Dance/USA has a long to-do list these days. With its mission to support the dance community and represent its needs before Congress, the White House and other federal agencies in a bipartisan manner, the national service organization is all-too-familiar with the many challenges facing the dance field right now. But its new executive director Kellee […]

As state governments begin to ease shelter-at-home restrictions and studios slowly start to reopen their doors, dancers likely are experiencing a mix of emotions: There’s excitement about returning to your artistic home and reuniting with your fellow dancers, but also nerves and anxiety about the potential safety risks. In preparation for the gradual reopening of […]

A newly launched initiative hopes to change the face of ballet, both onstage and behind the scenes. Called “The Equity Project: Increasing the Presence of Blacks in Ballet,” the three-year initiative, funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, is a partnership between Dance Theatre of Harlem, the International Association of Blacks in Dance and Dance/USA. […]

Twenty-one ballet organizations have come together to support the advancement of racial equity in professional ballet. They’re all part of The Equity Project: Increasing the Presence of Blacks in Ballet, a new effort being led by Dance Theatre of Harlem, The International Association of Blacks in Dance and Dance/USA. Continuing What Arthur Mitchell Started While […]

In late March, The Joyce Theater’s annual gala performance included a last-minute substitution: Blueprint, by choreographer Pam Tanowitz. The trio took the place of Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui’s Faun, after two Paris Opéra Ballet dancers were unable to secure visas to appear onstage in the U.S. “It was a shock,” says Linda Shelton, executive director at […]

You’re standing backstage, and your mind won’t stop racing. What if, after weeks of rehearsal, you suddenly forget the choreography? What if that terrible critic gives you yet another embarrassing review? Did you remember to sew your pointe shoes correctly? Why won’t your partner stop cracking his darn hip joint? Why can’t you stop freaking […]

Although discussing money is often considered taboo, it’s an essential skill for choreographers looking to produce work and directors wanting to build their companies. “Fundraising is a practice, like rehearsing a dance,” says Stephen Clapp, executive director of Dance Metro DC, which provides support, promotion, education and advocacy for dance artists and organizations in the […]

Summertime, and the living is…steamy. Studios can be hot. Outdoor festivals can be grueling—especially once those stage lights turn on. When the temperatures rise, movement feels harder and your body fatigues faster. What’s a dancer to do? Follow these steps to make the heat less taxing on your body so that it doesn’t keep you […]