2018 has seen an endless parade of celebrations in anticipation of Jerome Robbins‘ centennial—and now the day has finally arrived. In honor of what would have been his 100th birthday, we dove into our photo archives and selected a few favorite shots of the choreographer whose career defined (and redefined) American dance. A young Robbins, […]

There is no big mystery to why Russell Janzen is often cast in princely parts at New York City Ballet, roles like the cavalier in Diamonds and The Nutcracker, Siegfried in Swan Lake, and the man who partners the “first violin” in the slow movement of Concerto Barocco. His dancing is pristine, and he’s tall […]

“Ballet,” said George Balanchine, “is woman.” Throughout his long choreographic career, he placed the ballerina at the center of the action, and all eyes were on her. There are numerous examples, from Mozartiana to Theme and Variations, Square Dance and Chaconne. In this sense, Balanchine was carrying on the tradition of Marius Petipa and other […]

The way you start your morning can set the tone for the rest of the day. Establishing a productive and mindful morning routine can leave you feeling relaxed, grounded, and ready to take on the day ahead, no matter how busy. We asked five professional dancers to share what they like to do each morning […]

In the 1970s, the Soviet government withdrew Boris Eifman’s passport and declared his work pornographic. Today, he has funding from the Russian government for a state-of-the-art school and a company that travels the globe for several months each year. Last year alone, Eifman Ballet presented six different programs on the Bolshoi’s historic stage. What He […]

When Arthur Mitchell set out to prove that African Americans could excel in ballet, there were many skeptics. He not only created a world-class ballet company—Dance Theatre of Harlem—but he launched a discussion about race and ballet that we are still engaged in. Who was Arthur Mitchell and how did he get the chutzpah to […]

“My whole mission in life is to keep Balanchine’s work alive,” says former New York City Ballet dancer Karin von Aroldingen in Frances Mason’s I Remember Balanchine, a collection of interviews by George Balanchine’s friends and colleagues. Her words feel especially potent now—and never more true. On Friday, January 5, news came to light that […]

As any good bunhead would tell you, for me, Nutcracker is a yearly tradition as old as leaving cookies out for Santa Claus. But this year, I got to experience it with fresh eyes by taking both my 35-year-old fiancé and my 5-year-old nephew for their first times. I didn’t plan on being a Nutcracker […]