Why Dance Matters is a series of conversations with extraordinary people from the world of dance and beyond. It traces the impact of dance on their lives and asks why dance matters to them – and why it might matter to us all. The RAD inspires the world to dance, and we hope these insightful personal conversations – hosted by David Jays, editor of Dance Gazette, the RAD magazine – will delight and even surprise you. Find out more on our website > https://www.royalacademyofdance.org/ (https://www.royalacademyofdance.org/)
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
People often say ‘dance is for everyone’, but few people walk the walk like Irma Becker. In Miami, she leads the Inspire Theatre Project at Area Stage Conservatory. Inspire is an inclusive programme for neurodiverse ballet students – but it doesn’t water down the rigorous RAD ballet syllabus. Irma ran both a professional dance school and a special needs dance company in Mexico before moving to Miami, and has been nominated for the RAD’s Community Engagement award. How does she lead students through ballet’s forbidding thickets of technique? And where does her passion for teaching come from?
Inspire Theatre Project at Area Stage Conservatory: https://www.areastageconservatory.org/itp (https://www.areastageconservatory.org/itp)
Why Dance Matters is a dance podcast featuring inspiring conversations with extraordinary people from the world of dance and beyond. Hosted by David Jays, editor of Dance Gazette, this podcast explores how dance shapes lives and why it matters to us all. Brought to you by the RAD, which inspires the world to dance, these insightful stories will surprise and delight. Tune in and discover more on our website.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
7 Oct 2026
Sonia Brown: Silver Swans (plus a hen night)
Sonia Brown is an award-winning RAD teacher in Berkshire, UK. The RAD’s Silver Swans programme, aimed at people aged 55 and over, struck a chord with her. Her mother was Sonia’s first student, and the classes have grown into a warm and inclusive community of dancers: they even threw her a surprise hen party when she got married. And in 2025 Sonia won the People’s Choice Award at the One Dance UK Awards. But how do you release the joy of dance among people who may not have danced for decades, or have never danced before?
Sonia’s dance classes: https://www.withsoniabrown.com/ (https://www.withsoniabrown.com/)
Why Dance Matters is a dance podcast featuring inspiring conversations with extraordinary people from the world of dance and beyond. Hosted by David Jays, editor of Dance Gazette, this podcast explores how dance shapes lives and why it matters to us all. Brought to you by the RAD, which inspires the world to dance, these insightful stories will surprise and delight. Tune in and discover more on our website.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
16 Sept 2026
Jack Murphy: Bridgerton’s dancing master
Jack Murphy is the acclaimed choreographer and movement director of Bridgerton. Initially an actor, he became a movement director (training in part at the RAD), helping actors find a physicality to connect them with their characters. Jack was involved in the BBC’s iconic 1995 Pride and Prejudice: in a full-circle moment, he’s worked on Netflix’s new version, starring Emma Corrin. But his work is seen at its most captivating in Bridgerton, which shakes up the rules of period drama and puts dance at its centre. His dance is rooted in why people dance, who they truly are.
Pride and Prejudice launches on Netflix later in 2026, and season five of Bridgerton in 2027. Jack’s website is https://jackmurphymovement.co.uk/ (https://jackmurphymovement.co.uk/)
Why Dance Matters is a dance podcast featuring inspiring conversations with extraordinary people from the world of dance and beyond. Hosted by David Jays, editor of Dance Gazette, this podcast explores how dance shapes lives and why it matters to us all. Brought to you by the RAD, which inspires the world to dance, these insightful stories will surprise and delight. Tune in and discover more on our website.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
Who has been a guest on Why Dance Matters
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Alina Cojocaru
Robert Pranzatelli
Amir Nizar Zuabi
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
3,322,783
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
5 ratings
Spotify
4.8 / 5
17 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 61 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
50
Social presence
0
YouTube
93
Engagement
85
Contact Why Dance Matters
Guest appearances
Does not typically book guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
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