When Paul Taylor created Beloved Renegade on Laura Halzack in 2008, he gave unequivocal instructions. She was the figure, sometimes referred to as the angel of death, who circles dancer Michael Trusnovec in a compassionate, yet emphatic way. “He choreographed every single step for me,” she says. “He showed it to me—do this développé, reach […]

Believe it or not, dance fashion has not always been a thing. Rehearsal wear used to consist of a leotard, tights and legwarmers—that’s it. But today, dancewear has exploded with the rise of athleisure, and rehearsals have become a place where dancers can show their individual style. Almost anything goes, from fun socks to running […]

In her many years of shooting top dancers and choreographers, photographer Rose Eichenbaum has not only captured their movement, but collected their stories and the guidance they have to offer other artists. Now, Eichenbaum is releasing a coffee table book, Inside the Dancer’s Art, filled with these artists’ words of wisdom alongside their portraits. Here […]

The minutes after curtain comes down can be the trickiest of a dancer’s day: Despite your adrenaline high and the impulse to celebrate the night’s achievements, you need to jumpstart your body’s recovery so that you can take the stage again the very next day. Smart dancers like Parisa Khobdeh follow a carefully calibrated routine […]

Caribou in Carolina Helen Simoneau Danse. Photo by Charles Zovko, courtesy In The Lights PR. NC tour A Canadian who lives in North Carolina, choreographer-on-the-rise Helen Simoneau is using her newest evening-length work, Caribou, to take a closer look at heritage, assimilation and identity. She studies these ideas through the iconic caribou—an enormously antlered animal […]

What are the secrets of a long career? All dancers hope to perform for many years, digging deeper into their artistry with each new season. But often, their stage time gets cut short by injury, age-related loss of strength and flexibility, or simply burnout. We asked five longtime dancers what’s kept them going strong for so […]

Victoria Jaiani Joffrey Ballet Breakfast Philosophy: “Mornings have always been important to me. I can remember watching my mom busy in the kitchen, talking about how it would be a great day because we were sitting down together and eating good food. It’s a tradition, but it’s also legit—as an athlete, it certainly helps health-wise.” […]

Dancer Amy Young in rehearsal with Paul Taylor. Courtesy Resident Artist Films. Growing up near Louisville, Kentucky, there wasn’t too much professional dance in my region. So whenever a company visited, it was a treat. I still remember Paul Taylor Dance Company‘s stop at the Brown Theatre during its 50th-anniversary tour. I was in high school, and […]