Tag: ballet

The Dos and Don'ts of Partnering

Few things are as nerve-racking as partnering class, especially when you’re a newbie. No matter the genre, the stakes feel high—and the potential for awkwardness feels unlimited. How do you avoid smacking your partner in the face? How do you communicate a problem without causing a major conflict? Dance Spirit spoke with some partnering pros […]

80 Thoughts I Had Rewatching "Barbie in the Nutcracker" as an Adult

One Christmas, my older brother and I got into an old-fashioned sibling argument because I wanted to see our local ballet company perform The Nutcracker . My brother argued that he couldn’t follow the plot of The Nutcracker past Act One. I explained that there basically *isn’t* a plot past Act One. (And in a […]

Netflix’s “Tiny Pretty Things” Faces Ballet Stereotypes Head-On

The pilot of Netflix’s dance-centric series “Tiny Pretty Things”—based on the YA novel by Sona Charaipotra and Dhonielle Clayton—will leave you breathless. It touches on, well, everything: love, murder, racism, competition, jealousy, girl cliques, sexual experimentation, eating disorders. And the intricate plot is propelled by equally breathtaking ballet sequences. Here are the basics of that […]

5 Ways to Feel the Holiday Spirit in a "Nutcracker"-less Year

Trick or treating is done, the jack-o-lanterns are all thrown out, and we *should* be right in the peak of Nutcracker rehearsal season. But for dancers still dealing with (sadly necessary) COVID-19 restrictions on rehearsals and performances, a year without the Nutcracker can seem less than sweet. But we at Dance Spirit will always find […]

This Halloween, We're Ranking the Spookiest Ballets in Dance History

When people think ballet, they think elegance and grace—pretty tutus and pink shoes. Yet the plots of some of the most famous ballets could rival any Hollywood horror flick. Most ballet companies have their Nutcracker in the wintertime, and a fun story ballet in the spring, but what about #SpookySzn? We’re ranking the *spookiest* ballets […]

Dear Katie: How Can I Break Out of the Ballet Mold?

In our “Dear Katie” series, former Miami City Ballet and NYCB soloist Kathryn Morgan answers your pressing dance questions. Have something you want to ask Katie? Email [email protected] for a chance to be featured! Dear Katie, Though I’ve trained mostly in ballet so far, I want to make sure I explore other parts of the […]