by Madeline Schrock | Aug 30, 2017 | Health & Body, Technique
A beautifully winged foot is the perfect complement to an arabesque line. But according to Marika Molnar, president and founder of Westside Dance Physical Therapy, learning how—and when—to wing requires subtle work and an understanding of the leg’s alignment....
by Nicole Loeffler-Gladstone | May 9, 2016 | Views
A beautiful pirouette is one of ballet’s most elusive elements. Sometimes you float through multiple rotations and sometimes you can hardly balance on one leg. Here are some of our best tips for nailing your turns, every time. Go back to basics. Make sure...
by Amy Brandt | Apr 17, 2016 | Ask Amy, Technique
This story originally appeared in the April/May 2016 issue of Pointe. Do you have tips for prepping a pirouette with a straight back leg? I’m dancing a Balanchine ballet and I’m having trouble changing my technique. —Liza I was in a similar situation when...
by Katie Rolnick | Apr 2, 2015 | Technique, Training
Updated 10/17/22. This story originally appeared in the April/May 2015 issue of Pointe. Growing up, Houston Ballet first soloist Allison Miller often heard teachers compare the feeling you have during pirouettes to a corkscrew. But then her teacher, Diane Partington...
by Karen White | Dec 1, 2009 | Company Life, Features, Technique
Aubrey Clayton had never thought much about the kinds of ballet that existed outside of her home studio in Alabama—until she took a few classes in Vaganova. Clayton knew right away she wanted to learn more about this technique, with its emphasis on...
by Susan Chitwood | Aug 1, 2009 | Company Life
Daily class may feel like the proverbial grind—like eating your vegetables before you get to the good stuff. But professionals know better: Without class, there is no good stuff. Below, six top dancers describe how they make daily class work for them. Patricia...
by Nancy Wozny | Aug 1, 2009 | Company Life
When San Francisco Ballet soloist Elizabeth Miner found herself huffing and puffing through David Bintley’s The Dance House, she knew it was time to increase her cross-training. “The piece was nonstop,” says Miner. “Just running it was not enough. I needed to build my...
by Allan Ulrich | Jun 1, 2009 | Company Life
Swans, pluck those feathers! Wilis, stow those veils! Dancers everywhere, update those personal websites! Embrace every challenge the dance world throws your way and look for a few more—your future may depend on it. Such is the consensus of the distinguished...