Cecilia Iliesiu lunging to the right en pointe while Dylan Wald supports her from behind

How Could the Audition Process be Better for Dancers—and for Hiring Teams?

With more talented dancers competing for fewer jobs, audition season has become a gauntlet of overcrowded open calls and time-consuming self-tapes. Could auditions be more productive and less painful, for performers and hiring teams alike? A group of high-level performers and choreographers weigh in on their biggest audition issues—and offer solutions. The Application Phase Many […]

a male instructor smiling while watching a class full of students

Choreographer Al Blackstone on Growing Up in a Dancing Family

Dance was inescapable in my childhood. My parents are dance teachers and ran a school out of our New Jersey home for more than 40 years. When I was old enough to answer the phone, instead of “Blackstone residence,” I was instructed to say “STUDIO!” Photos from an early ’90s family trip reveal my dad proudly wearing a T-shirt that says “Dance or Die—New York City.” I remember feeling embarrassed that he was wearing something that so loudly proclaimed his love of dance to all the other “normal” families.

a male dancer sitting on top a grand piano with another man standing behind it

How Three Dancer-Artist Duos Navigate Marriage and Career

Many dancers marry within the industry, finding common ground through similar triumphs and struggles, and sometimes even sharing the stage together. But there’s also something special about building a life with someone whose career is one step removed: having a spouse who’s dance adjacent, who works within the arts, yet is not fully immersed in professional dance culture.

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