Category: Pointe Magazine

Airings, Pointe Magazine

Dutch National Ballet’s New “Raymonda” Brings Modern Sensibilities to a Petipa Classic [Preview]

By Steve Sucato for Pointe Magazine On April 3, Dutch National Ballet presents the crown jewel in its 60th-anniversary season: a new, full-length production of Raymonda, the company’s first.  “Raymonda is one of the greatest classical ballets,” says DNB artistic director Ted Brandsen. “It is a complete display of everything classical ballet has to offer.” Raymonda, the last hit ballet created by choreographer Marius Petipa, premiered in … Continue reading Dutch National Ballet’s New “Raymonda” Brings Modern Sensibilities to a Petipa Classic [Preview]

Unknown's avatarartsairLeave a comment
Airings, Pointe Magazine

Jodie Gates Named Cincinnati Ballet’s Next Artistic Director

Cincinnati Ballet announced today that it has named Jodie Gates as its new artistic director, effective August 1, 2022. Gates will take over from Victoria Morgan, who is retiring after 25 years at the helm. Gates, most recently the founding director of the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance and founder and artistic director of the Laguna Dance Festival, will inherit stewardship of Cincinnati Ballet’s $11.5 million annual operating budget, 27 … Continue reading Jodie Gates Named Cincinnati Ballet’s Next Artistic Director

Unknown's avatarartsairLeave a comment
Airings, Pointe Magazine

Choreographer Jorden Morris, Orlando Ballet’s New Artistic Director, Shares His Vision for the Company

The phrase “being in the right place at the right time” certainly applied to Jorden Morris in the lead-up to his appointment as Orlando Ballet’s new artistic director. Morris, the company’s artist in residence, happened to be in Orlando, preparing to set his production of The Great Gatsby on the company this past August, when the artistic director Robert Hill abruptly stepped down after 13 years. Jonathan Ledden, the company’s board president, … Continue reading Choreographer Jorden Morris, Orlando Ballet’s New Artistic Director, Shares His Vision for the Company

Unknown's avatarartsairLeave a comment
Airings, Pointe Magazine

Hope Muir Is More Than Ready for Her New Role at National Ballet of Canada

By Steve Sucato On July 7, the National Ballet of Canada announced Hope Muir as its new artistic director, following a two-year international search. Muir, who was born in Toronto and is the current artistic director of Charlotte Ballet, succeeds Karen Kain, who stepped down on June 30. Muir began her dance training at age 3 in the Toronto suburb of Etobicoke. In 1987, at age 15, she moved … Continue reading Hope Muir Is More Than Ready for Her New Role at National Ballet of Canada

Unknown's avatarartsairLeave a comment
Airings, Pointe Magazine

Gabriel Gaffney Smith Says Farewell to BalletMet for Careers in Visual Art and Music | Steve Sucato – Arts Air

By Steve Sucato In addition to cancelled shows, the coronavirus pandemic has disrupted final performances for many retiring dancers. Pointe is giving several retiring principals and soloists a chance to reflect on their careers and offer advice to the next generation. For 35-year-old Gabriel Gaffney Smith, retiring from BalletMet is more about switching focus than a bona fide farewell to dance. A modern-day Renaissance man, Smith is … Continue reading Gabriel Gaffney Smith Says Farewell to BalletMet for Careers in Visual Art and Music | Steve Sucato – Arts Air

Unknown's avatarartsairLeave a comment
Airings, Pointe Magazine

Carolina Ballet’s Lara O’Brien Looks Ahead to Family and Her Growing Business | Steve Sucato – Arts Air

By Steve Sucato In addition to cancelled shows, the coronavirus pandemic has disrupted final performances for many retiring dancers. Pointe is giving several retiring principals and soloists a chance to reflect on their careers and offer advice to the next generation. Carolina Ballet principal dancer Lara O’Brien planned to retire from the company she hasspent her entire 19-year career with this spring. Her final onstage appearance, as Lady Macbeth … Continue reading Carolina Ballet’s Lara O’Brien Looks Ahead to Family and Her Growing Business | Steve Sucato – Arts Air

Unknown's avatarartsairLeave a comment
Airings, Pointe Magazine

After 23-Year Career, Colorado Ballet’s Chandra Kuykendall Hopes for Onstage Closure | Steve Sucato [Arts Air]

By Steve Sucato In addition to cancelled shows, the coronavirus pandemic has disrupted final performances for many retiring dancers. This week, Pointe is giving several retiring principals and soloists a chance to reflect on their careers and offer advice to the next generation. After 23-years as a professional dancer, 22 of those with Colorado Ballet, Chandra Kuykendall felt it was time for change. The 41-year-old principal dancer, who officially … Continue reading After 23-Year Career, Colorado Ballet’s Chandra Kuykendall Hopes for Onstage Closure | Steve Sucato [Arts Air]

Unknown's avatarartsairLeave a comment
Airings, Pointe Magazine

Kayla Rowser Says Goodbye to Nashville Ballet, But Not to Activism | Steve Sucato [Arts Air]

By Steve Sucato In addition to cancelled shows, the coronavirus pandemic has disrupted final performances for many retiring dancers. This week, Pointe is giving several retiring principals and soloists a chance to reflect on their careers and offer advice to the next generation. Kayla Rowser says her decision to retire from Nashville Ballet after the 2019-2020 season came peacefully. So too, she says, was her coming to terms with how … Continue reading Kayla Rowser Says Goodbye to Nashville Ballet, But Not to Activism | Steve Sucato [Arts Air]

Unknown's avatarartsairLeave a comment
Airings, Dance Magazine, Pointe Magazine

Susan Jaffe Named Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s New Artistic Director

By Steve Sucato Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre announced today that former American Ballet Theatre principal Susan Jaffe will succeed Terrence Orr as artistic director of the company, effective July 1. Jaffe becomes PBT’s seventh artistic director and only the second female director in the company’s history. Dubbed “America’s Quintessential American Ballerina” by The New York Times, Jaffe comes to PBT after eight years as dean of the … Continue reading Susan Jaffe Named Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s New Artistic Director

Unknown's avatarartsairLeave a comment
Pointe Magazine

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s Julia Erickson on Her Farewell Announcement and Why the “Stage Is Like One Big Playground”

By Steve Sucato Elton John, Neil Diamond and the band Rush—2018 just got underway and it already feels like the year of the beloved star retiring. Joining that list today is one of Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s longest tenured principal dancers, Julia Erickson. The 38-year-old Seattle native trained at the Pacific Northwest Ballet School and spent two years with Texas Ballet Theater before joining PBT in … Continue reading Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s Julia Erickson on Her Farewell Announcement and Why the “Stage Is Like One Big Playground”

Unknown's avatarartsairLeave a comment