dancemagazine

🧡 Give the gift of #dance all year with a subscription to Dance Magazine! 🧡 Dance Magazine is the must-read magazine for professional and aspiring dancers. From Broadway to ballet and tap to hip hop, no other magazine keeps you in touch with what is going on in all disciplines of dance. Our rigorous coverage provides readers with the information they need to feel inspired and informed about the field of dance. Take a few minutes to subscribe today or give a gift subscription! Head to the link in our bio to get started. 🧡 2-Years Print $29.95 (best deal) 1-Year Print $19.95 #DanceMagazine #holidaygifts #dancergifts

#coverstar: Leroy Mokgatle 🧡 A dancer of remarkable self-possession, Leroy Mokgatle has remained steadfastly true to herself. Now, at 25 and recently promoted to demi-soloist at Staatsballet Berlin, she has found an artistic home where she feels fully liberated, challenged and inspired. Read Mokgatle’s cover story at the link in our bio. 🌟 📝 : @tangerinepuppets 📸 : @leroy_mx. Photo by Carlos Quezada (@carlosquezadaofficial), courtesy @staatsballettberlin. 🎥: Leroy Mokgatle in excerpts from William Forsythe’s “Blake Works I” (with @gregorglocke and @marifer_du) and “Approximate Sonata 2016” (with Shaked Heller). Footage by @carlosquezadaofficial, courtesy of Staatsballet Berlin. #LeroyMokgatle #StaatsballetBerlin #DanceMagazine @christian_spuck @shaksmon Media Descriptions: Video: A series of clips taken from recordings of two contemporary ballets by William Forsythe, featuring dynamic dancing by Leroy Mokgatle. Mokgatle dances by herself in a group and with a partner in a pas de deux. Cover image: Leroy Mokgatle poses in attitude croié devant on pointe, her arms lifted gently and bent at the elbows to rest her hands just behind her head. She wears flesh-colored pointe shoes and a mock-neck black leotard with mesh portions around the neck and upper back. She looks off into the distance calmly, her hair in a sleek French twist. Behind her, the Dance Magazine logo, and text in the space around her: Leroy Mokgatle / Lives Her Truth at Staatsballett Berlin, with other article titles

Dallas Black Dance Theatre’s tumultuous year continues following the company’s decision to fire all 10 of its dancers this summer, which led to an unprecedented “Do Not Work” order by the American Guild of Musical Artists. This month, DBDT reached a settlement with the National Labor Relations Board, ahead of a scheduled hearing on multiple allegations of unfair labor practices that the agency found to have merit. Just a few days later, the company lost a critical revenue stream for the upcoming season when the Dallas City Council voted to cut nearly $250,000 in funding. Head to the link in our bio to read the full story. 📸: Getty Images 📝: Lauren Warnecke #DallasBlackDanceTheatre #dancenews Descriptions: 1) A black-and-white photo of an empty dance studio. Text: Dallas Black Dance Theatre’s Future Remains Unclear as Labor Dispute Approaches Resolution 2–4) Text in caption

#TBT: In the December 1994 issue of Dance Magazine, John Gruen wrote of an 18-year-old @abtofficial soloist named Paloma Herrera, “Here was a prodigy at work.” He was referring to her performances of Balanchine’s demanding ‘Theme and Variations’ that spring; to have been in the audience, he wrote, “was to be in the presence of a near miracle.” Read more at the link in our bio. 📰 📸: A feature on @palomaherrera_oficial that appeared in the December 1994 issue of Dance Magazine included this studio portrait of her in the peasant pas de deux from “Giselle” (by Jack Mitchell). From the DM Archives. 📸: A feature on Herrera that appeared in the December 1994 issue of Dance Magazine included a snapshot of a “Theme and Variations” curtain call with Robert Hill (by Johan Elbers). From the DM Archives. 📝: @cescoyne #PalomaHerrera #AmericanBalletTheatre #DanceMagazine Descriptions: 1) Paloma Herrera is captured midair in a sissone, arms floating into a gentle first arabesque. She wears a puffy sleeved romantic tutu, with a dark burgundy bodice over a pale pink skirt. The on page caption reads, “Herrera in the Act I Peasant Pas de Deux from Giselle. Photo by Jack Mitchell.” 2) A spread of pages from the December 1994 issue of Dance Magazine. The right page is mostly taken up by an image of Paloma Herrera, wearing a pink classical tutu, holding a bouquet and smiling. Her partner and members of the corps de ballet look on from upstage. The headline of the story is, “Paloma Herrera, Younger than Springtime: Paloma Herrera at age 18 is American Ballet Theatre’s budding superstar.”

Why does @gillianemurphy dance? Here, the @abtofficial principal writes on finding balance between control and abandon, her childhood memories, and what she continues to learn after 28 years as a professional. Read it at the link in our bio. 🧡 📸: Murphy in “Swan Lake.” Photo by @e_zordan, Courtesy American Ballet Theatre. 📝: Murphy #GillianMurphy #AmericanBalletTheatre #SwanLake Descriptions: 1) Gillian Murphy on stage wearing a white feathered tutu. She arches back in a tendu derriere. Text: “Nothing compares to the daunting, exhilarating freedom of being onstage, of feeling the synergy with the orchestra, my peers, and the audience.” 2) “Dance gives me the opportunity to explore the possibilities of expression and transformation, and to communicate my understanding of life’s intricacies, pathos, and joy...” 3) “More than that, dance allows me to spend my life surrounded by playful, intuitive, vulnerable, generous, and driven colleagues and coaches, and to learn from their collective humanity and expertise...” 4) “I dance to demonstrate my gratitude and profound respect for them, and I dance to pass this ephemeral craft on to the next generation.” —Gillian Murphy, longtime American Ballet Theatre principal

When graduates of @paceuniversity’s commercial dance BFA walk across the stage at graduation, they have a cap, gown, and amazing eye-high kicks. That’s because of their curriculum’s focus on multiple styles of jazz, including the precision jazz made famous by @therockettes. There is no formal relationship between @pacecommercialdance and the Rockettes—in fact, the only thing all of this year’s new Rockettes have in common is having attended the Rockettes Conservatory, a weeklong intensive held at @radiocitymusichall. Still, the success of the Pace graduates speaks for itself. This year, 18 Pace graduates and one current student will take the stage in the “Christmas Spectacular” as Rockettes and members of the ensemble. Learn more at the link in our bio. ✨ 📸: In class at Pace University. Photo by John Doyle, Courtesy Pace University. 📸: Lauren Gaul teaching at Pace. Photo by John Doyle, Courtesy Pace University. 📸: Rockette (and Pace alum) @vale_yamin in costume. Courtesy MSG Entertainment. 📝: @catierobinson_ #pacecommercialdance #therockettes #rockettes @julia.dickey Descriptions: 1) Students in class at Pace University. They stand in parallel passe with their arms in first. Text: 18 Pace University Grads Take the Stage in the “Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes” 2) Lauren Gaul directing a student in class at Pace. 3) Valeria Yamin sitting in a dressing room wearing a red sparkly dress and silver character shoes. Text: “I actually stand next to a Pace alum this year. She graduated last year, so she’s a few years younger than me, and when we stand next to each other, I remind her that she’s exactly where she needs to be. It’s really cool to see her growth and to be able to kick together knowing that we both came from Pace.” —Rockette and Pace alum Valeria Yamin

A fresh wave of interest in unionization has hit the concert-dance world. Recently, dancers in companies like Dance Theatre of Harlem, Ballet Austin, and Dallas Black Dance Theatre have taken steps to join the ranks of long-unionized companies such as American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. All of these dancers are members of the American Guild of Musical Artists (@musicalartistsunion),­ the major union for concert dancers as well as singers and staging staff. Teachers are getting in on the action too, with ballet faculty at the School of American Ballet recently joining AGMA. Maybe all this news has you curious about the benefits unionization might bring to your workplace. If so, head to the link in our bio to learn how to get started. 📸: Getty Images 📝: @garnethenderson #danceunion #union #unionize Descriptions: 1) A close-up top view of young people putting their hands together in fists, creating a circle. Text: Dancers: Learn When and How to Unionize 2–4) Text in caption

#FridayFilmBreak 🎞️ The short film “Then Comes the Body” tells the inspiring and unlikely story of a ballet school outside of Lagos, Nigeria. Film director @jacobkrupnick first discovered @leapofdanceacademy as millions of others did—through a viral video of ballet students dancing in the rain during the first summer of the pandemic. The school quickly became overwhelmed with media coverage, so it took Krupnick nearly a year to connect with the school’s leadership. Once he did, he convinced them of his commitment to creating a film that would place their voices at its center. Learn more—and watch the full short film—at www.dancemagazine.com 🧡 🎥: An excerpt from “Then Comes the Body.” 📝: @ben.estabrook #thencomesthebody #leapofdanceacademy #dancefilm @ajala0007

Many dancers experience an uptick in work during the winter holidays. Those with seasonal affective disorder (SAD) might also be struggling to cope during this particularly busy time. Former dancer @crystal_nicholls, who is now a health and performance coach, says that despite SAD’s debilitating nature, there are many tools dancers can use to tackle their winter workload while being mindful of their mental health. Kristen Mackel, a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in working with athletes and creatives, and her partner, Leigh Skvarla, PhD, LPC, emphasize the importance of seeking treatment for SAD as soon as possible. “If you don’t meet full criteria for depression or for SAD, that doesn’t mean you don’t deserve mental-health care,” Skvarla says. Learn more at the link in our bio. 🧡 📸: Getty Images 📝: @sophie.jeanette #SeasonalAffectiveDisorder #SAD #DancerWellness @the_center_for_grit_and_growth Descriptions: 1) A woman walking her dog in a park carrying an umbrella and bundled in a coat and scarf. Text: A Dancer’s Guide to Seasonal Affective Disorder 2–4) Text in caption

Tap artist @ayolives has been inviting audiences to read her diary for almost two decades. This winter, she’s sharing a new entry at @americanrep in Cambridge, Massa­chusetts.  The premiere of “Diary of a Tap Dancer,” which runs from December 12 through January 4, is the latest iteration of a project Casel has performed since debuting a piece with the same title at the E-Moves festival in New York City in 2005. “I was dissatisfied with the way I felt audiences were leaving tap dance performances,” she recalls. “They were talking about how impressive tap was, and nothing else. I wanted them to have another way into our art form, and the best way to do that was to reveal more of our humanity.” Read more at the link in our bio. 🧡 📸: Ayodele Casel. Photo by @murphymade, courtesy Casel. 📝: @ryancaseydance #AyodeleCasel #TapDance #DiaryOfATapDancer Description: Ayodele Casel poses in profile in a forced arch parallel passé. She tilts her head down and toward the camera, her expression warm and curious. One arms is straight at her side, the other hand resting casually at her solar plexus. She wears a shiny dark suit jacket, cuffed purple pants, and white sneakers.

Peter London Global Dance Company presents AFTER LANDING, its 13th annual season in partnership with the Arsht Center. This spectacular and unparalleled contemporary dance program features world premiere collaborations by award-winning choreographer Justin Rapaport and award-winning composer Martin Bejerano; choreographer Peter London and composer Kebra-Seyoun Charles; choreographer Kashia Kancey and composer Cristina Moya-Palacios; and London and composer Jean Coze. New company productions include Jamar Roberts’ AS AN OFFERING, with a commissioned score by Etienne Charles, and London’s CARMEN and INNER RITUAL. Leon Cobb is a guest star and Andrea Murillo is premiering a new work entitled CISNES. Get tickets for December 27-29 here: https://www.arshtcenter.org/tickets/2024-2025/dance-at-arsht/peter-london-global-dance-company/ 📸: Gregory Reed

“My family and Christmas cookies. It’s a thing,” says Amy Seiwert, artistic director of @smuinballet. While Seiwert is passionate about cooking, baking is not her forte—but this family recipe for pecan snowball cookies passed the test. “These are one of the few that I will attempt. They’re entry-level,” she says. “And like most dancers, the holiday season is not when I have much free time! We’re a little busy.” Head to the link in our bio to learn more and access the full recipe! 🧡 📸: @aseiwert leading Smuin Contemporary Ballet in rehearsal. Photo by @rawkbeez, Courtesy Smuin Contemporary Ballet. 📸: Courtesy Seiwert. 📝: @chava.pearl #AmySeiwert #SmuinBallet #PecanSnowballs #SnowballCookies Descriptions: 1) Amy Seiwert demonstrating steps for dancers in a studio. Text: Amy Seiwert Shares Her Family’s Pecan Snowball Cookie Recipe 2) Text: Amy Seiwert’s Pecan Snowball Cookie Recipe / Amy Seiwert, artistic director of Smuin Contemporary Ballet, shares her family’s “entry level” Christmas cookie recipe. / Ingredients: 1/2 lb pecans 1/2 lb (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature 1/4 cup (31 grams) confectioners’ sugar, plus more for dusting 1 tsp vanilla extract 2 cups (250 grams) flour 1/4 tsp salt / Photo: A stack of pecan snowball cookies on a white plate