by Catie Robinson | Jun 23, 2026 | Career, Pointe+, Profiles
Dutch National Ballet principal Riho Sakamoto’s dancing is precise, clean, and engaging, and almost as eclectic as her personal style. Her repertoire ranges from contemporary works like David Dawson’s Empire Noir to her upcoming debut as Nikiya in La Bayadère....
by Catie Robinson | Jun 11, 2026 | Career, Pointe+, Training
Jose Reyes sorting costumes for Pasadena Civic Ballet. Photo courtesy of Reyes. Now that the academic year is over and recitals are wrapping up, it’s time to toss that rotten banana at the bottom of your dance bag—or, better yet, give the entire thing a good cleaning....
by Catie Robinson | Sep 26, 2025 | Pointe+, Profiles
After a busy summer spent performing at Vail Dance Festival, Saratoga Performing Arts Center, and the Joyce Theater’s Jerome Robbins Festival, New York City Ballet principal Mira Nadon is back in the rehearsal studios at Lincoln Center to prepare for NYCB’s fall...
by Catie Robinson | Jun 12, 2025 | Career, Pointe+, Profiles
Take one look at New York Theatre Ballet artist Sarah Stafford’s pointe-shoe-printed dance bag and you’ll have a good idea of what’s inside. The tote is a Baggu and was a gift from her boyfriend. She customized it with a cherry keychain, a lemon hair-clip she picked...
by Catie Robinson | Apr 3, 2025 | Career, Pointe+, Profiles
While her onstage personas are as varied as Cinderella and Odile, Royal Swedish Ballet first soloist Maya Schonbrun’s offstage style stays consistently quirky. Her dance bag is a black Fjällräven Kånken backpack, decorated with patches she added herself. “I really...
by Catie Robinson | Feb 21, 2025 | Career, Pointe+, Profiles
If it wasn’t clear from her outfit and the contents of her dance bag, Ballet de Catalunya soloist Ellen Mäkelä’s favorite color is pink. On a recent trip to New York City to perform at New York City Center, she stopped by lululemon to grab a jacket in the color....
by Catie Robinson | Dec 19, 2024 | Career, Pointe+, Profiles
Since joining Ballet Austin in 2021, Dianetzy Rojas has shown off her impressive extension and youthful essence in roles such as Aurora in Sleeping Beauty. This winter, she made her debut as the Sugar Plum Fairy in Stephen Mills’ The Nutcracker. Originally from Puerto...
by Catie Robinson | Oct 21, 2024 | Career, Pointe+, Profiles
Dutch National Ballet principal dancer Jacopo Tissi’s career has taken him across Europe, from his home in Italy to the Bolshoi in Russia, and now to the Netherlands. Everywhere he goes, he tries to pick up souvenirs to remind him of his travels. “I like when I see...
