Dance Archives

Growing Up in the Wings: Lessons from the NYCB Nutcracker Child Performer

Key Takeaways Performing in George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker at the New York City Ballet serves as a vital training ground. This experience instills deep discipline and resilience in children from a very young age. Young performers learn to navigate a…

Binary Tap Dance: The Rhythmic Logic of Savion Glover

Key Takeaways Binary Tap Dance represents a fascinating convergence of analog rhythm and digital logic. This article explores how the movements of legendary hoofer Savion Glover function as a live-action operating system. By analyzing the mechanics of the heel and…

Dancing in the Streets: New York City and Site-specific Dance

The Dance Boom and the Breaking of the Frame The 1970s in New York City presented a stark paradox. On one hand, many considered the city to be in a “dismal state,” as it exuded a grimy and often threatening…

The Coolest Debate: Fosse, Robbins, and the Rhythmic Connection Between “West Side Story” and “Sweet Charity”

In my last discussion, I dove into the fiery rooftop debate between West Side Story’s “America” and Sweet Charity’s “There’s Gotta Be Something Better Than This.” That comparison, a visual parallel between two masters, is a favorite among theater fans.…

From Riot to Revelation: How 3 Revolutionary Ballets Changed Modern Dance

Three revolutionary ballets transformed dance: Nijinsky’s Rite of Spring shattered conventions; Graham’s Appalachian Spring celebrated American spirit; Ailey’s Revelations embodied the African American journey. Together, they forged dance’s modern, vibrant language.

My Obsession with The Tales of Hoffmann 1951 Film: A Technicolor Fever Dream

The Tales of Hoffmann is a breathtaking cinematic opera that transcends reality, blending art and imagination in a dazzling Technicolor spectacle. Its powerful influence continues to inspire filmmakers, celebrating the magic of pure artistic expression.

The Universal Dance: Why We Move Together

Across the globe and throughout recorded history, human beings have engaged in rhythmic movements. This action seems to be a fundamental impulse, revealing the intuitive truth that dance serves as a universal human constant. We celebrate, mourn, and participate in…

Flight of Icarus and the Fragility of Artistic Freedom

The exploration of ambition and artistic freedom in “Flight of Icarus” inspires us to reflect on the power of art in challenging societal boundaries. Embracing vulnerability, creativity can soar, transforming both creators and audiences in profound ways.

Homage or Rip-Off? A Deeper Look at the Choreographic Connection Between “Sweet Charity” and “West Side Story”

Two rooftop settings. Two iconic musicals. Two unforgettable dances. Is “There’s Gotta Be Something Better Than This” a tribute to West Side Story’s “America,” or too similar? Explore the debate and analysis of the iconic choreography here. Both “There’s Gotta…

The Impact of ‘Flight of Icarus’ on Dance and Activism

Flight of Icarus was created in direct response to the United States Senate defunding of The National Endowment for the Arts in 1990.

Category: Dance