Unexpected collaborations, women-led ballets, superstar choreographers turning their talents to opera and musical theater, singular dancemakers wrestling with issues of labor, environmental justice, and more—here’s what our contributors are looking forward to most as the 2023–24 season gets underway.

A plethora of premieres and a pair of limited engagement touring appearances add up to a packed dance calendar, from coast to coast and even across the pond. Here’s what has us most intrigued.

Being at San Francisco Ballet for more than 10 years has shown me that classical ballet isn’t just a physical activity; it is a language, a way of expression, and it connects people. Being the first Asian male principal dancer in the company’s history has allowed me to bring my culture into my work.

Ballet companies in Toronto, New York City and San Francisco are experiencing a shift as Hope Muir, Susan Jaffe and Tamara Rojo take the reins at National Ballet of Canada, American Ballet Theatre and San Francisco Ballet.

Dancing with a prop can be intimidating, and when the choreography is already complex, adding an object to the mix can feel, frankly, overwhelming. But with the right approach, props can be an exciting opportunity for growth in artistry, storytelling and performance technique.

Val Caniparoli artistic career continues to flourish and evolve, even after performing for multiple decades. On the cusp of his 50th season with SFB, Caniparoli, 70, shares some of the wisdom of his half-century in ballet.

Isadora Duncan once famously claimed that if she could tell you what she meant, there would be no point in dancing it. That attitude—that dancers should be seen and not heard—continues to pervade the concert dance scene

“I was always trying to find more in my artistic development,” Freemantle says of his decision to leave the company and move to New York City this past summer