Great teaching deserves to be recognized—and you can help. The 2026 Dance Teacher Awards nominations are now open! Each year, we honor outstanding dance educators for their contributions to the field. We’re looking for dance educators who: Have had a unique or outsized impact on their students and/or community Strive to bring out the best in their students as dancers and people Have a thoughtful and forward-thinking approach to pedagogy Are dedicated to their own continued learning Have a body-positive teaching style Prioritize dancers’ mental and physical health and safety Are committed to anti-racism, equity, and inclusion inside and outside […]
Kundalini by Yamini Muthanna beckons to one’s inner being
Kundalini, a dance musical that brings together yoga and Bharatnatyam, will be presented by Yamini Muthanna this weekend
Tradition in transition: classical dancers on keeping step with change
Exponents from various classical dance forms debated on the tradition versus innovation conundrum at a recent seminar in Mumbai
Educator Moves: What You Might Have Missed in Fall 2025
From director shifts to faculty appointments, here are the dance educator moves you should know about from fall 2025. Gerald Casel has been named the Carole and Dan Burack director of The School at Jacob’s Pillow. He succeeded current education program specialist J.R. Glover, who stepped down from the post in January, and interim director Leah Brandon, in mid-September. Brandon continues as associate director. Blanca Huertas has been named director of The Ballet Hispánico School. Christopher Powney will succeed Ernst Meisner as artistic director of Dutch National Ballet’s Junior Company when Meisner becomes artistic director of the main company in […]
Navigating the Adjustment From Comp Star to College Student
For competition kids, pursuing a dance degree is a natural extension of the years of dedication they’ve put into their craft. But the transition from the fast-paced buzz of the competition and convention scene to the college classroom isn’t always seamless. As two former champions and a college dean share, once on campus, competitive dancers need to adapt their mindset, priorities, and approach to training—shifts that can result in unexpected and illuminating opportunities for growth. Back to Basics After capping off her competition career by winning Senior Female Best Dancer at The Dance Awards Nationals in 2024, Sierra Drayton was […]
Letter From the Editor: Next Up and Into the New Year
The dancers are ready, the costumes are done, and the sets are loaded. But have you given any thought to the people on the other side of the curtain? This month, we’re sharing some production tweaks that can excite your audience and elevate your presentations not just during Nutcracker season, but also during recitals and beyond. We’re also offering tips for helping your students increase their turning “sweet spot” while maintaining control, placement, and consistency, in this month’s Technique & Artistry column; Daniel Duell passes along Balanchine’s lessons on musicality in our Playlist column, and former Batsheva dancer and Gaga educator […]
A male voice in Bharatanatyam: G. Narendra’s story
Sri Krishna Gana Sabha’s ‘Nrithya Choodamani’ for 2025 crowns Narendra’s years of struggle and dedication.
‘Draupadi Unbound’ echoed the voices of women across the ages
Conceived, choreographed and performed by Navia Natarajan, the dance depicted the lives of women through Draupadi’s story.
Kamala’s legacy: The star who inspired generations of Bharatanatyam dancers
From child prodigy to cultural icon, Kamala reshaped the destiny of a classical dance form.
Jacqueline Green Miller Teaches How to Harness Turnout, Length, and Connection Through Plié to Passé and Beyond
Former Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater principal dancer Jacqueline Green Miller grew up as a self-described bunhead. When Ailey collaborated with The Royal Ballet for a series of performances during her career, she was excited to take class with the British company and see the ballerinas shine in all of their classically trained glory. What she was surprised to see was a focus on the basics: “Even in that room, I remember seeing some of the principal dancers get corrected on a simple passé before the teacher even talked about pirouettes.” Having begun her dance training at the Baltimore School […]