More and more, students are speaking out about the issues that matter to them, whether that’s climate change or gun violence. For young dancers, the studio or stage can be the perfect place to express these interests. But if you’re a teacher who has never tackled difficult topics in the classroom, getting started may feel […]
A Fresh Cup of Tea: How to Make Nutcracker More Inclusive
It’s Nutcracker time again: the season of sweet delights and a sparkling good time—if we’re able to ignore the sour taste left behind by the outdated racial stereotypes so often portrayed in the second act. In 2017, as a result of a growing list of letters from audience members, to New York City Ballet’s ballet […]
What It Takes to Tour Politically-Charged Works to Places Where the Message May Not Be Welcome
An audience member once emailed Dallas choreographer Joshua L. Peugh, claiming his work was vulgar. It complained that he shouldn’t be pushing his agenda. As the artistic director of Dark Circles Contemporary Dance, Peugh’s recent choreography largely deals with LGBTQ issues. “I got angry when I saw that email, wrote my angry response, deleted it, […]
A John Wick Spin-Off Centered on a Ballerina-Turned-Assassin Is Happening
When New York City Ballet soloist Unity Phelan appeared as a ballerina training to become an assassin in John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum earlier this year, it could have easily been a one-off. This particular backstory has become prevalent at the movies over the last few years—take Jennifer Lawrence’s character in Red Sparrow and […]