Upcoming Dates

Headliners… Creating a True Competition Experience Fueled by Passion and Focused on Education
7 July 2025

Headliners… Creating a True Competition Experience Fueled by Passion and Focused on Education

In 1989, CEO Shari Tomasiello and her mother created Headliners with a simple mission: that it would be an educationally based and goal-oriented competition, providing a fun and encouraging environment that’s inclusive of dancers of all sizes, levels, and abilities. Headliners continues to expand and will be hosting fall conventions and regional competitions in 19 states, culminating in a national finals in July. Tomasiello remains committed to that foundation, and to keeping the dancers at the center of it all. “We have always been about the kids,” she says. “This isn’t just a job for us. It’s really and truly a […]

Blogs 0 3 min read
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 […]

Blogs 0 5 min read
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 […]

Blogs 0 1 min read
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 […]

Blogs 0 5 min read
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 […]

Blogs 0 4 min read
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 […]

Blogs 0 5 min read