Damian Woetzel is a former principal dancer at the New York City Ballet and the current president of the world’s most prestigious performing arts conservatory, The Juilliard School. After an illustrious career as one of the world’s foremost male dancers, Woetzel went on to earn a degree from Harvard, serve on Barack Obama’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities, and direct a series of major arts programmes, including at The Aspen Institute. As president of Juilliard since 2018, he hopes to one day make the school tuition-free. Woetzel spoke with Monocle’s Emma Nelson about discovering his passion young, his jeté-like rise in ballet and the role of art as a public good.

Damian Woetzel is a former principal dancer at the New York City Ballet and the current president of the world&rsquo;s most prestigious performing arts conservatory, The Juilliard School. After an illustrious career as one of the world&rsquo;s foremost male dancers, Woetzel went on to earn a degree from Harvard, serve on Barack Obama&rsquo;s Committee on the Arts and Humanities, and direct a series of major arts programmes, including at The Aspen Institute. As president of Juilliard since 2018, he hopes to one day make the school tuition-free. Woetzel spoke with Monocle&rsquo;s Emma Nelson about discovering his passion young, his jet&eacute;-like rise in ballet and the role of art as a public good.

Long-form conversations about the lives and careers of the world's leading and most exciting names from the worlds of art, design, literature, politics, business and food. We hear from the masters themselves, about their art, their craft, their secrets and successes. 

Long-form conversations about the lives and careers of the world's leading and most exciting names from the worlds of art, design, literature, politics, business and food. We hear from the masters themselves, about their art, their craft, their secrets and successes.

The Big Interview

Damian Woetzel

An icon of US alternative rock, Bob Mould was a member of influential Minneapolis band Hüsker Dü, which combined screaming guitars with sweet pop melodies in the 1980s and inspired later acts such as Nirvana. Mould’s subsequent band Sugar recorded three acclaimed albums in the mid-1990s. He has since built up a solo catalogue that has included several stylistic deviations but keeps circling back to the power-trio format. Mould’s latest solo album is ‘Here We Go Crazy’. He sits down with Andrew Mueller to play a couple of songs and talk about the legacy of Hüsker Dü, being outed as a gay man in the 1990s and Donald Trump’s WWE-style politics. 

An icon of US alternative rock, Bob Mould was a member of influential Minneapolis band H&uuml;sker D&uuml;, which combined screaming guitars with sweet pop melodies in the 1980s and inspired later acts such as Nirvana. Mould&rsquo;s subsequent band Sugar recorded three acclaimed albums in the mid-1990s. He has since built up a solo catalogue that has included several stylistic deviations but keeps circling back to the power-trio format. Mould&rsquo;s latest solo album is &lsquo;Here We Go Crazy&rsquo;. He sits down with Andrew Mueller to play a couple of songs and talk about the legacy of H&uuml;sker D&uuml;, being outed as a gay man in the 1990s and Donald Trump&rsquo;s WWE-style politics.&nbsp;

Bob Mould

The films of screenwriter Bill Broyles have time and again cemented themselves as classics of American cinema. Following his debut with the acclaimed series ‘China Beach’, came films including ‘Apollo 13’, ‘Cast Away’ and ‘Jarhead’. Broyles’ writing for the screen has been informed at least in part by an eventful personal life. As a young man, he was a US Marine Corps platoon commander in the Vietnam War, an experience he recalls in the Apple TV+ series ‘Vietnam: The War That Changed America’. He was subsequently a journalist, launching ‘Texas Monthly’ and editing ‘Newsweek’ before heading to Hollywood. Broyles sits down with Andrew Mueller for a contemplative look back on his successes and failures, as well as reflecting on the best and worst aspects of American culture.             

 

 

 

The films of screenwriter Bill Broyles have time and again cemented themselves as classics of American cinema. Following his debut with the acclaimed series &lsquo;China Beach&rsquo;, came films including &lsquo;Apollo 13&rsquo;, &lsquo;Cast Away&rsquo; and &lsquo;Jarhead&rsquo;. Broyles&rsquo; writing for the screen has been informed at least in part by an eventful personal life. As a young man, he was a US Marine Corps platoon commander in the Vietnam War, an experience he recalls in the Apple TV+ series &lsquo;Vietnam: The War That Changed America&rsquo;. He was subsequently a journalist, launching &lsquo;Texas Monthly&rsquo; and editing &lsquo;Newsweek&rsquo; before heading to Hollywood. Broyles sits down with Andrew Mueller for a contemplative look back on his successes and failures, as well as reflecting on the best and worst aspects of American culture.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
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Bill Broyles 

Joe Wright is the acclaimed film director known for single-take shots, redefining cinematic genres and updating classic narratives. He first appeared on the global stage with his feature directorial debut, ‘Pride & Prejudice’, starring Keira Knightley, followed by a string of celebrated releases that include the seven-time Academy Award-nominated drama ‘Atonement’, the action-packed thriller ‘Hanna’ and the biographical drama ‘Darkest Hour’. As one of the more technically adventurous and unpredictable directors of his generation, Wright’s latest project might be his most ambitious: a new eight-part series documenting the rise of a dictator, ‘Mussolini: Son Of The Century’. It has already stirred debate across Europe and beyond since its release, and is regarded by many critics as the best show of 2025 so far. 

Joe Wright is the acclaimed film director known for single-take shots, redefining cinematic genres and updating classic narratives. He first appeared on the global stage with his feature directorial debut, &lsquo;Pride &amp; Prejudice&rsquo;, starring Keira Knightley, followed by a string of celebrated releases that include the seven-time Academy Award-nominated drama &lsquo;Atonement&rsquo;, the action-packed thriller &lsquo;Hanna&rsquo; and the biographical drama &lsquo;Darkest Hour&rsquo;. As one of the more technically adventurous and unpredictable directors of his generation, Wright&rsquo;s latest project might be his most ambitious: a new eight-part series documenting the rise of a dictator, &lsquo;Mussolini: Son Of The Century&rsquo;. It has already stirred debate across Europe and beyond since its release, and is regarded by many critics as the best show of 2025 so far.&nbsp;

Damian Woetzel

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