Open Barre
Welcome to Open Barre, hosted by Julia Dixon, founder of To The Pointe blog, and Brandon Lawrence, Principal Dancer at Birmingham Royal Ballet. Find out what goes on behind the scenes in ballet as we discuss and dive in to this magnificent world featuring many wonderful guests along the way.
Sponsored by DANSEZ dancewear
- Update frequency
- every 14 days
- Average duration
- 71 minutes
- Episodes
- 33
- Years Active
- 2020 - 2023
Bonus Ep: What does it feel like to announce a big move?
We are back for another bonus episode! This time, Julia and Brandon discuss the recent announcement that Brandon will be leaving Birmingham Royal Ballet in the summer, to join Ballet Zurich. In his o…
00:50:31 |
Tue 25 Apr 2023
S5 Bonus Episode! What's it like to dance both male and female roles in ballet?
Did you really think we would end it there?! To round off season five, and the end of 2022, we have a special bonus episode for you all, because what says happy new year without a bit of open barre?!…
01:09:59 |
Fri 30 Dec 2022
S506: What's it like to dance for two Royal Ballet companies?
It's the season five series finale!!! We can't believe that we've come to the end of another season of Open Barre - but here we are! Thank you to all of our amazing listeners, guests, and of course o…
01:18:00 |
Fri 16 Dec 2022
S505: What's it like to watch your spouse debut in a leading role?
It's episode five and what an exciting ep do we have for you! We are joined by not one, but TWO guests from The Royal Ballet - First Soloist Claire Calvert and Principal Dancer Alexander Campbell! Th…
01:18:45 |
Fri 02 Dec 2022
S504: How do you organise a company repertoire?
For episode four of season five, we are joined by the one and only Laura Day! Laura has been dancing with Birmingham Royal Ballet for years, but joins us on Open Barre to discuss her new roles as a P…
01:20:23 |
Fri 18 Nov 2022
S503: What is it like to be a Principal Ballerina's mum?
We have another exciting episode for you all! We are joined by Sabine Naghdi, author of 'Tears Of A Ballet Mum' and mother to Yasmine Naghdi, Principal ballerina at The Royal Ballet and friend of the…
01:19:40 |
Fri 04 Nov 2022
S502: How can the dance industry support its young dancers?
This week we are joined by Julie Bowers, CEO at BBO Dance and Creator and Executive Producer of Grad Pro. Julie gives us an insight into her amazing career since retiring from The Royal Ballet and sh…
01:16:15 |
Fri 21 Oct 2022
S501: What does it feel like to guest with a ballet company?
Welcome back to Open Barre! We know it's been a while since our last season, but what an exciting season five do we have for you! Before we get into it though, in this episode, Brandon and Julia catc…
00:35:40 |
Fri 07 Oct 2022
S406: How do dancers know when to retire?
It's our season finale! And it's also Christmas! And we have the most exciting guest joining us! Today we welcome ballet legend, Leanne Benjamin AM OBE, to Open Barre. Leanne talks us through her won…
01:16:46 |
Fri 24 Dec 2021
S405: How are pointe shoes made?
What a special episode we have for you today! Brandon and Julia are joined by Sophie Simpson, Senior Manager at Freed of London. Sophie tells all about what it's like to work at Freed and gives an in…
01:32:43 |
Fri 10 Dec 2021
S404: Is flying a plane like leaping on stage?
What an exciting episode we have for our Open Barre listeners today! We are joined by ballet legend, Robert Parker, previous Principal dancer with Birmingham Royal Ballet and current Artistic Directo…
01:19:34 |
Fri 26 Nov 2021
S403: What does it feel like to dance with your spouse?
In the latest episode of Open Barre we are joined by our first international guests! Lauretta Summerscales and Yonah Acosta, Principal dancers with Munich Ballet, join us to discuss what it feels lik…
01:12:35 |
Fri 12 Nov 2021
S402: How are dancers told that they have been promoted?
What an exciting episode we have for you all today! We are joined by The Royal Ballet's recently promoted Principal - Anna Rose O'Sullivan!!! We find out how Anna Rose first heard the news that she w…
01:17:10 |
Fri 29 Oct 2021
S401: What makes a great ballet villain?
It's Season Four! We're back with a bang this season with some amazing guests but in our first episode of the season, Brandon and Julia chat about the darker side of ballet as we approach Halloween. …
00:59:46 |
Fri 15 Oct 2021
*Happy Birthday Open Barre!*
It's our first birthday!! We can't believe that it's already a year ago that we first launched Open Barre. In this special episode, our hosts look back on the past year and talk about performance in …
01:07:23 |
Fri 02 Jul 2021
S306: What tools do dancers need to develop their technique?
It's the Season 3 Finale!!! In the last episode of the season, Brandon and Julia are joined by the one and only Yasmine Naghdi, Principal ballerina with The Royal Ballet. Yasmine explains what it tak…
01:27:06 |
Fri 23 Apr 2021
S305: Is it important to keep performing the legendary ballets?
Today, our hosts are back chatting together, just the two of them! Many topics are covered in today's episode, from questioning certain moments in ballet, to discussing works that are rarely revived.…
01:02:48 |
Fri 09 Apr 2021
S304: What is it like to dance with The Royal Ballet?
What an episode we have for you today! Romany Pajdak, Soloist with The Royal Ballet, joins our hosts to discuss her career and reveals what it's like to dance with the corps de ballet. Romany discuss…
01:20:49 |
Fri 26 Mar 2021
S303: How do dancers balance parenthood and ballet?
To celebrate Mother's Day weekend we have not one, but two exciting guests joining us at Open Barre! Nathalie Harrison, former ballerina with The Royal Ballet, discusses her experiences balancing mot…
01:32:58 |
Fri 12 Mar 2021
S302: Who stands where at the ballet barre?
We are so excited to be joined by former Royal Ballet Senior Soloist and teacher extraordinaire, Mr David Peden! Mr P gives us some insight into what it’s like to teach a ballet class, whilst Brandon…
01:20:16 |
Fri 26 Feb 2021
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