Dance Teacher Resources

Royal Academy of Dance drops fifth series of Why Dance Matters podcast

Tiler Peck (right) in 'Swift Arrow'. Photo by Christopher Duggan.
Tiler Peck (right) in 'Swift Arrow'. Photo by Christopher Duggan.

The Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) has launched Series 5 of its podcast, Why Dance Matters. This series features pioneering voices from across the dance and theatre spheres, with a fantastic line-up of stars and changemakers creating waves across the world.

The series begins with New York City Ballet principal dancer Tiler Peck ahead of the European debut of her highly anticipated work Turn It Out with Tiler Peck & Friends. The second episode sees Tim Arthur get behind the mic to chat about his story and first year as Chief Executive of RAD.

We then hear from dance changemakers in the Global South: the Singapore-based Raphael Ng whose career began in the dance studio and jetéd to the world of finance, and Brazilian RAD Teacher Ana Maria Campos who speaks to listeners from this year’s Prix de Lausanne. Francesca Harper, artistic director of the dynamic Ailey II, the second company to Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, is also a guest.

In the final episode, we are taken outside the world of dance to hear from Giles Terera MBE, the British actor who’s won numerous accolades including the 2018 Olivier Award for Best Actor in the musical, Hamilton.

Speaking on the launch of Series 5, podcast host and journalist David Jays says, “We are very excited to launch the fifth season of Why Dance Matters with remarkable people from Brazil, the USA and Singapore, and to hear how dance has shaped their journey. Tiler Peck, one of the world’s great ballerinas, opens the season. Later, we’ll hear how RAD ballet can lead to a career in high finance and how the award-winning actor Giles Terera reframes his body for Shakespeare or musicals. We also meet a publisher, a theatre director, a consumer finance champion, a sometime burlesque performer and the RAD’s new CEO – and they’re all the same person! Do join us for the new season.”

Why Dance Matters is a series of conversations with extraordinary people from the world of dance and beyond. It traces the impact of dance on their lives and asks why dance matters to them – and why it might matter to us all.

Episodes are released weekly. Why Dance Matters is available on all major streaming platforms. To learn more, visit www.royalacademyofdance.org/podcast.

RAD Australia will be at VDF’s renowned Vitality Dance Teacher Day in April, at the Victoria Pavilion Melbourne Showgrounds. Make sure to grab your ticket and join the RAD at Australia’s largest and leading dance educators event. Info and ticket at VDF.com.au/teacherday

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