Tag: george balanchine

The "Balanchine Head," and How to Master It—Including Spotting Front

As a teacher and choreographer, George Balanchine—founder of the School of American Ballet and New York City Ballet—finessed even the smallest details. And in his technique, extra-special attention is paid to the carriage of the head, which is both unique and transformational. Whether held forward or at a particular tilt, the “Balanchine head” forms a […]

This Backstage Tour of PNB's "Nutcracker" Is Total Eye Candy

If there’s one thing that’s better than witnessing The Nutcracker from the audience, it’s getting an up-close, behind-the-scenes look at everything that goes into the production. Luckily, Pacific Northwest Ballet agrees with this sentiment—the company just released an amazing video offering a peek backstage. Led by PNB dancer Elle Macy (who was preparing to dance […]

Five of Our Favorite Ballet Trailers

Few things are more powerful for promoting ballet performances than captivating trailers—especially in today’s visually-focused, digitally-connected world. We’ve rounded up some eye-catching ads from seasons past and present that not only make us wish we could have seen the show, but also stand alone as short films. Bucharest National Opera’s La Sylphide Magnifying the scarf […]

The Best Balanchine Quotes in Honor of Mr. B's Birthday

Happy birthday, George Balanchine! The great choreographer and founder of New York City Ballet would have been 114 years old today. Balanchine revolutionized ballet, especially American ballet—and he also had quite a way with words. To celebrate Mr. B’s birthday, we rounded up some of our favorite iconic Balanchine quotes. “See the music, hear the […]

Quiz: Name That Dance!

Can you ID some of the dance world’s most iconic works? Take our quiz below to find out! Loading… Lead photo: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in Ailey’s Revelations. Photo by Paul Kolnik, courtesy AAADT.

These Are (Some of) the Legendary Ballet Dancers That You Should Know

There’s so much history in the ballet world! Some of the dances that are being performed today date back to a century ago, and you wouldn’t know it if you didn’t study it. It’s important to know the origin of the companies and choreography we’ve come to know and love. The following are nine legendary […]