The ability to skillfully articulate the head and neck can help dancers embody their characters, safely tackle challenging choreography and dance with their entire bodies. 

A deep, juicy plié isn’t just delicious to watch. “It’s how we absorb shock,” says Elisa LaBelle, a physical therapist who works with dancers at NYU Langone’s Harkness Center for Dance Injuries. “It’s our spring, our power.” And it forms the basis for everything from dynamic jumps to smooth transitions to safe floorwork. But achieving […]

Showstopping turns are every dancer’s dream, but they’re some of ballet’s biggest frustrations. We asked the experts for their insights on what makes these turns so challenging—and their best tips for mastering them. Pirouettes From Fifth Position Why They’re Hard: It’s tricky to generate momentum from a closed fifth, “so dancers try to manufacture force […]

Did you know that you can dance while being completely out of touch with your body? It seems counterintuitive. Yet the stress of daily responsibilities, through a pandemic nonetheless, takes its toll and we look for ways to escape or even numb over. With all of life’s uncertainty right now, it’s common—and often necessary—to disconnect, […]