Every dancer has a dream role. For some, it’s one character they’ve dreamed of dancing, often from a young age. For others, it extends beyond the stage—a dream role can be less about portraying a specific part or dancing in a particular show and more about finding a career path that feels perfectly suited to them.

The American Ballet Theatre principal is pushing herself—and ballet—to be better.

Giselle has lost it. Her beloved Albrecht has deceived her and is betrothed to another woman. Upon the discovery of this betrayal the “fragile” Giselle descends into a grief-driven psychosis in perhaps the most famous moment in classical ballet: the mad scene. She collapses, tears at her hair and recounts her dance with Albrecht in […]

Choreographer Natascha Greenwalt loves the music of Swan Lake, but she has a few problems with the ballet itself. “I don’t see this love story,” Greenwalt says. “I see—there isn’t consent.” To her, Siegfried seems predatory, Odette seems far too apologetic, and the Odette/Odile duality reinforces toxic tropes about women who are either dangerously sexy […]

After 20 years at The Royal Ballet, Marianela Nuñez has more than a few words of wisdom to share. As writer Lyndsey Winship points out in our September cover story, over the past two decades Nuñez has never missed a season, and never once had a serious injury. She’s stayed with the company through four […]

“Ballet,” said George Balanchine, “is woman.” Throughout his long choreographic career, he placed the ballerina at the center of the action, and all eyes were on her. There are numerous examples, from Mozartiana to Theme and Variations, Square Dance and Chaconne. In this sense, Balanchine was carrying on the tradition of Marius Petipa and other […]

After seeing Dada Masilo’s rendition of Giselle, I couldn’t help thinking, “If ballet did a version like this, it would transform not just the genre of the ‘story ballet,’ but, even more powerfully, the narrative of the “ballerina” itself.” I was especially interested in Masilo’s Giselle after writing A Radical Reimagining of Ballet for 2018, […]

Recreate Chita Rivera’s look in Chicago with sexy black and white styles. Transform into Giselle with these feminine, delicate classic looks. Wear white, flowing skirts to embody the iconic and joyful energy of Revelations.