Some dancers reveal their truest selves in performance, heightening and deepening the qualities that make them who they are. Onstage, Chun Wai Chan is forthright and generous, regal but not aloof, with an open countenance that complements an uncluttered technique.
When it comes to in-studio dancewear, the pros know that the right style, piece or material can mean the difference between a confident and comfortable day and a day that feels just plain out of sorts. With so much time spent honing their craft in dance clothes, choosing those items takes equal parts strategy, creativity […]
I recently spoke to the dancers and management of Houston Ballet, where I dance, as part of ongoing conversations covering racial injustice. I was going to start by asking them how they were doing. But I quickly realized what kind of reaction I’d get. It’s the one you have the morning after a six-hour rehearsal […]
Few people GET Instagram as well as Houston Ballet soloist Harper Watters—the only ballet dancer nominated in the Shorty Awards’ dance category this year. The social media maestro has built a large and dedicated following with a mix of gorgeous ballet clips, striking editorial photos, funny glimpses of his behind-the-scenes life, and (of course) his […]
Yes, Harper Watters has literally become famous for his intense love of Beyoncé. (And, you know, his incredible dancing, style and advocacy for the LGBTQ community.) But if you think Watters just listens to Beyoncé and watches “RuPaul’s Drag Race” all day, you’re…half wrong. His taste—true to his gregarious personality—is eclectic, thoughtful and sometimes surprising. […]
Last summer, Lizzo put out a call on Twitter asking her fans to make a ballet to her song “Truth Hurts,” and dancers everywhere responded (our favorites still might be Harper Watters and Erica Lall). But now, Lizzo has fully proven herself to be a bunhead at heart: Last night, she put out a plea […]
After days spent rallying against “Good Morning America” host Lara Spencer’s flippant comments about boys doing ballet, the dance world triumphed on Monday. Not only did Spencer issue a lengthy on-air apology, complete with an interview with Robbie Fairchild, Travis Wall and Fabrice Calmels, but over 300 dancers gathered outside of the “GMA” studios for […]
On August 20, pop goddess Lizzo tweeted, “Someone do a ballet routine to truth hurts pls,” referring to the anthem that’s been top on everyone’s playlists this summer. Lizzo might not know it yet, but ballet dancers are not known for shying away from a challenge. In the past two days, the internet has exploded […]