When your role is to be part of the background—less center stage, more scenery—it can sometimes feel like what you do onstage doesn’t matter all that much. But it’s actually an essential role: These dancers can set the tone, help move the story forward, and give the audience something rich and layered to look at. […]

I’m terrified of performing choreography that changes directions. I messed up last year when the stage lights caused me to become disoriented. What can I do to prevent this from happening again? I can perform the combination just fine in the studio with the mirror. —Scared, San Francisco, CA It’s never too late to learn […]