George Balanchine is one of the most iconic names in ballet. He was at once a dancer, a choreographer, an originator of many ballets, a co-founder of the School of American Ballet and the New York City Ballet, the developer of the Balanchine method, and the father of American ballet. He originated the genre of…
For educators and students, summer means a chance for a break, a time to relax and go on vacation. For ballet dancers, summer may be the time to travel, but not to get away from everyday life and jobs. Instead, both amateur and professional dancers join a summer intensive program, where they often train harder…
Of all the different methods and techniques in the ballet world, the method created by George Balanchine is perhaps the most recognizable. With its open arabesque, deep pliés, and often unique port de bras, the Balanchine method is unmistakable. A Balanchine performance’s swaying hips and minimalist costuming speaks to a more modern, neoclassical style of…
To the untrained eye, ballet looks the same across all companies and countries. In reality, however, different companies and schools employ different training techniques, resulting in a wide range of dancers with uniquely developed traits and talents. The Cecchetti method, also known as the Italian method, is widely taught across the world. Cecchetti-trained dancers are…
Ballet schools and companies around the world employ different teaching methods according to which traits are valued in different areas. You’ll find certain techniques to be more prevalent in certain areas of the world, but the Vaganova method, sometimes known as the Russian method, is internationally taught. It’s renowned for many reasons: the logical nature…
It’s an age-old debate: Is ballet an art or a sport? Ballet dancers clearly have to have incredible athleticism, but they also possess a deep sense of musicality and artistry that you won’t find in even the all-star athletes. Because dance blurs the lines between sport and art, maybe what we should be asking is…
The ballet world has a reputation for being fiercely competitive and unflinchingly rigid. Much of this has to do with the teaching style, and unfortunately, many times a dancer’s mental health is sacrificed in the name of developing technique. Different schools emphasize different aspects of ballet, but at Studio R Ballet, we push our dancers…