In a controversial move, former Bolshoi Ballet star Nikolai Tsiskaridze has been appointed rector of the renowned Vaganova Academy, associate school of the Mariinsky Ballet. Tsiskaridze is, to put it mildly, a polarizing figure. He has many admirers, but was fired from the Bolshoi in June after ongoing disputes with the company’s management. Some are […]
With its mix of gangsters, vaudeville and ballet, On Your Toes was the first major Broadway musical to incorporate classical dance—courtesy of George Balanchine. One of the 1936 show’s numbers is the much-beloved Slaughter on Tenth Avenue, often performed by itself as a standalone ballet. Next month, New York City Center’s Encores! revives Rodgers and […]
This past year saw a bounty of ballet beauty. There were jaw-dropping premieres, some exciting new collaborations and a number of promising dancers who began to make their mark. As senior editor of Pointe, I got to witness much of it, and I have to say I had a blast. Here are my personal top […]
After making a splash in Chicago and DC, Paris Opéra Ballet has set up camp in New York’s Lincoln Center for the next two weekends. Tonight, étoile Marie-Agnès Gillot performs the lead in Maurice Béjart’s Bolero. In Pointe‘s April/May 2010 issue, we asked Gillot what skill she would most like to have. Her response? […]
Forget his ridiculous leaps and irresistible stage presence—Ivan Vasiliev officially became one of my favorite people when he told Pointe that he’d “love to be tall, blond and have blue eyes…and Wolverine claws!” And, just FYI, the guy also has a remote-control helicopter that he can operate with his iPhone. If you haven’t yet read […]
Pennsylvania Ballet’s beautiful Riolama Lorenzo just announced that she’ll be ending her performing career next month. It will be a sad loss for the company, and for the ballet world. Lorenzo moves with a natural grace, and has amazing, fluid extensions that seem to reach to eternity. At 5’8″, she’s also an inspiration for other […]