Best Wayneshout Podcasts (2025)

1
Répétiteur Repartee: Cameron Basden & Light Rain 14:28

8d ago14:28

14:28

Cameron Basden, Répétiteur for the Arpino Trust, joins us ahead of Fort Wayne Ballet's staging of Light Rain, as part of the Ballet Russe Reimagined series conclusion. Jim and Cameron discuss the evolution of our company over the years of performing Gerald Arpino's masterworks and the versatility and skill of Fort Wayne's dancers.…

1
Serenade: Balanchine Finds Fort Wayne 29:35

1M ago29:35

29:35

For the first time in its history, Fort Wayne Ballet is performing a work by the great choreographer George Balanchine. As we anticipate the upcoming part two of our Ballet Russe Reimagined series, Jim Sparrow and Karen Gibbons-Brown discuss the iconic ballet Serenade. Fort Wayne Ballet’s second of a three-part series, Ballet Russe Reimagined, will…

1
Conversations with the Choreographer: David Ingram 22:11

2M ago22:11

22:11

David Ingram is Fort Wayne Ballet’s guest choreographer for Les Sylphides as part of the Ballet Russe Reimagined series. In this interview, Jim Sparrow asks David about his career and his inspiration for setting new movement to this classic piece. Fort Wayne Ballet’s first of a 3-part series, Ballet Russe Reimagined, will be performed on March 21 a…

1
Ballet Russe in Review: An En Avant Supercut 26:04

2M ago26:04

26:04

The En Avant series, narrated by Fort Wayne Ballet Artistic Director Karen Gibbons-Brown, airs Saturdays on 89.1 WBOI during the Classical Connections Review. This episode of the Kinetic Conversations Podcast is a supercut of Karen’s six-part series on the history of the Ballet Russe, from its post-classical beginnings in Russia to its influence on…

1
Conversations with the Choreographer: Mark Godden 25:18

3M ago25:18

25:18

On March 21, Fort Wayne Ballet is presenting Le Sacre du printemps, otherwise known as Stravinsky's Rite of Spring, as part of the Ballet Russe Reimagined series. It will be presented as a world premiere, with new choreography by famed choreographer, Mark Godden. Artistic Director Karen Gibbons-Brown sat down with Mark to discuss the process of cre…

1
Bringing Home the Ballet Russe 30:14

3M ago30:14

30:14

Stravinsky's unnerving music meets backdrops by... Picasso? As we move into our Spring season, we look ahead to our three stagings of the Ballet Russe Reimagined. Jim and Karen sit down and discuss what the Ballet Russe means historically to ballet, and how our performances bring back the traditions of the roving dance company of the early 20th cen…

1
En Avant: The Ballet Russe Part 6 5:07

3M ago5:07

5:07

After getting his start in the Ballet Russe, George Balanchine makes a name in New York.By Jim Sparrow, John Dawkins

1
En Avant: The Ballet Russe Part 5 5:07

3M ago5:07

5:07

The Ballet Russe finds new life in America after Diaghilev's death.By Jim Sparrow, John Dawkins

1
En Avant: The Ballet Russe Part 4 5:07

4M ago5:07

5:07

The Ballet's repertoire expands during a successful tour of South America.By Jim Sparrow, John Dawkins

1
En Avant: The Ballet Russe Part 3 5:08

4M ago5:08

5:08

Diaghilev brings together the greatest artists, composers, and choreographers of the day to create innovative and sometimes controversial works.By Jim Sparrow, John Dawkins

1
En Avant: The Ballet Russe Part 2 5:07

4M ago5:07

5:07

The Bolshevik revolution makes artistic expression a dangerous undertaking in Russia, and Diaghilev takes the Ballet to the West instead.By Jim Sparrow, John Dawkins

1
En Avant: The Ballet Russe Part 1 5:07

4M ago5:07

5:07

Diaghilev takes the reigns and showcases Russian dance to the rest of the world.By Jim Sparrow, John Dawkins

1
En Avant: Nutcracker: Lasting Traditions 5:06

4M ago5:06

5:06

Having found new life in America, the Nutcracker thrives as a holiday tradition.By Jim Sparrow, John Dawkins

1
En Avant: Nutcracker: Composing with Tchaikovsky 5:09

4M ago5:09

5:09

Petipa works with the famed composer to establish the music for the famed holiday ballet.By Jim Sparrow, John Dawkins

1
En Avant: Nutcracker: Dancing of the Sweets 5:08

4M ago5:08

5:08

We explore Petipa's inspiration for the dances in his NutcrackerBy Jim Sparrow, John Dawkins

1
Nutcracker Under the Lights 18:52

5M ago18:52

18:52

Time to hear from the dancers! In this all-new Nutcracker chat, we start with three of our dancers - Talbot Rue, Anna Orzulak, and Abby Zinsser, who tell us what dancing in The Nutcracker every year means to them, both artistically and nostalgically. Then, we join Jim and Karen for a discussion on bringing new elements to this year's staging of the…

1
En Avant: Petipa's Nutcracker 5:08

6M ago5:08

5:08

En Avant is a five minute ballet segment, hosted by Karen Gibbons-Brown, which airs during Rob Nylund's Classical Connection Review, every Saturday evening on Fort Wayne's 89.1 WBOI. This version has been modified from its broadcast edition to accommodate musical copyright. We know and love The Nutcracker, but was it always so popular? Marius Petip…

1
En Avant: Marius Petipa & The Classical Era 5:08

6M ago5:08

5:08

En Avant is a five minute ballet segment, hosted by Karen Gibbons-Brown, which airs during Rob Nylund's Classical Connection Review, every Saturday evening on Fort Wayne's 89.1 WBOI. This version has been modified from its broadcast edition to accommodate musical copyright. In this segment, Karen overviews the career of famed choreographer Marius P…

1
En Avant: The End of an Era - Saying Goodbye to the Romantic Ballet 4:14

6M ago4:14

4:14

En Avant is a five minute ballet segment, hosted by Karen Gibbons-Brown, which airs during Rob Nylund's Classical Connection Review, every Saturday evening on Fort Wayne's 89.1 WBOI. This version has been modified from its broadcast edition to accommodate musical copyright. In this segment, Karen notes the transition from the Romantic Ballet era in…

1
REPLAY! Conversations of Nutcrackers Past 28:44

6M ago28:44

28:44

As we continue working on all-new podcast content, here's the best of the best! Jim Sparrow hosts this introspective look back at past Kinetic Conversations, all about our favorite Holiday show, The Nutcracker! This episode originally released in November of 2023.By Jim Sparrow, John Dawkins

1
En Avant: The Stars of the Romantic Period 5:17

6M ago5:17

5:17

En Avant is a five minute ballet segment, hosted by Karen Gibbons-Brown, which airs during Rob Nylund's Classical Connection Review, every Saturday evening on Fort Wayne's 89.1 WBOI. This version has been modified from its broadcast edition to accommodate musical copyright. This episode notes the first rising stars of ballet - the ballerinas of the…

1
En Avant: The Romantic Era 5:18

6M ago5:18

5:18

En Avant is a five minute ballet segment, hosted by Karen Gibbons-Brown, which airs during Rob Nylund's Classical Connection Review, every Saturday evening on Fort Wayne's 89.1 WBOI. This version has been modified from its broadcast edition to accommodate musical copyright. This episode first aired on October 26, 2024, and discusses the trademarks …

1
En Avant: The Early Ballet 5:10

6M ago5:10

5:10

En Avant is a five minute ballet segment, hosted by Karen Gibbons-Brown, which airs during Rob Nylund's Classical Connection Review, every Saturday evening on Fort Wayne's 89.1 WBOI. This episode first aired on October 19, 2024, and discusses the early French roots of the ballet and its terminology.By Jim Sparrow, John Dawkins

1
En Avant: A Continuing Look at Don Quixote 5:06

7M ago5:06

5:06

En Avant is a five minute ballet segment, hosted by Karen Gibbons-Brown, which airs during Rob Nylund's Classical Connection Review, every Saturday evening on Fort Wayne's 89.1 WBOI. This episode first aired on October 12, 2024, and continues the discussion on Fort Wayne Ballet's latest staging of Don Quixote.…

1
Windmills for Giants: Ballet's Favorite Rom-Com 16:25

7M ago16:25

16:25

Jim Sparrow and Karen Gibbons-Brown discuss what they agree can be called Ballet's best-beloved romantic comedy, as Fort Wayne Ballet prepares to perform Don Quixote, this weekend at the brand new Pearl Street Arts. Jim and Karen review the characters and synopsis of the show and the challenges and opportunities of staging in a non-traditional new …

1
En Avant: An Introduction to Don Quixote 5:08

7M ago5:08

5:08

En Avant is a five minute ballet segment, hosted by Karen Gibbons-Brown, which airs during Rob Nylund's Classical Connection Review, every Saturday evening on Fort Wayne's 89.1 WBOI. This episode first aired on October 5th, 2024, and introduces audiences to Don Quixote - described as ballet's favorite Rom-Com.…

1
Ready or Not, Here Comes Season Sixty-Eight! 19:33

7M ago19:33

19:33

In this episode, Jim and Karen take a look at our exciting new season, complete with world premieres and brand-new venues. Welcome to Fort Wayne Ballet's sixty-eighth season!By Jim Sparrow, John Dawkins

1
S6E14: Pre-Professional Conversations Series, “Summer Intensive Part II” 17:26

9M ago17:26

17:26

Welcome to the Kinetic Conversations series on pre-professional dance programs, featuring the Fort Wayne Ballet Summer Intensive program. Over three episodes, Artistic Director Karen Gibbons-Brown sits down with professional dancers Talbot Rue, Jessica Humphrey, and Abby Zinsser, and graduating pre-professional GiGi McDowell to discuss this all-imp…

1
S6E13: Pre-Professional Conversations Series, “Summer Intensive Part I” 18:39

9M ago18:39

18:39

Welcome to the Kinetic Conversations series on pre-professional dance programs, featuring the Fort Wayne Ballet Summer Intensive program. Over three episodes, Artistic Director Karen Gibbons-Brown sits down with professional dancers Talbot Rue, Jessica Humphrey, and Abby Zinsser, and graduating pre-professional GiGi McDowell to discuss this all-imp…

1
S6E12: Pre-Professional Conversations Series, “Gotta Go Pro” 21:18

10M ago21:18

21:18

Welcome to the Kinetic Conversations series on pre-professional dance programs, featuring the Fort Wayne Ballet Summer Intensive program. Over three episodes, Artistic Director Karen Gibbons-Brown sits down with professional dancers Talbot Rue, Jessica Humphrey, and Abby Zinsser, and graduating pre-professional GiGi McDowell to discuss this all-imp…

1
S6E11: We’re Off to Camp! 14:00

12M ago14:00

14:00

Artistic Director Karen Gibbons-Brown hosts this special episode of Kinetic Conversations, as she pulls in Academy instructors Avalou Burns and Schuyler Kechely, to discuss the fun and magic that is Fort Wayne Ballet’s summer camps. Register now for our July camps! No dance experience necessary for ages 3-10. Register online at fortwayneballet.org …

1
S6E10: Romeo and Juliet Part 3, A Chat with the Star-Crossed Lovers 22:59

1y ago22:59

22:59

In our final Romeo & Juliet podcast, Jim Sparrow sits down with our own Romeo and Juliet, as Thomas Caleb Roberts and Brittany Focht tell us of their individual journeys in developing their characters for the stage. Along the way, we discuss a dancer’s quest to maintain good physical and mental health and the joys of performing with a live orchestr…

1
S6E9: Romeo & Juliet Part 2: Pillow Dances and a Clash of Swords 21:10

1y ago21:10

21:10

In part two of our discussion of Fort Wayne Ballet’s upcoming production of Romeo & Juliet, Jim Sparrow sits down with two former Romeos to discuss what is often thought of as a “man’s ballet.” Choreographers Robert La Fosse and David Ingram break down strenuous male roles that include multiple pas de deux and sword fighting. Meanwhile, Jim continu…

1
S6E8: Romeo & Juliet Part 1: Romeo, Prokofiev, & Not a Happy Ending 18:00

1y ago18:00

18:00

In this first part of our discussion on the ballet, Romeo & Juliet, Jim sits down with Karen Gibbons-Brown to review Prokofiev's near-perfect score and the history of his adaptation of the Shakespearean tale of woeful romance. The composer dreamed of a happy ending for his version of the luckless lovers' tale, but Fate could not be deterred. Fort W…

1
S6E7: Conversations of Nutcrackers Past 28:44

1+ y ago28:44

28:44

For this episode, we take a look back at some of the previous conversations we have had about The Nutcracker in the years we have been doing this podcast. Join us as we revisit discussions on the ballet's history and legacy with Karen Gibbons-Brown and an insightful discussion on the Tchaikovsky's music with the help of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic'…

1
S6E6: Beyond the Nutcracker 20:10

1+ y ago20:10

20:10

In this episode, we've turned the tables on show host Jim Sparrow, as he takes a turn in the interview chair. In his roll as Fort Wayne Ballet's Executive Director, he gives us a glimpse into the structure and the day-to-day mechanics of operating a ballet company. Find out what goes into a production from a fiscal standpoint, with the behind-the-s…

1
Opening Night Miniseries Part 3: Three Virgins and a Devilish Season 13:01

1+ y ago13:01

13:01

Fort Wayne Ballet is getting ready to stage its first big show of the 2023-24 season, entitled Opening Night! In this three part series, Kinetic Conversations looks at each of the three ballets the company will be perform in the show - each with a nod to New York City. In our third installment of this miniseries, Jim Sparrow and Karen Gibbons-Brown…

1
Opening Night Miniseries Part 2: Fancy Free 20:23

1+ y ago20:23

20:23

Fort Wayne Ballet is getting ready to stage it's first big show of the 2023-24 season, entitled Opening Night!. In this three part series, Kinetic Conversations looks at each of the three ballets the company will be perform in the show - each with a nod to New York City. In part two of our series, Jim interviews Robert LaFosse, repetiteur for Jerom…

1
Opening Night Miniseries Part 1: Italian Suite 12:55

1+ y ago12:55

12:55

Fort Wayne Ballet is getting ready to stage it's first big show of the 2023-24 season, entitled Opening Night!. In this three part series, Kinetic Conversations looks at each of the three ballets the company will be perform in the show - each with a nod to New York City. In part one, Jim Sparrow sits down with Arpino Foundation repetiteur Cameron B…

1
S6E2: An Education in Dance Pt 2: Training the Future 19:28

2y ago19:28

19:28

As we look ahead to the start of our fall semester at the Fort Wayne Ballet academy, we want to take a look at dance education in America in general and what it means to us at Fort Wayne Ballet to carry on this legacy in the fine arts. In the second half of our discussion, Jim and Karen discuss the different paths a student might take in the academ…

1
S6E1: An Education in Dance Pt 1: Then and Now 25:41

2y ago25:41

25:41

As we look ahead to the start of our fall semester at the Fort Wayne Ballet academy, we want to take a look at dance education in America in general and what it means to us at Fort Wayne Ballet to carry on this legacy in the fine arts. In this first episode in a two-part discussion, Jim and Karen look at the deep past of dance education and how it …

1
Life of Stierle Miniseries: Episode 3, "The Gift of a Legacy" 22:02

2y ago22:02

22:02

In our three-part miniseries, Kinetic Conversations looks at the life, career, and legacy of Eddie Stierle. In our third and final installment, we meet again with Eddie’s sister, Rose, to talk about the lasting impact, the international recognition, and the touching tribute from the dance world that all stand as part of the deserving legacy of Eddi…

1
Life of Stierle Miniseries: Episode 2, "Like No Other" 21:24

2y ago21:24

21:24

Join us for Part 2 of our podcast miniseries on Stierle! In our three-part miniseries, Kinetic Conversations looks at the life, career, and legacy of Eddie Stierle. In this heartfelt second episode, we talk to Kim Sagami, the repetiteur working with Fort Wayne Ballet to restage Eddie’s works. Kim shares with us what it meant to her to not only danc…

1
Life of Stierle Miniseries: Episode 1, "Who Was Eddie?" 29:14

2y ago29:14

29:14

Fort Wayne Ballet is set to make history in May, as we perform three ballets by Edward Stierle together for the first time. A gifted young dancer and choreographer for the Joffrey Ballet, Eddie passed away in 1991 just after the premier of his last ballet. He was 23 years old. In our three-part miniseries, Kinetic Conversations looks at the life, c…

1
S5E5: SPECIAL EPISODE, "I Have Been Dancing" 39:54

2y ago39:54

39:54

“I have been dancing since I was three..." In this special episode of Kinetic Conversations, we hear from trainers, educators, and the dancers themselves what it means to them to be a dancer. Join with us as we celebrate these wonderful people who are the heart and soul of our company. We take a look back at some past sound bites from Raymond Luken…

1
Ballet 101 Miniseries: A Fairytale in Dance, Episode 3: Story Through Movement 11:53

2y ago11:53

11:53

In the final part of this miniseries, we Look at Fort Wayne Ballet’s upcoming production of Swan Lake and take a look at the plot and characters in Tchaikovsky’s famed tragic tale. Do you know who defied convention to dance in shorter skirts, paving the way to the tutu? When did ballets transition from tragedies to happy-ever-afters? When did we st…

1
Ballet 101 Miniseries: A Fairytale in Dance, Episode 2: Heroes & Villains 13:05

2y ago13:05

13:05

Every good story needs a villain. Some are evil, some are misunderstood, and some are merely careless in their intentions, but they drive the plot. What makes up a ballet villain, and how are they overcome? Let’s take a look. This three-episode miniseries discusses the components of romantic and classical era story ballets, examining their history …

1
Ballet 101 Miniseries: A Fairytale in Dance, Episode 1: Story Ballets 11:42

2y ago11:42

11:42

This three-episode miniseries discusses the components of romantic and classical era story ballets, examining their history and the evolution their choreography, their structure, and audiences’ expectations, with a special look at our upcoming production of Swan Lake. The series will drop on consecutive Fridays in March. Series is hosted by Jim Spa…

1
S5E1: Dracula: Music of Love and Terror 31:29

2+ y ago31:29

31:29

In preparation for our Dracula performances, we take a look at the music of Alfred Schnittke, first through a choreographer's eye, as Jim has a discussion with Tracy Tritz. Then podcast's producer John Dawkins has a discussion with orchestral music expert, Dr. Steven Kandow.By Jim Sparrow, John Dawkins

1
A Greenhouse in Spring 29:07

3y ago29:07

29:07

Fighting off the effects of post-Easter dinner indulgence, Blake and Brian talk spring in the greenhouse. From the fruits of their new cold-houses to the best mixed container arrangements, They're ready for your spring needs. It Ain't Dirt, It's Soil! is hosted by Blake and Brian Young, our producer is John Dawkins at Wayneshout Productions, LLC, a…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Wayneshout Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide