Curtain Up

There is no greater confluence of passions than dancing onstage with the person you love. Many of us fantasize about joining our passion for dance with our passion for a significant other in a burst of glory onstage. While we’re in training we’re always vulnerable to the look of love—that guy or that girl who dances so beautifully that it’s hard to tell if you’re falling in love with the dancer or the dance. When we become professionals, it’s easy to bond with another dancer, especially on tour. But that can get into the “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow” syndrome—a sticky situation when you’re in rehearsals with the same group of people every day. But I say, dream on. A long-lasting romantic liaison is possible. Dance Magazine visited seven dancer-couples who have withstood the test of time to ask them what it’s like. What are the adjustments, the compromises, the highs and the lows?

This month we also bring you our Auditions Guide, with hundreds of auditions listings. In some sense, all dancers are in a trial period. Even if you have a stable position in a company, every time you are onstage is potentially an audition for your next role. People notice how you perform, so make sure you’re at the top of your game at every moment. Our stories in this section—on auditioning in Europe, making a winning audition video, and picking up tips for auditioning L.A. style—will help you find your way into the dance situation that is right for you.

Some people come to dance relatively late in life. In “Better Late Than Never,” author Gigi Berardi interviews dancers who have made a name for themselves despite a lack of early training. What does it take to plunge into a dancer’s life as a fully conscious adult—and thrive?

By the way, that fantasy, that peak moment of dancing with the one you love? You can apply that to your non-romantic loved ones too. Turn on the music in your living room and dance with your sister, your child, your aunt or uncle. It helps keep any relationship buoyant.