We all know dance careers are temporary. But this season, it feels like we’re saying goodbye to more stars than usual. Many have turned to social media to share their last curtain calls, thoughts on what it feels like to say farewell to performing, and insights into the ways that dancing has made them who […]

When star dancers retire from the stage, it’s not uncommon to see them step into a new kind of spotlight as an artistic director. But Kathleen Breen Combes is making a more surprising move. After the longtime Boston Ballet principal gives her farewell performance on June 9, she’ll start a second career as executive director […]

This Saturday night, New York City Ballet principal Rebecca Krohn is performing for the last time, in Balanchine’s Stravinsky Violin Concerto. After 19 years at the company, she’s transitioning into a ballet master role. As she told Playbill, she’s incredibly grateful for the coaching she’s received during her career, and now she wants to give […]

Who are you when you no longer do what you’ve been doing for years? It is the big question facing anyone who retires. For top ballet dancers, however, the situation is more extreme. They start young, grow up in a rarified atmosphere, mostly see only each other, and become more and more removed from ordinary […]