Are you ready for this week’s stories? Because they are definitely ready to take the stage!
First meet eleven-year-old Stella Tompkins who has landed the role of Marie in New York City Ballet’s The Nutcracker, a dream come true after competing with over 150 dancers. Then in Louisville, rapper Jack Harlow’s $50,000 donation to the Louisville Ballet has led to 502, a new ballet by choreographer Ching Ching Wong, premiering November 1 and merging ballet with Harlow’s music to explore ambition and identity. Meanwhile, New Jersey Ballet School is expanding under Artistic Director Maria Kowroski, adding programs for both aspiring professionals and recreational dancers, including a free Boys Class and expanded summer intensives.
Ready for more? We thought you might be. Scroll away!
While 11-year-old Stella Tompkins danced in Mozartiana,, her parents sat in the audience, beaming at their phones after receiving an email announcing that Stella had just landed her dream role as Marie in New York City Ballet’s, The Nutcracker. Having earned the role over more than 150 other hopefuls, Stella was thrilled to embrace this incredible opportunity.
Photo Credit: Adam Tompkins / Contributed
Under the guidance of Artistic Director Maria Kowroski and Associate Director Martin Harvey, New Jersey Ballet School is evolving to support both aspiring professionals and recreational dancers with expanded programs, including a tuition-free Boys Class to encourage gender inclusivity. Harvey's restructuring aligns the School with the Company’s vision, fostering technical excellence while providing a welcoming environment for all ages, and features expanded summer intensives for immersive dance experiences.
The Morgan Library & Museum recently discovered an unpublished waltz by Frédéric Chopin, likely composed in the early 1830s and filled with unusual dynamics and dissonant chords. This rare find, meticulously authenticated through handwriting and ink analysis, reflects Chopin’s creative exploration and is now set to spark debates among scholars about its origins and significance in the composer’s legacy.
Photo Credit: General Photographic Agency/Getty Images
Renowned ballerina Melissa Hamilton, a First Soloist of The Royal Ballet, recently returned to her home stage in Belfast for a special gala performance, calling it a "dream come true" to share the experience with her family and local community. Joined by esteemed dancers from several international ballet companies, Hamilton showcased a mix of classic and contemporary ballet, aiming to inspire future generations and broaden the appreciation of ballet’s evolving art form.
If You’re Around This Weekend
After Louisville Ballet had to cancel its 2022 Nutcracker shows due to a winter storm, local rapper Jack Harlow donated $50,000 to support the company, sparking a unique collaboration for a new ballet. Premiering November 1at the Brown Theatre in Louisville, 502, choreographed by Ching Ching Wong, combines Harlow’s music with ballet to explore themes of ambition, doubt, and a return to one’s roots, enhanced by Louisville-crafted mirror balls and an innovative soundtrack arrangement.
Ballet Palm Beach presents Carmen at the Kravis Center in Palm Beach Gardens, an intense ballet production with passionate performances and a dramatic storyline. Showtimes are Friday, Nov. 1 at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 2 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; and Sunday, Nov. 3 at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m., with tickets starting at $49.
If You Feel Like Watching
Kate Levick, who began ballet at age 36 to bond with her daughter, found joy in a Newcastle studio welcoming adult beginners and defying ballet stereotypes. The inclusive studio, run by Alice McKechnie, draws dancers of all ages ranging from early teens to 80 years old, offering a supportive space for those like Levick and others who rediscovered their passion later in life.
If You Feel Like Listening
In this episode of Ballet Help Desk, Caitlin Sloan, known as the Brainy Ballerina, shares her approach to audition coaching, focusing on personalized strategies for students’ success both in and beyond ballet. She offers valuable resources and insights to help dancers reach their goals.
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