How to Work With Parent Volunteers

It may look like magic, but it takes a lot of sweat and many hands to mount a studio’s Nutcracker production. The same goes for putting on any recital or performance, running a competition team, and keeping a dance school humming day to day. Beyond the students, teachers, staff, and leadership, there’s often a stable of parent volunteers who help make it all possible.  “There are so many things that wouldn’t happen in our studio without them,” says Traci Broman, who bought Village Dance Studio in Whitestown, Indiana, from her mother almost a decade ago.  Dance Teacher talked with Broman […]

Announcing the Winners of the 2025 World Choreography Awards

Announcing the Winners of the 2025 World Choreography Awards

On Monday, November 17, the 15th annual World Choreography Awards were celebrated in Los Angeles, CA. The event, which features live performances, recognizes the creative works of choreographers in today’s entertainment media. This year, pop icon Paula Abdul was honored with the Legacy Award, energizing an already vibrant night. Paula Abdul at the 2025 WCAs. Photo by Sthanlee B. Mirador, courtesy WCAs. Following that highlight, here are the winners of the 2025 World Choreography Awards: Motion Picture Ashley Wallen; Jenny Griffin, associate choreographer: Better Man Television Reality/Variety Show Paris Cavanagh: “America’s Got Talent” (For “You Should See Me in a […]

Boston Conservatory Launches Five-Year Collaboration With The Verdon Fosse Legacy

This fall, Boston Conservatory at Berklee joins forces with The Verdon Fosse Legacy in a five-year artistic and educational collaboration.  Founded by Nicole Fosse, daughter of dance icons Gwen Verdon and Bob Fosse, The Verdon Fosse Legacy was created to preserve and share her parents’ groundbreaking work. “Educating the next generation is imperative to the continuation of this legacy,” she said in a recent press release.  Boston Conservatory’s Dance Division will host The Verdon Fosse Legacy in residency twice a year to reconstruct Fosse masterworks—once during the fall semester for the commercial dance BFA program, and again during the spring […]

GiaNina Paolantonio Is a Force in the Dance World

GiaNina Paolantonio Is a Force in the Dance World

GiaNina Paolantonio is taking the dance world by storm. The 20-year-old has performed on Broadway, toured with Mariah Carey, appeared in The Greatest Showman, and reached international fame starring in Season 8 of “Dance Moms.” This past year, she’s shifted her focus to teaching and choreographing. With regular class slots at iconic studios and an international teaching tour in full swing, Paolantonio is acquiring a reputation as an in-demand instructor. As a choreographer, she’s worked with major artists like Billie Eilish and Jessie Murph to craft viral dances using their music. Dance Spirit talked with Paolantonio about her teaching philosophy, […]

New York City–Based Ballet Teacher Kate Loh’s Journey From Performer to Open-Class Teacher

Many, but not all, of the most sought-after open-class teachers in cities like New York transition to teaching from high-profile performance and choreography careers. Their built-in fanbase fills classrooms with students who aspire to similar stages. For teachers who have a different path, though, building a teaching career in a major city can be a challenge. For Kate Loh, a popular ballet teacher at Steps on Broadway, Ballet Arts, Broadway Dance Center, and other studios, finding her footing as an open-class teacher took years, as well as some key pivots. As a teen, Loh supplemented her pre-professional training at Steps […]

“DWTS” Pro Witney Carson on Launching Her Finesse App and Dancing With Robert Irwin

“DWTS” Pro Witney Carson on Launching Her Finesse App and Dancing With Robert Irwin

“Dancing with the Stars” dancer, choreographer, and mirrorball winner Witney Carson is always on the move. Lately, she’s been working with crocodile wrangler and wildlife activist Robert Irwin on the current season of “DWTS,” and on September 30, she launched her own dance-education app, Finesse. Witney Carson. Photo courtesy Guttman Associates Public Relations. Now available on the App Store and Google Play, Finesse uses virtual dance tutorials to teach combos created by Carson and fellow “DWTS” pro dancer Ezra Sosa, “DWTS” troupe dancer Hailey Bills, Briar Nolet, and Kelly Sweeney. It also features behind-the-scenes footage from the current “DWTS” season […]

Katie Drablos on Finding Freedom Through Dance

Katie Drablos has spent 16 years as a professional dancer, choreographer, and artist in New York City. Her career is full of remarkable achievements, but beyond that, Drablos is a profoundly impactful teacher. Known for her warmth, generosity, and rare ability to make dancers feel seen, she creates safe, joyful spaces where they can flourish freely. Originally from Dallas, Texas, Drablos discovered her love of teaching at a young age. After graduating from Southern Methodist University, she auditioned for the Rockettes on a whim, booked the job, and moved to New York at 22. Since then, she has performed in […]