Does NYCB Have A Gambling Problem?

New York City Ballet’s fall season opened last week with Peter Martins’ production of Swan Lake. The company is looking ahead to their gala tomorrow, followed by a month of works new and old. The marketing department seems particularly excited about its premieres, many of them created by new choreographers (perhaps part of their admirable […]

Your Body: Working Out With Sara Mearns

The NYCB principal uses cross-training to lengthen and support her body without wearing it out. Mearns, here in Allegro Brillante, starts her warm-up with a hot shower. Photo by Paul Kolnik, courtesy NYCB. A few years ago, Sara Mearns’ weeks were packed with gym visits and Gyrotonic training. But as her schedule at New York […]

Capturing the 20-Somethings

How NYCB draws in—and retains—coveted young audiences The young Justin Peck has become a choreographic face of NYCB. His most recent ballet: Rodeo: Four Dance Episodes. Photo by Paul Kolnick, courtesy NYCB. A dapper young man wakes up in a mysterious drawing room to the vision of a beautiful woman in an evening gown with […]

These Ad Campaigns Show That Dance Sells

Misty Copeland doesn’t typically spend her days balancing on demi-pointe in lace-up sneakers, wearing the briefest of running shorts and a T-shirt knotted jauntily above her hips. But Under Armour’s series of “I Will What I Want” ads presents a portrait of this artist as an athlete—in the brand’s athletic wear. And for the makers […]

25 to Watch

Leriche in Kyle Abraham’s Counterpoint. Photo by Todd Rosenberg, Courtesy HSDC. Emilie Leriche Both delicate and strong, Emilie Leriche can move with the softness of a cool puff of air or strike a pose worthy of the mythic huntress Diana. She crystallizes moments in time with the magic of a born performer. And she’s whip-smart—as […]

Why I Dance: Abi Stafford

I’m a shy person. Carrying on a conversation has never been my strong suit. When I started ballet lessons at 6, I didn’t talk to many of the other kids. I worried that I would say the wrong thing and they would laugh at me. But as I learned ballet, I realized that dancing made […]

On the Rise: Russell Janzen

At last, New York City Ballet corps member Russell Janzen has found the success that had seemed inevitable when he joined the company in 2008. Though a stretch of injuries sidelined him at first, major roles are now regularly coming his way at age 25. The 6′ 3″ dancer, who trained at The Rock School […]

Inside DM

What makes choreography compelling? Whether you consider a work’s musicality or steps, formations or narrative, it often comes down to one thing: the element of surprise. Justin Peck is a master of this. He’ll bring two partners together for what seems like the beginning of a sumptuous lift—and then have them take off in opposite […]