THE MAGAZINE
The Power of Dance: P. Virsky Ukrainian National Folk Dance Ensemble
As Ukraine continues to fight for its survival, the P. Virsky Ukrainian National Folk Dance Ensemble shows how dance can become an act of cultural resistance. A rare rehearsal video reveals why movement, discipline, and shared history matter more than ever. Read on for more.
Luca Branca’s Prix de Lausanne Diary: Part II
One year after winning the Young Creation Award, Luca Branca returns to the Prix de Lausanne as a coach. In this voice diary, he reflects on finalists, first-hand emotions, and what it means to see dancers from around the world inhabit his choreography.
John Williams: May the Force be With You!
From Star Wars to Schindler’s List, John Williams has shaped how cinema sounds and feels. This TWoA article reveals how just two notes, operatic thinking, and emotional restraint turned his scores into modern classics.
Escape the February Blues!
Grey skies and winter fatigue setting in? TWoA offers you a visual escape through joyful, light-filled paintings—from cherry blossoms to swinging gardens—designed to lift the February blues.
Luca Branca’s Prix de Lausanne Diary: Part I
At just 18, choreographer Luca Branca returns to the Prix de Lausanne—not as a competitor, but as a coach. In this first-hand diary, he reflects on rehearsals, jury sessions, pressure, and the responsibility of guiding dancers through one of ballet’s most demanding competitions.
Milan’s List: Graphic Novels
Looking for graphic novels that go beyond hype and bestseller lists? Graphic artist Milan Hulsing shares a personal, sharply curated selection—from canonical classics to visually daring, lesser-known works—explaining what makes each one worth your time and attention.
Hearing Climate Change: The Sound of Disappearing Notes
What does biodiversity loss sound like? By altering Mendelssohn’s Hebrides Overture note by note, a composer and an economist turn climate data into music—revealing how the silencing of nature can finally be heard.
The Batsheva Dance Company: “MOMO has Two Souls”
Ohad Naharin’s MOMO stages a quiet struggle between individuality and collective identity, turning movement into a reflection on power, belonging, and emotional survival. Read on for a deeply personal response to one of Batsheva’s most unsettling works.
Making Modernism: Trailblazing Female Artists at London’s Royal Academy of Arts
Four women helped shape modernism in early 20th-century Germany: Paula Modersohn-Becker, Käthe Kollwitz, Gabriele Münter, and Marianne Werefkin. But history largely sidelined them. This article introduces the artists behind London’s Royal Academy exhibition and explains why their work still matters today.
5 Things to Know about Bronislava Nijinska
From Les Noces to gender-defying choreography, discover five essential facts about Bronislava Nijinska, one of ballet’s most influential modern innovators. Read more on TWoA.
Pigs for the New Year
Why pigs? From medieval symbols of prosperity to German marzipan traditions, pigs have long been a sign of luck, abundance, and fresh beginnings. This light-hearted New Year’s piece brings together artworks by Niko Pirosmani, Franz Marc, and George Morland to wish you a year full of joy, humour, and good fortune.
Violinist Amelia Febles Díaz: Classical Music in Cuba
Cuba is world-famous for its rhythms, but its classical music tradition is just as rich. Cuban violinist Amelia Febles Díaz reflects on growing up in Cuba’s rigorous music schools, blending Mozart with mambo, and why reconnecting with her own musical roots ultimately made her a stronger artist.
Five Facts about Alexei Ratmansky’s New Ballet ‘Tchaikovsky Overtures’
Why does Alexei Ratmansky’s new ballet feel like three full productions in one night? Drawing on Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Shakespearean overtures, Tchaikovsky Overtures transforms Hamlet, The Tempest, and Romeo and Juliet into a richly layered choreographic meditation on emotion, memory, and movement.
A Cosy Christmas Day
Baking, Christmas music, favourite films, and quiet winter rituals—this cosy guide is all about slowing down and enjoying the small joys that make Christmas feel truly magical. Read on for more.
Interview: Mezzo-Soprano Nina Vinther on Female Power, Sustainability and the Magic of Stories
How can music help change the world? In a conversation with TWoA, Nina Vinther reflects on female representation, sustainable artistry, and the magic of storytelling—revealing how culture can turn facts into action.
In Conversation with Julian MacKay: Social Media and the Arts
Is social media helping or harming young artists? In this conversation, Julian MacKay reflects on branding, visibility, and responsibility in the digital age—revealing why respect, quality, and restraint matter as much online as they do on stage.
Mayerling: The Tragedy of Crown Prince Rudolf
Dark, obsessive, and psychologically intense, Mayerling remains one of the most disturbing ballets in the repertory. This article explores how Kenneth MacMillan transformed a real imperial tragedy into a gripping modern classic—and why it still shocks audiences today.
Interview: Principal Dancer Julian MacKay, Bayerisches Staatsballett
From Montana to Moscow and now Munich, Julian MacKay speaks candidly about training at the Bolshoi, performing with the Mikhailovsky Theatre, navigating global ballet politics, and finding his artistic home at the Bayerisches Staatsballett.
Soprano Chen Reiss’s Top 5 Seasonal Music Pieces
From Bach’s radiant Christmas Oratorio to Handel, Tchaikovsky, and even Bing Crosby, international soprano Chen Reiss reveals her five favourite seasonal pieces—music that captures the joy, reflection, and warmth of the festive season.
Julian MacKay: Advice for Young Dancers and Musicians - “Embrace Uncertainty!”
Training for a career in dance or music means living with doubt, competition, and constant change. Principal dancer Julian MacKay reflects on finding the right environment, building resilience, and why uncertainty isn’t a weakness—but a vital part of becoming an artist.