Alina Cojocaru At 31, The Royal Ballet’s Alina Cojocaru finally got the ultimate gift for a dancer: a full-length ballet created on her. John Neumeier choreographed Hamburg Ballet’s Liliom just for Cojocaru, tailoring the role of Julie, a poor waitress in love with a tough carousel barker, to Cojocaru’s gentle, vulnerable presence and delicate technique. […]
Many dancers’ bags double as mini 7-Elevens. They’re chock full of carefully selected snacks that fuel dancers through the day, the performance and the season. There’s not a casual cracker in there! These stashes are as individual as the dancers themselves: Every performer who’s put a protein bar to her mouth has a different snack […]
Before ever trying out for a company, most advanced ballet students already feel like audition pros. Through the summer intensive experience, they learn how to manage nerves, which leotard they look best in and they may even have a lucky number they vie for in line. But professional open calls demand far more than student […]
When a dancer fell flat on the floor during her Esmeralda solo at Youth America Grand Prix finals one year, it cost her a few points, recalls judge Phillip Broomhead. But she compounded it by how she handled the mishap. Tears welled up. She fell again in the next section of pirouettes and began visibly […]
A gala can offer career opportunities, artistic growth and one-of-a-kind performance experiences. For audiences, a star-studded international gala is a treat: a rare opportunity to see high-profile artists from all over the world on a single stage. But these engagements are also invaluable for the dancers who perform in them. “A gala is a […]
When ABT went on a tour to Beijing last month, Pointe asked corps member Katherine Williams (our “Dancer Spotlight” subject from June/July 09) to keep a diary of her experiences. Here’s what she wrote: November 10: Our tour to Beijing is starting with a 12:40 am flight out of Orange County after a week […]
Since I last wrote from Las Palmas so much has happened! In Las Palmas, I danced “Rubies” in our Ultimate Balanchine program. There were a few casting changes and I ended up with James as my partner (James to the rescue again!). The change came right before the performance, and James and I had only […]
The Stars Descend on Vail This year, International Evenings of Dance will include new works. International Evenings of Dance, which features an array of celebrated dancers each year, has become a signature event at the Vail International Dance Festival in Colorado. But this August, the smorgasbord of stars will have an exciting new […]