Susan Pilarre has been closely tied to the School of American Ballet for nearly her entire life. From her first class there at age 11 through her 16-year career with its affiliated company, New York City Ballet, Pilarre learned directly from the great choreographer George Balanchine, absorbing the details of his unique style. Sensing her […]
When Joseph Morrissey first took the helm of the dance division at Interlochen Center for the Arts, a boarding high school in Interlochen, Michigan, he found a fully established pre-professional program with space to grow. And his vision was big, with plans to stage the kind of ambitious repertory he’d experienced during his dance career. […]
With her superb musicality, dramatic skills and go-for-broke speed and risk taking, Suzanne Farrell inspired Balanchine to push the limits of a dancer’s physical capabilities. Together, the pair helped shift ballet into more creative, athletic and abstract territory. “Diamonds” (1967) As part of Balanchine’s three-part plotless ballet Jewels, “Diamonds” was his tribute to imperial Russia […]
Few things are more powerful for promoting ballet performances than captivating trailers—especially in today’s visually-focused, digitally-connected world. We’ve rounded up some eye-catching ads from seasons past and present that not only make us wish we could have seen the show, but also stand alone as short films. Bucharest National Opera’s La Sylphide Magnifying the scarf […]
Sometimes a little video comes along that manages to cheer you on a dreary Wednesday, inspire you to be better and give you all the good feels. Meet Sheila Rozann, an 88-year-old ballet teacher for the National Dance Institute, New Mexico, who’s been teaching for more than 66 years (!). She gives great advice on […]
We’re counting down to January 1st with great ideas for your studio and teaching practice in the new year. Check back each day for a new tip! Well-placed turns enhance choreography and dazzle the audience. When teaching pirouettes, Kathryn Warakomsky has her Texas Ballet Theater School students watch videos of legendary ballerinas Maya Plisetskaya, Alicia Alonso and Galina […]
Darci Kistler (right) rehearsing company members In a black, wide-neck T-shirt bearing the words “Drama Queen,” the legendary Darci Kistler coaches dancers on Peter Martins’ Morgen. “For me, the most important thing is not to put Darci on it,” she says, laughing. The Balanchine muse teaches only the steps and music, she says. Nothing else. She leaves […]
Original Diamonds cavalier Jacques d’Amboise shows PNB soloist Jerome Tisserand how to properly woo a lady onstage. To polish Pacific Northwest Ballet’s staging of Balanchine’s timeless Jewels (1967), artistic director Peter Boal called in the experts. He invited the very first interpreters of lead roles in the ballet to offer their guidance to his cast. Once stars […]
Teaching Balanchine to a new generation Russell and Pacific Northwest Ballet rehearsing Concerto Barocco Like many who stage the work of George Balanchine, Francia Russell danced for him while at New York City Ballet (1956–1961). Unlike her fellow répétiteurs, she began teaching the work under the choreographer’s watchful eye, and she became NYCB ballet mistress […]
Today marks the 109th anniversary of the birth of George Balanchine, founder of the New York City Ballet and shirker of convention. He changed the course of classical ballet with his music-driven approach to movement. His distinctive style and repertoire of over 400 ballets survive today through his company and its training ground at the […]