THE MAGAZINE
Inspiring Words at the 2024 Prix de Lausanne
From 29 January 2024 until 4 February 2024, dance students and ballet lovers all over the world got to experience the Prix de Lausanne in daily live streams. Apart from the dancing, one of this year’s highlight were the inspiring words spoken at the awards ceremony by two former prima ballerinas, President of the Jury Darcey Bussell and Lifetime Achievement Award Winner Alessandra Ferri.
Introducing Choreographer Merce Cunningham: Embracing Chance in Modern Dance
Many dancers often fear forgetting their dance on stage, or messing up the sequence of steps. Imagine your choreographer rolling a die just before the curtain opens to determine the order of the choreography that night. Merce Cunningham (1919-2009), a renowned American modern dancer and choreographer, did just that—relying solely on trust and chance, thereby taking collaboration to a new level.
A Kiss for Valentine’s Day
Today is Valentine's Day, and we have a painting to help you get in the mood for love: Gustav Klimt’s The Kiss (1907-1908). If you want to know more about this beautiful painting you are in the right place!
Tiffany Poon, Pianist: A Rising Star on Her New Album “Diaries: Schumann”
Pianist Tiffany Poon is about to launch her solo album Diaries: Schumann. Hong-Kong born, but New York-based, Tiffany is an artist with a mission: to demystify classical music by emphasising the human side of it. Her more than 323K subscribers on YouTube prove she’s on to something. TWoA talked to Tiffany about her first mini-toy keyboard, life and, of course, Schumann.
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.
From the Eyes of a Young Photographer: Berk Kır, “Extimacy,” Merdiven Art Space, Istanbul, 5-31 January 2024
Berk Kır, 26, is a photography artist based in Istanbul, Turkey. GUP (Guide to Unique Photography) lists Berk among Europe's 150 Emerging Talents. Find out more about Berk’s current exhibition “Extimacy” and about his creative process: “I was using my camera as a tool to explore my surroundings and over time I can say that this practice evolved into me looking outside to discover myself.”
Three Curious Facts about Franz Schubert and his ‘Winterreise’
Austrian Composer Franz Schubert was born on 31 January 1797 in the deepest winter, making it particularly appropriate that one of his most famous compositions is set in winter. But beware – Schubert’s Winterreise from 1827 is no cheerful homage to Austrian winter joys. If you are looking for a composition to mirror your own depressing thoughts on a cold, dark winter day, look no further!
Revelations: A Dance that Reveals the Spirit of Alvin Ailey and the Soul of the African American Story
Every dance company has a piece that encapsulates its identity. For Alvin Ailey American Dance Company, this piece is Alvin Ailey’s masterpiece Revelations. Ailey’s company was one of the first to welcome dancers of all races. Revelations is Ailey’s highly personal take on the African American story: he described the childhood memories that inspired the piece as “blood memories.”
Guest Artist: Ginevra Mastrocola, 19, Brera Academy of Fine Arts, Milan
Ever felt that you are not good enough? Explore this paralysing emotion with our guest artist Ginevra Mastrocola from the Brera Academy, Milan.
Monet in Winter
Are you ready to go back in time and to visit some small, snow covered French towns with Claude Monet? If yes, you are in the right place. Grab your favourite warm drink and let’s get started.
The Most Perfect Holiday Painting: Antoine Vollon’s “Mound of Butter”
A mound of butter as perfect holiday painting? Read on for more!
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!
Natascha Mair, Principal Dancer, on “Sugar Hill:” “We all inspired each other!”
Natascha Mair, principal dancer, is gearing up for a very different Nutcracker: from 20 until 30 December 2023, her fans will be able to watch her in Chicago in Sugar Hill, a show choreographed to Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn’s The Nutcracker Suite, a jazz interpretation of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker. TWoA talked to Natascha about Sugar Hill and about some of the most memorable Nutcracker moments in her career.
Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn’s “The Nutcracker Suite”
It’s difficult to image the holiday season without The Nutcracker, but are you looking for a change? We suggest you listen to Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn’s jazz version of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker Suite.
Street Artist JR at the Paris Opera: Back to the Cave
What happens when street artist JR, choreographer Damien Jalet and composer Thomas Bangalter collaborate on a show on the scaffolding covering the iconic Palais Garnier, the old building of the Paris Opera that is currently being restored? Hint: think human bats in Chanel.
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!
“X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X” at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City Shares the Transformational History of Black American Activist, Malcolm X
What do you think of when you hear “opera”? Perhaps you envision a stuffy concert hall, filled with elderly people listening to old classical music sung in a European language as they fall asleep. The 2023-2024 season at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City begs to differ. “X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X” stands proudly amongst a more traditional performance schedule. The audience included an overwhelming number of students and young members. Not one person was sleeping by the end.
AI as an Artifical Brush: Refik Anadol
What is a painting? The Turkish-American artist Refik Anadol has been challenging our preconceptions with his use of AI. Anadol and his technology create an artificial dream world, making him the Salvador Dalí of the digital age.
Happy Thanksgiving! Aaron Copland and Martha Graham’s “Appalachian Spring”
Of all the holidays associated with America, Thanksgiving is by far the most uniquely American one. So, if you are looking for a ballet or a classical music piece to get you into the mood for turkey, stuffing and pie, enjoy our feature about Aaron Copland and Martha Graham’s Appalachian Spring.
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.