At Jacob’s Pillow’s June gala, something happened that outraged me: A patron who identifies as black/biracial felt a white man seated behind her touch her tightly coiled hair. When she ignored him, he audibly complained that her hair would block his view of the stage. At dinner, the patron was further subjected to a series […]
We're Gifting Readers 500 Tickets to Cats
Calling all Cats fans! If you live near Atlanta, Charlotte, Raleigh, Nashville or Greenville, we’d love to treat you to a sneak peak of the Cats feature film. In anticipation of the movie’s December 20 nationwide premiere, these five cities are hosting advance screenings on Tuesday, December 17, at 7 pm. We’ll get you in—for […]
This Dancer Spent a Month in Zion National Park as an Artist in Residence
For ballet dancers, taking daily class is one of the most natural things they can do. But taking class in nature is an entirely different story. Last September, outdoor barre became the new normal for Sarah Longoria during her monthlong stint at Utah’s Zion National Park. She lived onsite as an artist in residence, the […]
3 Tips for Dancers Who Want to Explore Activism
Are you passionate about social issues, but unsure of how to incorporate them into your work? Yasemin Ozumerzifon, director of community action at Gibney in New York City, offers advice to beginners: 1. Get Specific. Gibney’s Hands Are For Holding program. Scott Shaw, Courtesy Gibney Choose a particular cause. “When we’re addressing something really large […]
Dancers & Dogs Teamed Up With a Local Animal Shelter for the “Muttcracker”
The holiday season is coming our way, and with it good cheer, a giving spirit and, of course, The Nutcracker. Our favorite photography duo, Dancers & Dogs, has found a way to garner that energy for a good cause: pet adoption. Pratt + Kreidich Photography, Courtesy Dancers & Dogs Kelly Pratt and Ian Kreidich, the […]
Dancers & Dogs Teamed Up With a Local Animal Shelter for the “Muttcracker”
The holiday season is coming our way, and with it good cheer, a giving spirit and, of course, The Nutcracker. Our favorite photography duo, Dancers & Dogs, has found a way to garner that energy for a good cause: pet adoption. Pratt + Kreidich Photography, Courtesy Dancers & Dogs Kelly Pratt and Ian Kreidich, the […]
How to Bring Activism Into the Studio—For Any Age Group
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 […]