Adult recreational performance opportunities are also transformative for those who never thought there was room for them in dance to begin with. “My idea of who could and couldn’t do ballet was very warped as a kid,” says Janay Lee, 25, an au pair who’s participated in the artÉmotion intensive the last two summers. For a long time, Misty Copeland was the only brown ballerina she knew of—none of the other stars she saw looked like her. Growing up in Raleigh, North Carolina, she did some dance at school and church, but didn’t start taking ballet until she was 18. “It’s like one of those dream careers that I never quite pursued.”

“Your port de bras is such an integral part of technique,” says Ballet West principal Emily Adams. “Your arms elevate your dancing artistically.”

Postgrad training programs have long held an important, if complicated, place in the dance industry. At their best, these experiences for young adults on the cusp of their careers can give students pro-level experiences and crucial industry connections. At their worst, they sell false hope in exchange for sky-high tuition.

Here are the latest promotions, appointments and departures, as well as notable awards and accomplishments, from the last month. Comings & Goings At Pacific Northwest Ballet, Elle Macy has been promoted to principal, Miles Pertl and Sarah-Gabrielle Ryan to soloist. At Ballet West, Jenna Rae Herrera has been promoted to principal. At Carolina Ballet, Sam […]

Here are the latest promotions, appointments and departures, as well as notable awards and accomplishments, from the last month. Comings & Goings Alexandra Damiani has been named artistic director of BJM-Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal, succeeding Louis Robitaille in June. Sarah Sumbrum has been appointed artistic director of DANCECleveland. Felipe Oyarzun Moltedo has been named […]

It was the kind of nightmare that haunts a dancer in their sleep. Joshua Shutkind, then a first-year corps member with Ballet West, stepped onto the stage in the coveted role of the Prince in The Nutcracker and completely forgot the steps. But Shutkind was not dreaming. “Dancers are aware of their strengths and one […]

What does it take to come back to the stage mid-pandemic? While many American dance companies have already called off all live performances through the end of the year (or longer), some, like Salt Lake City’s Ballet West, are cautiously starting to return to some semblance of “normal.” For the past three weeks, Ballet West […]

With the circumstances created by the pandemic changing from day to day, looking to the future right now can feel particularly fraught, if not downright farcical. But in the face of so much uncertainty, pausing to celebrate the good news when it comes is as important as it’s ever been. Here are the latest promotions […]