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We are back for another bonus episode! This time, Julia and Brandon discuss the recent announcement that Brandon will be leaving Birmingham Royal Ballet in the summer, to join Ballet Zurich. In his own words, Brandon describes his feelings about the decision, from what he's looking forward to dancing in Zurich, through to what he will miss most about BRB. Julia wonders which costumes make the best leaving photos...
Get the tissues out - this one's a bit emosh!

Did you really think we would end it there?! To round off season five, and the end of 2022, we have a special bonus episode for you all, because what says happy new year without a bit of open barre?! Today we are joined by the incredible Robert Carter, AKA Olga Supphozova AKA Yuri Smirnov, legendary dancer with Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo. Robert has been trailblazing through the dance world for decades and there's still no stopping him. We discussed what it's like to dance in such an iconic ballet company and to tour all over the world. Brandon reminisces on his own memories of seeing 'the trocks' and Julia wonders what the secret is to making ballet funny...

It's the season five series finale!!! We can't believe that we've come to the end of another season of Open Barre - but here we are! Thank you to all of our amazing listeners, guests, and of course our wonderful sponsors, Dansez. We have such a special guest joining us for the finale - none other than the Nutcracker Prince himself - William Bracewell. As Principal dancer with The Royal Ballet, William is one of the few Principal male dancers to star at both Birmingham Royal Ballet and The Royal Ballet. We find out what this journey has been like and Brandon reminisces on his memories of Billy during their time at BRB together. Julia wonders if seeming real on stage comes naturally to a dancer...

It's episode five and what an exciting ep do we have for you! We are joined by not one, but TWO guests from The Royal Ballet - First Soloist Claire Calvert and Principal Dancer Alexander Campbell! The recently married couple fill us in on their favourite roles, what it's like to work together and the future of their new venture - Prima Dance Academy. Brandon talks about the refurbished production of The Nutcracker at Birmingham Royal Ballet and Julia wonders what the dressing rooms are like at The Royal Albert Hall...

For episode four of season five, we are joined by the one and only Laura Day! Laura has been dancing with Birmingham Royal Ballet for years, but joins us on Open Barre to discuss her new roles as a Principal Character Artist and an Assistant Répétiteur! We discuss what is was like to play Sancho Panza in the recent production of 'Don Quixote' and we find out how difficult it is to organise the rep for a ballet company. Brandon answers a question from one of our listeners and Julia wonders if Open Barre helped change curtain calls for male dancers...

We have another exciting episode for you all! We are joined by Sabine Naghdi, author of 'Tears Of A Ballet Mum' and mother to Yasmine Naghdi, Principal ballerina at The Royal Ballet and friend of the show! If you haven't read Sabine's book, it's an absolute must read which delves into the detail of what it's like to parent a ballerina on her journey to the top. Elsewhere in the episode, Brandon reflects on some of his favourite memories from White Lodge and Julia admits to not being the biggest fan of Swanilda...