Lace up pointe shoes and get ready to leap onto the dance floor because this latest edition of Dance Rhythm is sure to get your body moving!
Discover about how dancers from the Central School of Ballet are taking part in London Climate Action Week hoping to inspire action to be taken upon the impending climate crisis. Then learn how the Kennedy Center is shining a light on Black ballet dancers and choreographers with its upcoming event, “Pathways to Performance: Exercises in Reframing the Narrative”. Lastly, meet Alessandra
Ferri, a 61 year old ballet dancer who is performing in what might be her final
performance as Virginia Wolf at the Metropolitan Opera House before stepping
into the role as artistic director of the Vienna State Ballet.
Dying to hear more? These stories are just the tip of the iceberg. Keep on reading to see what else this week’s newsletter has in store!
Adriana Pierce, founder of Queer the Ballet, reflects on her past struggle with balancing her identity as a queer woman and a ballet dancer, expressing regret that ballet did not see her best self. Her organization aims to promote LGBTQ representation in ballet, providing opportunities for queer artists to choreograph and perform, challenging traditional gender roles within the
dance form.
A ballet performance on Bermondsey Beach, featuring students from the Central School of Ballet, will be a highlight of London Climate Action Week, aiming to inspire hope and action against the climate crisis. Part of Climate Basecamp’s campaign, "Performing Hope for Nature and Climate in the City," the event emphasizes that hope requires proactive engagement to address environmental challenges.
The Atlantic Ballet of Canada is launching an Indigenous dance program this fall, offering eight Indigenous Grade 11 dancers contemporary, traditional, and ballet training rooted in the Mi’kmaq and Wolastoq cultures. Supported by federal and community funding, this two-year program in Moncton, N.B., aims to provide holistic training close to the dancers' communities and families, fostering professional careers and cultural revitalization.
Since its 1973 release, Quadrophenia has evolved from a concept album to a cult film and several live revivals, and in 2025, Pete Townshend will revive it again as a ballet in collaboration with Sadler’s Wells and Universal Music. Townshend aims to reconnect with the mod culture that inspired the original album, highlighting its continued relevance and drawing parallels between the 1960s and today's social issues.
Alessandra Ferri, celebrated for her dramatic ballet performances, will perform what might be her final dance as Virginia Woolf at the Metropolitan Opera House before becoming the artistic director of the Vienna State Ballet. Despite being 61, she continues to captivate audiences with her emotional depth, and while she is committed to her new role, she leaves open the possibility of future performances.
If You’re Around this Weekend
Producers Gulya Hartwick and Sasha Gorskaya are bringing the World Ballet Festival to San Diego’s Civic Theatre, showcasing top ballet talent with performances of classic and modern works. Despite challenges, including the war in Ukraine, their Los Angeles-based World Ballet Company continues to thrive, focusing on high-quality, entertaining ballet productions and relying solely on ticket sales for revenue. Catch the World Ballet Festival this Saturday at 7 PM at the San Diego Civic Theatre!
If You Feel like Watching
Take a break and watch Zoey Banell's vlog as she shares her journey as a 23-year old ballet instructor and director of Bay Shore Ballet. In Part 2, join Banell for her interview with Fox News, experience her ballet classes, and see the preparations for their upcoming showcase during the dress rehearsal.
If You Feel like Listening
In the premiere episode of Dancer Stories, Jenny and her daughter Abbey recount Abbey's journey to landing her first ballet contract. Listen in to discover how a meeting about dorm policy violations at a summer intensive unexpectedly led to an apprenticeship offer with the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. Abbey's spontaneous choice to participate in the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Company Experience highlights the significance of embracing opportunities, as you never know where they might take you!
The Kennedy Center is shining a spotlight on Black ballet dancers and choreographers with its event “Pathways to Performance: Exercises in Reframing the Narrative,” featuring performances and premieres by Black artists. This initiative, part of a broader effort to highlight the contributions of Black individuals in ballet, continues the mission of MoBBallet founder Theresa
Ruth Howard to ensure Black voices in ballet are heard and celebrated.
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