Throughout her years growing up at New York City Dance Alliance, Jacalyn Tatro has dominated the podium: In 2011, she was National Mini Outstanding Dancer, in 2014 she won National Teen Outstanding Dancer and in 2016 National Senior Outstanding Dancer. It’s easy to see why: Tatro dances with a maturity beyond her years—her performance quality […]

July 1 marks an exciting new era for The Juilliard School. Vail Dance Festival director and former New York City Ballet principal Damian Woetzel steps into the role of president, and the dance division will also have a new leader: Alicia Graf Mack, 39, will take over from Taryn Kaschock Russell, acting artistic director for […]

I dance to remember. I dance to forget. I dance to contain. I dance for my mom and dad. I dance to show my love. I dance when I cannot speak. I dance when words won’t do any justice. I dance to connect with strangers. I dance to understand. I dance to feel differences. I […]

In the ballet world, the phrase “going to college” is sometimes regarded as the musings of a dancer who’s not really serious about their craft. Although schools like Juilliard and Bennington College have made degrees acceptable for modern dancers for decades, the competitive ballet world (which often follows a philosophy of “the younger the better”) […]

A dancer is taking over Juilliard: Damian Woetzel will be the school’s next president, starting in July 2018. It’s just the latest feat for the former New York City Ballet star who’s racked up an impressive list of accomplishments since retiring from the stage in 2008. After earning a master’s degree in public administration from […]

Your pulse is racing. Your mouth feels dry. You can’t stop sweating even though you feel cold. But what’s most worrying is that you can’t stop your hands and knees from trembling, even though you’re only moments away from stepping on stage. Performance anxiety can sabotage even the most talented dancers. Studies suggest that at […]

Musicians at this morning’s protest. Via playbill.com. One of the most valuable skills a performing artist learns is poise. The ability to handle themselves gracefully and confidently in difficult situations. That’s just how some students from The Juilliard School reacted earlier today when protestors from the hateful Westboro Baptist Church visited their campus. The students and their supporters were […]

When I was in high school, I visited the college counselor’s office with other students to talk about what we wanted to major in. One by one, she asked us about our plans. “Teaching? Great, here’s a list of top programs nearby.” “Engineering? Fantastic, check out these resources.” “Dance?” Cue, the chirping crickets. (Thankfully, my […]