by Amy Brandt | Jul 17, 2024 | Pointe+, Technique, Training
Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School faculty member Christopher Budzynski remembers the first time he saw dancers perform finger turns in Nutcracker as a child. “They did a lot, and it blew my mind that this was possible, and that they were doing it so easily.” Budzynski...
by Katie Slattery | Nov 22, 2023 | Everything "Nutcracker", Pointe+, Training
As a 16-year-old student, Patrick Frenette was excited to dance his first pas de deux onstage in The Nutcracker. He had been preparing for the role of Sugarplum’s Cavalier for nearly a year. “I remember spending six days a week training in my garage, doing as many...
by Sponsored by BalletMet | Jan 13, 2023 | Pre-Professional Profiles, Summer Study
Whether you’re a pre-professional dancer looking for a rigorous—but rewarding—summer schedule or a junior dancer looking to expand your training over the summer, BalletMet in Columbus, Ohio, has an intensive for you. “BalletMet has very versatile...
by Linnea Swarting | Jan 12, 2022 | Company Life
Two dancers coming together in a pas de deux represents the humanity of our artform and our natural desire for connection. But while building a strong partnership is rewarding, it’s not always easy. Differing working and communication styles, physical and emotional...
by Madeline Schrock | Jan 10, 2018 | Cross-Training, Health & Body
Whether you’re being lifted in The Nutcracker’s grand pas de deux or doing weight-sharing in contemporary choreography, female ballet dancers can’t expect their partner to do all the work. “Strength with stability is a hallmark,” says...
by Amy Brandt | Jul 26, 2017 | Ask Amy, Career
Do you have any tips for dealing with a stubborn partner? We both want to succeed, but we can’t seem to communicate. —Jesse You’ll never be able to control or change your partner’s personality. But you can consider whether you’re...
by Candice Thompson | Apr 2, 2015 | Career, Company Life
This story originally appeared in the April/May 2015 issue of Pointe. When former New York City Ballet principal Jonathan Stafford was a young corps member, he remembers taking a big gulp when he was first cast to partner a principal. “I was not strong enough, and she...
by Pointe Team | Nov 28, 2001 | Company Life
In the ballet world, great partnerships are rare. The unique chemistry of a splendid ballerina and her attentive partner can hold audiences spellbound. Witnessing a pas de deux by extraordinarily simpatico dancers can fundamentally change the way one perceives ballet....
