Wayne McGregor
Kirsty Young talks to another castaway, choreographer Wayne McGregor.
Kirsty Young's castaway is the choreographer Wayne McGregor.
Despite his background in contemporary dance, he has been resident choreographer at the Royal Ballet - the first from outside the company - for the past ten years. He has brought to Covent Garden a fascination with technology, a passion for collaborative efforts with visual artists and musicians, and he is renowned for drawing inspiration particularly from the field of science.
Born in Stockport in 1970 to Scottish parents, he was inspired by the John Travolta films he watched and took ballroom, disco and Latin American dance classes. After studying choreography at the University of Leeds and spending a year at the JosΓ© LimΓ³n dance school in New York, he returned to the UK and at the age of 22, founded his own company. He made his first professional piece in 1993, and choreographed Dame Judi Dench in Sondheim's A Little Night Music at the National Theatre in 1995. He received his first commission from the Royal Ballet in 2000 and it was his 2006 work Chroma which clinched him the job as resident choreographer.
He works on a wide range of projects away from the stage, including films, music videos, and opening and awards ceremonies, and continues to choreograph for his own company and others around the world including Paris Opera Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, La Scala Milan, New York City Ballet and the Australian Ballet. He has won numerous prizes for his work, including two Olivier Awards, and was appointed a CBE for Services to Dance in 2011.
Producer: Cathy Drysdale.
Last on
Clips
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Wayne McGregor: βItβs never too late to danceβ
Duration: 00:54
Music Played
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EsaβPekka Salonen
La Variations
Performer: Los Angeles Philharmonic. Conductor: EsaβPekka Salonen.- LA Variations.
- Sony Classical.
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CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE
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A Winged Victory for the Sullen
We Played Some Open Chords and Rejoiced, For the Earth Had Circled the Sun Yet Another Year
- A Winged Victory for the Sullen.
- Erased Tapes Records.
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Jim Reeves
Have I Told You Lately That I Love you
- Memories Are Made of This.
- BMG.
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Franz Schubert
Impromptu in G Flat Major
Performer: JenΕ JandΓ³.- Impromptus (Complete).
- Naxos.
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Steve Reich
Electric Counterpoint, III. Fast
Performer: Jonny Greenwood.- Radio Rewrite.
- Nonesuch.
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Jlin
Unknown Tongues
- Dark Energy.
- Planet Mu Records.
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George Michael
The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
- Songs From the Last Century.
- Virgin.
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Judi Dench
Send in the Clowns
- A Little Night Music.
- Tring.
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BOOK CHOICE
Diderotβs Encyclopedia
LUXURY ITEM
Tatsuo Miyajimaβs digital art work, βLifeβ
Credits
Role | Contributor |
---|---|
Presenter | Kirsty Young |
Interviewed Guest | Wayne McGregor |
Producer | Cathy Drysdale |
Broadcasts
- Sun 15 Jan 2017 11:15ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 FM
- Fri 20 Jan 2017 09:00ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
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