New York City Ballet’s Fall Fashion Gala always gives us a chance to admire the dancers at their most glamorous, and this year was no exception. From premieres of new works by Lauren Lovette (paired with designer Zac Posen) and Edwaard Liang (with Anna Sui), to a sparkling rendition of Balanchine’s Symphony in C, to […]
10 Times Our Fave Ballet Dancers Made Turning Actually Look Easy
At this point, you’d think we’d all be used to the level of technical absurdity Daniil Simkin achieves when he’s playing around in the studio. But then he did this: …and now we’re low-key appalled in the absolute best way. After we picked our jaws up from the floor, we were inspired to dig up […]
Emma Portner Shines in This Apple Watch Promo
Tucked into an almost two-hour Apple announcement video is pure dance gold: a promo for the newest version of the Apple Watch featuring none other than the trailblazing jack-of-all-styles herself, Emma Portner. Honestly, Portner’s electric, effortless grooving could sell ice to an eskimo. But the Apple Watch is also fitting. (From Lauren and Chris Grant […]
The Greatest Dance Movies of All Time, According to the Dance Magazine Staff
Seventy one years ago today, a new movie hit theaters: The Red Shoes. For a certain generation of dancers, this was the movie—the one that initially inspired them to step inside the studio. For others, it was the first film they ever saw that finally “got” them. When Moira Shearer’s character Victoria Page answers the […]
Fox News Mocks Lara Spencer's Apology, Says Men Wearing Tights Will Be Harassed
After days spent rallying against “Good Morning America” host Lara Spencer’s flippant comments about boys doing ballet, the dance world triumphed on Monday. Not only did Spencer issue a lengthy on-air apology, complete with an interview with Robbie Fairchild, Travis Wall and Fabrice Calmels, but over 300 dancers gathered outside of the “GMA” studios for […]
The Dance Community Has Come Together Over Lara Spencer's Comments. But Who Is Being Left Out?
Last Friday, Dance Magazine published what has already become our most-read story of all time. At 2.8 million views and counting, our take on Lara Spencer’s cruel comments about Prince George taking ballet prompted an enormous response from both the dance community and those who were simply bothered by what amounted to the bullying of […]
We're Drooling Over These 9 Dancers' Summer Weddings
Love is always in the air during summer wedding season…particularly for ballet dancers who are putting their company layoffs to good use. Over the past few months, lots of dancers have used their time away from the studio to say their vows and maybe squeeze in a honeymoon before the fall season starts. Take a […]
Lizzo Challenged the Internet to Make a Ballet to “Truth Hurts,” and Dancers Everywhere Are Responding
On August 20, pop goddess Lizzo tweeted, “Someone do a ballet routine to truth hurts pls,” referring to the anthem that’s been top on everyone’s playlists this summer. Lizzo might not know it yet, but ballet dancers are not known for shying away from a challenge. In the past two days, the internet has exploded […]
What It's Like to Be a Dancer in the Islamic Republic of Iran
My underground dance classes in Iran began in 1990. The teacher was one of my mother’s friends, Nahid Kabiri, who had been in the Iranian Folkloric Dance Academy before it was dismantled in 1979 after the Islamic Revolution. Hidden from sight in the enclosed rooms of anyone who would allow us, she taught me and […]
What should students choose? College, concert or commercial dance?
As dancers chassé toward their senior year of school, they begin to decide where dance will take them. Where will they take that next step, or leap, to make their dance dreams a reality? There are so many options across college dance, the commercial scene and company work. Will they audition for a feeder school […]