A dancer costumed in bright yellow steps into a wide stance, legs crossed. Her arms are raised at the elbows, hair flying up as she begins to turn. In the foreground, a couple of dancers stride around her. Upstage are musicians.

A Sizzling Summer: The Shows to Catch as Festival Season Hits Its Stride

Summer festival season is underway, boasting a staggering number of must-see performances. Here are a handful of highlights, along with a pair of July premieres happening outside any festival umbrella. American Dance Festival DURHAM, NC  The modern dance festival’s 90th-anniversary season blazes on through July 22, with 32 performances featuring 13 festival commissions, 9 premieres, […]

five dancers hugging each other looking at a woman in the front of the room

7 Mentorship Programs that Pair Early-Career Choreographers with Experienced Artists

Mentorship amongst choreographers is nothing new: Jose Limón had Doris Humphrey, and Alvin Ailey had Lester Horton. But in a career where there is often scarce training (most college programs still primarily train dancers, not choreographers, for instance) and that can be competitive and isolating, mentorship opportunities that are formalized rather than happenstance are becoming increasingly needed.

dancer in pink leotard performing tilt jump

Meet BalletX’s Ashley Simpson

In the BalletX rehearsal studio, a converted warehouse with sky-high ceilings and equally lofty technique, Ashley Simpson is right at home. Through the precision and joy of her movement—newly made in the moment with choreographer Caili Quan—Simpson is exploring camaraderie with her fellow company members.

7 Outdoor Shows to Close Out the Summer

As we head into August, here are seven outdoor festivals, series and shows bringing summer to a close with a bang. American Ballet Theatre’s Calvin Royal III Erin Baiano, Courtesy Vail Dance Festival VIPs in the Valley VAIL, CO Vail Dance Festival returns, headlined by a comfortingly familiar cast of characters. As the festival’s artist […]

News of Note: What You Might Have Missed in May and June 2020

Here are the latest promotions and appointments, plus notable awards and accomplishments from the last two months. Comings & Goings Ma Cong has been named associate artistic director at Richmond Ballet. He will serve in an adjunct capacity before joining full-time in 2022. New Zealand Dance Company has appointed Victoria Colombus and James O’Hara co-artistic […]

Stanley Glover Is One Physical Polymath We Can't Stop Watching

“Legs for days” just begins to capture the essence of long and lithe phenom Stanley Glover. In rehearsal with Gregory Dawson at BalletX, his fingertips crackle with energy as he lunges past the edge of the marley. But in Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s The Little Prince, Glover is smooth and coy as the Snake, with pure […]

News of Note: What You May Have Missed in August 2019

Here are the latest promotions, appointments and transfers, plus notable awards and accomplishments from the last month. Comings & Goings At The Royal Ballet, Anna Rose O’Sullivan and Luca Acri have been promoted to first soloist, Romany Pajdak, Isabella Gasparini, Tomas Mock and David Yudes to soloist. Gary Avis and Samantha Raine have been appointed […]