logo
episode-header-image
Jun 2014
35m 30s

Tamara Rojo

Bbc Radio 4
About this episode

Kirsty Young's castaway this week is the ballerina Tamara Rojo.

On stage she is a principal dancer for the English National Ballet and when the curtain comes down she performs the role of the company's artistic director. World-renowned as a stunning, emotional and dramatic performer, it must surely be a very different set of characteristics she employs off stage, marshalling her company of dancers and propelling the organisation's creative journey.

She was just five years old when, sheltering from the rain she found herself in the school gym, instantly beguiled by the peace and order of a dance class. Despite her father's attempts to widen her horizons with music, sport and art lessons - her path in life was set.

She says, "Life on stage is like nothing else. I've never done heroin but I'm sure that's what it's like. Every feeling and sense exploding. Every nerve in your body complete awake".

Producer: Cathy Drysdale.

Up next
Sep 6
Professor Dame Pamela Shaw
Professor Dame Pamela Shaw is a pioneering Neurologists and a leading figure in tackling motor neurone disease or MND. She is the founder and Director of SITran – the World leading Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, which is slowly but surely unlocking the secret ... Show More
52m 10s
Apr 2026
Sara Pascoe, comedian and writer
Sara Pascoe is a comedian and writer who has appeared on programmes including QI, Taskmaster and the Great British Sewing Bee. She is also a screenwriter and the author of three books including her debut novel Weirdo which won the inaugural Jilly Cooper Prize for fiction last yea ... Show More
50m 31s
Apr 2026
Jessie Buckley, actor
Jessie Buckley is an actor and singer. She recently won a BAFTA and a Golden Globe Award for her critically acclaimed role playing Shakespeare’s wife Agnes in Chloé Zhao’s film Hamnet. Her performance has also garnered her an Academy Award nomination.Jessie won an Olivier Award f ... Show More
50m 32s
Recommended Episodes
Jan 2019
Behind the Scenes: Marianela Nunez at Covent Garden
As she prepares to perform two roles in a new production of the classic "White ballet", La Bayadere, the Royal Ballet's charismatic Argentinian-born principal dancer, Marianela Nunez shares her life behind the scenes. Marianela Nunez is considered one of the greatest ballerinas i ... Show More
28m 56s
Apr 2025
Episode 39: Anastasia Novikova - 2x world champion, latin champion and designer: the life of a dancer with constant moves, growth and finding the right partner
I sat down with Anastasia (or Nastya as friends call her) right after breakfast and before a long day of private lessons, groups and rounds. We chatted about her start in dance and all the moves she had to make. In the process she found skills that led her to setup LOAD - a brand ... Show More
27m 37s
Nov 2020
Episode 29: The Dancer
When Carlos Acosta was a kid, he wanted to be the next Michael Jackson. He spent all his time break-dancing in the streets of Havana. Until one day, when his father decided to put Carlos in a ballet class. This Is Love is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX. If you haven’t alre ... Show More
23m 29s
Feb 2024
Dance Life (feat. Cassie Bartho)
On this week's episode the moms welcome special guest Cassie Bartho, an Australian choreographer who currently serves as the Creative and Training Assistant at Brent Street, Sydney's most prestigious school for dance. Recently Cassie's work has been the subject of the Amazon Prim ... Show More
46m 49s
Jun 2022
The Dancer and Her Shoe Maker
A dancer at the top of her career can't do her job without the skill and attention to detail of their shoemaker. Francesca Hayward is a principal dancer for the Royal Ballet and Bob Martin is her shoemaker. It’s a very personal choice for a dancer to settle on the perfect shoe - ... Show More
29m 7s
Jan 2021
Tamara Rojo: Ballet in a pandemic
Some of the things the Covid pandemic has taken away are easier to quantify than others. The death toll and the job losses make headlines, but the closed arts venues, the lack of shared creative experiences, not so much. But make no mistake, the arts face an unprecedented crisis. ... Show More
22m 56s
Mar 2022
A Dancers Mindset - Ep.14 From Ballet to Boss!
<p>Hello everyone,&nbsp;</p> <p>Today we will be talking with one of my favourite people Alexandra McMaster. Alex, after having a great career in the ballet industry has made the brave decision to do something else with her life now and I couldn't be happier for her. Doing someth ... Show More
26m 42s
Sep 2024
Davo, Dancing and Creative Direction
This week they’re joined by David Hallberg, Artistic Director of The Australian Ballet. David, or Davo to his mates, was one of the world's most renowned dancers, having been a principal dancer with both the American Ballet Theatre and the Bolshoi Ballet, before becoming Artisti ... Show More
53m 15s
Jun 2017
Tina Arena is Making Her Own Rules.
Tina Arena was the child star who could. From her days as a 9-year-old on Young Talent Time, she matured into one of Australia's most successful singer/songwriters. Now, 40 years after she first appeared on TV, 'Tiny Tina' reflects on the sacrifices she made. From working 6 days ... Show More
56m 6s