Author Archives: Amy Brandt

About Amy Brandt

Amy Brandt is a dancer with The Suzanne Farrell Ballet.

Pirouette Troubleshooting

Posted on Apr 12, 2013 by .
Christine Winkler mid-pirouette in Darrell Grand Moultrie’s Boiling Point (by C. McCullers)

Ah, pirouettes. They’re delicate little operations. Nothing beats the rush of finishing a set of solid multiples, but even the … Continue reading →

Posted in Ballet, How To

Am I Ready for Pointe?

Posted on Mar 7, 2013 by .
Pointe class at Maryland Youth Ballet (Alyce Jenkins)

  Nothing compares to that magical moment when your teacher says you’re ready for your first pair of pointe shoes. … Continue reading →

Posted in Ballet, How To

Just Beat It

Posted on Jan 11, 2013 by .
Former Patel Conservatory student Drew Nelson (Michelle Revels)

In Act II of Giselle, Albrecht does 32—32!—entrechats six in a row. His feet flutter like hummingbird wings as he … Continue reading →

Posted in Ballet, How To

Learning to Fly

Posted on Nov 13, 2012 by .
Martina Chavez in Oregon Ballet Theatre’s Nutcracker (James McGrew)

As The Nutcracker’s familiar “Waltz of the Flowers” theme swells to its exciting finale, Oregon Ballet Theatre’s Martina Chavez gathers … Continue reading →

Posted in Ballet, How To

The Ins and Outs of Sickling and Winging

Posted on Jan 20, 2012 by .
Ballet_A_Fox

We’ve all seen that photo: an otherwise lovely dancer, posed in first arabesque, with a glaring blemish at the end … Continue reading →

Posted in Ballet

Breathtaking Bourrées

Posted on Aug 18, 2011 by .
Photo By Gene Schiavone

When I was a young ballet student, I used to pop in my favorite video of Giselle and quickly fast-forward … Continue reading →

Posted in Ballet, How To