Elisa Badenes hails from Valencia, Spain, but she is adored in Germany, where she is a principal dancer with Stuttgart Ballet. In fact, she received the national title of Kammertänzerin, the highest honor that the republic can bestow on a dancer, in December. Below she shares how she tries to humanize her roles, how she overcame her biggest challenge, what it’s like being part of a triplet, and more. To whom or to what would you contribute your success? My surroundings, myself, and a bit of destiny, too. My path wasn’t very planned out—I followed my instincts. I’m here because of the people wh ..read more

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School faculty member Christopher Budzynski remembers the first time he saw dancers perform finger turns in Nutcracker as a child. “They did a lot, and it blew my mind that this was possible, and that they were doing it so easily.” Budzynski would go on to do many partnered pirouettes throughout his schooling and career with both Boston Ballet and as a principal with PBT. “Two people dancing together, it’s just a really magical part of the art form,” he says. Still, finger turns can quickly fall apart if not done correctly, and they require utmost cooperation between ..read more

What is the best dessert replacement for dancers? —Timothy Dessert is a favorite topic of mine, Timothy, and it’s one I know many dancers struggle with. Fears around sugar are often to blame; many dancers believe they should omit sugar entirely from their desserts. While there are times when dessert might not be the best option for your next snack, such as when you need lasting energy, there are several ways we can incorporate these fun foods into our meal plan. Desserts made with natural sweeteners like honey, maple syrup, or dates offer a steadier release of energy that many dancers find hel ..read more

“It is chaotic, but I love my life,” says New York City Ballet principal dancer Megan Fairchild. She and her husband are raising three children (including a set of twins) while they both work full-time. “When I was pregnant, I was nervous about how my life would change, but now everyone is here who’s supposed to be here!” The current family schedule is a little lighter than before—Fairchild graduated this spring with her MBA from NYU’s Stern School of Business, so she no longer has to attend college classes on her day off. And now that NYCB has finished up its spring season, she says, “[my kid ..read more

Few cities blend natural beauty with cultural offerings quite as seamlessly as Aspen, Colorado, and Santa Fe, New Mexico. With the latter being home to art giants, like Georgia O’Keeffe, and the former showcasing rotating multimedia exhibitions, both cities make it clear that the appetite for cultural experiences—including a top-tier ballet company—is strong. So when Aspen Santa Fe Ballet announced in 2021 that, after 25 years, the organization would be ending its performing and touring activities, the two cities felt the loss. ASFB’s approach shifted: How does the show go on during rocky time ..read more

Macaroni. Wigs. Camp. Ballet. Loughlan Prior’s world premiere for BalletX, debuting in the company’s Summer Series 2024 program July 10–21, promises all this and more. For this unabashedly flamboyant new work, the Royal New Zealand Ballet resident choreographer dives into caricature—and reclaims it. Macaroni, which takes its name from the 18th-century derogatory slang referring to queer or dandyish men, will run alongside two other world premieres, by Stina Quagebeur and Amy Hall Garner, in the Summer Series program. Prior’s work features an original score by Kiwi composer and frequent collabo ..read more

Since she was 5 years old, Josie Walsh, now artistic director of the Joffrey Ballet School summer intensives in Los Angeles and San Francisco, had her heart set on becoming a ballet dancer. But as a 16-year-old student, she was diagnosed with two fractured vertebrae in her lumbar spine; she had to wear a plaster cast for 23 hours a day for nearly four months. Her doctor told her she would never become a professional dancer. But for Walsh, there was no plan B. Instead of giving up, she decided to prove she could still do it. “I didn’t get fearful,” says Walsh, “I got determined.” Unable to go t ..read more

The past few weeks have brought another exciting round of dancer career news—check out the latest farewells, appointments, promotions, and more in this month’s ballet roster roundup. Promotions and Appointments Chloe Misseldine was promoted to principal onstage following her debut of Odette/Odile in American Ballet Theatre’s performance of Swan Lake on July 3. Chloe Missledine as Odile in Swan Lake. Photo by Emma Zordan, courtesy American Ballet Theatre. The Royal Ballet has announced several company promotions. Calvin Richardson and Joseph Sissens have been promoted to principal; Lukas B. Br ..read more

Summer programs offer lots of exciting new experiences, including the chance to meet other students as passionate about ballet as you are. However, when so many enthusiastic, ambitious young dancers come together for a weekslong intensive, there can be less-happy feelings, too. Loneliness, competition, insecurity, and even outright conflict between peers can be magnified by the short, highly focused nature of a summer course. Social friction is uncomfortable and sometimes even hurtful, but learning how to handle sticky situations with maturity and grace is as important as improving your techni ..read more

To get to know Jake Roxander, our July/August digital cover star, a little bit better, we asked him a series of quickfire questions. Read on to hear more about the American Ballet Theatre soloist’s dream roles, preshow routine, typical day off, and more. What’s your favorite part of class? Jumping and turning! Your least favorite part of class? Adagio, which is why I make sure I go two or three times. Do you have a barre spot? It varies, but I like to face sideways to the mirror. What ballet shoes do you wear? Wear Moi Vestas, canvas. Roxander as Mercutio in Kenneth MacMillan’s Romeo and Julie ..read more