When conveying a story onstage, certain roles come more easily than others. Some dancers naturally possess the regality of the Lilac Fairy, others the attack of Kitri. Some take on the naïve Aurora with ease, but have trouble with Myrtha’s complexity. Tackling a role that’s outside your character wheelhouse can be tricky—especially since ballet’s princesses, […]

Between her work as a principal with American Ballet Theatre and her ever-increasing number of side projects in the fashion world, Isabella Boylston’s schedule is pretty packed. But she is showing no signs of slowing down, currently working on her biggest project yet as the artistic director of Ballet Sun Valley. Running this week in […]

Gemma Bond’s intelligence—and knack for detail—never fails to shine through her dancing. It makes sense, then, that the American Ballet Theatre corps members is also a budding choreographer. After making works for ABT’s Innovation Initiative and New York Theatre Ballet, as well as for her own pickup ensemble, her name is beginning to pop up […]

To be honest, we never tire of watching non-dancers tackle a day in the life of the pros. From athletes to average Joes, these videos always give us a good laugh, and they remind the rest of the world that a whole lot of work goes into every dance performance you see. But often times, […]

Sergei Polunin has a penchant for unexpectedly bursting into the news. Since DANCER, a feature-length documentary that proved to be a sympathetic portrait of ballet’s favorite bad boy, he’s been increasingly visible, popping up everywhere from “So You Think You Can Dance?” to Sadler’s Wells. So what’s the international star got next on his dance […]

NOWNESS has a solid track record when it comes to putting dancers on camera, from exquisite fashion spots to intimate portraits featuring a who’s who of the dance world. Their most recent collaborators: American Ballet Theatre principals (and real life best friends) Isabella Boylston and James Whiteside. But “Just Dance: Early Sunday Morning” is not […]

It takes pluck to grow up with a name like Hildur. For Isabella Boylston, born Hildur Isabella, it was just a part of her unconventional, free-spirited upbringing. Her parents met on a ski lift in Sun Valley, Idaho. Her father, Mike, was a country/blues drummer and “ski bum”; her mother, Cornelia, a Swedish electrical engineer. […]

Artistic directors reveal how they decide who gets the top promotion. Isabella Boylston was promoted to principal at ABT in 2014. Photo by Gene Schiavone, Courtesy ABT There is one question at the ballet that might provoke more curiosity than any other: Who will be promoted to the rank of principal dancer? The answer is […]