Episode 30: Overcoming Struggle, Paris Opera, and Alicia Alonso Stories w/ Osiel Gouneo

Episode 33: "Soul", SYTYCD, & Indigenous Representation w/ Jera Wolfe: This week we are joined by intrepid choreographer Jera Wolfe to talk about his most recent creation — a dance film called "Soul" for the National Ballet of Canada — and get a behind-the-scenes look at the genesis of this profound piece. We talk about his rise to success, the unique blend of experiences that add to his choreographic vocabulary, and get some stories from his time as a finalist on So You Think You Can Dance Canada. Finally, we close with a conversation on the state of Indigenous representation in the arts in Canada, and hear what it has been like for Jera to re-discover his Métis heritage. Check out "Soul" on NBoC's youtube here: https://youtu.be/So9_pPS1rzo Host: Kealan McLaughlin Guest: Jera Wolfe @JeraWolfe https://www.jerawolfe.com/ Two Two Guys can be reached at: Instagram and Facebook: @twotwoguys Email: twotwoguyspod@gmail.com Leave a review! Send us a message! Let us know wha by Two Two Guys

40 min listen

Episode 32: Dancers as Athletes of Art w/ Joseph Gatti by Two Two Guys

49 min listen

Episode 31: Longevity w/ Greta Hodgkinson: This week we are joined by star of the stage for three decades - Greta Hodgkinson! Greta retired from the National Ballet of Canada as a principal ballerina in 2020 at the age of 46, having danced in the company for 30 years. During this episode we go into the "how" of it all, and try to determine the magic recipe which enabled Greta to dance so fabulously and with such longevity. We talk about how a dancer's mindset changes over time, the importance of good coaching and mentoring, and hear stories from her illustrious career. Also, Greta is launching a mentorship program called Dance Mentoring by Greta. You can stay up to date by checking it out online and on social media! Host: Kealan McLaughlin Guest: Greta Hodgkinson @GretaHodgkinson @DanceMentoringbyGreta https://www.dancementoringbygreta.com/ Two Two Guys can be reached at: Instagram and Facebook: @twotwoguys Email: twotwoguyspod@gmail.com Le by Two Two Guys

50 min listen

Episode 29: Greatness, Pushing the Art Form Forward, and Performance Mindset w/ Osiel Gouneo: This week on the pod we are joined by Cuban ballet-phenom Osiel Gouneo for part 1 of a 2-part interview. Having danced as a leading principal at Ballet Nacional de Cuba (Havana), Norweigan National Ballet (Oslo), and Bayerisches Staatsballett (Munich), as well as guesting and performing in galas all over the world, Osiel is in equal measure tremendously talented, completely charismatic, and utterly unpretentious. In part 1 we talk about the relationship between greatness & modesty, the ways people are, and the ways we could be pushing the art form further in the 21st century, take a look under the hood at what he is feeling and thinking about when he performs his remarkable feats on stage, and much more. Make sure to come back for part 2 next week and check out our Instagram for easy access to all the solos referenced in the episode. Host: Kealan McLaughlin Guest: Osiel Gouneo by Two Two Guys

41 min listen

Episode 28: Part 2 w/ Ballerina-turned-conductor Maria Seletskaja: We present to you Part 2 of our conversations with ballerina-turned-conductor Maria Seletskaja. On the previous episode we talked about the unique career transition that took her from performing lead roles on stage to leading the orchestra in front of the stage and discussed her upcoming debut conducting Swan Lake for the Estonian National Ballet. On this episode we hear about the performance mere hours after the curtain has closed, share feedback directly from the dancers in the performance, and probe further into the psyche of a conductor in these high-pressure moments. Maria has made the remarkable journey from dancing as a soloist ballerina with some of the leading ballet theatres in Europe to conducting across the globe with companies like the National Ballet of Canada, Royal Danish Ballet, and now her home theatre of the Estonian National Ballet. Join us for 2 conversations, both rich with insight, and learn ab by Two Two Guys

40 min listen

Episode 27: Part 1 w/ Ballerina-turned-conductor Maria Seletskaja: SPECIAL MID-WEEK BONUS POD! This week on the show we are joined by ballerina-turned-conductor Maria Seletskaja. Currently Conductor-in-Residence at the National Ballet of Canada, and simultaneously preparing for debuts with Royal Danish Ballet and Estonian National Ballet, she actually began as a ballet dancer. During her 15-year ballet career she danced for companies like Staatsoper Berlin, Estonian National Ballet, and Royal Ballet of Flanders; yet it wasn't until she lifted the baton in her first production as a conductor that she felt she was where she belonged. Maria joins us on the eve of an auspicious premiere, as she returns home to Estonian National to conduct Swan Lake for the first time, in the same theatre where she premiered the roles of Odette/Odile 11 years ago. In this episode we discuss the difference between performing on stage as a dancer and standing in front of the stage as a conductor. Further, M by Two Two Guys

44 min listen

Episode 26: Being New vs. Being the Veteran in a Lead Couple w/ Ketlin Oja: This week we are joined by soloist of the Estonian National Ballet, Ketlin Oja. Having performed together for years, Ketlin and Kealan are able to draw from their lived experience on stage to share stories – raw and honest – and give the listener real access into the quiet intensity that exists in every dancer in the moments surrounding a debut. It is a very different thing to premiere a role than it is to partner somebody through their premiere. This is amplified if the role is the first foray into soloist or principal dancing, as was the case in 2018 when Ketlin premiered the role of Odette/Odile at only 20 years old, with Kealan as her Prince Siegfried, in front of the entire Estonian ballet community. In this episode we tell stories from the pivotal premiere, discuss the differences – from seemingly small to positively profound – that a dancer may feel as they make this transition from "new" to "veteran, by Two Two Guys

46 min listen

Episode 25: Would You Rather: Lockdown or Work? w/Julian Botnarenko: After a year and a half at home, a lot of us are beginning to go back to work/school. As life begins to return to "normal" we may notice there are pros but also some cons. Maybe we miss being able to wear the same onesie every day for a week, and now when we wear it to the office we get HR telling us we can't dress up as our favourite Lion King character?!? YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT I'VE BEEN THROUGH, SUSAN!! This week on the pod, ballet dancer and friend of the show Julian Botnarenko joins to play a game of "Would You Rather: Lockdown vs Working Edition." Play along with us as you listen, learn about yourself as you go, and ultimately discover which lifestyle you prefer and why. Host: Kealan McLaughlin Guest: Julian Botnarenko @julianbotnarenko Two Two Guys can be reached at: Instagram and Facebook: @twotwoguys Email: twotwoguyspod@gmail.com Leave a review! Send us a message! Let us know what topics ar by Two Two Guys

34 min listen

Episode 24: How to Find Your Groove w/ Joakim Stephenson: How do we find our groove? Each of us has natural rhythms, tendencies, gifts; how do we tap into them so they can be enjoyed and shared fully? On this episode, movement coach/choreographer/former Royal Swedish Ballet soloist and genuinely groovy guy Joakim Stephenson visits from all the way in Stockholm Sweden to offer his expertise on the subject. Finding your natural way of moving and being is beneficial in dancing, choreographing, and anything non-dance related. It's about finding what works for YOU as an authentic expression of who and what you are, as opposed to just doing what has been programmed. This episode includes: easy to remember tips and tricks to finding one's personal groove a discussion of the obstacles one will commonly face how to supplement a choreographer's vision while staying true to yourself real-life experience AND theoretical musings Host: Kealan McLaughlin Guest: Joakim Stephenson http://joakims by Two Two Guys

49 min listen

Episode 23: Could Ballet Ever Be an Olympic Sport? w/Dash Grundy: Two Two Guys resident sports reporter Dash Grundy is back on the pod and this time he's really bringing the heat. With the addition of Skateboarding, Surfing, and Climbing to the Tokyo Olympics, and the announcement that Breakdancing will make its Olympic debut at the Paris 2024 Summer Games, we discuss the possibility of ballet ever becoming an Olympic event. We look at the process any discipline must go through to become part of the Olympics, address the hurdles specific to ballet, and walk through scenarios of how the event could be structured by comparing it to similar Olympic sports. It's a loose, fun time. Hop in our sidecar and go for a ride with us. PS: Dash drops multiple seriously pitch-worthy ideas and Kealan experiments with creating a richer soundscape for the listener. Host: Kealan McLaughlin Guest: Dash Grundy (IG: @DashGrundy) Two Two Guys can be reached at: Instagram and Facebook: @twotw by Two Two Guys

48 min listen

Episode 22: Answering Mailbag Questions w/Arlo: After a small hiatus, Two Two Guys is back with the heat. This week on the pawdcast we have an extra special treat. Our first quadrupedal guest stops by to help answer mailbag questions. If you have any cats in the room with you please consider listening with headphones. Host: Kealan McLaughlin Guest: Arlo Two Two Guys can be reached at: Instagram and Facebook: @twotwoguys Email: twotwoguyspod@gmail.com Leave a review! Send us a message! Let us know what topics are important to you! And don't forget to take a few moments to yourself this week to do something that makes you happy. by Two Two Guys

31 min listen

Episode 21: Breathwork in Dance, and Accessing the Autonomic Nervous System w/ Damian Norman: Take a deep breath everyone, it's going to be ok. We know there's a lot going on and we have something to soothe those aches. This week we have on contemporary dancer, yoga instructor, and certified Breathwork coach Damian Norman. The conversation that follows touches on the importance of conscious breathing in dance and in life, the ability we all have to use the breath to choose between accessing our sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system, and the information needed to understand and then begin making that choice. Damian's work in somatic healing, trauma research, movement flow, yoga, and as a contemporary dancer in Canada and Germany all inform his philosophy and have taught him repeatedly: Breathing is at the centre of everything, and breathing properly will change your life! The episode finishes with a special treat; Damian leads us through a simple guided breathwork practice. by Two Two Guys

51 min listen

Episode 20: How to Take Striking Ballet Photos w/Tarzan Dan: This week we're joined by legend of the screen, radio, and camera lens Tarzan Dan. Equally at ease interviewing Beyonce and photographing ballet's leading stars, Tarzan brings his effortless charm, wacky sense of humour, and stories galore to Two Two Guys. How many other people can say they've been a guest of the Royal Ballet AND pulled a prank on Jennifer Lopez? Tarzan first gained notoriety as host of YTV's The Hit List in the 1990s. He has worked in radio for decades and has a flourishing career as a photographer, collaborating regularly with ballet dancers. In this episode, Tarzan talks about what it is that makes his photography so striking, why he stands out from the rest, and how anyone can find and hone their own unique style. Additionally, we talk about his other careers, how he was able to find so much success as a TV personality and what it's like when it's your job to interview the biggest celebrities in the world by Two Two Guys

52 min listen

Episode 19: Career Transition w/Joan Jeffri: This week our guest is Joan Jeffri, Director and Creator of the Research Center for Arts and Culture at The Actors Fund in New York City, and former director of the Graduate Program in Arts Administration at Columbia University. Having spent decades teaching arts management, spearheading institutions, and conducting research into the later stage of artists' careers, she brings an unparalleled level of expertise, illustrated in her co-authorship of the 2004 research project "Life After Dance: Career Transition of Professional Dancers." (linked below) Over the course of the episode, Joan and Kealan dive deep into the challenges - both internal and external - a dancer may face as they contemplate and embark on a career change. The reality of this inevitable transition is something most dancers don't consider until late in their careers, and often only when their careers have come to an abrupt end. With Covid-19 increasing the level of job inse by Two Two Guys

55 min listen

Episode 18: What makes a good colleague? w/ Mark Biocca: This week Kealan is joined by the charming and insightful Mark Biocca to discuss which qualities make for the best colleague. The pair discuss the mental and emotional pressures a young dancer may face at the beginning of their career, and the significance of having someone with whom they feel supported and understood. They also share behind-the-scenes stories from their time working together in Alberta Ballet, where Kealan was an apprentice and Mark was a soloist. Mark is a graduate of Royal Ballet School in London and in addition to AB has danced for Northern Ballet, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Macedonian National Ballet, National Ballet of Portugal, and Hungarian National Ballet. He currently freelances in Italy and the UK and has founded his own company InternationBallet. Find Mark on Instagram @MarkBiocca and @InternationBallet Reach the show at twotwoguyspod@gmail.com or on Instagram @twotwoguys by Two Two Guys

47 min listen

Episode 17: Mother's Day Special w/ Dr. McLaughlin-Jenkins: On this very special Mother's Day episode, Kealan is joined by his mother, the esteemed Dr. Erin McLaughlin-Jenkins to talk about what it's like being the parent of an aspiring dancer. In addition to her Ph.D., she comes with decades of experience raising a dancer as a single mom. They speak about the joys, worries, long commutes, and the often tumultuous relationship with even the art form itself that a parent may feel while their child pursues a career in dance. Reach the show at twotwoguyspod@gmail.com or on Instagram @twotwoguys by Two Two Guys

58 min listen

Episode 16: Dance as Self-Expression w/ Thomas Fonua aka Kween Kong: This week on the show Kealan is joined by award-winning choreographer and dancer, 30 Under 30 recipient, and community leader Thomas Charles Fonua aka Kween Kong. The pair have a chat about dance as a platform for self-expression, what it feels like when that need to express is supported vs when it's stifled, and how to create the space for oneself and others to self-actualize. Additionally, we hear about Tom's journey from growing up in a working-class Pacific Islander family to dancing for all the major contemporary theatres in Australia, choreographing his own works to international acclaim, founding the Haus of Kong, and winning Drag Nation Australia. Plus at the end, Thomas tells us what it was like working for the only dance company to include CrossFit as a part of its weekly training regimen. Reach the show at twotwoguyspod@gmail.com or on Instagram @twotwoguys Find Thomas at @thomascharlesfonua and Kween by Two Two Guys

54 min listen

Episode 15: Dancers as Nomads, plus Dancing in Europe vs. North America w/ Evgeni Dokoukine and Jonatan Davidsson: Kealan is joined this week by Evgeni Dokoukine and Jonatan Davidsson, both former soloists with the Estonian National Ballet. They compare the experiences of dancing for a company in North America and a theatre in Europe, talk about the often nomadic life of a ballet dancer, and lay out the pros and cons for anyone deciding between dancing in multiple companies vs staying in one place. Also, Kealan pitches them on an idea for a wedding. Reach the show at twotwoguyspod@gmail.com or on Instagram @twotwoguys Find Jonatan at @jonatandavidsson and Evgeni at @evgeni.dokoukine by Two Two Guys

48 min listen

Episode 14: In-depth w/ choreographer Annabelle Lopez Ochoa: In this episode, Kealan sits down with award-winning choreographer Annabelle Lopez Ochoa to discuss her process, the highs and lows of being an in-demand freelance choreographer, the significance of accolades and reviews, and much more. Check it out if you want real insight into what it is like to choreograph for many of the world's top companies. The whole episode is brought to you by wine. Not a specific brand or company. Just wine. by Two Two Guys

54 min listen

Episode 13: Creativity! w/ Morgan Reid: This week Kealan is joined by Morgan Reid to talk about the nature of creativity. In addition to running his own company - Phase Zero Productions - with his wife, choreographing for other companies, and dancing as a guest artist around the world, Morgan plays guitar in the world-touring metal band Bloodshot Dawn, is a 2nd Dan Black Belt, speaks 8 languages, and is probably better at Duck Hunt than anyone you have ever seen. During their conversation they dive into Morgan's methods, seek to decipher the key to his prolific output, and try to turn their insights into a formula that anyone can use. by Two Two Guys

49 min listen

Episode 12: Being an Emerging Dancer during Covid w/ Andris Kundzins by Two Two Guys

47 min listen

Episode 11: Swan Lake Swan-tacular! by Two Two Guys

60 min listen

Episode 10: Is Ballet a Sport? w/ Dash Grundy: In this episode, Kealan is joined by dancer, actor, and avid sports fan Dash Grundy to debate the question: Is ballet a sport? In pursuit of a definitive answer they discuss personal experiences, cite the relevant research, and enjoy some of what the self-proclaimed internet experts have to say. Be prepared for a surprise or two. by Two Two Guys

50 min listen

Episode 9: Injuries w/ Julian Botnarenko: In this episode, Kealan interviews Julian Botnarenko - ballet dancer, family man, and Kealan's best friend since they were 12. They talk about their experiences with long-term injuries, the lessons they had to learn in order to heal, and the blueprint for finding their way back to health. by Two Two Guys

47 min listen

Episode 8: Directing and Leadership w/ Christopher Rudd: In this episode, Kealan is riding solo, but fear not! He is joined by Christopher Rudd - dancer, choreographer, and director of RudduR Dance in NYC. The pair talk about Chris's upbringing and how his experiences with different directing styles influenced his approach to leading his own company. by Two Two Guys

48 min listen

Episode 7: Pre-Show Habits by Two Two Guys

39 min listen

Episode 6: Adam Picks Surprise Topic: In this episode, the boys talk about how to handle having different teachers who want different things from you, and they go in-depth on the importance of filming yourself and documenting your progress. by Two Two Guys

47 min listen

Episode 5: Early Challenges and How We Handled Them: On this very special episode, the boys talk openly about challenges they faced early on, and get real about how they made it through them. Also, Kealan misuses the word "prolific" multiple times, and Adam debuts an accent he's been working on. by Two Two Guys

42 min listen

Episode 4: Nutcracker Spectacular!: In this episode, the boys celebrate Christmas together and dive into the tradition that is the Nutcracker! They talk trivia, early Nutcracker memories, and some stories from the stage. by Two Two Guys

47 min listen

Episode 3: Favourite Things About Being a Ballet Dancer: Being a ballet dancer is a job unlike any other. In this episode, Adam and Kealan begin to dive into why that is and go through their favourite things about being professional ballet dancers. by Two Two Guys

29 min listen

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Episode 30: Overcoming Struggle, Paris Opera, and Alicia Alonso Stories w/ Osiel Gouneo

Episode 30: Overcoming Struggle, Paris Opera, and Alicia Alonso Stories w/ Osiel Gouneo

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