Pointe

Introducing our July/August digital cover star, the riveting Jake Roxander! 🌟 The newly-promoted American Ballet Theatre soloist, at 22, is a consistently virtuoso turner with breathtakingly powerful jumps who never plays it safe, giving his performances a daring—yet effortless—edge. Learn all about Roxander and his journey to ABT stardom: https://lnkd.in/eUbwSFYC 📸: Jake Roxander. Photo by Emma Zordan. #jakeroxander #ballet #balletdancer #AmericanBalletTheatre

📕 Rarely, if ever, do we read stories from the corps de ballet, despite the fact that the majority of ballet dancers make up this rank. That is precisely why sociologist Ruth Horowitz professor emerita of sociology at New York University, decided to write her latest book, “Passionate Work” (Stanford University Press, $32). These questions led her to interview 87 dancers, from freelancers to corps members, and from both big and small companies, to explore the challenges they face in this rigorous career. Pointe spoke with Horowitz to find out what keeps these hard-working artists dancing and doing what they’re passionate about. Read the interview here: https://lnkd.in/eAbxkqm4 📝 : Katherine Beard 📸 : Ruth Horowtiz’s new book “Passionate Work: Choreographing a Dance Career.” Photo courtesy Stanford University Press. #passionatework #corpsdeballet #ruthhorowitz

Have you heard the cue “lengthen your tailbone” in ballet class? If so, you may be in an anterior pelvic tilt (APT), meaning your front hip bones tilt down toward the floor, while your tailbone tilts up. So how does APT affect your dancing, and how can you manage it? In this video series, Nikki Bybee, owner of Sugarhouse Training and Conditioning (STAC) in Salt Lake City, offers some helpful respiration drills for addressing APT. (This is a supplemental series dancers can do to help correct ATP outside of class to gain better alignment.) Read the article and watch the videos on Pointe+: https://lnkd.in/d3CUJ6zh 📝: Nikki Bybee of Sugarhouse Training and Conditioning-STAC 📸: Dancer Catherine Debry demonstrates anterior pelvic tilt. Photo by Nikki Bybee, courtesy Bybee. 🎥: Clips from Bybee’s respiration drill video series for addressing APT. Videography by Donyale West. #anteriorpelvictilt #respirationdrills #alignment

It’s been a big year for Staatsballett Berlin: Not only has Germany’s largest ballet company celebrated its 20-year anniversary, but it has also had an extremely successful 2023–24 season, with the company reporting 98 percent ticket sales. The Staatsballett is carrying forward many of its most popular shows into next season as a result. This year of milestones and achievements has been overseen by artistic director Christian Spuck, who assumed leadership of Staatsballett Berlin in 2023 following 11 years directing Ballett Zürich. Pointe spoke with Spuck to find out more about his first year in Berlin, his vision for the future of the Staatsballett, and more. Read it here: https://lnkd.in/eceSa2XZ 📝 : Emily May 📸 : Christian Spuck. Photo by MARZENA SKUBATZ, courtesy Staatsballett Berlin. Text reads: Christian Spuck Reflects on His First Year Directing Staatsballett Berlin 📸: Staatsballett Berlin in Crystal Pite’s “Angels’ Atlas.” Photo by Serghei Gherciu, courtesy Staatsballett Berlin. Text reads: “I want our work to reflect the times that we live in, which are complex and filled with crises.” —Christian Spuck, Staatsballett Berlin artistic director 📸: Members of Staatsballett Berlin in Christian Spuck’s “Bovary.” Photo by Serghei Gherciu, courtesy Staatsballett Berlin. Text reads: “I think that if a lot of people, especially politicians, would dance a little bit more, they would be more open.” —Christian Spuck, Staatsballett Berlin artistic director 📸: Members of Staatsballett Berlin in Christian Spuck’s Bovary. Photo by Serghei Gherciu, courtesy Staatsballett Berlin. Text reads: “The lead character, Emma, lives in a fantasy world and tries to be someone she isn’t. This is very relevant to our time. With social media, we’re forced to present ourselves in a way that other people want to see us, rather than how we actually are.” —Christian Spuck on his "Bovary" 📸: Staatsballett Berlin at its 20th anniversary gala. Photo by Admill Kuyler, courtesy Staatsballett Berlin. #staatsballetberlin #christianspuck #ballet

A #dayinthelife of a shoe manager 🩰 Whether it’s pointe shoes, character shoes, or sneakers, a dancer’s footwear is crucial to their performance. Behind the scenes, shoe managers work to outfit artists with the shoes that will allow them to dance their best in the studio and onstage. Learn more about how these unsung heroes ensure their dancers are equipped for success (or listen to the audio article on Pointe+!): https://lnkd.in/gG79Smgy 📸 : The Joffrey Ballet shoe manager Gregg Benkovich. Photo by Carolyn McCabe, courtesy The Joffrey Ballet. 📝 : Sierra Hitchcock #shoemanager #balletshoes #pointeshoes

Remembering James B. Clouser (1935–2024): dancer, director, choreographer, teacher. On July 31, 2024, James Brady Clouser passed away peacefully in Tucson, Arizona. Born in Rochester, New York, in 1935, James graced the world with his artistry as a choreographer, dancer, and musician, and with his warmth as a loving teacher. A devoted family man, he leaves behind not only a dance legacy, but a cherished family. Read on: https://lnkd.in/es8MtmWB 📸: James Clouser. Photo by Jack Mitchell, courtesy of Sonja Zarek Simonds.

An os trigonum is a small extra bone attached to the back of the ankle (near the heel bone) by fibrous cartilage. If that extra bone starts causing pain, the condition is called os trigonum syndrome. Here's why it’s so tricky for ballet dancers in particular, and what you can do about it: https://lnkd.in/gPUmBaFi 📸 : Getty Images #ostrigonum #ostrigonumsyndrome #dancerhealth

Decorate your dorm with #Pointe! Show your love for ballet in any room with these framed posters, printed on thick matte paper. The matte black frames, made from wood from renewable forests, add an extra touch of class. Head to https://lnkd.in/gjzXnm9Z to grab yours now! Posters feature: (1) Chloe Misseldine, photographed by Jayme Thornton for Pointe. (2) Ingrid Silva, photographed by Nathan Sayers for Pointe. (3) Roman Mejia, photographed by Jayme Thornton for Pointe. (4) Catherine Hurlin and Aran Bell, photographed by Jayme Thornton for Pointe. #pointemagazine #balletphotography #balletposter

Philadelphia Ballet principal Jack Thomas delivers powerful performances onstage, but what might surprise you is his skill on the golf course. ⛳ “A lot of dancers would be really good at golf if they tried it,” Thomas says. “[Ballet and golf] complement each other really well.” In this edition of The Workout, Thomas walks us through his golf game and cross-training regimen. Read it on Pointe+: https://lnkd.in/gR5HNZj4 📸 : Jack Thomas in rehearsal for Angel Corella’s “Giselle.” Photo by Arian Molina Soca, courtesy Philadelphia Ballet. 📸 : Jack Thomas on the green. Photo courtesy Thomas. #balletcrosstraining #jackthomas #golfer

Outdoor performance do’s and don’ts ☀ 🌲 From melting marley to pine sap to being up close and personal with your audience, performing outdoors comes with challenges but also, according to our experts, great joys. Here are their recommendations to make the most out of outdoor performances, only on Pointe+: https://lnkd.in/edY28XAn 📸 : New York City Ballet principal dancer Adrian Danchig-Waring in Lar Lubovitch’s "Desire" at the 2023 Lake Tahoe Dance Festival. Photo by Erin Baiano, courtesy LTDF. #outdoorperformance #balletoutdoors #ballettips