Without the regular bustle of the fall performance season, much of the dance community has a rare amount of free time on its hands—and it’s being put to good use. Many artists and organizations are redirecting their energy from the rehearsal studio to an extremely important cause: urging the community to vote. And, of course, […]
Inside Peter Walker's Dance Scene in I'm Thinking of Ending Things
Based on the title, Netflix’s new film I’m Thinking of Ending Things sounds like it could be a typical breakup movie. Peel back one layer (there are many), and you’ll find quite the opposite: The Charlie Kaufman–directed thriller drama, based on the book of the same name, follows a young woman (Jessie Buckley) as she […]
Isabella Boylston Is Expanding Her Book Club. First Up: Chatting With a Major Science Fiction Author
American Ballet Theatre principal Isabella Boylston’s bibliophilia has been well documented—particularly on Instagram Instagram, where she shares her reading recommendations through #BallerinaBookClub. But through a partnership with ALL ARTS, WNET’s dedicated digital art platform, Boylston is taking Ballerina Book Club to a whole new level, adding monthly author interviews with special guest stars. First up […]
These 10 Pets Can’t Resist Joining Their Humans for At-Home Training
We’re all spending a lot more time on social media these days, whether that means aimless scrolling, taking advantage of the plethora of class and workout options streamed direct to your living room, or leading classes yourself. But the deluge of at-home dance footage has resulted in the unexpected collision of two of our favorite […]
It's Time to Overhaul the Blackface (or Blueface) Puppet in Petrouchka
When Michel Fokine’s ballet Petrouchka premiered in 1911, none of the (largely white) audience members in Paris objected to the big, dumb puppet being portrayed as a Moor in blackface. Stravinsky’s music was stirring, Fokine’s choreography was ground-breaking, and Alexandre Benois’ sets and costumes were transporting. Nijinsky’s portrayal of Petrouchka, the puppet with a human […]
Getting its Groove back: Groove Dance Competition and Convention extends the 2020 season
Much of the dance competition circuit has been on hold for months as the U.S. (and the rest of the world) grappled with COVID-19 restrictions. Dancers everywhere are itching to return to the stage, so as each state begins to emerge from lockdown, Groove Dance Competition and Convention is ready to go. From July, make-up […]
Anthony Hopkins Joined TikTok to Do the #toosieslide
Actor Anthony Hopkins might be forever etched into the public consciousness for his famous turn as the cannibalistic serial killer Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs. But his latest role is much, much lighter: recreational TikTok dancer. Yes, it seems that even the 82-year-old Hopkins isn’t immune to the allure of TikTok. In […]
For Mother’s Day, I Introduced My Mom to the Mother-Daughter Team Behind Jazzercise
Long before I was born, my mom was a dancer. Growing up in the ’50s and ’60s, she studied jazz and tap before heading off to college. She soon launched her career in computer programming, and thought her dancing days were behind her—until the ’80s came along. The community center where she lived, near Louisville, […]
How “Penny Dreadful: City of Angels” Got 104 Dancers Swinging For an Epic Dance Scene
At first glance, “Penny Dreadful: City of Angels” does not seem like a show that would employ a choreographer. The SHOWTIME series—a spinoff of supernatural Victorian London thriller “Penny Dreadful”—follows a Latino family through a pre–World War II Los Angeles rife with racial and political tension. But in episode three, “Wicked Old World,” airing this […]
Dance Companies Are Giving Back by Distributing Meals and Groceries to Their Communities
As dance studios remain empty, some companies have found alternate uses for their buildings. By swapping slippers for aprons, two major dance organizations continue to make an incredible impact on their communities during this difficult time. San Francisco Ballet Hosts a Pop-up Food Pantry San Francisco Ballet has partnered with the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank […]