This Week in Dance

What's It Like to Train in New York?

Working towards a ballet career in New York City is more than just a dream for many dance students; it's a goal. And for a lucky few, it's their life.

 

Take a peek inside the classes and routines of top dancers at JKO, SAB and other prestigious NYC academies at dance212.com, where a new 3-minute episode airs every day of the week. A special treat this season is Catherine Hurlin, JKO's golden girl who seems primed for a fantastic future at ABT. Just look at that arabesque!

At The Benois

Wendy Perron, editor in chief of Pointe's sister publication, Dance Magazine, is currently in Moscow at the Benois de la Danse. Here, she shares her impressions of the 2012 event.

 

Through Daniil's Lens

Ever wonder what the world would look like through the eyes of a ballet superstar? Pointe's editorial advisor, Kate Lydon, gave us a heads up yesterday about Daniil Simkin's amazing Instagram feed. The ABT soloist, who constantly travels the world, has a treasure trove of behind-the-scenes snapshots of ballet's best dancers, as well as images that simply capture his unique perspective on architecture, commuters, city life. They're beautiful and fascinating and delightfully stalkerish.

What Happened to Our Ballets?

Thank You, Mom

Behind every great ballet dancer is a great mother who drove her to classes, bought her dozens of pointe shoes (and maybe even sewed them), told her when her bun looked like a mess, went into a tizzy when Suzie was cast as Clara instead of her daughter. It's not easy being a ballet mom. So be sure to thank yours this Sunday.

 

Happy mother's day!

Evolution of Ballet
Any ballet fanatic worth her salt has seen dozens of YouTube clips of the Black Swan pas de deux, and probably even knows the music and steps by heart. But do you ever wonder if the choreography has stayed the same since 1895 when Marius Petipa first choreographed it?
Becoming Wendy in PA Ballet's "Peter Pan"

Pennsylvania Ballet presents Trey McIntyre's Peter Pan for the first time this month. PAB soloist Lauren Fadeley, who is dancing the part of Wendy, is guest-blogging the rehearsal and performance process for Pointe. Read her first posts here and here.

Free Shows This Weekend

What's a better springtime treat than some ballet alfresco? Texan dance lovers are in luck: Houston Ballet will present three free performances at the Miller Outdoor Theatre in Hermann Park on May 11, 12 and 13 at 8 pm. The company will dance excerpts of Giselle, Swan Lake and Le Corsaire. Grab your free tickets (4 per person over age 16 while they last) at the Miller Outdoor Theatre box office the day of the performance between 10:30 am and 1 pm.

 

Stars Team Up

American Ballet Theatre principal Herman Cornejo, New York City Ballet principal Tiler Peck, Alvin Ailey's iconic Matthew Rushing, Martha Graham Dance Company star Katherine Crockett. Artists from New York City's top dance companies are teaming up tonight for a benefit for the American Cancer Society. "Dance Against Cancer," produced by New York City Ballet's Daniel Ulbricht and former Carolina Ballet dancer Erin Fogarty, is now in its second year.

Train With The Medalists

Prix de Lausanne is one of ballet's most powerful professional springboards. Think you might have what it takes to go up against some of the top students in the world? Take class with a Prix de Lausanne winner and learn what the prestigious competition is all about. Special master classes are being offered in the following cities:

 

San Francisco - May 6
San Francisco Ballet School
Teacher: Maria Kochetkova and others from the San Francisco Ballet School
Question and Answer : to be announced