Don Quixote ‘s flirtatious and spunky Kitri is an exciting character for ballerinas to portray—any role is fun if it includes a prop fan! But it’s also an important stepping-stone in a dancer’s professional career, alongside Juliet, Odette/Odile and Aurora. In this 1998 recording, Paloma Herrera masters the role, raising the standard for future Kitris […]
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 […]
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 […]
Several years ago, when I was on a reporting trip to Argentina, a young dancer rehearsing at the Ballet Estable del Teatro Colón caught my eye: Macarena Giménez. The rehearsal was for Frederick Ashton’s Sylvia. The young ballerina, one of four learning the title role, moved with an easy grace, radiating charm and a kind […]
Leaves are falling, and companies have officially kicked off their 2022–23 seasons. With that comes another wave of exciting career news—check out these recent updates in company rosters, leadership positions, awards and more in our latest roster roundup. Farewells and New Arrivals BalletMet welcomes eight dancers this season: former Atlanta Ballet principal Erica Alvarado, Beñat […]
Kevin McKenzie, American Ballet Theatre’s longtime artistic director, announced yesterday that he will retire at the end of 2022, after three decades at the helm. He will continue to oversee the company’s 2021–22 season while a search for his successor begins this summer. In an interview with The New York Times’ Rosalyn Sulcas, McKenzie noted […]
In the midst of American Ballet Theatre’s annual eight-week long season at the Metropolitan Opera House, so much focus is on the company’s rising stars. But it’s always fun to look back at some of our ABT favorites from years past. We love this full-length film of the third movement of Clark Tippet’s 1987 Bruch […]