Articles
Ballet is hard, and seeing students discover this fact is both exciting and painful at the same time. Once serious ballet training begins, a student will spend a lot of time facing the barre, and in most studio settings, this means they’ll be staring at a blank wall for months. So how does one instill…
Syllabus. Curriculum. Dance Teacher Training. These are terms, which have garnered some negative attention in the ballet world as of late. I have witnessed school directors and teachers back away from them as if they were dirty “four letter words.” I believe this is simply because ballet teacher training has rarely been required in our…
Everybody knows Nutcracker. Even those who have never seen a ballet in their life have heard the Sugarplum music piped over an Oreo commercial or listened to Waltz of the Flowers drifting through Target as they go about their December shopping. As dancers, we know Nutcracker in a very different way. For many of us…
Walking into the studio in the morning, the energy is different than the typical pre-class vibe. Normally bodies are lounging, splayed on the floor, knots gently worked out and coffee sipped as the dancers prepare for the day ahead. Today, however, bright colors are everywhere, laughter fills the air and the room hums with excitement….
I stood staring at the casting sheet. I felt others jostling around me for a better look at the board, but I couldn’t bring myself to move. Where was my name? I had wanted so badly to be in this piece – I had been dancing all summer, I had felt strong in the audition,…
We’re excited to share a new dance film featuring New York City Ballet Principal Ask la Cour and American National Ballet Principal Sara Michelle Murawski. Directed by the Toht Brothers (Adam and Ben) with cinematography by Ed David, the film displays the art form beautifully. The choreography, also done by Ask la Cour, is set…
Well, let’s be honest maybe not EVERY student… There are several people that come to mind from my college days that I’m not sure I’d enjoy sharing a barre with. But if you are a student of the arts ergo film, fashion, photography, theater (especially theater after all every actor should dance and every dancer…
Step one: It is going to be okay! There are millions of people on the planet and a very small percentage of them actually become prima ballerinas. Most of them are beautiful, fabulous people, born with phenomenal musicality and naturally spectacular feet. So you’ve come to terms and now you can admit it, you’re burnt…
Recently, I had the opportunity to watch a master at work: I took photos at a Master Class taught by the one and only Edward Ellison, which meant I got to be a fly on the wall and soak up his words of wisdom. Among my favorites? “I want to see your fire.” It was…
While the Olympics only happen once every four years, they arm us with enough excitement and patriotism to last awhile: From Simone Biles staking her claim as the world’s foremost gymnast, Michael Phelps going out with a golden bang, and various records shattered by the world’s most exceptional athletes, the Summer 2016 Olympics were nothing…
