While American Ballet Theatre and Complexions Contemporary Ballet fall into very different size and repertoire categories, both institutions’ dancers start their day with pliés and tendus—even in quarantine. A ballet class seemed like a natural connection point for a recent teacher swap initiative between the two organizations. Sascha Radetsky, artistic director of ABT Studio Company, […]
Now through October 16, high school students aged 15-18 (or in grades 10-12) can apply for the 2021 National YoungArts Competition. Spanning a wide range of art forms from photography to writing to dance, the competition recognizes emerging young artists and their accomplishments. Awarded artists receive cash prizes up to $10,000 and opportunities to work […]
The dance community’s response to the death of George Floyd was immediate and sweeping on social media. Dance artists, including Desmond Richardson and Martha Nichols, used their social platforms to make meaningful statements about racial inequality. Theresa Ruth Howard‘s leadership spurred ballet companies including Dance Theatre of Harlem, American Ballet Theatre, and New York City […]
In early April, in the midst of the dance world’s shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic, Universal Ballet Competition co-directors Lissette and David Lucas launched a series of virtual workshops and interactive master classes. “It was a way to keep dancers motivated on the weekends, and give them something to look forward to,” says […]
It’s impossible to miss Complexions Contemporary Ballet’s Jillian Davis onstage. Tall and glamorous, her commanding stage presence, luxurious movement quality and intuitive musicality have made her one of the company’s standout stars. But her road to Complexions was anything but linear. The 6’2″ dancer worked tirelessly over several years to find her place in the […]
Just because “social distancing” means your classes got canceled, your training doesn’t need to stop. Some studios are livestreaming their classes to students. Some dancers are giving themselves kitchen-counter barre. But there are also several online classes that can keep your technique sharp from home. Check out these seven options: Universal Ballet Competition Universal Ballet […]
Dreams, drama, and capital-D DANCE: The brand-new High Strung Free Dance trailer just dropped, and it is chock-full of everything we love. Quick catch-up: High Strung Free Dance is the much-anticipated sequel to the original 2016 High Strung film. The new movie stars two-time Dance Spirit cover girl Juliet Doherty as Barlow, a stunning contemporary […]
In today’s dance world, versatility is key. It’s not enough to be a master of one style—even when they specialize in one area, dancers are frequently asked to fuse multiple genres, or step out of their comfort zone for specific projects. With their wide variety of summer programs, Joffrey Ballet School aims to prepare dancers […]