3. Dancer, Choreographer, Director: Christopher Stowell

·28 min·2 clips

Christopher Stoll shares why he regrets missing a defining childhood moment in his ballet passion.

This episode features Anne Mueller interviewing Christopher Stoll, the Associate Artistic Director of the National Ballet of Canada. Stoll has held major roles as a principal dancer, artistic director, and choreographer. The conversation explores his unique upbringing and multifaceted career in ballet. Stoll was born into a ballet family, with both parents working for the New York City Ballet. His father was a soloist and his mother worked in the company's school administration. He describes not having a single dramatic moment of discovering ballet, as it was simply the environment of his childhood. His early training included studying at the School of American Ballet, the official school of NYCB. Stoll later became a principal dancer with the San Francisco Ballet, performing there for 16 years. He served as the Artistic Director of Oregon Ballet Theatre from 2003 to 2012. His current role involves staging works by major choreographers like George Balanchine and Christopher Wheeldon. A key insight is his reflection on the potential drawback of never having a "lightbulb moment" of discovering his passion. He finds the concept of an artistic "calling" to be a romanticized idea that doesn't match his lived experience. Stoll views his career path as a natural progression from his family background rather than a dramatic choice. He emphasizes the value of the diverse experiences gained from his family's deep connection to the art form. The interview reveals how his administrative and directorial perspectives were shaped early by observing his parents' work. Stoll's career demonstrates a seamless transition from performer to leader behind the scenes. The tone is conversational and reflective, with a focus on personal history and professional philosophy. The style is interview-based, with Mueller guiding the discussion through Stoll's career milestones. This episode would appeal to ballet students and professionals interested in career longevity and artistic leadership. Listeners seeking high-energy performance stories or technical dance analysis might find it less focused on those elements.

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