Dancers are more than just vessels performing set material. We make contributions to creative processes all the time. Some of these are obvious: We often improvise material or generate entire phrases to be incorporated into a work. Others are more innocuous: Dancers are sometimes asked to give feedback that ends up shaping the composition of […]

What’s the biggest barrier preventing dancers and non-dancers alike from seeing more performances? We think it’s safe to say the answer is cost. New York City’s Joyce Theater, known for presenting acclaimed international and domestic companies representing a variety of genres, just launched two ticket initiatives that will offer $10 tickets for dance professionals, and […]

Last Saturday night, Dance/NYC, Gibney Dance and the Actors Fund hosted a conversation on sexual harassment in the dance world. The floor was open for anyone in attendance to share whatever they wanted: personal stories, resources, suggestions. The event brought to light some of the questions the dance world is facing, and though we don’t […]

The business side of dance can often fall second to the art. Contracts, which usually appear after you’ve done the hard work of securing a job, can seem like an inconsequential afterthought. You might decide to simply sign without reading the terms—or be understandably confused by all the legalese. Ultimately, though, contracts can play an […]

In 2013, a few days before The Bang Group left for a tour to Italy, a dancer pulled out of the company’s production of Nut/Cracked. The reason? A callback for another gig. “We were left high and dry. We somehow pulled it off, but it wasn’t the show I hoped it would be,” says David […]

Today, black women like Okwui Okpokwasili and Nora Chipaumire are dominating the New York City downtown scene with tenacity and genius. Just this summer, Okpokwasili’s solo performance Bronx Gothic was featured in Andrew Rossi’s documentary by the same name, and Chipaumire premiered #PUNK as part of the French Institute Alliance Française’s Crossing the Line Festival. […]

“So what do you do?” This is the first question many of us ask when we’re getting to know a new person—but it’s one I’ve come to dread. When I tell people that I’m a dancer, occasionally I am met with enthusiasm and interest. But more often, I’m met with confusion, condescension or even hostility. […]

When Jerron Herman was diagnosed with hemiplegia cerebral palsy, the doctors told him that he would likely need help doing everyday tasks like eating and getting dressed. Today, Herman is six years into his professional dance career. He currently performs with Heidi Latsky Dance, an integrated company that includes dancers with a range of physical […]