Talking Pointes

Today we are speaking with the divine Brooke Casson. Brooke Lockett, as she was known throughout her career, grew up in Ballarat and had a dream run to the stage. She was accepted into the Australian Ballet School by the age of 14, and then straight into the company on graduation. In this beautiful and brave interview, Brooke speaks about her career at the Australian Ballet. We speak about promotions, about being the face of the company, the perception of rank and about hard conversations, but we also talk about so much more about new careers, about meeting her husband, becoming a mom. Brooke continues to direct and teach at her Studio in Rose Bay in Sydney. For class times, and to sign up, head to studio696.com.au or @Studio696x on Instagram. And to continue to follow all of Brooke's wonderful adventures, you can find her on Instagram at @brookecassen.Brooke and I recorded our conversation on the lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation, to whom we pay our greatest respects.  Production dream team ✨Hosted by @byclaudialawsonProduced by @fjordreviewAdditional Production @clinttopicSound & Editing @outputmediaStudios @brightsidesydney@sawtoothstudios

Today we’re speaking with the phenomenal Shaun Parker. Shaun’s path to artistic director and choreographer of an internationally renowned contemporary dance company is totally unexpected. Shaun grew up on a farm in Mildura in regional Victoria, but he had a double life in dance, theatre and singing. After finishing high school, Shaun went on to study science at Monash University in Melbourne until a sliding doors moment— Shaun saw a dance rehearsal in a university lecture room, and the rest is history. In this wonderful interview, Shaun talks about dropping out of uni, returning to the studio to train in dance, and about dancing professionally with the likes of Meryl Tankard, Australian Dance Theater and Chunkymove. But Shaun also speaks about a lot more; of his marriage, later identifying as bisexual, about toxic masculinity, and finally about finding his purpose in starting the internationally acclaimed Shaun Parker & Company.   Production dream team ✨Hosted by @byclaudialawsonProduced by @fjordreviewAdditional Production @clinttopicSound & Editing @outputmediaStudios @brightsidesydney@sawtoothstudios

Today we're speaking with the divine Danielle Rowe. Dani grew up in South Australia, and by 14 she had moved interstate to train [in ballet] under Marie Walton Mann. Within a year of that, she'd been accepted into the Australian Ballet School, and on graduation, she was offered a position with the company, but the accolades didn't stop. Dani rose to principal artist, won the Telstra Ballet Dancer award twice, and represented the Australian Ballet company around the world from London to China. But in a move that defines the superstars trajectory, she wanted more. She left Australia and moved to the US, joining Houston Ballet as a principal artist. Less than a year later, she was offered a contract with a prestigious Netherlands Dance Theater. In this wondrous conversation, Dani and I talk about her career across three continents, how she found choreography, about managing long distance relationships, her want for a family, and ultimately how she became the first female artistic director of Oregon Ballet Theater.  Production dream team ✨Hosted by @byclaudialawsonProduced by @fjordreviewAdditional Production @clinttopicSound & Editing @outputmediaStudios @brightsidesydney@sawtoothstudios

On our first episode of season three, I'm speaking with the former principal dancer of the Australian Ballet, the much loved Adam Bull. Adam grew up in outer Melbourne and by a stroke of luck, his primary school teacher at his local school suggested he try dance. He did, and it became a love affair that has lasted a lifetime. By the time he was a teenager, he was training under Brian Nolan at Dance World 3 0 1 before joining the Australian Ballet School and then being accepted straight into the Australian Ballet. In this wonderful interview recorded just five days before Adam's final performance in Melbourne. Adam reflects on his career, he speaks of his early life growing up, dancing, joining the company, and of course making principal. But we also talk about more about love, about his onstage relationship with Amber Scott, his thoughts on marriage and what it feels like to dance for the national company for 22 years. Talking Pointes was recorded on traditional lands of the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation, Awabakal and Worimi. We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of Country and recognise the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We recognise that sovereignty was never ceded. Production dream team ✨Hosted by @byclaudialawsonProduced by @fjordreviewAdditional Production @clinttopicSound & Editing @outputmediaStudios @brightsidesydney@sawtoothstudios