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Artwork for Voices of British Ballet

Voices of British Ballet

Voices of British Ballet
Ballet
Royal Ballet
British Ballet
Kenneth Macmillan
Ninette De Valois
World War II
Frederick Ashton
Dance
Margot Fonteyn
Royal Ballet School
Ballet Rambert
New York City Ballet
Sadler's Wells Ballet
Brenda Hamlyn
Wendy Toye
Contemporary Dance
Darcey Bussell
Dame Darcey Bussell
Violette Verdy
Victoria and Albert Museum

Voices of British Ballet tells the story of dance in Britain through conversations with the people that built its history. Choreographers, dancers, designers, producers and composers describe their part in the development of the artform from the beginning of the twentieth century. We publish every two weeks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes77Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Performing ArtsArtsHistory

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Artwork for Voices of British Ballet

Latest Episodes

As part of Voices of British Ballet’s Reflections series Jane Pritchard, former curator of Dance at the Victoria and Albert Museum, talks to Patricia Linton, founder and director of Voices of British Ballet, about the Russian ballerina and teacher, S... more

It is a wonderful ability to make the most of the present situation whilst not letting the dream fade, in this case the dream to dance with The Royal Ballet. However, this is just what Federico Bonelli managed to do. He watched Royal Ballet videos in... more

Patricia Clover gives the merest hint of the thinking behind Les Ballets Nègres, the company that lasted from 1946 until 1952. Her excellent memory and matter of fact style almost make you forget what a feat was achieved by its founder and director, ... more

In 2026 Voices of British Ballet is celebrating the life of Ninette de Valois, to mark the centenary of the Royal Ballet School, with a series of interviews and special episodes that illuminate her life and artistic practice.

In this episode, Daniel... more

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Recent Guests

Federico Bonelli
Principal dancer, later artistic director at Northern Ballet
Episode: Federico Bonelli
Stephen Bourne
Historian focusing on Black British culture
Episode: Patricia Clover
Patricia Clover
Dancer and performer with Ballet Nègre, interviewee
Episode: Patricia Clover
Clement Crisp
Dance critic, long-time FT writer
Financial Times
Episode: Celebrating Ninette de Valois: Clement Crisp and Richard Glasstone
Richard Glasstone
Former teacher at the Royal Ballet School
Royal Ballet School
Episode: Celebrating Ninette de Valois: Clement Crisp and Richard Glasstone
Daniel Pratt
Writer on Dance of the Arts, former first soloist
Sarasota Ballet (former)
Episode: Celebrating Ninette de Valois: Clement Crisp and Richard Glasstone
Rick Guest
photographer of dance and dancers
freelance photographer
Episode: Rick Guest
Jonathan Gray
former editor of Dancing Times, interviewer
Dancing Times
Episode: Rick Guest
Christopher Bruce
Choreographer
Choreographer, Rambert (historical)
Episode: Christopher Bruce

Hosts

Natalie Steed
Host of Voices of British Ballet
Patricia Linton
Founder and interviewer; host and director figure within the series

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 14 ratings
  • Fascinating info about British ballet

    Podchaser
    5
    pqznu15je
    15 days ago
  • A vibrant capturing of British Ballet history

    These wonderful podcasts are such a vibrant way to capture the history of British Ballet - I love hearing the eclectic interviews, each bringing a particular perspective, and carefully contextualised with skill, knowledge and sensitivity. So many insights which complement and bring to life and illuminate this part of dance history. A huge thank you to everyone involved.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jedthecat
    United Kingdom6 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise the archival depth and the thoughtful, contextual interviews.
Production quality and guest selection are consistently strong for educational listening.
The show shines in connecting personal memories with broader dance history.

Chart Rankings

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Patricia Clover
Q: What inspired the Ballet Nègre project and how did it start?
The project grew out of Berto Pasuka's aim to form a black ballet company that drew on African dance movements, with financial backing from Adam Meredith and collaborations with Leonard Salzedo and Richie Riley, evolving from Pasuka's early film work and cabaret experiences.
Celebrating Ninette de Valois: Clement Crisp and Richard Glasstone
Q: So Clement needs no introduction for the dance ballet fan because he really, he was the long-time dance critic at the Financial Times—what were the values that de Valois held most dear to her in the people she worked with and her collaborators?
Clement Crisp reflects that loyalty and professionalism were paramount; de Valois wanted people who would remain devoted to the cause, committing to the company and its mission, and she forgave certain deviations if a dancer remained integral to the team and its long-term vision.
Christopher Bruce
Q: Mark, what can you tell us about Christopher Bruce and how he fits into the story of British dance?
Monahan outlines Bruce as a versatile choreographer who combines political awareness with strong musicality, noting his evolution from Rambert dancer to a creator of influential works like Rooster and Ghost Dancers, and emphasizes the way his pieces use atmosphere alongside narrative depth.
Barbara Vernon
Q: Barbara, could you explain how Legat's teaching differed from the RAD approach you had studied?
Barbara describes Legat's focus on flow and an integrated approach to movement, contrasting it with RAD's emphasis on precise, individual steps, and notes how Legat's class of perfection aimed to develop dancers who could present a cohesive, expressive movement language.
Felicity Sands Widdrington
Q: So who did you start off with?
My very first interview was with my next door neighbour, Felicity Sands-Widdrington, who, while not a dancer herself at the time, had studied ballet and traveled from Australia to London to pursue it, shaping the early part of the oral history project.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Voices of British Ballet

What is Voices of British Ballet about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Archivally rich conversations chart Britain's ballet history through first‑hand memories, historical context, and expert analysis. Episodes span wartime touring, teaching lineage, landmark works, and the preservation of memory, often featuring former dancers, curators, and historians who illuminate how British ballet evolved across the 20th century. Notable throughlines include Ninette de Valois's influence, debates around mime and pedagogy, and the enduring impact of training institutions and touring companies. The show often blends intimate reminiscences with scholarly framing, making it a valuable resource for researchers, historians, and practitioners seeking deep cultural insight and archival storytelling.

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Which podcasts are similar to Voices of British Ballet?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Voices of British Ballet:

1. Why Dance Matters
2. This Cultural Life
3. Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth
4. Conversations on Dance
5. Drinks at the Barre

How many episodes of Voices of British Ballet are there?

Voices of British Ballet launched 4 years ago and published 77 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Voices of British Ballet?

Recent guests on Voices of British Ballet include:

1. Federico Bonelli
2. Stephen Bourne
3. Patricia Clover
4. Clement Crisp
5. Richard Glasstone
6. Daniel Pratt
7. Rick Guest
8. Jonathan Gray

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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