknown cast, hit our screens. That film was Strictly Ballroom. And so, for our final episode of Season 2 of Talking Pointes, I’m speaking with the legendary Paul Mercurio. Paul was born in Swan Hill in regional...
-
Jenna Caley, Born to Dance
Today I’m speaking with the divine Jenna Roberts. Jenna grew up in Newcastle and started dancing only because a local ballet studio set up shop on the same street as her family home. But as fortune would have it, that local studio happened to be the Marie Walton Mahon Dance Academy, as it was…
more -
Beau Dean Riley Smith, Stories to Tell
Today I’m speaking with Beau Dean Riley Smith. Beau was born on Wiradjuri Country in Dubbo, Western NSW. But as a little kid the family moved to Culburra on the NSW South Coast where Beau spent his childhood surrounded by siblings, love and chaos while growing up at the beach. Beau didn’t learn…
more -
Mary's Last Dance
Today I’m speaking with Mary Li, ballet mistress and principal répétiteur at the Queensland Ballet. Mary's story to the stage is an unlikely one—one of eight children, Mary grew up in a small town in Central Queensland called Rockhampton. She was the first person in her family to try ballet, but…
more -
Lucinda Dunn's Key to Success
Today I am speaking with the Artistic Director of the Tanya Pearson Academy, Lucinda Dunn. Lucinda started her life in dance destined for London’s West End - where her Mum had been a performer, but a chance meeting with a ballet teacher named Tanya Pearson saw a change of direction, and at 15 she...
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Steven McRae, Full Throttle
Today I am speaking with Steven McRae, Principal Dancer with the Royal Ballet, London. Steven grew up in Western Sydney, in a suburb called Plumpton, 45kms West of Sydney. His Dad was a drag car racer, and no one in the family had ever learnt to dance. But somehow, dance found Steven, And at the...
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Dana Stephensen's Triple Bill
Today I am speaking with the divine Dana Stephensen. Dana grew up in Brisbane learning tap, jazz and singing, and never dreamed of being a ballerina. But ballet had a way of finding her. And strangely enough, it was a rejection letter from the Australian Ballet School and the disappointment that...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
The podcast that shines a light on life in the performing arts. Talking Pointes explores the lives and careers of superstar dancers, artistic directors and choreographers, discussing everything from confidence and body image, to auditions, sexuality, bullying and navigating retirement.
HOSTED BY
Claudia Lawson, Fjord Review
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Talking Pointes have?
Talking Pointes currently has 75 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Talking Pointes about?
The podcast that shines a light on life in the performing arts. Talking Pointes explores the lives and careers of superstar dancers, artistic directors and choreographers, discussing everything from confidence and body image, to auditions, sexuality, bullying and navigating retirement.
How often does Talking Pointes release new episodes?
Talking Pointes has 75 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Talking Pointes?
You can listen to Talking Pointes 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 Talking Pointes?
Talking Pointes is created and hosted by Claudia Lawson, Fjord Review.
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