Search results for: working out with

Small Wonder

Maria Kochetkova insists she is not a perfectionist, but from today’s rehearsal, you would never know it.   Her assignment this morning is the Don Quixote grand pas de deux. Her partner is San Francisco Ballet fellow principal Joan Boada, and the mood is subdued, but intense. Kochetkova quietly stretches on the floor in an […]

Solid Gold: Ailey turns 50

Sitting in an airport lounge while on tour, and listening to a song on her laptop computer, Hope Boykin started to cry. What she had on her laptop was a download of Sweet Honey In The Rock, the richly harmonizing, a cappella women singers with whom the dancer was creating a premiere for the Ailey […]

The "Other" Ballet Company

    On Saturday, I was invited to attend a rehearsal of Cuba’s “other” ballet company, El Centro Prodanza, founded by Laura Alonso, daughter of Alicia and Fernando Alonso. Dancers for this company train at Ms. Alonso’s school, Prodanza. Fernando himself (he started the Cuban National Ballet School and is now 94) presided as the […]

Channeling the Aboriginals

“Tighten up your soutenu,’’ urges Bangarra Dance Theatre’s rehearsal director Bill Pengelly, speaking to the company at large. “Daniel, be more confident with your ballet!’’ he calls out to a young man who, in between combinations, has been doing impressive handstands. “How are you doing, Elma?” he asks Bangarra’s most senior female dancer, Elma Kris. […]

Voices From Across the Globe

Fang-Yi Sheu Born in Taiwan, lives in NYC and Taiwan Guest artist, Martha Graham Dance Company; co-artistic director, LAFA Interviewed by Emily Macel When I was 11, I started studying a Taiwanese-style folk dance. I was not very good with grades in school. I wanted to hide in the corner until I found dance. Ross […]

East and West Meet in the Body of Akram Khan

One of the most intriguing dance artists on the international scene today, Akram Khan is known for his fusion of the classical Indian form of Kathak with contemporary dance. As a performer, Khan is a riveting mixture of power, speed, and intricacy. As a choreographer, he stages stark visual landscapes populated by witty or mysterious […]

Why I Dance

Evan McKie trained at The National Ballet School of Canada, The Kirov Academy, and the John Cranko Schule in Stuttgart, Germany. At 25, he is a soloist in the Stuttgart Ballet, where he has danced since 2002. Known for his passionate lyricism in both classical and contemporary roles, he danced his first Prince Siegfried last year, […]

Curtain Up

During this election season, every American over 18 is trying to decide what or who is best for our country. While I hope you all go out and vote, I also want to say: Let’s keep our eyes open to the rest of the world. In the dance field we’re fortunate that what we do […]