Christopher Charles McDaniel stands out at the School of American Ballet. The only year-round faculty member who didn’t train at the school or dance for New York City Ballet, he’s the first such hire since 1991. He’s also just the third Black teacher to join the permanent faculty. From 2021–23, during his final years with […]
Most anyone in dance education has experienced those uncomfortable moments when a student responds negatively to feedback, refuses to apply corrections, or outright talks back. While most teachers generously share their knowledge in hopes of bettering a student’s practice, it doesn’t mean dancers will always be agreeable or receptive. As the cultural landscape of dance […]
This past June, Aesha Ash took her place as the School of American Ballet’s Associate Chair of Faculty. After a lifetime of training at the school, dancing with the company, and educating up-and-coming students, she is bringing her expertise to this new role—taking care of dancers holistically. Ash’s dance training began at five years old […]
Kay Mazzo has been a symbol of strength and grace in the ballet world since she made her debut with Jerome Robbins’ Ballets USA, while a teenager, in Robbins’ Afternoon of a Faun. George Balanchine hired Mazzo into New York City Ballet shortly thereafter. Her extreme delicacy, musicality and sense of style inspired Balanchine to […]
Aesha Ash is obsessed with movement. After training at the School of American Ballet and dancing with New York City Ballet, she traveled the world with Béjart Ballet Lausanne, Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet and Morphoses/The Wheeldon Company. Ash spent that time watching, absorbing and growing. Continuing to be curious about what can be expressed and […]
Missed the 2020 Dance Teacher Awards? Watch them on-demand here. Most of us know Wendy Whelan for fearlessly approaching difficult tasks, whether creating a role in a new ballet, undergoing hip surgery (on camera, no less), embarking on a self-produced touring project or taking on a brand-new leadership role at New York City Ballet, where […]
We’ve been dying to hear more about “On Pointe,” a docuseries following students at the School of American Ballet, since we first got wind of the project this spring. Now—finally!—we know where this can’t-miss show is going to live: It was just announced that Disney+, the new streaming service set to launch November 12, has […]
At the Frank Sinatra School of the Performing Arts in Queens, New York, The New York Times Daily 360 captured a group of young dancers auditioning for the School of American Ballet. Watch the adorableness below.