History Lesson Plan: Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes

Reimagining ballet for the 20th century
In 1909, Sergei Diaghilev organized the first Ballets Russes performance at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. A Russian impresario, Diaghilev had been producing opera and orchestral concerts for Western … Continue reading →

Turnout 101

Help students find, maximize and maintain their rotation.

Whether a dancer has too much or too little, turnout can be one of the most frustrating aspects of technique. Students often feel they must achieve 180-degree rotation … Continue reading →

Technique: Irene Dowd

How I teach anatomy through movmement

Irene Dowd’s third-year students at The Juilliard School sound more like they’re in medical school than a dance class, citing complex kinesiology terms and muscle names, like multifidus and iliocostalis. … Continue reading →

Face to Face: All the Possibilities

A conversation with choreographer Alonzo King
Alonzo King recently celebrated his 30th anniversary as a force in the San Francisco dance community and beyond. Since founding Alonzo King LINES Ballet in 1982, his undulating and often … Continue reading →

Forever Young

Under visionary artistic director Jodi Maxfield, the Brigham Young University dance team opens doors for career-minded dancers.
When Jodi Maxfield first took the field alongside her fellow Brigham Young University Cougarettes in the late 1970s, their … Continue reading →

Breaking Silence

An anti-bullying program helps high school students find their voices.
Standing at a microphone, a young woman relives a scene that tormented her throughout her school life: classmates mocking her Long Island accent. In another moment, … Continue reading →