Classical ballets may vary in style, setting and plot, but one theme unites the most famous ballets: love. These five lovely pas de deux—French for “step of two”—are the ballet equivalent of a lacy paper valentine or heart-shaped box of chocolates: sweet, romantic, and perfect to enjoy around Valentine’s Day. The Balcony Pas de Deux […]
If you know ballet, you know the name Svetlana Zakharova. She’s ballet royalty. Zakharova’s incredible natural facility, paired with her technical precision and emotive finesse, have stunned audiences for more than two decades. She’s danced with many of the world’s most prestigious ballet companies, including the Mariinsky and the Bolshoi, where she’s currently a principal. […]
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 […]
Last week, we highlighted the deliberately, hysterically bad @biscuitballerina Instagram account, created by a then-mysterious dancer with a great sense of humor. This week, the artist behind @biscuitballerina—who turns out to be Royal Ballet of Flanders corps member Shelby Williams—got in touch with us to set the record straight about the intentions of those LOL-worthy […]
I can’t say I’d ever heard of Smithsonian magazine before a few days ago, but let me tell you now, guys: I am SO GLAD they exist. Because their latest issue brings us tons of wisdom straight from the mouth of one Misty Copeland—you might have heard of her? For the April issue, Kween Copeland […]
One of the great hallmarks of ballet is its reverence for the classics—which means generation after generation of ballerinas has performed the same iconic variations. A quick YouTube search for “Giselle Act I variation” or “Kitri Act III variation” will bring up clips of brilliant professional performances by stars like Alina Cojocaru and Natalia Osipova. […]
English National Ballet is doing something a little bit curious: The company is performing two versions of Giselle in one season. The second one is the romantic-tutu version we know and love. But the first one, premiering at the end of the month, is a contemporary take by choreographer Akram Khan. In his imagination, Giselle […]
Backdrops for classical ballets can be stunningly beautiful—they’re basically museum-quality paintings, done on a (very) large scale. But how are they made? And by whom? And how the HECK does a ginormous drop get from the artists’ studio to the stage? Today, the Paris Opéra Ballet answered those questions in brilliant video fashion. “Giselle: The […]