Tag: ballet
What to Do When Your Dance Teacher Says You're Not Pointe Ready
Since the day you pulled on your first leotard, you have no doubt been dreaming of the day you would attend your first pointe shoe fitting. Going on pointe is a rite of passage as a ballet dancer, and the result of years of hard work. But what happens if you are passed over for […]
55 Thoughts I Had Rewatching "Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses" as an Adult
I have a confession to make: I think I only saw this movie once during my childhood. By the time this film was released, I had already begun to outgrow my Barbie fandom. But if TikTok is any indication, Barbie in the Twelve Dancing Princesses is a fan favorite among Barbie movie connoisseurs. What could […]
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 […]
Destiny Wimpye is Leaping into the Professional Division at Pacific Northwest Ballet
Almost two years ago, Destiny Wimpye shared her goals and dreams with Dance Spirit readers, and left us with this quote: “Following your dreams is definitely difficult, especially if you’re a ballet dancer of color. You have to work twice as hard, but hard work always pays off!” Who could have guessed that right now—yes, […]
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 […]