Your February 2026 Roster Roundup: Dancers and Directors on the Move
The past few weeks have brought another exciting round of ballet career news—check out the latest farewells, appointments, promotions, and more in your February 2026 roster roundup. Michael Vernon. Photo courtesy Indianapolis Ballet. Promotions and Appointments Indianapolis Ballet has announced that Michael Vernon will lead the company as interim artistic director for the remainder of […]
Can Ballet Majors Study Abroad?
University ballet majors hoping to have a performing career may feel like they have to sacrifice typical college experiences in favor of their training. Instead of parties, they have rehearsal, and instead of attending football games, they have performances. But what about another common college experience: studying abroad? Pointe spoke with two ballet majors and […]
10 Fresh Ballets in February 2026
This month, companies across the country are proving that February isn’t just for Romeo and Juliet. From Alexei Ratmansky’s newest commission to a 1980s twist on The Little Mermaid, read on to learn what’s hitting the stages. Book of Esther and Carmen Suite: Carolina Ballet Carolina Ballet presents two world premieres in its Carmen Suite […]
Get to Know the U.S.’s 2026 Prix de Lausanne Competitors
For more than five decades, the Prix de Lausanne has welcomed talented young dancers from around the world for an intense week of classes, rehearsals, and performances as they compete for awards and scholarships. This year, the Prix runs February 1–8, 2026, at Switzerland’s Beaulieu Lausanne. Out of 444 applicants, 81 dancers (43 girls and […]
Rochester City Ballet’s Lydia Marbach’s Favorite Pilates Exercises for Dancers
When Lydia Marbach tried Pilates growing up, and later as a dance major at the University of Arizona, mat classes didn’t quite resonate. It wasn’t until a few years later, after joining Rochester City Ballet, that she accompanied fellow dancer Jessica Tretter to a reformer-based class and fell in love. “I’m obsessed with the reformer,” […]
Inside the Prix de Lausanne: What Goes Into the Process, Scoring, and More
Each year, millions of dancers and dance lovers tune in to watch Switzerland’s Prix de Lausanne via livestream. The weeklong international ballet competition—held February 2–8 this year and streamed on the Prix’s website and on Arte TV—has launched the careers of countless star dancers. But how does it all work? In October, Kathryn Bradney, now […]
Los Angeles Ballet Celebrates 20 Years and Looks to Its Future
Los Angeles is a notoriously difficult city for classical ballet companies. Unlike other major cities, L.A. presents a tough ecosystem for organizations trying to get off the ground. For Los Angeles Ballet, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, the milestone proves that the company has the longevity to make it in the City […]
Onstage, Tyler Donatelli Lets Her Love for Ballet Shine
Known for her powerhouse dancing, Tyler Donatelli has been a fixture at Houston Ballet since joining its second company in 2013. Originally from Huntington Beach, California, Donatelli has steadily risen through Houston Ballet’s ranks, with a promotion to principal in December. Here, she shares her advice for competition jitters, how she’s handled career challenges, her […]
Your Summer Intensive Audition Day Checklist
If you’re headed to summer intensive auditions in the coming weekends, you’ll want to be prepared. To make sure you don’t forget anything, we’ve put together a common-sense checklist. That said, be sure to consult school websites for specific instructions, registration information, and dress code requirements. Keep in mind that some programs require advance online […]
Sons of Echo, Daniil Simkin’s New Project, Explores Masculinity Through the Female Gaze
Daniil Simkin is nothing if not industrious. If he’s not traveling the world performing as an international guest artist (he was recently dancing Nutcracker in Kazakhstan), he’s producing new creative projects. His most recent, Sons of Echo, premieres January 14–25 at New York City’s Joyce Theater, and features a cast of all-male ballet stars performing […]