HeyJaredWhy Dance Matters
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.
- Indexed episodes, last 90 days
- 6
- Latest publication
- Sep 16, 2026
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- Earliest in this view
- Jul 15, 2026
Latest episodes
Jack Murphy: Bridgerton’s dancing master (opens the original)
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Jack Murphy is the acclaimed choreographer and movement director of Bridgerton. Initially an actor, he became a movement director (training in part at the RAD), helping actors find a physicality to connect them with their characters. Jack was involved in the BBC’s iconic 1995 Pride and Prejudice: in a full-circle moment, he’s worked on Netflix’s new version, starring Emma Corrin. But his work is seen at its most captivating in Bridgerton, which shakes up the rules of period drama and puts dance
Christopher Wheeldon: ballet meets Broadway (opens the original)
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Christopher Wheeldon is a very special guest for the 100th episode of Why Dance Matters. He’s a ballet great – creator of marvels like After the Rain and Tryst, and full length enchantments like Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and The Winter’s Tale. He’s big on Broadway and in the West End, with shows like An American in Paris and MJ the Musical. He’s also president of Benesh International, dedicated to the notation which keeps dance alive, and has just received the Queen Elizabeth II Coronatio
Amanda Teo: ballet meets world (opens the original)
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The RAD has an impressive global reach – in over 80 countries across the world, thousands of teachers are progressing even more thousands of students the curves and lines that make up classical ballet technique. And looking after all those teachers are a wonderful flock of RAD National Directors, including our guest Amanda Teo, RAD National Director in Singapore. Amanda trained in RAD ballet before working behind the scenes at Singapore Ballet and then coming to the RAD as National Director. She
Alicia Graf Mack: holding history in her hand (opens the original)
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Alicia Graf Mack is only the fourth ever director of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. It’s a company with a huge significance for dance history – and especially for Black America. Alicia danced with them from 2005-14, and was mentored by Ailey’s own star dancer, Judith Jamison. Previously a principal ballerina at Dance Theatre of Harlem, more recently she was Dean & Director of Dance at Juilliard School. Now at Ailey, Alicia must maintain the company’s legacy and nurture new works that co
Serena McCall: style and steam (opens the original)
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The wonderful Scottish dancer Serena McCall is currently appearing in Matthew Bourne’s The Car Man. It’s a tale of torrid sex and violence, set in a small US town. Serena herself always looks cucumber cool. She was head girl at her school outside Stirling in Scotland, and her socials showcase her poise and chic. She has also performed in some of the UK’s biggest dance shows, like Kate Prince’s Message in a Bottle and Quadrophenia, based on the Who’s album and movie, as well as the Wicked movies.
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