After nearly two weeks and three rounds of competition performances, the USA International Ballet Competition announced the winning medalists at tonight’s Awards Gala at Thalia Mara Hall in Jackson, Mississippi. Known for launching the careers of some of the ballet world’s biggest stars (Johan Kobborg and Nina Ananiashvili, to name a couple), the IBC is […]
This month, the USA International Ballet Competition gears up for its 12th edition of festivities. Founded by renowned dancer and educator Thalia Mara, the USA IBC kicked off in 1979 and has taken place every four years since. Dancers from around the world will once again gather in Jackson, Mississippi, June 10–24, for two bustling […]
In 1974, Dance Theatre of Harlem women began wearing tights and shoes in customized shades of brown, presenting a beautiful continuity of line. Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, Houston Ballet principal Lauren Anderson became an iconic example of a classical ballerina outside of DTH with legs and feet that matched her upper body. But […]
January and February may bring snow, but for serious ballet students they are prime months for summer intensive auditions. Whether this is your first time auditioning or you’re a summer program veteran, here are some practical tips so you can put your best foot forward this year. Prepare Ahead of Time Believe it or not, […]
The USA International Ballet Competition is gearing up for the 12th time, and applications are open! The two-week competition, held every four years in Jackson, Mississippi, hosts dancers ages 15–28 from around the globe as they compete for medals, cash prizes and company contracts. The competition will run June 10–24, and this year USA IBC […]
Watching Houston Ballet soloist Mackenzie Richter rehearse Balanchine’s “Diamonds” pas de deux with frequent partner Naazir Muhammad, it’s easy to see why the dancer embodies the company’s future. Richter stretches out time in the quieter moments, dancing with a reserved quality as the couple establishes their boundaries. Slowly riding the ballet’s emotional arc, Richter’s dancing […]
In 1999, a 17-year-old Misty Copeland noticed an image that would help shape her future: Lauren Anderson, the first Black principal dancer with Houston Ballet, on the cover of Dance Magazine. Copeland, then a pre-professional ballet student, was awestruck. “It was an anomaly to see her beauty in all its glory representing the very white […]
Updated 10/11/22. You’re performing well year after year, but you’re still not being cast in larger roles. Your work ethic and technique are strong, but, for some reason, your director hasn’t approached you about advancing in the company. Many dancers face this very dilemma—they’re ready for a new challenge, but featured roles or a promotion […]