3 July 2025

Sahasra Sambamoorthi Teaches a Bharatanatyam Warm-Up Combo

Whether she is teaching advanced or beginner kathak or bharatanatyam-style Indian dance classes, Sahasra Sambamoorthi, director of New York City’s Navatman Dance Company, has implemented a version of this warm-up combination for over 30 years.  The spine stretch, found in bharatanatyam and other classical Indian styles, is useful for dancers of all backgrounds and disciplines. “The spine is super-integral in bharatanatyam,” she says. It is one of the few styles that necessitates full twists without moving the hips, “so we want [the spine] always to be a little bit flexible and prepared.” In this warm-up, she says, you’ll feel all […]

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1 July 2025

Letter From the Editor: Creating Safe and Respectful Dance Spaces

For generations, dance teachers have relied on physical touch to guide and even mold their students’ bodies into alignment. Certainly, touch can be an effective teaching tool—but is it always appropriate? What happens when dancers start feeling uncomfortable? What if they simply prefer not to be touched?  We’re tackling this sensitive topic in our upcoming DT+ Teacher Talk, “Consent Practices in Dance Education.” On Thursday, July 17, at 12 pm EDT, guest speakers Elaine DiFalco Daugherty, assistant theater professor at Central Michigan University, and Heather Trommer-Beardslee, associate dance professor at CMU—co-authors of the book Consent Practices in Performing Arts Education—will […]

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How to Audition for an NBA Dance Team, According to the Experts
1 July 2025

How to Audition for an NBA Dance Team, According to the Experts

The title of NBA Dancer is coveted by hosts of young performers, and every summer, teams hold open auditions for new members. With a diversity of styles, from heels to hip hop to pom, each NBA dance team offers its own unique appeal. For hopefuls without prior experience on a college or professional dance team, the audition process for these squads can be daunting. For starters, no two auditions are quite the same from team to team. Many of them include rounds of dancing on video and in person, an interview, and a finals event. Then there are the nitty-gritty […]

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The Royal Ballet’s Amelia Townsend Taps Into Madness
28 June 2025

The Royal Ballet’s Amelia Townsend Taps Into Madness

Royal Ballet first artist Amelia Townsend steps into some percussive new shoes this month as the tap-dancing Mad Hatter in Christopher Wheeldon’s fantastical Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, performed by The Royal Ballet from June 13–28. While Townsend isn’t the first woman to dance the role of the Mad Hatter—that distinction goes to the National Ballet of Canada’s Chelsy Meiss—it is still typically considered a man’s role. “I think this is a prime example of a role that can be done by both sexes,” Townsend says. “It’s a nice moment for people to realize that roles don’t necessarily have to be gender-specific. It’s about your interpretation. I […]

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27 June 2025

How to Cast and Coach Dancers in Roles Outside of Their Comfort Zones

Shortly after Adam McKinney took the helm at Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre in 2023, he promoted Grace Rookstool from the corps de ballet to soloist. The following season, he cast her as both the Sugar Plum Fairy and a stepsister up to mischievous antics in Cinderella. During PBT’s most recent season, McKinney says, he was certain she’d “perform a sumptuous ‘Emeralds.’ ” Rookstool also embodied Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, ending the run with an onstage promotion to principal.  She tackled this range of parts “so beautifully and with such hungry humility,” he says. “Being able to provide varied opportunities to […]

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In the Flow: Aidan Carberry’s Choreographic Mindset
27 June 2025

In the Flow: Aidan Carberry’s Choreographic Mindset

To Aidan Carberry, choreographing is not just his livelihood, but a game to be played and a puzzle to be solved. Growing up in Los Angeles, Carberry trained at Debbie Allen School of Dance before continuing at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts. Breaking his leg junior year led him to explore movement in new ways, helping him develop his unique style. In 2015, he was accepted into the inaugural class of the University of Southern California’s Glorya Kaufman School of Dance. After graduating in 2019, Carberry co-founded JA Collective with his classmate Jordan Johnson. Together, they’ve […]

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25 June 2025

Registration Link for DT+ Teacher Talk: “Consent Practices in Dance Education”

Touch can be an effective teaching, directing, and choreographic tool—when dancers’ boundaries and agency are taken into consideration. As a dance educator, where and how do you begin to cultivate a respectful environment in the studio? Find out in our next DT+ Teacher Talk, “Consent Practices in Dance Education,” on Thursday, July 17, at 12 pm EDT.  This live hour-long Zoom discussion will feature guest speakers Elaine DiFalco Daugherty, assistant theater professor at Central Michigan University, and Heather Trommer-Beardslee, associate dance professor at CMU—co-authors of the book Consent Practices in Performing Arts Education (Intellect Books, 2024)—in conversation with Pointe’s editor […]

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