a large pile of pointe shoes with a bowing female ballerina mannequin in front of it

How Artists Are Keeping Mountains of Dead Pointe Shoes Out of Landfills

Pacific Northwest Ballet goes through roughly 2,000 pairs of pointe shoes per year. New York City Ballet uses 500 pairs per month during Nutcracker season. Some pros exhaust multiple pairs of shoes in a single performance day. Stats like those raise a big question: After the shanks have collapsed and the boxes have turned to mush, where do all the dead pointe shoes go?

A colorful collage of the 2024 25 to Watch, dancers from a breadth of dance styles.

Introducing Our 2024 “25 to Watch”

Electric performances, thought-provoking choreography, buzzy bodies of work—the artists on our annual list of dancers, choreographers, directors, and companies poised for a breakout share an uncanny knack for arresting attention. They’ve been turning heads while turning what’s expected—in a performance, from a career trajectory—on its head. We’re betting we’ll be seeing a lot more of them this year, and for many years to come.

a book cover with the title "Illusions of Camelot"

Dancer and Director Peter Boal’s Thoughtful New Memoir Considers the Childhood Turmoil that Would Shape His Approach to Dance

This May, he published his memoir, Illusions of Camelot, with Beaufort Books. It contains a series of reflections on his childhood and adolescence in the wealthy town of Bedford, New York, and then, later, in New York City. Financially and socially, his was a comfortable childhood. But that idyll—the Camelot of the title—concealed a deep vein of turmoil. That contrast between appearance and experience is one of the main themes of his book.

male dancer wearing all black and nike sneaker leaning laterally next to a cement wall

Pacific Northwest Ballet Soloist Christopher D’Ariano is Staying Connected to His Roots

“My community reminds me that there is always a story to tell. Being a queer Asian male, I realize my roots; my family history, the city I grew up in and the people that surrounded me have all built me. I hope I keep fine-tuning all of my mediums of expression so that, over time, I can better articulate what my unique perspective is and share my stories—and those of
my people—with a nuanced accuracy.”

all male ballet class following teacher in center

4 Artists of Color Step Into Leadership Roles

Janine N. Beckles, Clifton Brown, Kiyon Ross and Helanius J. Wilkins span generations and geographies. All four have recently transitioned into leadership roles, in dance companies and, for Wilkins, a university theater and dance department.

woman holding her head and neck in pain

Common Head and Neck Injuries Dancers Need to Take Seriously

While head and neck injuries are often associated with contact sports like football or ice hockey, they can also be a real problem for dancers. Falling out of a lift and hitting your head, getting kicked or elbowed in a crowded rehearsal, or bumping your head on a prop or scenery could lead to a concussion or serious neck injury.