Summary of "The Turning - Seasons 1, 2 & 3 | S2 Ep Bonus - Behind the Scenes"

Release Date: May 9, 2023
Hosts: Erica Lance, James Trout, Aylin Lance Lesser, and Emily Foreman
Produced by: Rococo Punch and iHeartPodcasts

1. Introduction to the Behind-the-Scenes Episode

In this special bonus episode of The Turning, the team—comprising Erica Lance, James Trout (JT), Aylin Lance Lesser, and Emily Foreman—dives into the "Room of Mirrors," a collection of fascinating stories and insights that didn't make it into the final ten-part series. This episode offers listeners a deeper understanding of the research process, unexpected discoveries, and the personal reflections of the team members as they worked on uncovering the truths behind the River Road cult.

2. Unveiling Hidden Stories

2.1. The Intricacies of Ballet Pointe Shoes

Emily Foreman introduces a compelling discussion on the history and challenges associated with ballet pointe shoes. She explains that pointe shoes, iconic in the ballet world, have remained largely unchanged since their inception in the 1830s. Made primarily from fabric, glue, and paper, these shoes are notoriously uncomfortable and fraught with health risks for dancers.

Emily Foreman (05:19): "Pointe shoes really haven't changed that much. They can lead to a bunch of stress fractures in your feet and toes... they really can lead to a lot of injury for dancers."

The team delves into the physical toll these shoes take, including stress fractures, ankle injuries, and severe blisters. Emily highlights that when dancers are on pointe, nearly all their body weight is concentrated on their big toe and adjacent joints, areas not naturally designed to bear such stress.

Erica Lance echoes these sentiments with personal incredulity:

Erica Lance (05:00): "Pointe shoes are made of fabric, glue and paper. Yeah. I just don't understand where the support comes from. It sounds like a paper mache project to me."

2.2. Resistance to Innovation in Ballet Equipment

The conversation shifts to the comparative evolution of sporting gear versus ballet equipment. Emily contrasts the continual advancements in sports safety gear—such as soccer shin guards and football helmets—with the stagnant design of ballet pointe shoes.

Emily Foreman (08:36): "It's really shocking to contrast those two. In ballet, it really isn't changing that much."

They discuss attempts to innovate, such as Gaynor Minden's pointe shoes featuring malleable plastic shanks designed to enhance comfort and longevity. However, these innovations faced resistance within the ballet community, deemed as "cheating" by traditionalists who prioritize aesthetic over functionality.

James Trout (10:13): "There is a little bit of stigma of, oh, they're more comfortable. And so there's like maybe some kind of weakness if you choose to wear Gaynor Mendens."

Chloe emphasizes the cultural inertia within ballet, where aesthetic purity often trumps practical improvements:

Chloe (12:12): "Ballet has like, it's changed over time...if we're going to like continue to push the speed and the style that we want, then you're going to have to make some changes to the footwear or the equipment or whatever it is."

2.3. Exploring Tchaikovsky's Lost Pas de Deux

Chloe takes listeners on a historical journey exploring the complexities behind Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake ballet. She uncovers the existence of a "lost pas de deux," a piece that was initially rejected and only rediscovered decades later.

Chloe (17:34): "In the 1870s, Tchaikovsky gets commissioned to write his first ballet... dancer complains about the music in the rehearsal."

This segment reveals how the original score was deemed too complex for dancers, leading to significant cuts and alterations by choreographer Julius Racinger. The resultant production failed critically, leading to the ballet's temporary abandonment. It wasn't until 1953 that the lost sections were unearthed, allowing choreographers like Balanchine to reintegrate them, ultimately enhancing the ballet's legacy.

James Trout (26:21): "I love hearing stories like this, something that now is considered, like, the greatest of the great. And then you go back to, like, when it first came out, and people were like, this is crap."

2.4. The Enigmatic Story of Holly Howard

Erica Lance shifts focus to Holly Howard, a prominent ballerina and one of Balanchine's early American muses. Holly's personal life, intertwined with her professional career, is marked by turmoil and tragedy.

Erica Lance (27:25): "We discussed how Holly and Balanchine were what it seemed like romantically involved. And she got four abortions by Balanchine."

Through meticulous research, including consulting private investigators and ancestry records, Erica uncovers that Holly was born in 1918 in Virginia, trained under Catherine Littlefield, and later moved to New York to join Balanchine’s company. Despite her prominence, Holly's later life remains shrouded in mystery, with rumors and limited information suggesting personal struggles and an untimely death from cancer at age 50.

Erica Lance (34:14): "There's... a really troubling footnote from this guy, John Terrace. He was a former Balanchine dancer, and he said, they say, no proof. Holly is running a whorehouse in Boston... because of him."

This revelation highlights the darker undercurrents of Balanchine's relationships with his muses and the societal pressures faced by women in the ballet world during that era.

3. Listener Reactions and Personal Reflections

James Trout shares the overwhelming and emotional responses received from listeners, particularly regarding an episode where he and Aylin discuss their personal experiences with ballet.

James Trout (43:32): "We got several long emails and letters from listeners sharing their stories that have been incredibly moving."

One poignant letter recounts a listener's struggle with leaving a lifelong passion for music, paralleling the team's own experiences:

Listener Excerpt: "This episode helped me acknowledge that I'm not as alone in choosing a path away from my true love as I thought... So I thought that was pretty incredible that this person wanted to reach out because something had resonated so true to her and what she heard."

The team reflects on the universality of passion, burnout, and the identity crises that can follow the departure from a cherished pursuit. They discuss how intense commitments, much like abusive relationships, can distort perceptions of love and attachment, making the loss feel more profound.

James Trout (48:53): "That perception might also be based in this all or nothing attitude... the intensity of the commitment can make the loss even greater."

4. Conclusions and Final Thoughts

As the episode draws to a close, the team expresses a longing for greater understanding and documentation of the personal lives behind historical figures like Holly Howard. They acknowledge the gaps in their narrative and the importance of recognizing individual agency and resilience beyond cultural stigmas and historical erasure.

Erica Lance (39:57): "I crave those details because I crave a document of that time and like how people were thinking about that choice just to see her as more of an independent person."

The episode serves as a testament to the complexities of uncovering hidden histories and the profound impact that storytelling can have on both creators and listeners alike.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Emily Foreman (05:19): "They're very uncomfortable... it really can lead to a lot of injury for dancers."
• Erica Lance (05:00): "Pointe shoes are made of fabric, glue and paper. Yeah. I just don't understand where the support comes from. It sounds like a paper mache project to me."
• Chloe (12:12): "Ballet has like, it's changed over time... if we're going to like continue to push the speed and the style that we want, then you're going to have to make some changes to the footwear or the equipment or whatever it is."
• James Trout (26:21): "I love hearing stories like this, something that now is considered, like, the greatest of the great. And then you go back to, like, when it first came out, and people were like, this is crap."
• James Trout (43:32): "We got several long emails and letters from listeners sharing their stories that have been incredibly moving."
• James Trout (48:53): "That perception might also be based in this all or nothing attitude... the intensity of the commitment can make the loss even greater."

For more insights and detailed accounts, tune into the bonus episode of The Turning and explore the untold stories that shaped the River Road Fellowship's downfall.