“DWTS” Week 7: Music Video Night Brings Drama and Paula Abdul to the Ballroom
Last night was Music Video Night on “Dancing with the Stars,” and we got to see our beloved stars take on some of our fave music videos ever, with performances inspired by Shakira, Britney, Xtina,...
View ArticleIs Lip-Syncing a Do or Don’t for Competitive Dancers?
Facial expressions are a big part of competitive dance performances, and what dancers should be doing with their mouths onstage has long been a matter of great debate. Many teachers, choreographers,...
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The Ailey/Fordham Dance BFA Turns 25
The story took flight with a chance encounter at the 60th Street post office in Manhattan. It was the mid-’90s and Denise Jefferson, then head of The Ailey School, and Edward Bristow, then dean of...
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Announcing the 2023 World Choreography Award Winners
At the World Choreography Awards on November 5 at the Avalon Hollywood in Los Angeles, choreographers, performers, filmmakers, and fans gathered to celebrate dance on screen: innovative and original...
View Article“DWTS” Week 8: Taylor Swift Makes a Surprise Appearance on Whitney Houston Night
This week on “Dancing with the Stars,” the stars and pros took to the dance floor to honor an icon—the Voice, the Prom Queen of Soul, the one and only Whitney Houston. And the night started with all...
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Generation Tap: Meet 9 Rising Tap-Dance Stars
On stages and screens both big and small, it’s been impossible not to see—and hear—tap dancing thriving and finding new audiences lately, even during the pandemic. Broadway’s forthcoming Funny Girl...
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“DWTS” Week 9: Mandy Moore Stops By for a Celebration of Taylor Swift
Here at Dance Spirit, we have long lived as fans of Taylor Swift. So we were sure to clear a space on the calendar when it was announced that “Dancing with the Stars” would be hosting a Celebration of...
View ArticleHere’s What It Takes to Be Rockette-Ready
Ever wondered how the Rockettes achieve those classic sky-high kick lines and intricate movements that culminate in a dazzling array of precision dance routines? We’re pulling back the velvety...
View Article“DWTS” Week 10 Recap: Semifinals and the Season’s Most Shocking Elimination
It’s semifinals week on “Dancing with the Stars,” and 10 weeks later, we can confidently say that every single couple left in the competition is in it to win it. Last week was Taylor Swift night, but...
View Article10+ Holiday Gifts Every Dancer Will Love
’Tis the season for giving—and receiving! And while Taylor Swift tickets might reign supreme on your winter wish list, check out the picks below to find the season’s most covetable dance goodies....
View Article“DWTS” Week 11 Recap: And the Winner Is…
We can hardly believe that Season 32 of “Dancing with the Stars” is over. We might say this every year, but we’re pretty sure this was one of the most dramatic seasons yet, complete with onstage...
View ArticleHow to Incorporate Seasonal Sweet Treats Into Your Diet in a Way That Feels Good
An influx of sweets—pumpkin pies, cozy drinks, holiday cookies—is the norm this time of year. Winter festivities often involve larger meals with foods that might be richer than what you’re used to,...
View ArticleTwo New Movie Musicals Hitting Theaters This Month
Wonka Timothée Chalamet leads an all-star cast in this musical comedy prequel inspired by the whimsical chocolatier at the center of Roald Dahl’s beloved children’s book Charlie and the Chocolate...
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Real Dancers, Really Dancing: The Making of Just Dance 2024
When you imagine a video game studio, you probably think of rows of programmers at rows of computers and a fleet of gaming consoles, rather than mirrored dance studios. But at Ubisoft Paris, there are...
View ArticleIntroducing Dance Magazine’s 2024 “25 to Watch”
Dance Magazine has announced who’s included in this year’s “25 to Watch!” This annual feature showcases dancers, choreographers, directors, and companies on the brink of skyrocketing. Get to know this...
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How Christopher Gattelli Taught Timothée Chalamet to Tap in Wonka
When Tony Award–winning choreographer Christopher Gattelli first met Timothée Chalamet to teach him how to tap dance for Wonka, Chalamet’s hair was dyed a bright purple/red because he was in the...
View Article4 Tips for Constructing a Supportive Nutrition Plan During Audition Season
Summer intensive auditions are here, and your training schedule is likely to pick up momentum. To ensure a spot in a summer program, it’s critical to prioritize your dancing. But audition success goes...
View ArticleMean Girls the Movie, the Musical, the Movie-Musical
Mean Girls hits the big screen yet again this month, with the movie musical adaptation of the Broadway musical (itself an adaptation of the iconic 2004 teen comedy) is now in theaters. Originally...
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If You Love a Summer Intensive, Should You Go Back Year After Year?
Last summer, you had an amazing training experience at your dream intensive. You can see yourself studying at that school full-time—or even dancing with its affiliated company one day. Does that mean...
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How to Avoid Common Convention-Week Injuries
DR. ALEXIS SAMS. PHOTO BY HEATH RACKHAM PHOTOGRAPHY, COURTESY SAMS. Chilly ballrooms, hard floors, dozens of dancers going full-out all at once: The average convention room may be buzzing with...
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Cost-Effective Planning for Summer Audition Tours
Come winter, many dance students find themselves in a similar situation: It’s time to start thinking about summer intensives, but their list of prospective programs reads like a cross-country tour....
View ArticleA Dancer’s Guide to Managing Panic Attacks
Alex Patrick, a Dallas-based dance instructor and the founder of SHAPPE Dance Company, has experienced intense self-doubt as well as an immense amount of pressure over the course of her career. After...
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How First Soloist Harper Watters Creates Community at Houston Ballet
Naturally drawn to dance from a young age, Harper Watters also sought out a sense of community throughout his training. The only boy enrolled at his local studio in New Hampshire, Watters eventually...
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Why Broadway Dancers Are Taking Over TikTok
If you use TikTok, you’ve almost certainly noticed that Broadway dancers are having a big moment on the app. Sharing behind-the-scenes tidbits, demystifying #tourlife, orchestrating backstage hijinks,...
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Should You Try a Summer Intensive in a New Dance Style?
Summer is an opportunity to hone your training more intentionally than during the busy school year. But with a plethora of programs to choose from, deciding what to focus on can be tricky. On one...
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Tips For Preventing and Managing Shin Splints
Chelsea Hoy, an associate artistic director and performer with Trinity Irish Dance Company, has battled shin splints throughout her career. She says the condition, which manifests as pain down the...
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A.I.M Dancer and House Teacher Gianna Theodore is Letting Joy Lead the Way
In 2018, after Gianna Theodore saw A.I.M by Kyle Abraham perform at The Joyce Theater, everything snapped into perspective. “I called my mom and said, ‘I have to dance for this company,’ ” she...
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A Ballet, Tap, and Heels Dancer Each Share Their Profound Relationships With...
Shoes hold a sacred place in a dancer’s life. From the first time you rise over the box of fresh pointe shoes, hear the clack of metal taps on the floor, or stand in the power of a heel, a meaningful...
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Why High Schoolers Should Consider a College Summer Dance Program
When you think of a summer dance intensive, you might not immediately picture a college campus. But many higher ed dance departments do host summer programs, which can offer a chance for holistic...
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3 Lasting Pro Dancer Friendships That Were Forged on the Convention Floor
For many dancers, being part of a competitive team is just a short chapter in a long dance journey. But the personal bonds built at competitions and conventions can last a lifetime. These three pairs...
View ArticleMeet Mattie Love, Performer With Madonna’s The Celebration Tour
From Broadway stages to international arenas, Mattie Love’s dancing is electrifying. She has an uncanny ability to move through choreography fluidly but with punchy accents and a raw, earthy quality....
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If at First You Don’t Succeed…Learn How to Navigate Return Auditions
In 2017, after a seven-hour callback over the course of two days for her dream company, San Francisco–based Robert Moses’ Kin, Elena Martins got the answer she was dreading: “No.” It was her second...
View Article3 Reasons to Scroll Past “What I Eat in a Day” Posts
Social media offers an open lens into the lives of whoever is willing to share. This is especially enticing for aspiring dancers who are hungry to gain access into a professional’s routine—how they’re...
View Article“So You Think You Can Dance” Season 18 Kicks Off With a Slew of Changes
When the new season of “So You Think You Can Dance” premieres on March 4, it will be with a host of changes both on screen and behind the scenes. Front of mind for many will be the absence of the late...
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“SYTYCD” Auditions: A Contestant Brought Allison Holker to Tears with...
It’s baaack! After almost two years off the air, our favorite dance show (we love you, too, “DWTS”) made its revamped return to FOX for its 18th season. Host Cat Deeley described the new season as a...
View Article“SYTYCD” Week 2 Auditions: The Dancer Who Was Told She Would Never Dance Again
It’s the second day of auditions in Los Angeles, and the search for America’s Favorite Dancer is on. So in case you missed last night’s episode, here are all the standout dancers who made it through...
View ArticleThe Most Memorable Dance Moments From the 2024 Academy Awards
2024 was a big year for dance at the Oscars, including a history-making performance, a heart-pumping ensemble number, and a surprise addition to the “In Memoriam” segment. We’re still rooting for a...
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How a Secret Society of Dancers Is Making Their Voices Heard
When Traequan Middleton was growing up in the Astoria neighborhood of Queens, New York, it wasn’t unusual for him to corral his friends and design intricate dances on them. “I was always the person to...
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Sunny Choi Is Going to the Olympics!
This summer, breaking will make its Olympic debut at the 2024 Paris games, and b-girl Sunny Choi is ready to make history. In fact, she already did! This past October, Choi became the first American...
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How to Identify and Treat Plantar Fasciitis
Amber Tacy, a personal trainer and the founder of Dancers Who Lift, an online strength training and nutrition program geared toward dancers, first experienced plantar fasciitis when she was in...
View Article“SYTYCD” Week 3 Auditions: Who’s the Lebron James of Dance?
Last night was the final round of solo auditions on “So You Think You Can Dance,” and it’s safe to say the competition was fierce. After all, who doesn’t want to be America’s Favorite Dancer? But...
View Article“SYTYCD” Week 4: Top 10 Revealed!
We’ve officially made it past the audition round on this season of “So You Think You Can Dance,” but that doesn’t mean that the hard part is over. The 35 dancers who made it through auditions now had...
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Disney+’s Madu Follows Young Ballet Dancer’s Journey From Nigeria to England
You might remember Anthony Madu from a video that went viral in June 2020. Shared to millions on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) by celebrities like Viola Davis and Cynthia Erivo, the video...
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New York City Ballet Dancer Christina Clark Is Celebrating Every Stage
When Christina Clark saw her first Nutcracker performance at age 5, she didn’t immediately aspire to the roles of Sugarplum Fairy or Dewdrop—instead, she was fixated on the dozens of children in the...
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A Dancer’s Guide to Houston
The Houston dance community is as big and sprawling as the city itself. Houston, the fourth-largest city in the U.S., is recognized as more ethnically diverse than most cities of similar size. Its...
View Article“SYTYCD” Week 5 Recap: The Dancers Take On Lizzo and Bieber
Welcome back from a two-week hiatus to Season 18 of “So You Think You Can Dance.” Did you miss us? Our past two Monday nights weren’t nearly as eventful without the chance to watch our faves compete...
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Meet Houston Ballet Soloist Eric Best
Watching Eric Best navigate the sensuous curves of Stanton Welch’s Tapestry, during Houston Ballet’s Jubilee of Dance [in December 2023], the dancer’s flow and exactitude merged into a seamless whole....
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Dancing From Australia to L.A.: Meet 19-Year-Old Seth Collier
Seth Collier burst onto the international dance film scene in 2022 when he won the Inspired Dance Film Festival at just 17 years old. His runner-up? None other than Emmy Award–winning choreographer...
View Article“SYTYCD” Week 6 Recap: Broadway and a Budding Showmance
We’ve been totally WOWED by this new season of “So You Think You Can Dance.” After all, we’ve seen new judges, new dancers, and a whole new structure for the show, complete with new challenges every...
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2024 YAGP Winners Announced, Capping 25th Anniversary Celebration
New York City’s midtown streets were abuzz with bunheads last week—it seemed everywhere you looked, you’d see large groups of young dancers, hair slicked and garment bags in tow, rushing to a studio...
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