THE MAGAZINE
Joseph Markey, American Ballet Theatre: On Turning “Crime and Punishment” into a Ballet
Fedor Dostoevsky’s dark psychological novel Crime and Punishment is a masterpiece of world literature. Last autumn, you could find it in the dance bags of many dancers at American Ballet Theatre: choreographer Helen Pickett and co-director James Bonas were turning the book into a ballet for American Ballet Theatre. The company will perform the production at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts ins Washington on 12-16 February 2025. TWoA talked to ABT dancer Joseph Markey, who created the part of Luzhin, and who will have his debut as Raskolnikov in Washington.
It’s Movie Night: Dancer Edition
Looking for the perfect winter movie night? From Wim Wenders’ luminous Pina to the grit of Russian ballet in Ballerina, these four films reveal the beauty, power, and pain of dancers’ lives on and off the stage.
Interview: Paloma Livellara Vidart, 19, Prix de Lausanne 2024 Prize Winner
How does a 19-year-old dancer navigate the leap from international competition to professional life? Prize-winning ballerina Paloma Livellara Vidart reflects on her journey from Buenos Aires to Monaco and New York, her award-winning performance at the Prix de Lausanne 2024, and her first weeks dancing with American Ballet Theatre Studio Company, sharing thoughtful insights on growth, self-belief, and finding joy in the early stages of a professional career.
Edges of Ailey: A Celebration of Alvin Ailey
What does it mean to honour a choreographer whose work reshaped American dance and cultural history? Edges of Ailey explores the expansive legacy of Alvin Ailey through a landmark exhibition at New York’s Whitney Museum of American Art, bringing together archival materials, live performance, and contemporary voices to reflect on dance, Black life, and the enduring power of Ailey’s vision.
The Dream Ballet: Introducing the “Golden Age” Movie Musicals of the 1950s
What if dance could reveal what words cannot? This article revisits the “dream ballet” as a defining feature of 1950s Hollywood musicals, exploring how films like An American in Paris, Singin’ in the Rain, and Oklahoma! used choreography to enter their characters’ inner worlds—transforming love, doubt, and desire into movement, and cementing dance as a powerful storytelling language of the Golden Age movie musical.
The Original Queen of the Fouettés: Pierina Legnani
Who was the ballerina behind one of classical ballet’s most feared technical feats? This article revisits the life and legacy of Pierina Legnani, the first dancer to perform 32 consecutive fouettés, tracing how her virtuosity reshaped Swan Lake, transformed ballet training in Russia, and earned her the rare title of prima ballerina assoluta.
In Memory of Michaela DePrince
The dance world is mourning the sudden death of Michaela DePrince at the age of 29. Born in Sierra Leone during a brutal civil war and orphaned by the age of three, DePrince went on to become an internationally acclaimed ballerina, a powerful advocate for Black representation in ballet, and a voice for children affected by conflict and violence. This tribute honours her extraordinary life, resilience, and lasting legacy.
Choosing the Right Variation for a Ballet Competition
Are you planning to compete at a ballet competition this school year? Choosing the right variation can make all the difference. What principles should guide your decision? TWoA speaks with Inna Bayer, artistic director of Bayer Ballet Academy, and her student Crystal Huang—prize winner at the Prix de Lausanne 2024, Youth America Grand Prix 2024, YoungArts 2024, and Grand Prix winner at the South Africa International Ballet Competition—about strategy, growth, and showcasing your strengths on stage.
Crystal Huang, 15, Prix de Lausanne Prize Winner 2024: “The Love for Dance Comes First!”
Crystal Huang, 15, is having a remarkable year. Until just two years ago, she was training primarily in commercial dance—but in 2024 she emerged as a prize winner at the Prix de Lausanne, one of the world’s most prestigious international ballet competitions. She also claimed top awards at Youth America Grand Prix 2024, YoungArts (Dance/Ballet), and the Grand Prix at the South Africa International Ballet Competition. TWoA spoke with Crystal about her unconventional journey and the lessons she’s learned about succeeding at competitions—onstage and beyond.
Celebrating NYCB’s 75th Anniversary with a Round of Dancer Doppelgangers!
As New York City Ballet celebrates 75 years, TWoA looks at how today’s dancers quietly carry the past in their bodies—through shared steps, familiar musicality, and inherited style. Think lineage over nostalgia: elegance, memory, Balanchine speed, and the subtle thrill of seeing history reappear in motion.
Meet Taylor Swift’s Muse: Dancer and Innovator Loïe Fuller
Long before pop spectacle and immersive stagecraft became industry standards, Loïe Fuller was reshaping dance through light, fabric, and motion at the Folies Bergère. Tracing her influence from Symbolist circles to Taylor Swift’s stadium tours, this article revisits Fuller not as a historical curiosity but as a foundational figure in questions of authorship, technology, and artistic ownership that still resonate today.
The Dancing King: Ballet in Ancien Régime France
TWoA explores how ballet functioned as an instrument of power in Ancien Régime France, where dance shaped politics, etiquette, and spectacle alike. Centered on the reign of Louis XIV, the article traces how court ballet, royal image-making, and the institutional codification of dance transformed movement into a language of authority—one in which grace, control, and choreography became inseparable from sovereignty itself.
Yuka Iwai 岩井優花, Principal Soloist, K-Ballet Tokyo: How to Prepare for an Unexpected Debut
When a last-minute casting upends months of preparation, TWoA explores how Yuka Iwai, principal soloist at K-Ballet Tokyo, prepared to step into Giselle with just two weeks’ notice—reflecting on pressure, partnership, and the fragile balance between instinct and control in an unexpected debut.
Ancient Stories, Modern Storyteller: Celebrating Martha Graham
How can ancient myth speak to modern bodies? **TWoA explores how Martha Graham transformed Greek mythology into a radical, emotionally charged language of movement—and how her collaborations with artists like Isamu Noguchi turned dance into a total work of storytelling, where gesture, space, and sculpture carry timeless human conflict.
Mariko Sasaki, First Soloist, The Royal Ballet: Getting Ready for a “Swan Lake” Debut
How do you prepare for a Swan Lake debut—one of classical ballet’s most demanding double roles? TWoA talks to Mariko Sasaki, First Soloist with The Royal Ballet, about stepping into Odette and Odile for the first time, shaping character and partnership with Joseph Sissens, and navigating the emotional and technical marathon of Swan Lake.
3-D Printing: Increasing the Durability of Pointe Shoes
Can emerging technology make one of ballet’s most traditional tools more sustainable? As companies experiment with 3-D printing to extend the lifespan of pointe shoes, dancers are left weighing durability against the deeply personal need for customization. This article examines how innovations like Só Dança’s Elektra Tech and act’ble’s Act’Pointes challenge centuries-old craft, raising urgent questions about sustainability, fit, and whether longer-lasting shoes can truly replace the fragile perfection of tradition.
¡Viva Flamenco! From Spain’s Margins to its Center Stage
Once rooted in persecution and survival, flamenco has travelled from the margins of Andalusian society to the center of Spain’s global cultural image. TWoA explores how this deeply expressive art form—shaped by Gitano history, transcontinental exchange, and figures like Carmen Amaya—became both a symbol of resistance and a national spectacle.
Two Ballets for Easter
ooking for an Easter ballet? These two works capture the season’s dual spirit — from John Neumeier’s profound meditation on faith and forgiveness to Frederick Ashton’s charming celebration of spring, rabbits, and renewal.
Arguing for Instagram: How Algorithmic Addiction Can Advance the Dancer
What if procrastination isn’t the enemy of progress? From late-night scrolling to slow-motion rewatches, this article argues that Instagram’s algorithm — when used actively — can become an unexpected tool for technical growth, artistic confidence, and deeper engagement with dance.
Inspiring Words at the 2024 Prix de Lausanne
Amid the intensity of competition at the Prix de Lausanne, the most enduring moments came not from medals, but from memory and meaning. In speeches that resonated far beyond the stage, Alessandra Ferri and Darcey Bussell reflected on fear, freedom, and the responsibility of art — offering young dancers a vision of ballet rooted not in perfection, but in purpose.