For choreographer and director Paul Becker, the pandemic has had one major upside: extra time with his 18-year-old daughter, Marlee. “The toughest part of being a parent in the dance industry is making your family a priority,” says Becker, who recently shared the 2021 MTV Award for “Best Musical Number” with Kenny Ortega for their […]
The pilot of Netflix’s dance-centric series “Tiny Pretty Things”—based on the YA novel by Sona Charaipotra and Dhonielle Clayton—will leave you breathless. It touches on, well, everything: love, murder, racism, competition, jealousy, girl cliques, sexual experimentation, eating disorders. And the intricate plot is propelled by equally breathtaking ballet sequences. Here are the basics of that […]
In one of the most beguiling numbers in The Prom, the 2018 Broadway hit in which a bevy of theater has-beens invade a straitlaced Indiana town, a well-worn chorus girl tries to imbue a timid teenager with “zazz,” that elusive, magical combination of gumption and allure she learned from Bob Fosse. Sergio Trujillo describes zazz […]
Who couldn’t use a little extra holiday cheer this year? Netflix is stepping in with a double dose of heartwarming, dance-powered programs this November that celebrate the season. Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey First up is movie-musical Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey, dropping November 13. This new family flick is a fantastical journey, following a […]
Get ready for your next Netflix binge: On October 23, the streaming giant is dropping Move, a five-part docuseries profiling some of the biggest choreographers and performers from around the globe. Each episode provides an intimate look at a different creator and their unique contributions to the art form. First up are American-based Memphis jookin […]
Based on the title, Netflix’s new film I’m Thinking of Ending Things sounds like it could be a typical breakup movie. Peel back one layer (there are many), and you’ll find quite the opposite: The Charlie Kaufman–directed thriller drama, based on the book of the same name, follows a young woman (Jessie Buckley) as she […]
Pop quiz, dance friends! Select all that apply: a) You love ballet. b) You love ballet on TV. c) You absolutely devoured Tiny Pretty Things, the 2016 YA novel described as “Black Swan meets ‘Pretty Little Liars.’” d) OK you haven’t read the book yet but wooowwww does that description sound enticing. We’ve got good […]
When a musical prepares to make the transfer from a smaller, lesser-known venue to Broadway (where theaters hold 500-plus seats), often there’s a collective intake of breath from all involved. After all, a bigger house means more tickets to sell in order to stay in the black, and sometimes shows with even the most tenacious […]