How Above Ballet Company Is Raising the Standard of Ballet Training in Nigeria
Ayomi Tsalu’s love for dance all began with the 2001 film Save the Last Dance. The movie was Tsalu’s first introduction to classical ballet at age 12, and he was hooked—dreaming of one day studying dance but having no opportunities in his hometown in Nigeria. Ayomi Tsalu. Photo by Gideon Hezekiah, courtesy Tsalu. Tsalu first stepped […]
Nureyev Resurfaces at Staatsballett Berlin
Rudolf Nureyev led a life packed with drama: his famous defection from the Soviet Union in 1961; his tempestuous eccentricity and sexual escapades; his global stardom; his command over the Paris Opéra Ballet as artistic director in the 1980s; his tragically early death from AIDS at 54. Yuri Possokhov’s ballet Nureyev, which premiered at the […]
Ballet Austin’s Marie Antoinette: Vampire Queen of Versailles Blends History With the Supernatural
Marie Antoinette (1755–1793), with her sizable wigs, opulent gowns, and untimely demise at the guillotine, is one of history’s most recognizable figures. The Austrian princess, who married France’s future King Louis XVI in May 1770, at age 14, ascended to the throne four years later. Thanks to her Austrian roots and lavish spending habits, she […]
A College Ballet Dancer’s Guide to Professional Auditions
Looking back at the spring semester of my senior year at Butler University, one thing immediately comes to mind: auditions. On top of schoolwork, rehearsals, jobs, and other obligations, my fellow dance majors and I spent any remaining hours in pursuit of a contract. Audition seasons are tough for anyone, especially the first time around. […]
Are You Actually Warm? The Anatomy of a Proper Ballet Warm-Up
It’s common knowledge that dancers have to warm up before jumping into class, rehearsal, or a performance. But what does “being warm” actually mean? Should it involve intense stretching or exercise? Do you need to be sweating? The anatomy of a proper ballet warm-up is surprisingly simple, but it might not be what dancers expect. […]
Pointe+ Members: You’re Invited to DT+ Teacher Talk: “Safe Stretching Practices”
Are you confident the stretches you’re doing are truly safe ? And do you know when flexibility training supports development—and when it risks injury? Our friends at Dance Teacher are inviting Pointe+ members to its next DT+ Teacher Talk, “Safe Stretching Practices,” on Thursday, March 19, at 12 pm EDT. This talk will help you gain essential insights […]
Infinite Steps, a New Ballet-Photo Book by Gene Schiavone and Gavin Larsen, Shares the Stories of 33 Dancers
By the time dance photographer Gene Schiavone retired in 2020, he had hundreds of thousands of images sitting on his hard drives, gathering virtual dust. He’d been American Ballet Theatre’s staff photographer for 20 years, and captured photos of ballet students and stars all over the world. As many photographers do, he thought about creating […]
Navigating Gossip When Researching Companies
Caitlin Sloan. Photo by Krista Brinkmeier, courtesy Sloan. The internet makes it easier than ever for dancers to research companies, second companies, and trainee programs. All it takes is typing the name of a program into a search engine—or, more and more often, a social media platform like TikTok or Reddit. But how much focus […]
Quickfire Questions with March/April Digital Cover Star Charlotte Nash
To get to know Charlotte Nash a little bit better, we asked her a series of quickfire questions. Read on to hear more about the Oregon Ballet Theatre soloist’s favorite step, current reads, pointe shoe specs, and more. What’s your favorite step in class? Pirouettes. What about your least favorite? Italian fouettés. Do you have […]
Are You Using Your Plié Correctly?
At its most simplified, to plié (from the French verb “plier”) means “to bend.” Yet this foundational ballet step—usually the first one we learn as dancers—holds the secrets to so much more, including relevés, jumping, turning, traveling, and dynamics. “Plié is protection, but it’s also power,” says New York City–based choreographer and teacher Barry Kerollis. […]