a group of female dancers wearing long red dresses and white hats

The Pleasure and Pitfalls of Creating Ballets Based on Contemporary Literature

The weaving together of movement and language into art seems natural and inevitable, given ballet’s long history as a narrative art form, and our current cultural infatuation with visual storytelling as a means of communication. Yet choreographers’ interest in tying ballet directly to literature is a notable turnaround from the 20th century’s Balanchine-influenced rise of abstract, plotless ballets.

News of Note: What You Might Have Missed in October 2019

Here are the latest promotions, appointments and transfers, plus notable awards and accomplishments from the last month. Comings & Goings Karen Kain Karolina Kuras, Courtesy National Ballet of Canada Karen Kain will retire as artistic director of National Ballet of Canada in January 2021, at which time she will be named artistic director emeritus. A […]

How Canadian Ballet Star Evelyn Hart Was Lured Out of Retirement

At 63, Evelyn Hart is back onstage. The former Royal Winnipeg Ballet principal rose to international prominence in 1980 when she became the first Canadian to win gold at the Varna International Ballet Competition. One of the best Giselles of her generation, Hart retired from RWB in 2005 after three decades and relocated to Toronto […]

Editor Approved: 7 Dance Shows to Catch This October

As the fall performance season kicks into high gear, we’ve been cramming as much excellent dance on our calendars as possible. But if you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the options, we’ve got you covered: From rare U.S. appearances by one of our 2018 “25 to Watch” to an autumn mainstay for New Yorkers, Romeo and […]

The Latest: Looking Back to Move Forward

Royal Winnipeg Ballet premieres a ballet about Canada’s segregated history.     Choreographer Mark Godden leads rehearsal at RWB. Photo Courtesy RWB.   A company that usually sticks to crowd-pleasing story ballets, Royal Winnipeg Ballet will open its 75th-anniversary season with a work centered on a controversial topic. Going Home Star—Truth and Reconciliation, choreographed by […]