Conversations with Megan, featuring Dena Abergel

[@tamirmickens89]

This was one of the best interviews because dancers ACTUALLY need to hear about those who join companies that aren't STARS...but have long and impactful careers...because that will actually be most of them.

[@meganfairchild6135]

What a great point!!!

[@judithricca6915]

Megan, I very much enjoyed your interview with Dena Abergel. I remember her dancing at NYCB, and am so happy for her that she has found this second fulfilling career. The children at SAB are very fortunate.

[@erpollock]

Dena Abergel is one of the most articulate dancers I've heard interviewed. She has the exact words for her thoughts, words come swiftly to her like steps to a dancer. She is highly intelligent. She is a perfect teacher, for the ability to explain and make her thoughts real to students.

[@erpollock]

Megan is a terrific interviewer, because when she has a subject who has much to say and says it well - she steps back and gives her space to elaborate. And Dena Abergel is so continuously interesting!

[@leahpluchenik2008]

I watched the On Pointe series and the ending was incredible - to see the children on such a high and then Covid hit - the film makers captured the high to low in such an authentic way. great piece of film making. Thank you for this wonderful interview.

[@edwardwillinger8438]

Another winning interview. The way you get your subjects to reveal themselves as both dancers and people is remarkable, and Dena Abergel comes across ax such a strong, self-aware and happy woman. And she’s great at her job, as the kids in Nutcracker show every year. Speaking of which, we’re fortunate that a live performance was captured on video last year and is being streamed this month. Plus, it includes your Dewdrop, which is, as my wife’ put it, “fabulous, almost unreal.”

[@meganfairchild6135]

Thanks Edward. Yes I need to check out the Marquee performance! So glad you guys found it!

[@powerofalto]

What an utterly delightful human being! Just watching Dena Abergel move in the style of a swan for all of 1 or 2 seconds is deeply inspiring. She has a remarkable gift for conveying the pleasure and magic of dance. I teach young children (and their parents) the violin, and identify completely with her experience of building her voice into the heads of her young students so that, when they get on stage, they don’t even have to think. With my little ones, getting set up to play, with the instrument and bow up, begins with setting up their feet in “playing position.” If a child gets confused or distracted on stage, all I have to do is whisper, “Set up your feet,” and boom, they are in the zone, lol! Thank you for this wonderful, inspiring interview, Megan. Dena and Arch have incredibly difficult jobs, and aren’t fetted like ballet masters or principal dancers, but they are quite possibly some of the most important people at SAB. Their students are fthe future of ballet.

[@meganfairchild6135]

absolutely!!! Love hearing the violin side of things. I always wished I could play! I tried and was horrible. lol

[@powerofalto]

Your musicianship, Meghan, is remarkable, so if you pick up an instrument later on in life, just for fun, I’m sure it will be a joy and a wonderful challenge. (My mother took up the double bass in retirement and plays her 1/4 sized bass in the local orchestra. I love watching her; she’s transported by the sound of the orchestra.) Happy holidays to you and your family!

[@MyKombucha]

Thank you! We hardly ever hear about career corps dancers. As a member of the audience, I for one do notice and wonder about them. Fascinating interview, I loved hearing about how she coped, trained and advocated for herself. We have lots to learn from all ranks of dancers.

[@juliestrickland2145]

I love hearing all this detail about the kids' experience in the Nutcracker. When I was a kid, my first exposure to SAB/NYCB was the book A Very Young Dancer - all about Stephanie De Pierro playing Marie. I was awed by Patricia McBride (Sugarplum in the book!) and other stars, even though I didn't have any of the context of what huge deals they were that I do now. So, this interview really struck a chord!

[@erpollock]

Megan, this is a wonderful interview. I clearly remember Dena Abergel, a career corps dancer, and how she became the ballet mistress for the children. You brought out the best in each other. These are great conversations!

[@IceAintNice]

A fabulous interview. Dena needs to do a Ted Talk. “70 year olds in pointe shoes” made me laugh out loud. It brought back memories of class at David Howard’s. No one messed with those woman. 🤣🤣🤣

[@ruthdavidson-schaller2245]

This was a fabulous interview! I was privileged to see both the On Point series as well as donate to NYCB and enjoy the Nutcracker Production! The series was so incredibly well filmed and moving❤️

[@melaniegill196]

Got my little one signed up and she was so excited after watching a little bit of this with me! Dena seems so lovely and so passionate about teaching!

[@FredCompton]

Megan and Dena thank you for taking the time to put this interview together. It was so enjoyable to listen to and to hear so much about the Nutcracker, especially for the children at SAB. I can't wait for the Disney+ show to start streaming! Megan, to learn how the Nutcracker now affects you emotionally now that you are sharing this with your daughter, is something I can relate to. I first shared the experience with my daughter when she was 4 and we have enjoyed our Daddy Daughter Date each year since, she's now 20. It is a special time for us since we love ballet so much. Talking about emotional, I tear up every year when I watch the Sugarplum Fairy and Cavalier pas de deux. It is so powerful. We especially loved watching you perform it. You are one of my daughter's favorites. Last year, after many years of trying, she was overjoyed to finally purchase a pair of your autographed pointe shoes. She cherishes them. I guess what I’m trying to say is, although the dancer may become jaded/calloused to the Nutcracker, what they do touches our hearts and makes moments in our lives. So, for that, I will be eternally grateful to you and all the dancers.

[@FredCompton]

I just finished watching On Pointe on Disney+, it was very interesting and enjoyable.

[@caillercremant8748]

Such a lovely interview! Many thanks for all your work and many thanks to Dana Abergel. I watched “on pointe” and she does a lovely job with the kids. It was one of the interviews that could have gone on for much longer. It was such a pleasure to hear her explain her work. Thank you!

[@jasonsimpson4805]

Such a beautiful discussion about passing on the knowledge & heritage of dance!

[@elinorgrayzel2709]

Loved the interview with Dena! I was in Dorit’s class in Englewood with her when she was 12. It’s wonderful to see her all grown up and successful in her career and happy! ( I’m now 85 and still taking ballet classes).

[@shaunasavala5494]

I’m so excited to see her in the documentary! 😍

[@FriendlyneighborhoodC8]

She is so much fun! You have to be so incredibly gifted to work with that many kids in that kind of production and hang on to your patience haha! I can’t wait for the documentary to air, so excited!

[@brbwlk]

Ooh, doll baby, two convos within days; thank you. These interviews have helped keep me sane.

[@tamberjune]

Really hope the workshop goes well! Also I was a polichinelle in SFB's traveling nutcracker in my little arizona town. It was fun I enjoyed it a lot. Which also happened to be my first nutcracker!

[@WeirdLittleDreams]

This lil ole podcast helps me get things done around the house. I am about to plug my 🎧 in and get my livingroom right!

[@meganfairchild6135]

Love this! :)

[@brbwlk]

I was one of those dancers “off the street” who took WIllie B’s class. Tom Gold, Desmond Richardson, Wendy Whelan were there. I’d long since vacated a professional career and looked like it. Yet, Willie was so kind, and often gave me corrections. Pray the light of eternity shines upon his soul.

[@meganfairchild6135]

That is so sweet. He will be so missed I know. He meant a lot to so many. :) Happy Holidays

[@catherinehastings2063]

Thank you - what fun. And as ever, interesting!

[@JackieOstick]

Oh this is wonderful! Loved the documentary!

[@nicholeayemusic]

Love Dena at the show:)

[@JuliettaSVK]

Thank you for this interview!

[@sigalabergel916]

So beautiful and graceful that’s Dena Abergel ❤️

[@nicholeayemusic]

You ladies are inspiring!

[@alyssapodolec8158]

Dena knows Dorit! I currently assist her in studio at Broadway Dance Center Online! Such a small world!!

[@sameoldsteph]

Thank you so much Megan for these fantastic interviews! They are so impactful even for me, a non-dancer who arguably should have been a dancer?? Anyway, I have a daughter who is now 8 and she once tortured me with Build a Bear. Never. Again.

[@meganfairchild6135]

haha!!!

[@nicholeayemusic]

And of course, Megan!!!!

[@erpollock]

I see you can be at the top of your career, making it into NYC Ballet - and still you have to struggle to be noticed and be chosen for roles. She is great with the children. She teaches them acting, I have seen.

[@raquelcolon5785]

❤️