Wingert recounts being accepted to the School of American Ballet, performing key workshop roles, and joining NYCB at 16, including formative experiences and personal coaching from George Balanchine before his death in 1983. She describes thriving as a detail-oriented “sponge,” navigating later casting and body-image pressures, and building a wide repertory across Balanchine and Robbins works. After leaving NYCB, she began teaching privately and at multiple New York schools, then expanded into staging Balanchine works around the world. 00:00 Meet The Hosts 00:11 Debra Wingert Overview 01:35 First Ballet Spark 04:16 CPYB Magic And Context 06:31 Rigor And Early Teaching 14:24 SAB Audition And Move 16:50 Workshop Breakthrough Roles 18:57 Joining NYCB At Sixteen 25:10 Balanchine Coaching Moments 27:21 Life After Balanchine 28:19 Other SAB Teachers 33:22 Body Image And Confidence 35:09 Backstage Ballet Devotion 35:34 Staying in the Company 36:39 Outside Projects and Robbins 38:07 Leaving NYCB and Starting to Teach 40:55 Outreach and Repertory Staging 43:10 Learning to Stage New Works 45:33 Musicality and Version Options 51:18 Keeping Patterns and Details Alive 55:56 Dream Ballets and Future Stagings 01:04:06 Closing Thanks and Signoff LINKS: Website: conversationsondancepod.com Instagram: @conversationsondance COD Merch Listen to COD on YouTube Join our email list Sponsorship information Hosted on Acast.