The UK’s The Spectator recently published a piece by the Japan specialist Lesley Downer, historical consultant for the Northern Ballet’s 2020 production Geisha. In her essay, Downer wonders why claims of cultural appropriation so dramatically affected the reception of the work, which has not been remounted since its premiere. You can hear her frustration as […]

An American company crossing the pond for the first time, festivals centering Asian dancemakers, premieres responding to colonization, transgender identity, audience relationships, and more—the performance landscape over the next two months is overflowing with possibility. Here’s what’s at the top of our lists.

The world premiere of Phil Chan and Doug Fullington’s Star on the Rise: La Bayadère … Reimagined! takes place at Indiana University’s Musical Arts Center in Bloomington on March 29 (7:30 pm ET) and March 30 (2 pm and 7:30pm ET). The performances will also stream live as part of IU Music Live! and the […]

Here are the latest promotions, appointments and departures, as well as notable awards and accomplishments, from November 2022.

In the five years since Final Bow for Yellowface’s inception, the organization has made significant strides in furthering the conversation around Asian representation onstage. But founders Phil Chan and Georgina Pazcoguin realized more needed to be done to organize as a community.

I know many male dancers who prefer dancing solo: In a classical pas de deux, they simply “get through” the adagio section until they can showcase themselves in the virtuoso male variation. But for me, my fondest performing memories usually involve partnering. Perhaps it’s related to my struggles with male ballet steps (double tour en […]

As conversations in the ballet world about race and representation have opened up in the past few years, its most beloved holiday tradition, The Nutcracker, has come under scrutiny as well. Last year New York City Ballet made changes to its second act Chinese Tea variation, removing elements of racial caricature from both the costume […]

“Do away with it.” “Over it.” “How about just plain old ‘artist’ or ‘choreographer’?” These are a few of the comments that popped up when, on a recent morning, I posted a query on Facebook fielding thoughts about the term “emerging”—as in “emerging choreographer.” I can’t remember when I first sensed disgruntlement toward the E-word. […]