Tag: ballet dancer

Meet the Ballet Dancer Who's Also a Professional Martial Arts Fighter

George Birkadze spends some of his mornings as a guest teacher at Boston Ballet. But this ballet dancer and choreographer also spends much of his time training as a professional martial arts fighter. In fact, Birkadze has a black belt in not one but three different styles including Brazilian jiu-jitsu, judo, and Kyokushin karate. (He’s […]

Dores André Writes a Letter to Her Teenage Self

San Francisco Ballet principal Dores André’s flair for onstage drama and powerful, picture-perfect technique have solidified her as a company standout. She joined the company in 2004 as a corps member, was promoted to soloist in 2012, and in 2015 was awarded the title of principal dancer. Born in Vigo, Spain, André started studying ballet […]

New York City Ballet Wants to Hear What Ballet Means to You

Why do you love ballet? Does it help you escape? Provide a creative release? Give you an eloquent way to speak with your body? Push you to strive for perfection every day? (All of the above?) New York City Ballet just launched a new campaign, With Ballet, that asks ballet dancers and fans to talk […]