A newly launched initiative hopes to change the face of ballet, both onstage and behind the scenes. Called “The Equity Project: Increasing the Presence of Blacks in Ballet,” the three-year initiative, funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, is a partnership between Dance Theatre of Harlem, the International Association of Blacks in Dance and Dance/USA. […]

On Monday night, a memorial was held at Riverside Church to honor the life and achievements of Dance Theatre of Harlem co-founder Arthur Mitchell. With nearly three months to process and grieve (Mitchell passed away on September 19) the atmosphere was not that of mourning as much as reflection, reverence and admiration for who he […]

The first week of San Francisco Ballet’s Unbound: A Festival of New Works was all about new ballets, with 12 world premieres by the likes of Justin Peck, Dwight Rhoden and Annabelle Lopez Ochoa. The second weekend provided time to reflect, as artists and influencers gathered for “Boundless: A Symposium on Ballet’s Future.” Dance Magazine […]

The ballet world will converge on San Francisco this month for San Francisco Ballet’s Unbound: A Festival of New Works, a 17-day event featuring 12 world premieres, a symposium, original dance films and pop-up events. “Ballet is going through changes,” says artistic director Helgi Tomasson. “I thought, What would it be like to bring all […]

Ballet teacher Therrell C. Smith may be 100, but she’s still got it. She celebrated her 100th birthday with family, friends and former students earlier this month by performing the “Fascination Waltz” with ballroom dancer Stan Kelly. She finished off the afternoon tribute at the University of the District of Columbia’s Theater of the Arts […]

Are ballet companies different when led by a female artistic director? Before becoming its artistic director, Karen Kain danced for every director in National Ballet of Canada’s history, then staged ballets, did fundraising and observed the administrative offices under her predecessor James Kudelka. But she wasn’t ambitious for the top job. Although she had a […]