What a wonderful interview with one of our very best dancers! So genuine. I enjoyed every moment of this, thank you. Hope to see Steven back on stage again very soon.... how we have missed him due to his absence from injury and wish the McRae family lots of sleep filled nights!
I think you make very valid points Stephen, we are in a new year and it’s probably time for companies to take a realistic view of people’s real need to be parents in a real way. That shouldn’t mean you have to stop your career mid way, but supportive, creative solutions for scheduling and rehearsals should be the norm.
Another famous dance couple are Olesya Novikova and Leonid Sarafanov from Saint Petersburg. She is a first soloist with the Marinski and he‘s a principal at Mihailovsky theatre. They have three children, and Olesya has hardly taken any time off. But they have family nearby, so that’s easier with childcare. But I find it so impressive for a female dancer to come back three times after pregnancy and do lead roles
I so enjoyed this interview, thank you, both of you! I'm a retired teacher who has a passion for ballet and it's a real joy to listen to this beautiful Soul, speaking about balancing his professional and home life! His children chose their parents, wisely, methinks! 😄🙏❤
My sister and her husband call it tag team parenting. Ding! You’re in the ring! I’ve done all I can here , you’re up. No guestions asked . You take over now and figure out what these kids need.
I just watched an incredible documentary involving and about the great English mezzo soprano Janet Baker, often called the most important English singer in the 20th century, which is quite a statement. And when I talked to my husband about it, I told him that she and her husband (who was her manager, made all arrangements and traveled with her all over the world), made the decision to not have children, strictly bc of her career. And his response was, “That’s terrible! How horrible!!” And he’s right! But people have no idea the huge abdominal strength it takes to sing classical music, they think it’s like falling off logs for 2-3 hours of heavy singing a night, and then there’s the huge ongoing training that’s involved to sing roles in 4 different languages. _AND_ Baker didn’t have the luxury of being attached to one opera house, bc Covent Garden rarely used her (which blew my mind, WTF!). So she was literally singing in a different city or country every week during the opera season, unless she got a protracted contract somewhere. And flying is super hard on the human voice….every time I flew 2 hours to my coach to get training for a performance, I’d end up with a sinus infection the day after I got back! I, however, never aspired to an operatic career, but I definitely understand that professional classical musicians who make money going all over the world have a horribly fragmented life, too!
Hi Voracious Reader 2 - thanks so much for sharing this. If you're interested in more about how Opera is supporting women visit our friends at www.swap-ra.org/ We all work together in striving to make things better for women across the arts :)
There needs to be daycare on the premises of work. It would be wonderful if you could leave your small children in a reliable daycare in your office or ballet company. This does exist, but not in ballet.
Hi Eileen - it does actually exist in some company's including the Gulbenkian in Portugal and a few companies in contemporary dance have/are now providing this - particularly on tour. To find out more visit www.dancemama.org
People like Steven McRae give me hope for a better world. No just a wonderful artist but a great human being.
His description of the importance of art to humankind is very on point. He's highly intelligent and perceptive. I've very much enjoyed this interview.
Such a lovely man inside and out. Blessings to him and his beautiful family.
Lovely discussion & to hear about dance & parenthood. One of my favourite books is Meredith Daneman’s A Chance to Sit Down :)
Thanks tiffcat1100 and thanks for the recommendation too!
@@dancemamachannel It’s a little spicy but beautifully written ❤️
What a wonderful interview with one of our very best dancers! So genuine. I enjoyed every moment of this, thank you. Hope to see Steven back on stage again very soon.... how we have missed him due to his absence from injury and wish the McRae family lots of sleep filled nights!
I think you make very valid points Stephen, we are in a new year and it’s probably time for companies to take a realistic view of people’s real need to be parents in a real way. That shouldn’t mean you have to stop your career mid way, but supportive, creative solutions for scheduling and rehearsals should be the norm.
Absolutely Brenda! Great to hear your views - from more info on what Dance Mama is doing for parents in dance visit www.dancemama.org/dancemamalive
He’s such an amazing man!!
Another famous dance couple are Olesya Novikova and Leonid Sarafanov from Saint Petersburg. She is a first soloist with the Marinski and he‘s a principal at Mihailovsky theatre. They have three children, and Olesya has hardly taken any time off. But they have family nearby, so that’s easier with childcare. But I find it so impressive for a female dancer to come back three times after pregnancy and do lead roles
Brilliant - thanks for letting us know. More stories are on www.dancemama.org/stories
I so enjoyed this interview, thank you, both of you! I'm a retired teacher who has a passion for ballet and it's a real joy to listen to this beautiful Soul, speaking about balancing his professional and home life! His children chose their parents, wisely, methinks! 😄🙏❤
I'm not a dancer but this conversation can apply to all parents. First time Mama here working things out as we go. 😄
Congratulations! Thanks for watching and find out more on www.dancemama.org about my work. As you say - applies beyond dance!
Thank you! I love watching dance and about the dance world; so this conversation was very interesting.
A most wonderful interview of a magnificent human being and awsome dancer
This was so real!!
Thank you both, what a lovely, inspiring conversation.
Меня поразил ваш образ Шляпника! Это лучший в мире балет, лучший в мире момент балета, лучшая в мире актерская работа над персонажем!
Стивен совершенно необыкновенный! Редкий человек! Любящий папочка и муж) я очень люблю смотреть на их тихое семейное счастье
Thank you for doing this Steven is one of my inspirations!
Really enjoyed this,thank you!
My sister and her husband call it tag team parenting. Ding! You’re in the ring! I’ve done all I can here , you’re up. No guestions asked . You take over now and figure out what these kids need.
Definitely!
I just watched an incredible documentary involving and about the great English mezzo soprano Janet Baker, often called the most important English singer in the 20th century, which is quite a statement. And when I talked to my husband about it, I told him that she and her husband (who was her manager, made all arrangements and traveled with her all over the world), made the decision to not have children, strictly bc of her career. And his response was, “That’s terrible! How horrible!!” And he’s right! But people have no idea the huge abdominal strength it takes to sing classical music, they think it’s like falling off logs for 2-3 hours of heavy singing a night, and then there’s the huge ongoing training that’s involved to sing roles in 4 different languages. _AND_ Baker didn’t have the luxury of being attached to one opera house, bc Covent Garden rarely used her (which blew my mind, WTF!). So she was literally singing in a different city or country every week during the opera season, unless she got a protracted contract somewhere. And flying is super hard on the human voice….every time I flew 2 hours to my coach to get training for a performance, I’d end up with a sinus infection the day after I got back! I, however, never aspired to an operatic career, but I definitely understand that professional classical musicians who make money going all over the world have a horribly fragmented life, too!
Hi Voracious Reader 2 - thanks so much for sharing this. If you're interested in more about how Opera is supporting women visit our friends at www.swap-ra.org/ We all work together in striving to make things better for women across the arts :)
You'll never get that time back with your child, so please enjoy it!
😍 Steven
Great dancer, and so sexy! Love that golden hair of his.
There needs to be daycare on the premises of work. It would be wonderful if you could leave your small children in a reliable daycare in your office or ballet company. This does exist, but not in ballet.
Hi Eileen - it does actually exist in some company's including the Gulbenkian in Portugal and a few companies in contemporary dance have/are now providing this - particularly on tour. To find out more visit www.dancemama.org
I don't know how they get enough sleep, even with a nanny.