Dance Talks is a new FREE series presented by Philadelphia Ballet’s Community Education and Public Programs to bring audiences behind the scenes of this season’s productions.
The first Dance Talk event will feature a performance excerpt from DGV: Danse à Grande Vitesse by Philadelphia Ballet dancers Lucia Erickson and Russell Ducker, followed by a panel discussion focusing on the works of George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, and Twyla Tharp.
Space is limited, RSVP to secure your spot!
Please submit the form for each attendee.
This event has reached capacity. Check our Community Events page for upcoming events.
Meet the Panelists
Miriam Giguere
Moderator
Miriam Giguere holds a BA in psychology and an MS in Education from the University of Pennsylvania and a PhD in dance from Temple University. Dr. Giguere is a full professor and the Department Head for Performing Arts at Drexel University, where she directed the dance program from 1992–2015. She is the founding President of the Pennsylvania Dance Education Organization and the associate editor of the journal Dance Education in Practice. She has presented at numerous conferences of the National Dance Education Organization and Dance and the Child International, among others. She is author of the textbook Beginning Modern Dance, as well as numerous book chapters including the recently published dance history text Milestones of Dance in the USA.
Charles Askegard
The Janis and Stephen Goodman Principal Rehearsal Director
Charles Askegard joined American Ballet Theatre in 1987 under the direction of Mikhail Baryshnikov, dancing with the company for 10 years and working alongside legendary choreographers including Agnes de Mille and Twyla Tharp. In 1997, he joined New York City Ballet, where he spent 14 years as a principal dancer, performing numerous ballets by George Balanchine and working with choreographers such as Jerome Robbins. He later co-founded Ballet Next before joining Philadelphia Ballet as Rehearsal Director in 2015. Read full bio
Laura Katz Rizzo
Panelist
Laura Katz Rizzo is a dancer, artist, teacher, and scholar. She holds a BA in History and English, an Ed.M. in Dance, and a Ph.D. in Dance and Women’s Studies. She has performed with several ballet and contemporary dance companies, and as an independent performer and choreographer. Her dance films have been screened at film festivals across the world. In addition to her choreographic works, Laura is also an experienced dance writer. She is author of Dancing the Fairy Tale: Producing and Performing “The Sleeping Beauty” (Temple University Press, 2015), and many other publications, and has published work in both popular and academic dance periodicals. She works with dance as a mode of inquiry and research praxis which manifests as written publication, performance and installation emerging from the intersections between dance, feminist theory and performance studies. She is an associate professor and director of graduate studies in dance at Temple University in Philadelphia.
Lucia Erickson
The Christine James Soloist, Philadelphia Ballet
Lucia Erickson began her training at age three with the Academy of Russian Ballet in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. At 16, she moved to Philadelphia to train at the School of Philadelphia Ballet. After two years in the school, Lucia joined Philadelphia Ballet II for the 2018/2019 Season and was promoted straight to the Corps de Ballet for the 2019/2020 Season, then to Demi Soloist for the 2020/2021 Season. Read full bio
Russell Ducker
The Cynthia Bolt and Edmond Karam Demi Soloist, Philadelphia Ballet
Russell Ducker trained at the Royal Ballet Lower School, White Lodge, and graduated from the Royal Ballet Upper School in 2007. Prior to Philadelphia Ballet, he performed with Angel Corella’s Barcelona Ballet, dancing various soloist and principal roles. Russell joined Philadelphia Ballet’s Corps de Ballet for the 2014/2015 Season and was promoted to Demi Soloist in 2019. His principal contemporary roles include Christopher Wheeldon’s Danse à Grande Vitesse, Polyphonia, For Four, and Rush, and his repertoire includes works by George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins. Read full bio
Philadelphia Ballet’s Dance Talks are generously supported by Allen R. and Judy Brick Freedman.
Lucia Erickson is The Christine James Soloist
Russell Ducker is The Cynthia Bolt and Edmond Karam Demi Soloist