Welcome to this week’s edition of Dance Rhythm! From breaking molds to spotlighting representation, we have captivating stories waiting for you.
Experience Adrienne Rich’s poetry collection, The Dream of a Common Language, brought to life by Queer the Ballet. Premiering this weekend at New York City’s Baruch Performing Arts Center and directed by the iconic Adrianna Pierce, this production is a must-see! Then discover how Royal Ballet principal dancer Yasmine Naghdi overcame her anxieties about an upcoming performance with the help of sports psychologist Britt Tajet-Foxell. Lastly, learn about Sophie Williams’ new ballet company, Pointeworks, which is providing dancers with summer employment opportunities during their off seasons while also highlighting female talent.
Excited to dive into these stories? Click below!
Sophie Williams' new ballet company, Pointeworks, will perform its inaugural mixed repertoire production at the Baker-Baum Concert Hall on June 20. Despite initial criticism, Williams aims to provide summer employment for dancers, highlight female talent, and enrich the San Diego dance scene with contemporary and classical works.
Iain Mackay will become Artistic Director of The Royal Ballet School in September, succeeding Christopher Powney. An alum of the school and former Principal dancer with Birmingham Royal Ballet, Mackay aims to uphold the school's heritage while preparing students to lead the global dance community.
Earlier this year, Royal Ballet principal dancer Yasmine Naghdi faced intense anxiety rehearsing for a globally live streamed performance of Swan Lake, fearing any mistake would be immortalized. With the help of performance psychologist Britt Tajet-Foxell, Naghdi developed strategies to manage her fear of failure, ultimately executing her challenging solo with precision and composure.
If You’re Around This Weekend
Adrienne Rich's poetry collection, The Dream of a Common Language, has been adapted into a ballet by Queer the Ballet, premiering June 21–23 at New York City's Baruch Performing Arts Center. Directed by Adriana Pierce, the production features choreography by Pierce and other LGBTQ+ artists, aiming to amplify queer voices through a poetic interpretation of Rich’s themes.
American Ballet Theatre will present the evening-length ballet Onegin, choreographed by John Cranko and set to music by Tchaikovsky, inspired by Alexander Pushkin's verse-novel Eugene Onegin, from June 18–22. The ballet, praised for its storytelling and emotional depth, explores themes of lost love and personal turmoil through a blend of classical and modern elements, emphasizing narrative over technical spectacle.
"Kimiko's Pearl," a new ballet premiering this weekend in the Niagara Region of Ontario, Canada, tells the story of four generations of the Ayukawa family before, during, and after Japanese internment camps in WWII, centered around a handmade trunk from the era. Co-created by Alexis Spieldenner and her mother, Christine Mori, the ballet aims to shed light on this dark chapter of Canadian history while celebrating the progress since then. You can catch the
world premiere this Saturday (6/22) and Sunday (6/23) at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre on St. Paul Street in St. Catharines.
If You Feel Like Watching
Elenora Maratto is elevating ballet to new heights by integrating her professional dance skills with her PhD research in plant pathology at The Great Exhibition Road Festival in South Kensington. In her performance, Maratto will embody a plant, while the other dancers represent various pathogens, emphasizing the importance of cultivating pathogen-free food.
Sun-Mi Cho's dance studio, Ballet Sunmi, has been fostering inclusivity for all ages and cultural backgrounds over the past three years. Through performances like "Lunar Dreams," Cho emphasizes collaboration and mentorship among students, highlighting that ballet is an inclusive art form focused on individual progress and confidence-building.
If You Feel Like Listening
Artistic Director Jonathan Stafford and Associate Artistic Director Wendy Whelan reflect on a Diamond Anniversary season filled with repertory favorites, new works, and significant milestones for the New York City Ballet. Highlights include Alexei Ratmansky's first new work as Artist in Residence, historic casting in George Balanchine's The Nutcracker, and the first non-binary pas de deux in Justin Peck's The Times Are Racing, marking a celebratory and forward-looking year.
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