THE MAGAZINE
Dancer Dorms
Join Thy-Lan Alcalay on a tour of her dorm room turned mini fitness studio. Thy-Lan is a dance and architecture student at Barnard College of Columbia University, New York.
Six Favorite Dance Movies in NYC *Unranked
Dance in NYC has a deep and powerful history; shaped by cultural fusion, rebellion, and preeminence. Below are six films in no particular order, both new and old, famous and obscure, of genres from ballet to salsa, to watch this Christmas break to relax and get in the spirit of dance in the city!
A Ballet Dancer’s Take: On Balletcore
Balletcore is “just” a fashion trend (think cottegecore, blokecore, gorpcore…the list goes on) - but do you sometimes wish for more? What isn’t included in the phrase Balletcore is the implicit understanding of what it means to be a ballerina. Sometimes, Balletcore makes any serious dancer cringe. But take heart: there are some fashion houses who get it right!
Benal Tanrısever, Pianist and Educator: Music Starts with the Imagination
Benal Tanrısever is a Turkish pianist and music educator. She completed her musical education at The Juilliard School in New York and performed at Carnegie Hall and the Berlin Philharmonic before founding BT Music and Performing Arts, a music and performing arts school in Istanbul,Turkey. TWoA talked to Benal about her journey from Istanbul to New York, her experience at Juilliard, and her philosophy of learning and teaching music.
How to Become a Cello: Royal Ballet Principal Marcelino Sambé in Cathy Marston’s “The Cellist,” Royal Ballet, 20 October – 2 November 2023
Cathy Marston’s one-act ballet “The Cellist” tells the tragic story of star cellist Jacqueline du Pré (1945-1987). TWoA spoke to Royal Ballet principal Marcelino Sambé, who created the part of “The Instrument” – Jacqueline du Pré’s cello. Sambé is performing the part again in the Royal Ballet’s current run of the ballet.
Viviana Durante, Artistic Director of English National Ballet School: “Follow Your Dream and See Where It Takes You!”
Even talking on Zoom from her office at English National Ballet School, Viviana Durante exudes that special something that made her one of the most celebrated dancers of her generation. Since 2020, she has been the artistic director of English National Ballet School (ENBS). TWoA talked to Viviana about leaving home at age eleven to train in a foreign country, her vision for dance education, the importance of giving meaning to every step, and much more.
How to Enjoy Art History by the Pool (or From Your Sofa)
We’re officially in the dog days of summer, which means it’s time to gather up your puddle of a brain and start priming it for the coming fall. And what better way to do that then with a little bit of art history? Here are some great ways to integrate art history into the rest of your summer relaxation.
Reuniting with Nature: Yo-Yo Ma’s Birdsong
It’s finally summer! The summer holidays are the perfect time to escape into nature. Take your queue from Yo-Yo Ma, the superstar cellist whose boundless curiosity and idealism lead to many unusual projects.
In Conversation: Pianists and 2023 Cliburn Junior Competitors Saehyun Kim 김세현 (16) and Seokyoung Hong 홍석영 (15)
The Third Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival for pianists aged 13 to 17 is taking place 8 – 17 June 2023 in Dallas, Texas. TWoA talked to two of the talented young pianists chosen to compete at the competition: Seokyoung Hong 홍석영 (15) and Saehyun Kim 김세현 (16). Both are originally from Seoul, but are now studying piano at New England Conservatory Preparatory School while attending Walnut Hill School for the Arts. Read on to find out about their lives in Korea and the USA.
Ask the Experts: Practice and Competition Advice from Pianists Seokyoung Hong 홍석영 (15) and Saehyun Kim 김세현 (16)
The Third Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival for pianists aged 13 to 17 is taking place 8 – 17 June 2023 in Dallas, Texas. TWoA talked to two of the talented young pianists chosen to compete at the competition: Seokyoung Hong 홍석영 (15) and Saehyun Kim 김세현 (16). Both study piano at the New England Conservatory Preparatory School and attend the Walnut Hill School for the Arts. Read on for some practical advice on the triple challenge of practicing, performing and competing.
Keep Cool!
It’s a busy time right now: the school year is coming to an end. Feeling stressed, overwhelmed, or angry and fed up? Keep it cool, even if it’s difficult. Need some inspiration? Watch Riff from the West Side Story telling the Jets to keep it cool.
Hip Hop Meets Ballet: Dutch National Ballet and ISH Dance Collective Present Oscar Wilde’s “Dorian Gray”
From 11 May until 16 June 2023, Dutch National Ballet and ISH Dance Collective, a street dance ensemble, present their latest collaboration: Dorian. The production mixes hip hop and ballet and presents an adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s novel The Picture of Dorian Gray. TWoA talked to ISH Dance Collective’s Lars De Vos and Skya Powney, a member of Dutch National Ballet’s Junior Company.
Elaina Spiro, Cello Student at Boston Conservatory: Everyone Has a Different Path!
Elaina Spiro is a young cellist studying with Professor Rhonda Rider at Boston Conservatory at Berklee. She is in her third year of her undergraduate studies. TWoA talked to Elaina about her life in music and her unconventional path to Boston Conservatory.
Ask Elaina: Efficient Music Practice and Tips on Concert Wear
Elaina Spiro is a third-year cello student at Boston Conservatory at Berklee. She has some great advice on efficient music practice and concert wear.
Ballet with Isabella: ‘I Really Fell in Love with Helping People!’
Isabella McGuire Mayes runs “Ballet with Isabella,” a brilliant ballet coaching website, and also hosts the podcast “A Dancer’s Mindset.” Isabella shares her thoughts about current practices in ballet training and her vision for the future with TWoA.
Isabella McGuire Mayes: Life Lessons from Great Teachers
Isabella McGuire Mayes is a woman with a vision: she wants to help people reach their potential by coaching their bodies and minds. Isabella runs “Ballet with Isabella,” a brilliant ballet coaching website, and also hosts “A Dancer’s Mindset,” an inspiring mindset podcast for dancers and anyone in the arts. TWoA talked to Isabella about her switch from dancing to teaching, and about the great life lessons she learned from her favourite teachers.
Escape the February Blues!
Are you feeling the February blues? If you are looking for a quick mental escape: how about diving into the paintings below and imagining that you are a part of the scene?
Violinist Amelia Febles Díaz: Classical Music in Cuba
Amelia Febles Díaz is a young Cuban violinist. TWoA talked to Amelia about her classical music training in Cuba and about “Mozart y Mambo,” an inspiring project created by French horn player Sarah Willis of the Berlin Philharmonic that brings together Mozart and Cuban dances.
Interview: Mezzo-Soprano Nina Vinther on Female Power, Sustainability and the Magic of Stories
Nina Vinther is a mezzo-soprano pursuing a Master of Music in vocal performance at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. While still a student at Cambridge, Nina became the first female choral scholar with St. John’s College Choir. TWoA talked to Nina about music at Cambridge, feminism, sustainability and the power of art to translate facts into stories.
In Conversation with Julian MacKay: Social Media and the Arts
The use of social media in the arts can be a blessing, but there are many things to avoid to make sure that it doesn’t turn into a curse. TWoA talked to principal dancer Julian MacKay about social media and the arts: Julian and his brother Nicholas run MacKay Productions, a production company that, among other projects, supports dancers and institutions with their social media presence.