I don't see the Pointe
Don't see the point of ballet? We want to change your mind. 'I don't see the Pointe' is a podcast which aims to make ballet accessible and understandable. This is your guide to understanding the ballet world. If you've never seen any ballet before at all, or if you're a life-long fan, we're here to help you 'see the pointe' of ballet. Hosted by Kat Johnston and Hermione Dowling, this podcast gives audiences all the information they need to watch ballet, from where to watch it, what to know, and how to enjoy it on a budget.
Episodes
Giselle: a prince, a peasant girl, and a preventable tragedy
After an unintentional hiatus (again) we are back an episode all about the plot of Giselle, one of the greatest romantic classical ballets out there. Giselle is in some ways the very definition of classical ballet, with two strong principal parts, a sweeping corps de ballet, romantic skirts, and choreography that really takes advantage of the innovation of pointe shoes from it's era. However,
The Nutcracker: the ballet with a redemption arc
We are finally delivering a Christmas episode about the Nutcracker. This week, Hermione and Kat delve into the Nutcracker in immense detail, discussing plot, history and reception across the years.
The Year Ahead: ballet you should see in 2025/26
This week Hermione, Kat and (we've brought her back) Clara discuss the 2025/26 season at the Royal Ballet and Opera. We go through what ballets are on, when, and what they are all about.In order & links: A Single Man, September 2025Like Water For Chocolate, October 2025La Fille Mal Gardée, November 2025 & June 2026Perspectives, Balanchine, Marston & Peck, November 2025Nutcracker, November 2025: Th
Ballet history (part 2): how it all began...
This week Kat, Hermione ... and a special guest (!) Clara talk about the origins of ballet from the 1400s in mercantile Italy to the English 1600s and the king that brought back partying (and ballet). It turns out, ballet in these early periods is much like a Mamma Mia immersive experience where everyone got involved, there was dance, there was singing, there were outrageous costumes, and much mor
Romeo & Juliet: Plot, Background, and The Fonteyn & Nureyev story
This week Hermione and Kat are covering the classic ballet Romeo and Juliet, choreographed by Kenneth Macmillan in 1965. It's one of the most technically gruelling, emotionally cathartic and visually beautiful ballets out there, and is absolutely perfect if you have never seen any ballet before. What we're talking about in this episode: - Background and plot of Romeo & Juliet, its origins, ada
Onegin Ballet: How To Get Revenge On Your Teenage Crush
This week Kat and Hermione discuss the ballet 'Onegin', choreogrpahed by John Cranko which first premiered in 1965 based on the Pushkin Novel in Verse which was first published in 1825. 2025 is therefore the 200th anniversary of the book's publication and 50th anniversary of the ballet first performance- a big year for Eugene Onegin!
We're talking about everything in this episode:
- The story of
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland: a modern story ballet
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland opens the Royal Ballet and Opera's 2024-25 season with an amazing series of casts in this now classic Christopher Wheeldon ballet.
Alice opened at the Royal Opera House for the first time in February 2011 and is a magically faithful representation of the classic book 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'. It brings a 160 year old story into the world of classical ba
Ballet History (Part 1) : key moments, people & performances
This week Hermione & Kat are starting a multipart overview of ballet history with a general history. From Italian courtly ballet, ghostly Romantics, the elusive Ballet Russes and riot causing performances, to ballet defections from the USSR, Sylvie Guillem's world changing hypermobility and the French terms, everything is covered.
Stay tuned for more to come in our history of the art of
I don't see the Pointe podcast trailer
Do you not see the point of ballet? In this podcast we want to change your mind.
In this trailer Kat and Hermione share a story of how ballet brought them together and why they are striving for others to see the point of the ballet world.
The Winter's Tale: ballet meets Shakespeare
In this episode Kat and Hermione discuss Christopher Wheeldon's ballet The Winter's Tale, adapted from the Shakespeare play which premiered at the Royal Opera House in 2014.
We also discuss the new season at the Royal Opera House (now the Royal Ballet and Opera) which starts in September
Booking for the new season opens on the 9th July for YoungROH and the 10th July for general booking.
Guy falls in love with Swan: Everything about Swan Lake the ballet
Hermione and Kat return to IDSTP in this episode discussing the Royal Ballet's production of Swan Lake, as well as other versions, the Tchaikovsky score and dancers Fumi Kaneko and William Bracewell.
Where to see Swan Lake
Find tickets for the RB's production of Swan Lake here:
https://www.roh.org.uk/tickets-and-events/swan-lake-by-liam-scarlett-details
16-25 discounted tickets for th
Chatting with Alexander Campbell: Creating A Speaking Ballet
Hermione and Kat sit down with Alexander Campbell, principal dancer of the Royal Ballet to talk about 'The Limit', a new show which ran at the Royal Opera House in October.
Alexander talks about the process behind creating a new dance production, adapting dance from a play, and the challenges of working in new ways. Hermione and Kat also chat to Alexander about the realities of ballet, a
Hazards of the job: ballet injuries & Don Quixote
This episode contains references to injuries and drugs.
This week Hermione & Kat are talking about injuries in the ballet world, as well as their own unfortunate medical dilemmas, and the Royal Ballet's magnificent production of Don Quixote.
Links
- Young ROH account for ages 16-25 for £30 tickets
- Anemoi/The Cellist tickets @ The Royal Opera House (until 2nd November)
- Don Quixote
This Barbie loves ballet: the good and the bad of ballet movies
In this episode, Hermione and Kat delve into the world of ballet movies. Many people have their first ballet experiences and become interested in the art form through ballet in film and TV. Not all ballet movies however, are created equal.
Kat talks about the Barbie ballet movies (Barbie in the Nutcracker 2001, Barbie in Swan Lake 2003 & Barbie and the Twelve Dancing Princesses 2006), and Ce
Going to the ballet 101
Going to the ballet is incredible but can be confusing. This is your strangely detailed guide to booking the best and cheapest tickets, where to sit, what to wear, and lots more. With a quite a few years of going to the ballet under their belts, Hermione and Kat have a lot of tips, detailed tips, for going to the ballet at the Royal Opera House. Consider this episode a reference guide for when you
Your guide to the 2023/24 ballet season
In this episode, Hermione and Kat react to the 2023/24 ballet season at the Royal Opera House. With some brief thoughts on each ballet, we recommend which ones to see for new ballet audiences and what people might enjoy about them.
Follow us on instagram @seethepointe for more ballet info and content.
Next week we'll be sharing exactly how to see ballet at the ROH: how to book tickets, wher
A New Cinderella: Reimagining Classical Ballet
This week Hermione and Kat discuss the new production of the Royal Ballet's Cinderella, choreographed by Frederick Ashton.
With brand new costumes and sets, this colourful and magical production is a classic of British ballet, and a perfect introduction to ballet for kids. It follows the classic Cinderella story, so revisiting the Disney film before seeing it would not be a bad idea.
Our dan
How to decipher Woolf Works
Don't see the point of ballet? We want to change your mind.
This episode contains references to themes of mental health and suicide which some listeners may find distressing.
This week Hermione and Kat talk about the Royal Ballet's production of Woolf Works, choreographed by Wayne McGregor. They discuss how to watch the ballet, the plots and themes to look out for, and the mesmerising score by Ma
Ranting about ballet & why Sleeping Beauty is great
Don't see the point of ballet? We want to change your mind.
Ballet fans Kat and Hermione are setting out on a journey to share the joy of ballet with people who might not see the point of it. In this episode they discuss:
- what drove them to start a podcast about ballet
- the Royal Ballet's production of Sleeping Beauty
- some favourite dancers
- cheap ways to see ballet in London
Recommended
Enjoy Teaching Again | Elementary, Teacher Burnout, Student Behavior, SEL, Classroom Management
Entrepreneur Kids Legacy Show - Family Motivation, Business Boss Babies, Inspirational Speakers and Healthy fun food
McKinsey on Consumer and Retail
megahired.com
Telli Talks with Telli Swift
Harmonize Your Life: Conversation on Self-Care for Women of Color
Lighting the Legal Career Path
High Performance Mindset | Learn from World-Class Leaders, Consultants, Athletes & Coaches about Mindset
Pintastic® Pinterest Podcast
Learn 50 English Phrases While You Sleep | Everyday English Phrases & Vocabulary
The Daily
The Joe Rogan Experience
