American Ballet Theatre has named celebrated former principal dancer Susan Jaffe its next artistic director, effective December 2022. Jaffe will take the helm from Kevin McKenzie, who plans to retire at the end of the 2022 season, his 30th as director. “What a profound honor it is for me to come back home to lead American Ballet Theatre,” Jaffe […]
Sarah Van Patten is a rarity among ballet dancers. Not only has she enjoyed a career of more than 20 years, she has spent most of it with one company—San Francisco Ballet—and has become a beloved artist in the Bay Area. Van Patten’s retirement performance on April 16 is sure to be as tearful as […]
Updated on 10/15/21 Mark your calendars! World Ballet Day — the free livestream bonanza featuring ballet companies from across the globe — is scheduled for Tuesday, October 19. This year’s event, hosted by The Australian Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet and The Royal Ballet, will take viewers into the studios of over 50 dance organizations across six […]
To any pre-professional dancer vying for a company position, auditions are a familiar and often dreaded scene: Hundreds of hopeful young graduates flock to an audition site, pin a paper number to their dance clothes and try their luck. But only a few will receive full-time contracts with companies—the rest will go home disappointed, potentially […]
While very little about this year has felt normal, we’re excited to share that one of the dance community’s landmark events is returning despite the pandemic. October 29 marks World Ballet Day 2020. This year’s iteration of the annual social media extravaganza features three of the world’s leading companies: The Royal Ballet, The Australian Ballet […]
For over 140 years, La Bayadère has affirmed its sublime elements: the “Kingdom of the Shades” act, a ballet blanc of pristine classicism; brilliantly musical, virtuosic variations that dancers love to perform. Its drama has inspired unforgettable star performances, and Marius Petipa’s seminal choreography has impacted choreographers like George Balanchine. But many take issue with […]
Mark your calendars! This Tuesday, July 7, join pre-professional dancers across the globe in an inaugural live-stream event celebrating World Ballet School Day 2020. Made “by students for students,” the event aims to bring young generations of dancers together in an international recognition of the unifying power of ballet, dance and the art world at […]
When you see Olivia Book dance, you first notice her long lines, incredible control and captivating stage presence. It’s obvious why the Canadian dancer received high marks at Toronto’s Youth American Grand Prix competition last year—the girl has talent! It isn’t until a second or third glance that you realize that one of the 16-year-old’s […]