This week stories vary from the health benefits of casual movement to the preservation of cultural traditions.
First, a recent study from Northeastern University found that just 20 minutes of freeform dancing daily can meet NHS exercise guidelines, proving that even dancing in your kitchen can boost health. Meanwhile, fashion designer Zac Posen brought his love for San Francisco’s iconic landscapes into the world of ballet, creating ethereal costumes for SF Ballet’s Within the Golden Hour. Lastly, in Harlem, The Harlem Swing Dance Society works to preserve the legacy of the Lindy Hop, a dance born during the Harlem Renaissance, by engaging young.
Interested to learn more about how dance is shaping our world? Then keep on scrolling!
Dancing in your kitchen for 20 minutes a day can help meet NHS exercise guidelines, as a study found that even casual dancing reaches moderate physical activity levels. Researchers from Northeastern University discovered that participants of all ages naturally achieved health-enhancing intensity just by dancing freely, highlighting dance as an accessible and effective form of exercise.
Struggling with chronic illness and a complicated relationship with her body, Elyse Durham, found solace and healing through ballet after stumbling upon a video of Justin Peck’s Year of the Rabbit. What began as a distraction turned into a transformative journey, helping her reconnect with her body, find community, and embrace the beauty and resilience of being human.
When Zac Posen moved to San Francisco for his role at Gap Inc., he quickly manifested a dream collaboration with the San Francisco Ballet, designing costumes for Christopher Wheeldon’s Within the Golden Hour. Inspired by the city’s epic skies and bay views, Posen crafted ethereal, modern costumes that reflect the ballet’s poetic choreography and the shifting colors of golden hour.
Choreographer Ishmael Houston-Jones is reimagining his 1983 improvisational duet “OO-GA-LA” with a new generation of dancers as part of Danspace Project’s 50th-anniversary festival, celebrating the venue’s legacy of experimental dance. The festival highlights themes of artistic transmission and sanctuary, featuring contemporary reinterpretations of iconic works amid financial challenges in the performing arts.
Dancers gathered outside the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., to protest leadership changes that placed President Trump as the board's chair, fearing it could threaten the diversity of dance programming. Led by educator Kelly King, the performers used Pina Bausch's The Nelken Line as a symbolic act of unity, dancing peacefully while security observed but did not interfere.
If You’re Around This Weekend
The Creative Alliance is celebrating Black History Month with The Baby Laurence Legacy Project: Tracing Steps, a dynamic show honoring legendary tap dancer Laurence Donald Jackson, known as "Baby Laurence." Performances will take place on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the Creative Alliance in Baltimore, blending dance, music, poetry, and storytelling to celebrate his life and legacy. Purchase tickets here.
If You Feel Like Watching
The Lindy Hop, a vibrant dance born during the Harlem Renaissance, continues to thrive in its home neighborhood through the efforts of The Harlem Swing Dance Society. Executive Director Barbara Jones is working to connect young dancers to this historic style by hosting monthly dance exchanges and striving to revive the Harvest Moon Ball at Madison Square Garden.
If You Feel Like Listening
Grace Holmes, head of San Francisco Ballet School, shares her vision with the Ballet Help Desk for the school, focusing on training, performance opportunities, scholarships, and student wellness. She also discusses recent changes to the trainee program and how SFBS prepares students for professional ballet careers.
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