What is it like to be a plus-size dancer today? Complicated. Diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts have raised awareness about exclusionary practices in all kinds in dance, and the mainstream body-positivity movement has led to some progress—most noticeably impacting the dance world since the rise of social media. Yet sizeism remains an especially recalcitrant, systemic issue that continues to plague dancers worldwide.

Reality TV competitions have given dance a larger platform and inspired a new generation of young people to step into a studio.

Dance is my love language. It’s the way I spread joy around the world. It’s my superpower, the purpose God gave me and one of the main reasons I smile. I’m full of feelings, although some people may not know it because I am quite reserved, private and almost shy at times. Dance is the […]

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 […]

I started working as Lizzo’s choreographer and live-show artistic director last January. She has a vision: She wants to put curvy dancers in her performances, because they are deserving. And I was so down. But when we had our first casting call, an agency open call in Los Angeles, our top agencies only had two […]

Before he even knew what a choreographer really was, Keenan Cooks was certain that’s what he would do. Growing up in Boston, he looked up to his mom, who was a dancer. But he didn’t have a game plan for his career until he took part in Rhapsody James’ Motivating Excellence program. “That set this […]

Here are the moves, moments and makers that grabbed Dance Magazine editors and writers this year: The Dancers Smashing Stereotypes: Lizzo’s Posse 2019 was the year of Lizzo. The positivity clap-back queen had women everywhere dancing. But we took special note of who she chose to perform alongside her at major events like the BET […]

The MTV Video Music Awards are really a dancer’s dream awards show. Think about it: we get to hear our favorite songs sung live, see the music industry’s brightest stars decked out in ridiculous, over-the-top costumes, and watch some insanely full-out performances, courtesy of the dance world’s most talented dancers and choreographers. This year’s VMAs […]