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DANCE

Why Trump’s Tariffs Will Be A Big Pain In Ballet Companies’ Feet

“Compounding recent major cuts to arts funding, the footwear the ballet world relies on could be just one more unanticipated casualty of the current president’s economic policy. Pointe shoes, it turns out, are political objects as much as they are aesthetic.” - Cascade PBS

Montreal Dance Studio Drops Its Classes In Gaga Technique Because It Was Created In Israel

Last month, Studio 303 publicly joined the BDS boycott, including “all cultural and academic products that normalize the State of Israel." That includes Gaga, developed by Israeli choreographer Ohad Naharin — who has said, “If the act of cancellation would have helped the Palestinians’ cause I would boycott my own show.” - Jewish Telegraphic Agency

Meet The New Director Of Juilliard’s Dance Division

She was a member of the innovative Merce Cunningham Dance Company, and was among the last group of dancers to be trained by the legendary choreographer. Toogood also began teaching at his invitation. - Sydney Morning Herald

How The Artist Robert Rauschenberg Helped Change The Course Of 20th-Century Dance

“When Rauschenberg was breaking out as one of the most influential artists in the world, that influence extended into American dance” through his collaborations with Merce Cunningham and Trisha Brown. “And it flowed in the opposite direction, too, as he folded his theatrical work back into his solo practice.” - The New York Times

Once A Star Of Paris Opera Ballet, Manuel Legris Returns As Choreographer

A former director of the Vienna State Ballet and La Scala Ballet after his performing years, Legris was the supreme classicist of his era. Now he’s back home, making a new version of the Léo Delibes ballet Sylvia, using a classical movement style rarely seen in new ballet choreography today. - The New York Times

This AI Is My Dance Partner

“When I’m dancing with her, I feel her feeding energy back to me. It’s not quite like being on stage with another human, but she’s not just an inert thing that I have to feed with my energy in order to bring it into the dance.” - ArtsATL

In San Diego, Dance Companies Scramble To Replace Abruptly Canceled Federal Grants

San Diego Ballet executive director Matt Carney: “We've been really tasked right now to solve problems we weren't anticipating. So the cut with the NEA: we had seven days to make an appeal; they sent that email out on Friday; you get it on Monday, and now we have four days.” - KPBS (San Diego)

How The Rebuilt Doris Duke Theater At Jacob’s Pillow Differs From The Original

Says executive director Pamela Tatge of the original: “It didn’t have a lot of modern amenities. It was not handicapped accessible, and it did not have a lobby or an exhibition space. It didn’t have adequate dressing rooms for artists to work, or even storage.” All that has now been addressed. - The Berkshire Eagle

Documenting And Archiving: How Should Choreographers Preserve Their Work?

“Even if you don’t think of yourself as a prominent entity, you never know what’s going to happen,” points out Hallie Chametzky, director of archiving and preservation at Dance/USA. “What if, one day, someone wants to write a book about you?”  - Dance Magazine

Ma Cong Brings Jolts Of New Energy To Richmond Ballet

In his first season as successor to founding artistic director Stoner Winslett, Cong has revitalized the company’s offerings with contemporary pieces by the likes of Christopher Wheeldon, Ben Stevenson, and Yuri Yanowsky as well as Cong’s own work — repertoire rarely if ever seen in Virginia’s capital before. - Virginia Living

New York City Ballet’s Andrew Veyette And His Difficult Journey

The NYCB stalwart is about to give his farewell performance after 25 years with the company. Yet he almost didn’t make it to this point, and he now acknowledges that his involvement with alcohol, drugs, and two female colleagues nearly derailed his career and his life. - The New York Times

Data: Where The Resident Choreographers Are

Among the 165 global companies analyzed, only 10 contemporary and modern companies employed resident choreographers, compared to 38 ballet companies. Within the global contemporary and modern sector, women now outnumber men in resident roles, holding 57.1% of these positions. - Dance Data Project

Australian Ballet Reports Deficit Of $5.84 Million (US)

“The Australian Ballet’s box office fell 18% in 2024 on its way to a loss of $9.1 million, which it blamed on being forced to move from its home theatre while it is refurbished.” - Australian Financial Review

Crystal Pite Says She Does Not Enjoy Choreographing

“No! I definitely struggle. Every time I make something, I think: I can’t do this anymore. It’s too hard. It costs me too much. And then I have these beautiful, transformative, nourishing experiences of working with other artists – and then I feel it’s all worth it, and forget.” - The Standard (London)

How “Etoile” Integrates Real Dancers Into Its Fictional World

“We didn’t want it to be so fictionalized that you didn’t recognize it,” Palladino told IndieWire. “We really want people who know New York to really get the sense this is kind of the New York City Ballet, but not quite. - IndieWire

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