by Gavin Larsen | Dec 5, 2023 | Pointe+, Technique, Training
When Carolina Ballet Theatre dancer Marja’ Miller was 13, she hit a plateau. Although she’d always been super-motivated in class, she suddenly didn’t seem to be progressing as fast as she used to. Looking around, she saw her classmates advancing and getting more...
by Katie Slattery | Aug 28, 2023 | Pointe+, Technique, Training
No ballet class is complete without a healthy dose of corrections. As dancers, we mostly crave them. Other times, they can make us feel put on the spot. Whether receiving the notes as a group or individually, it’s important to learn how to absorb them. What makes a...
by Gavin Larsen | Dec 20, 2022 | Audition Advice, Pointe+, Training
For most dancers, technique class is a familiar daily routine. But dancing in an unfamiliar setting can really throw you for a loop. Whether you’re taking a crowded open class, a mixed-level class at your studio, or auditioning via company class, you need to be able...
by Amy Brandt | Nov 21, 2022 | Pointe+, Technique, Training
There’s something uniquely exciting about coupé jeté en tournant. “I think it’s the combination of turning, jumping and traveling,” says Carlos Lopez, American Ballet Theatre’s director of repertoire and a former soloist with the company. “Usually you see it at the...
by Gavin Larsen | Aug 17, 2022 | Training
As summer intensives wind down, excitement about the new school year starts building. But that anticipation can come with worry, particularly if you’re entering a new studio and need to take a placement class. Many may wonder, “What level will I be put in?” A...
by Katie Slattery | Jul 13, 2022 | Summer Study, Training
LeeAnaca Moore, a conservatory student at Florida Ballet, has a busy summer ahead. She’ll be attending the Alonzo King LINES Ballet Summer Program for three weeks, followed by a four-week summer intensive at Philadelphia Ballet. She then plans to stay on at...
by Katie Slattery | Jun 27, 2021 | Training
I still have vivid memories of my summer intensive training: dancers packed tightly into a studio that could barely fit all the bodies, the mirrors misting up due to the heat and humidity. The energy in the room was invigorating, and I loved observing the talented...
by Frances Solá-Santiago | Aug 6, 2020 | Training, Wellness
I was 4 years old when I took my first ballet lesson. My mom had dressed me in a pink leotard with matching tights, skirt and slippers. She drove me on a Saturday morning to a ballet academy in downtown Caguas, the town in Puerto Rico where I grew up. I don’t...