Tag: nyc

The Lowdown on Martha Graham Dance Company's Marzia Memoli

Marzia Memoli may be the Martha Graham Dance Company’s newest dancer, but her classical lines and easy grace are already turning heads. Originally from Palermo, Italy, Memoli started studying at age 16 at the Academy of Teatro Carcano in Milan. Later, she attended the Rudra Béjart School in Lausanne, Switzerland, before heading to NYC in […]

Meet the Claras of the "Radio City Christmas Spectacular"

Think the Rockettes are the only stars of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular? Think again. Each year, a few lucky girls share the role of Clara, who appears during the Nutcracker portion of the show. Clara gets to do some real dancing, too, including solos and pas de deux. (Past Claras include Juliet Doherty and […]

Behind-the-Scenes Secrets of the Radio City Rockettes

For some it’s a holiday tradition, for others its an iconic spectacle, but no matter the reason, more than 1 million people will watch the Rockettes perform in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular each year. And though the production has been around since 1933, much of what goes on behind those velvety curtains and intricate […]

Where Should You Stand in a Convention Class?

Convention classes are inevitably packed. To have the best possible experience while surrounded by hundreds of fellow convention-goers, put some thought into where you choose to stand in the room. Start with a goal: “What people seek from class absolutely informs where they stand,” says Dana Wilson, hip-hop teacher for New York City Dance Alliance. […]

What It's Really Like to Dance with the ABT Studio Company

For an aspiring ballerina, there’s no more exciting place to be than the ABT Studio Company, the pre-professional arm of American Ballet Theatre. The NYC-based troupe of 16- to 20-year-old dancers trains hard and performs harder, putting on multiple shows over the course of each season. We followed ensemble member Léa Fleytoux, a gifted 18-year-old […]

When a Choreographer Finds a Musical Soul Mate

When a choreographer finds a composer whose music truly inspires her, it can feel like a match made in dance heaven. Some choreographers work with the same composers so frequently that they become known for their partnerships. New York City Ballet soloist and resident choreographer Justin Peck, for example, has tapped composer Sufjan Stevens numerous […]

Lauren Lovette Writes a Letter to Her Teenage Self

New York City principal Lauren Lovette has become an icon thanks to her emotional maturity and exceptional musicality. The 26-year-old quickly rose through the ranks after joining the company as an apprentice in 2009, reaching principal status in 2015. A Thousand Oaks, CA, native, Lovette started studying ballet seriously at age 11, at the Cary […]

From Competitions to Campus: How 4 Comp Stars Made the Leap

Considering a dance degree to build on your competition experiences? DS caught up with comp-circuit stars who chose higher ed to learn the advantages of transitioning from comp kid to college kid. Ability to Pick Up New Genres “Because I’d been exposed to so many different genres—hip hop, theater, contemporary, and ballet—I was able to […]