DANCE LENS PODCAST:
This week, we’re thrilled to welcome Tara Ghassemieh, a groundbreaking figure in the world of ballet. Tara isn’t just a ballerina; she’s a choreographer, director, producer, and activist. As the U.S.'s only Iranian Principal Ballerina, she serves as a cultural ambassador, sharing the rich yet turbulent history of ballet in Iran.
In this episode, Tara takes us on a journey into the rise and fall of the Iranian National Ballet Company, once a prestigious cultural institution in the Middle East. She sheds light on the impact of the 1979 Iranian Revolution, which led to the company’s disbandment and a crackdown on dance, especially for women. Yet, against all odds, an underground ballet scene emerged, a testament to the resilience of Iranian artists. Today, ballet in Iran endures as a powerful act of cultural resistance, challenging restrictions and reclaiming artistic expression.
Thanks for listening to The Dance Lens Podcast, where we meet at the intersections of dance, arts, history, fashion, politics, and societal change. I'm your host, Cynthia Dragoni.
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State of the Unions: From San Francisco to Paris Ballet Dancers Demand Fair Contracts
As we watch governments topple ballet is having its own uprising. An artist is always a product of her times and the ballet dancers are no exception. From the public debacle at Dallas Black Dance Theater, to an almost cancelled Nutcracker season at San Fransisco Ballet to the ancient halls at the Paris Opera dancers are standing up in no uncertain terms for their rights.
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ABT Icon Gillian Murphy Retires after 29 Years on stage.
Gillian Murphy, Principal Dancer: She was a bridge between the generations, both a mark of the future in her technical brilliance and a timeless artist and classic beauty who would have been a star in any time period.
Known for her lithe strength, her ephemeral prowess and glowing redheaded beauty. She captured the dreams of a generation when she performed one of the Odaliques in ABT’s recording of Le Corsaire. Hitting triple pirouettes on the full diagonal in a time when that level of technical bravura wasn’t seen everyday, especially on the ballerina.
You’ll sometimes hear it said that a dancer either retires too later or too early, I would argue that it’s always too early and Murphy’s particular brand of brilliance won’t be replaced anytime soon.
Her final performance will be in the role of Odette/Odile in Swan Lake with American Ballet Theater on July 18th 2025.
This will be a sold out show get your tickets HERE
Make it stand out.
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Make it stand out.
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
