Their technique might seem effortless onstage, but even the most seasoned ballet professionals have that one step that still drives them crazy. We asked five principal dancers to open up about the skills they still find challenging, and how they’re working to finesse them. Dana Benton as Kitri in Don Quixote (Francisco Estevez, courtesy Colorado […]
Given the endless hours dancers spend together in classes, rehearsals, and performances, it makes sense that onstage chemistry frequently leads to romance IRL. Sometimes the resulting relationships go beyond stage magic. Serious dance power couples not only perform together, but also collaborate on choreographic projects, embark on joint national tours, and even partner up for […]
Take one look at Kaeli Ware’s Instagram page and you’ll be captivated. The elegant, impossibly long-limbed ballet dancer has over 110 thousand followers hooked on her every polished move. But the 19-year-old phenom isn’t just a social media sensation. Having already conquered the competition scene and the world of dance reality TV, Ware recently joined […]
Ohio University sophomore Morgan Arcoraci was at a dance audition a few years ago when disaster struck. “People kept coming up to me, asking for my name. I thought I was really killing it!” she recalls. “It turned out I’d pinned my number upside-down. When they asked me to fix it, I was so upset […]
Reconciling one’s dance and racial identities can be a complicated, emotional process, especially since the dance world is so slow to embrace change. But as the overdue push for diversity in dance becomes stronger, many dancers are embracing their racial and ethnic backgrounds in ways that were previously frowned upon—from wearing tights that match their […]
Gemma Bond’s rise as a choreographer has been not meteoric but steady, characterized by constant creativity and commitment to her craft. Her style is informed by her dancing career—she performed in the corps de ballet of two of the world’s most renowned companies, the Royal Ballet and American Ballet Theatre. Because of this, she says, […]
As an audience member, it’s easy to overlook how much work went into the performance onstage—a dancer’s job is to make it look effortless, after all. But every pro has tackled a role that made them doubt themselves, whether by testing their stamina, pushing them out of their comfort zones, or touching on their vulnerabilities […]
American Ballet Theatre announced today that, after 24 years, beloved principal dancer Stella Abrera will retire from the stage this coming summer. Her farewell performance will be June 13, 2020, at the Metropolitan Opera House, dancing the title role in Giselle. Giselle holds special significance for her. In 2015, Abrera, then a 37-year-old soloist, made […]