Celebrity iPod playlists

February 2, 2009

Can’t decide on a holiday gift for your BFF? How ’bout a playlist, courtesy of some of our favorite dancers?! —Matthew Murphy

Cara Massey
is currently performing in Legally Blonde on Broadway.

On Her Playlist:

“A Beautiful Mess” by Jason Mraz

“Cathedrals” by Jump Little Children

“Paperweight” by Joshua Radin and Schuyler Fisk

“Weird Fishes/Arpeggi” by Radiohead

“If I Told You Now” by Lauren Kennedy

“Unexpressed” by Gavin Creel from It’s Only Life

“Vegas” by Sara Bareilles

“When Your Mind’s Made Up” by Glen Hasard and Marketa Irglova from Once

“Sympathize” by Amos Lee

“Give It to Me” by Timbaland with Nelly Furtado and Justin Timberlake

“All of these songs make me want to dance!”

Allison Miller
is a corps member with Houston Ballet.

On Her Playlist:

“Ooh La La” by Faces

“Philosophy” by Ben Folds

“Janet” by The Format

“Gloomy” by Matt Costa

“Paris 2004” by Peter Bjorn and John

“M79” by Vampire Weekend

“Black Hole” by She & Him

“Sunshine” by Matt Costa

“Australia” by The Shins

“Silver Lining” by Rilo Kiley

“I find it helpful to listen to these songs while I’m getting ready for a performance. It makes putting on makeup and doing my hair therapeutic and relaxing, which is a good way of calming my nerves before a show.”

Joaquin de Luz
is a principal with New York City Ballet.

On His Playlist:

“Como el Agua” by Camaron de la Isla

“Mr. Jones” by Counting Crows

“Chop Suey!” by System of a Down

“Aces High” by Iron Maiden

“La Flaca” by Jarabe de Palo

“Bring Me to Life” by Evanescence

“Dance Pieces, No. ix” by Philip Glass

“Master of Puppets” by Metallica

“One Last Chance” James Morrison

“Stairway to Heaven” Led Zeppelin

“These are great to warm up to and pump me up!”

Jerry Mitchell
directed and choreographed Legally Blonde and choreographed Hairspray

On His Playlist:

“Canto Bueno” by Davidson Ospina from the “Cafe Brazil” CD

“Think” by Aretha Franklin

“Save the Last Dance” by Michael Buble

“4 Minutes” by Madonna and Justin Timberlake

“Give It 2 Me” by Madonna

“A Thousand Beautiful Things” by Annie Lennox

“Music makes me dance…even when I’m sitting still. It is the heartbeat of many ideas for me.”

David Hallberg
is a principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre.

On His Playlist:

“Concerning the UFO Sighting Near Highland, Illinois” by Sufjan Stevens

“Polkamatic” by Vitalic

“’S Wonderful” by Ella Fitzgerald

“Wild Is the Wind” by Nina Simone

“Bamboo Banga” by M.I.A.

“Keep the Car Running” by Arcade Fire

“Gasolina” by Bonde do Rolé

“To Zion” by Lauryn Hill

“Bad Man” by Missy Elliott

“Samson” by Regina Spektor

“These songs are a representation of different moods of my day… from upbeat Missy to a more chill Nina Simone. Always an eclectic mix.”

Jill Johnson
is a longtime collaborator of William Forsythe’s.

On Her Playlist:

“Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars (Corcovado)” by Oscar Peterson Trio

“The Clock” by Thom Yorke

“Don’t You Worry ’Bout a Thing” by Stevie Wonder

“What’s Going On” by Marvin Gaye

“Blue” by Joni Mitchell

“Musicology” by Prince

“Halloween” by Chris Garneau

“Blackbird” by Paul McCartney

“There’s Hope” by India.Arie

“Singin’ in the Rain” by Gene Kelly

“I chose music that inspires me to move and that I am moved by.”

Dan Knechtges
choreographed Xanadu on Broadway.

On His Playlist:

“We Run This” by Missy Elliott

“Black Sweat” by Prince

“1, 2 Step” by Ciara

“Somethin’ for the Fellas” by Jonny McGovern

“I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker” by Sandi Thom

“Muscles” by Club 69

“So Emotional (David Morales Mix)” by Whitney Houston

“Guilty Pleasure” by Cobra Starship

“Can’t Stop Moving” by Sonny J

“4 Minutes” by Madonna and Justin Timberlake