Pointe

Introducing our November/December digital cover star, Mackenzie Brown! 🌟 The versatile Stuttgart Ballet principal gives 100% of herself onstage. “I’m going to make mistakes and don’t want to let perfectionism ruin the moment,” she says. Learn all about Brown, from her competition dance beginnings to her meteoric rise to principal at Stuttgart. 💕 https://lnkd.in/eXvx3DcG 📸: Mackenzie Brown. Photo by Roman Novitzky, courtesy of Stuttgart Ballet. 📝: Emily May #mackenziebrown #ballet #balletdancer #stuttgartballet Image description: Mackenzie Brown grins warmly as she stands on point while holding her left foot in a high attitude. She wears a white unitard and a sleek high bun with a middle part. Behind her is the Pointe logo in bright pink, in all caps, and her name in white block letters.

Like many ballet companies in the U.S., Ballet Palm Beach grew out of its affiliate dance academy. Begun in 2001 by founding artistic and executive director Colleen Smith, the company has its roots in Smith’s dance school, the Esther Center, and its subsequent student troupe, Florida Classical Ballet Theatre. In 2013, the organization rebranded to Ballet Palm Beach and began solidifying its transition into a professional company. Now, it boasts a total of 18 company members and apprentices, four main-stage performance series, and a mixed repertoire featuring in-house creations and works by guest choreographers. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/eHh4zDPP 💕 📸: Ballet Palm Beach dancers Adriana Salazar, McKeely Borger, Sunny Heish, Reinhard von Rabenau, Lily Loveland, and Brittany Bonefas in "Fractured" by Gina Patterson. Photo by Janine Harris, courtesy Ballet Palm Beach. 📸: Lily Loveland and Ihosvany Rodriguez in Colleen Smith’s "Romeo & Juliet." Photo by Janine Harris, courtesy Ballet Palm Beach. 📝: Steve Sucato #balletpalmbeach #balletcompany #balletdancer Descriptions: 1) A group of six dancers in taupe leotards perform onstage in dim lighting. Three women stand on tan square boxes, while a male dancer sits on the edge of the box in the middle. In front of them a male and female dancer perform a duet. Text: Get to Know Ballet Palm Beach 2) Lily Loveland, wearing a pink nightgown, stands in profile on pointe, her feet in parallel, and does a deep backbend. Her partner, Ihosvany Rodriguez, wearing a peasant blouse and tan tights, kneels behind her and holds her by the waist as he arches back. Text: Ballet Palm Beach at a Glance / Number of dancers: 12 / Contract length: 32 weeks / Starting salary: $300/week / Performances per season: 20 / AGMA signatory: No | Website: balletpalmbeach.org 3) Text: “Be prepared to be taught and show a willingness to take direction in the audition. Have references; we always check them.” —Ballet Palm Beach founding artistic and executive director Colleen Smith

Many companies have started offering sensory-friendly and relaxed performances. The approach and measures taken vary slightly from one company to another, but they all strive to create a safe and welcoming environment for people whose anxiety; neurodiversity; intellectual, mental, or multiple disabilities; and neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s disease or Tourette syndrome make it difficult to sit still and quiet. These performances make big impacts on audiences and dancers alike. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/e_743Cbx ✨ 📸 : Royal Ballet principal character artist Gary Avis as Drosselmeyer in “The Nutcracker.” Photo by Alice Pennefather, courtesy Royal Ballet and Opera. 📝 : Dr. Elisabeth Pain #sensoryfriendly #neurodivergent #ballet Description: 1) A male dancer wearing a gray wig, short turquoise coat, blue knickers, red socks and a blue cape, stands center stage and throws his arms up to present a gift on the fllor. He smiles towards the audience and his cape flies wide behind him. Other dancers in period costumes milll about behind him, watching. Text: Sensory-Friendly and Relaxed Performances Make Big Impacts on Audiences and Dancers Alike

#readerschoice: Introducing your 2024 Readers’ Choice Standout Performances! ✨ Each year, we ask our readers to tell us about their favorite performances. From exciting premieres to immersive literary adaptations, fan favorites, and sobering pieces in conversation with current events, a variety of productions made this year’s list. Thank you to everyone who nominated, whether via email or through a social media shout-out. Read the full list at https://lnkd.in/eHVPfY7G 💕 📸: Orlando Ballet in Sir Kenneth Tindall’s “Casanova.” Photo by Michael Cairns, courtesy Orlando Ballet #StandoutPerformances #ballet

#StandoutPerformances (Part 2): Each December, we look back on all of the memorable performances we’ve attended over the course of the year. Here are 12 our writers were especially excited about in 2024, listed in chronological order. They range from impressive debuts to full-company achievements, from contemporary ballets to timeless classics. Our writers try to see as much as possible, but they can’t be everywhere. Read the full list at the link in our bio, and stay tuned for our annual list of readers’ favorites later this week! Part 2 of 2024’s Standout Performances: ✨ Ashton Edwards and Zsilas Michael Hughes in Kiyon Ross’ “Quick Pleasures” (MoBBallet) ✨ Chloe Misseldine in “Swan Lake” (American Ballet Theatre) ✨ Oregon Ballet Theatre in Loughlan Prior’s “Hansel and Gretel” ✨ Brenna Mulligan-Olsen in “Don Quixote” (Ballet San Antonio) ✨ Katherine Ochoa in “Giselle” (Cincinnati Ballet) ✨ Callum Linnane and The Australian Ballet in Christopher Wheeldon’s “Oscar” (Livestream) 📸: From left: Zsilas Michael Hughes and Ashton Edwards in Kiyon Ross’ "Quick Pleasures" at MobBallet’s Pathways to Performance: Exercises in Reframing the Narrative at the Kennedy Center. Photo by Shoccara Marcus, courtesy Kennedy Center. 📸: Chloe Missledine as Odile in "Swan Lake." Photo by Emma Zordan, courtesy American Ballet Theatre. 📸: Oregon Ballet Theatre in Loughlin Prior’s "Hansel & Gretel." Photo by Jingzi Zhao, courtesy OBT. 📸: Brenna Mulligan-Olsen as Kitri in "Don Quixote." Photo by Em Watson, courtesy Ballet San Antonio. 📸: Katherine Ochoa with Chandler Proctor in "Giselle." Photo by Hiromi Platt Photography, courtesy Cincinnati Ballet. 📸: Benjamin Garrett and Callum Linnane in Oscar. Photo by Christopher Rodgers-Wilson, courtesy The Australian Ballet.

#StandoutPerformances (Part 1): Each December, we look back on all of the memorable performances we’ve attended over the course of the year. Here are 12 our writers were especially excited about in 2024, listed in chronological order. They range from impressive debuts to full-company achievements, from contemporary ballets to timeless classics. Our writers try to see as much as possible, but they can’t be everywhere. Read the full list at https://lnkd.in/eifKAaex, and stay tuned for our annual list of readers’ favorites later this week! Part 1 of 2024’s Standout Performances: ✨ Wei Wang in Azure Barton’s “Mere Mortals” (San Francisco Ballet) ✨ Victoria Jaiani and Dylan Gutierrez in Liam Scarlett’s “Hummingbird” (The Joffrey Ballet) ✨ New York City Ballet in Alexei Ratmansky’s “Solitude” ✨ Alonzo King LINES Ballet in “Deep River” ✨ David Preciado as Amour in “Don Quixote” (The National Ballet of Canada) ✨ Goh Ballet Academy and National Ballet of China in Choo San Goh’s” Ballade” 📸: Wei Wang in Aszure Barton and Sam Shepherd’s "Mere Mortals." Photo by Chris Hardy, courtesy San Francisco Ballet. 📸: Victoria Jaiani and Dylan Gutierrez in Liam Scarlett’s "Hummingbird." Photo by Cheryl Mann, courtesy The Joffrey Ballet. 📸: New York City Ballet in Alexei Ratmansky’s "Solitude." Photo by Erin Baiano, courtesy NYCB. 📸: Josh Francique, Lorris Eichinger, Maël Amatoul, and Babatunji Johnson (right) and Alonzo King LINES Ballet’s "Deep River." Photo by Richard Termine, courtesy LINES. 📸: David Preciado with artists of National Ballet of Canada in Carlos Acosta’s "Don Quixote." Photo by Karolina Kuras, courtesy NBoC. 📸: National Ballet of China’s Guan Chongzheng, Xinyue Zhao, and Pengxiang Sun in Choo San Goh’s "Ballade." Photo by Teresa Wood, courtesy The Kennedy Center.

As English National Ballet debuts its new “Nutcracker” this month, the designs are taking center stage. Choreographed by artistic director Aaron S. Watkin and Arielle Smith in honor of ENB’s 75th anniversary, this production is a visual feast, with sets and costumes by Dick Bird that include elaborate wigs and makeup. Included in the design team are also ENB wig supervisor Amelia Carrington-Lee; and makeup artists Dita Garbo, Rose Williams, and Phyllis Cohen. Head to https://lnkd.in/edQHpEw8 to learn more! 💕 📸: Anna Nevzorova as the Ice Queen. Photo by Johan Persson, courtesy ENB. 📝: Caroline Tonks #TheNutcracker #EnglishNationalBallet #BalletCostume Descriptions: 1) A ballerina poses in sus-sous croisé on pointe and twists her upper body to the right, sweeping her arms across to the right. She looks out over her right hand. She wears a white a silver tutu; huge, spiky silver crown; white tights; and white pointe shoes, and dances in front of a frosted, silvery tree and black backdrop as snow falls from above.

What’s in Dianetzy Rojas’ dance bag? 👜🐝 Since joining Ballet Austin in 2021, Rojas has shown off her impressive extension and youthful essence in roles such as Aurora in “Sleeping Beauty.” She carries a collection of gifts and personal mementos with her every day. Even her dance bag, a tote decorated with bees and reading “Bee Happy,” is a gift, given to her by her boyfriend’s mother. “She knows I love bees,” says Rojas. “All they do for the environment, how they make honey, how they work as a team, [I love] just everything about them.” Learn more at https://lnkd.in/euak4NQh 🐝 📸: Photo by Anne Marie Bloodgood. 📝: Catie Robinson #dancebag #balletaustin #balletbag Descriptions: 1) Dianetzy Rojas sits in a straddle on the floor of a studio with gray walls and marley, wearing a red leotard and red legwarmers. The contents of her dance bag are in front of her.

One can safely say that Val Caniparoli has been one of the most prolific “Nutcracker” choreographers of this century. Since 2000, the San Francisco–based dancemaker, who is also a principal character artist with San Francisco Ballet, has created or co-created five new productions for five different ballet companies. Three are still performed annually. We caught up with Caniparoli to discuss how he became one of #nutcracker’s go-to choreographers, and what he loved about creating new productions of the holiday classic. Read it here! https://lnkd.in/eaK5GFaM ✨ 📸: Children perform in Caniparoli’s “Nutcracker” at Tulsa Ballet. Photo by Kate Luber, courtesy Tulsa Ballet. 📝: Steve Sucato #TheNutcracker #ValCaniparoli

British choreographer Sir David Bintley’s “The Spider’s Feast” will have its world premiere at The Sarasota Ballet this month on a triple bill that includes Frederick Ashton’s “Les Patineurs” and George Balanchine’s “Rubies.” A comedic take on drama and death in the insect world, the ballet is set to a score of the same name by the French composer Albert Roussel and features sets and designs by Bintley’s frequent collaborator, Dick Bird. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/evesDFhs 🕷️🦋🐝 📸: Jennifer Hackbarth and Ivan Spitale in Sir David Bintley’s "The Spider’s Feast." Photo by Frank Atura, courtesy The Sarasota Ballet. 📝: Carrie Seidman #TheSarasotaBallet #SirDavidBintley #TheSpidersFeast Descriptions: 1) Jennifer Hackbarth and Ivan Spitale, dressed as a monarch butterfly and a black spider, respectively, pose for a photo in costume. Spitale holds Hackbarth on his right hip as he lunges, holding her right ankle as she extends her leg in front of him.