The theatre presenting the controversial Falun Gong-associated troupe in the Gold Coast had to be evacuated; the venues where the group will perform in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide have received threats as well. Both Shen Yun and management at the theatres say they’re undaunted — and that ticket sales have picked up. - The Guardian
“The question of whether children should be encouraged to break out the grease paint has been pressing on parents and dance teachers alike. … Many are wondering whether it’s really appropriate to encourage preteens to master winged eyeliner before they’ve earned their pen licence.” Other teachers, however, have their reasons for requiring it. - The Guardian
On New Year’s Day 1889, a young Paiute man named Wovoka had a vision in which God taught him a ceremony. The Ghost Dance blended traditional teachings, earlier ritual dances, and Christian theology, promising peace and reunion with the dead, and it spread like brushfire through the Great Basin and Plains. - National Geographic
Until now, each Golden Lion has been won by a pathbreaking individual, from Merce Cunningham to Pina Bausch to William Forsythe to Sylvie Guillem to Lucinda Childs to Twyla Tharp. The 2026 Golden Lion has gone to Bangarra Dance Theatre, Australia’s pioneering indigenous dance company. - Limelight (Australia)
“When the mood and choreography strike, Kansas City Ballet Artistic Director Devon Carney invites a few folks to perform on stage as supernumeraries. That’s a fancy term for extras—usually peasants—who mill around and have deeply animated conversations with their supernumerary neighbors.” - KC Studio
“It seems we’re in a particularly fruitful era of artistic innovation in skating. What’s driving the current wave — and how might it shape the future of the sport? - Dance Magazine
How a cross between rock climbing, rappelling, circus aerobatics and contemporary dance turned into a performing art of its own. - The Mercury News (San Jose)
“Grand Rapids Ballet has dismissed executive director Mary Jennings after less than two years in the role, replacing her with an interim CEO as the ballet rethinks its leadership strategy.” - Crain’s Grand Rapids Business
“I’m not, um, young,” she says. “And I do have help. I don’t go in without somebody there who can help to translate and who understands my movement. But my favorite thing is to make things.” - The New York Times
Nothing is “nutty” in the Olympics now. Ski ballet was a demonstration sport in 1988 and 1992, but "unlike the other two freestyle disciplines, aerials and moguls, ski ballet didn’t graduate to full Olympic medal status.” - The New York Times
“Because information about lion dancing in English is scarce, Chan led a group of Kei Lun Martial Arts members on a research trip to China in 2000. They studied with skilled craftspeople in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong.” - The New York Times
In 2023, principal Taylor Stanley asked management if they’d permit a male-identifying dancer to play Carabosse; they said no. This year, they said no again. So Stanley went over their heads to choreographer Peter Martins, who’s fine with it. Now Stanley is making quite a meal of the role. - The New York Times
Or, how France’s Guillaume Cizeron and Laurence Fournier Beaudry (who’s actually Canadian) ended up paired at all, then became the gold medalists despite having been together only since March. - AP
Antonio Najarro, former director of the Ballet Nacional de España and choreographer of several medal-winning routines in ice dancing: “It seemed very difficult to me. Flamenco is so rooted in the earth that doing it on ice felt almost crazy. But curiosity got the better of me.” - El País in English (Spain)
A new iron curtain now separates American dance and Russian dance, bringing an abrupt end to a rich dialogue that spanned centuries. Swan Lake and The Nutcracker, two crown jewels in the American repertoire, would not exist without Petipa’s original stagings; meanwhile, Russian ballet was bolstered by American influence. - The Atlantic
