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Dance Motion Photographer Surpasses His Campaign Goal for His Latest Project! [Video]

by Romy Macias, Senior Editor | Apr 3, 2014

I was very excited to have a second opportunity to chat with Jesus Chapa-Malacara. (You can see our first interview here). Photographer Jesus Chapa-Malacara Surpasses His Pledge Amount for Dance Prints! What Chapa-Malacara has accomplished with his lens bends the mind. Although he is modest, and I had to “twist” his arm to get him to name the “bunch” (in his words) of publications that have featured his work, here’s a partial list. Mashable, Huffington Post, The Daily Mail, Republica (Italy), PetaPixel, Phoblographer. See for yourself. Watch the short video below to discover what Jesus is up to and how you can help and benefit at the same time! Video source: YouTube channel (Romy Macias). Photographer Jesus Chapa-Malacara Surpasses His Pledge Amount for Dance Prints! To see more of Jesus’ beautiful motion photography, please visit his site: http://fotosjcm.com/ Don’t miss out on supporting his project and owning one of his breathtaking prints. http://fotosjcm.com/store See his campaign video below! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/fotosjcm/dance-prints-humans-slicing-through-space *All images used with permission ©Jesus... read more

She Wasn’t The Typical Ballet Dancer. First Rejected From Famous Ballet School… But Later, Audiences Loved Her! [Video]

by Romy Macias, Senior Editor | Apr 2, 2014

Anna Pavlova: Early Years Anna Pavlova was born on January 31, 1881 in Ligovo, a suburb of St. Petersburg. to unwed parents. Her mother, Lyubov Feodorovna was a washerwoman. Some believe that her biological father was a banker named Lazar Polyakov of Jewish Russian descent. Anna’s mother later married Matvey Pavlova who adopted her at three. That is how she became Anna Pavlova. Anna fell in love with ballet as a young girl when her mother took her to see The Sleeping Beauty at the Imperial Mariinsky Theater. The Sleeping Beauty was choreographed by the great ballet master Marius Petipa. Pavlova She made classical ballet popular around the world. She traveled all 7 continents and danced in many countries. Most of the ballerinas of the time were compact and muscular. Anna was dainty and frail looking but could move audiences with her beautiful dancing. Anna was so impressed with the ballet that she asked her mother to take her to audition for the famous Imperial Ballet School. The lavish spectacle made an impression on Pavlova. At the age of nine, her mother took her to audition for the renowned Imperial Ballet School. Because of her youth, and what was considered her “sickly” appearance, she was not chosen. In 1891, she was finally accepted at the age of 10. She appeared for the first time on stage in Marius Petipa’s Un conte de fées (A Fairy Tale), which the ballet master staged for the students of the school. Source: Anna Pavlova, wikipedia.org. Anna Pavlova: Early Years Video on Romy Macias’ Channel on YouTube. Here’s Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky‘s Rose Adagio from... read more

Happy Birthday to Arthur Mitchell [Video]

by Romy Macias, Senior Editor | Mar 27, 2014

Today, Arthur Mitchell turns 80. Happy birthday Mr. Mitchell! Arthur Mitchell (born March 27, 1934) is an African-American dancer and choreographer who created a training school and the first African-American classical ballet company,Dance Theatre of Harlem. Among other awards, Mitchell has been recognized as a MacArthur Fellow, inducted into the National Museum of Dance’s Mr. & Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney Hall of Fame, and has received the United States National Medal of Arts and a Fletcher Foundation fellowship. In addition, Mitchell has received honorary doctorates from numerous leading universities, as well as awards from the City of New York and community organizations. For additional information, please visit wikipedia.org. Happy Birthday to Arthur Mitchell Diana Adams and Arthur Mitchell in George Balanchine’s “Agon” (1957). Adams and Mitchell danced the premiere for the New York City Ballet on December 1, 1957. Thanks to NeryssaPaige for uploading this video to YouTube. Happy Birthday to Arthur Mitchell Help celebrate Mr. Mitchell’s birthday by sharing this post with your friends. Thanks! For more on the life of Arthur Mitchell, visit the link: An Evening With Arthur Mitchell.... read more

Sarah Jessica Parker Takes Us Behind The Scenes of New York City Ballet Bonus 2 [Videos]

by Romy Macias, Senior Editor | Mar 24, 2014

What would the New York City Ballet dancers be doing if they weren’t ballet dancers? Sarah Jessica Parker Takes Us Behind The Scenes of New York City Ballet Bonus 2 In this first bonus video, the dancers answer that very question: “If I Wasn’t Dancing…” The cast shares what alternate careers they’d be in if ballet wasn’t a part of their lives. Video uploaded by YouTube.com. Dancer Photo Booth Interviews We put some of the cast in the hot seat for “photo booth” confessional interviews. After all, you don’t really know someone until you know what embarrassing music they listen to. Thanks to AOL Original Series for sharing video. Sarah Jessica Parker Takes Us Behind The Scenes of New York City Ballet Bonus 2 What Do Ballet Dancers Eat? The cast goes back into the booth and kills the myth that ballet dancers don’t eat. Video source: YouTube. Sarah Jessica Parker Takes Us Behind The Scenes of New York City Ballet Bonus 2 How’s that for a great series? If you missed the previous episodes, go back and view them; we think you’re going to love them. So, did you learn something new about dancers you didn’t know before? If so, give us a “Share” and “Like” below. Thanks. Until next time!... read more

Sarah Jessica Parker Takes Us Behind The Scenes of New York City Ballet – Bonuses [Videos]

by Romy Macias, Senior Editor | Mar 23, 2014

Sarah Jessica Parker Chats with Peter Martins NYC Ballet Master In Chief, Peter Martins, sits down with Sarah Jessica Parker to discuss his long connection with the NYC Ballet, his creative vision, and how the legacy of NYC Ballet co-founder George Balanchine lives on. Sarah Jessica Parker Takes Us Behind The Scenes of New York City Ballet – Bonuses Martin’s passion is so evident when asked to talk about the company, Balanchine, the dancers, staff and orchestra. He can hardly contain himself. It’s fascinating to watch! Enjoy. Thanks to AOL for sharing this video on YouTube. Sarah Jessica Parker Chats With Dancers Bonus Ashley and Gretchen take a break from rehearsals to chat with Sarah Jessica about life in the NYC Ballet. Great Video interview courtesy of YouTube and AOL. Sarah Jessica Parker Takes Us Behind The Scenes of New York City Ballet – Bonuses The Shoes Ballet audiences and fans always want to know about the pointe shoes; How many pointe shoes does a ballerina go through in a week or during a performance? How do pointe shoes get fitted? How many hours a day are ballerinas on their toes? The list goes on. In this episode, AOL talks to Dara Faust, shoe department supervisor at the New York City Ballet about pointe shoes and ballerina’s feet. Dancers get shoes when they join the company as an apprentice; they start in stock shoes. Once they become a company member, then they get special orders. They get to customize their shoes, they choose their maker, they choose the cut downs, they choose the insoles, all of those fun... read more

Sarah Jessica Parker Takes Us Behind The Scenes of New York City Ballet Part 4 [Videos]

by Romy Macias, Senior Editor | Mar 22, 2014

In this episode New York City Ballet principals Sara Mearns, Ashley Bouder and Teresa Reichlen share their distinct personalities when interpreting the principal role of Swan Lake. Sarah Jessica Parker Takes Us Behind The Scenes of New York City Ballet Part 4 The lead role of Odette/Odile in the classical ballet Swan Lake is such a demanding role that it requires three different dancers to share it. In this episode, we learn how different each of the women playing the role really is, and how they each approached it. – Sarah Jessica Parker Sarah Jessica Parker Takes Us Behind The Scenes of New York City Ballet Part 4 AOL Series shared this video documentary. Sarah Jessica Parker Takes Us Behind The Scenes of New York City Ballet Part 4 Injuries are a part of a professional dancer’s career. Being forced to rest from an injury can be terrifying and frustrating. Just weeks after landing a spot on the Corps, a young dancer is sidelined with a career threatening injury. It’s devastating, but a common occurrence when dancers push their bodies to the limit everyday. Video uploaded to AOL Series. Sarah Jessica Parker Takes Us Behind The Scenes of New York City Ballet Part 4 I hope you’re liking this fabulous series. If you are, please like us below and share this post.... read more

Sarah Jessica Parker Takes Us Behind The Scenes of New York City Ballet Part 3 [Videos]

by Romy Macias, Senior Editor | Mar 19, 2014

Sarah Jessica Parker Takes Us Behind The Scenes of New York City Ballet Part 3 Relationships Romance within the company is inevitable given how much of their lives they spend within the company walls. Thanks to AOL for this video. Sacrifice When dancers choose to dedicate their lives to a career in the ballet, they also choose a life full of sacrifice. When you spend thirteen hours a day rehearsing, you can kiss a normal social life goodbye. Thank you AOL Originals for this video. Male Dancers Male Dancers’: Considering that they jump higher than NBA players and lift women over their head on a regular basis, the male dancer consistently delivers performances that rival any profession athlete. But try explaining to your playground buddies that you’re a ballet dancer. It ain’t easy being a male dancer. Video courtesy of AOL Series. Partnering When a female and male dancer are partnered, the sum is often greater than the parts. It’s a match-up that relies on a connection beyond simple technique, and sometimes a good pairing is hard to find. Partnering video thanks to YouTube.com. Company life can be difficult, yet as you’ve seen, it can also be very rewarding. NYC Ballet is like family for many of the dancers. In the next episodes you’ll get to learn how many pointe shoes a NYC Ballet ballerinas goes through in a week. See you next time!... read more

Sarah Jessica Parker Takes Us Behind The Scenes of New York City Ballet Part 2 [Videos]

by Romy Macias, Senior Editor | Mar 19, 2014

This second episode “Apprentices” follows several apprentices of the New York City Ballet during a year. Who will get a contract to dance with the famed company and who will not? You’ll also journey with Sarah Jessica Parker takes you through all the company ranks: Corps de ballet, soloists and principals. Sarah Jessica Parker Takes Us Behind The Scenes of New York City Ballet Part 2 Apprentices Every NYC Ballet dancer must pass through the ranks to reach the top. Silas and Claire are two apprentices standing at the gateway to a potential career with the NYC Ballet. After graduating from the School of American Ballet (SAB), some dancers are chosen to be apprentices. After a year, traditionally, on the last day of Summer season in Saratoga Springs, the apprentices find out if they will be invited to join the corps de ballet of the New York City Ballet. – Sarah Jessica Parker They all started when they were babies, three, four, five years old. They came to New York to study at SAB for the sole purpose of entering the New York City Ballet. And when you become an apprentice that’s already hope. -Peter Martins, Ballet Master in Chief AOL Originals on YouTube. Corps de ballet If and when you are offered a corps de ballet contract, “the hard work begins.” Corps members do the most dancing, and get the least amount of time off. Video courtesy of AOL Originals. Soloists Some dancers feel that the soloist rank is the hardest level of their career. Waiting for the seniority to claim certain roles means much less dancing than... read more

Sarah Jessica Parker Takes Us Behind The Scenes of New York City Ballet [Videos]

by Romy Macias, Senior Editor | Mar 19, 2014

AOL Orignals came up with a wonderful series that features dancers from the New York City Ballet and all the behind-the-scenes going ons. Hosted by the lovely Sarah Jessica Parker, she takes the viewer to the studio with Ballet Master Peter Martins and the dancers of the New York City Ballet. Sarah Jessica Parker Takes Us Behind The Scenes of New York City Ballet New York City Ballet is one of the foremost dance companies in the world. Thousands of dancers pursue the goal, but only a handful will join the company each year. Ballet by its very nature is a very competitive art form. There are a lot of factors that play into a successful dancer’s career and some of those things are beyond their control. You have to be diligent, you have to be hungry, you have to be musical, you have to be committed, you have to work hard, you have to hopefully not get injured. Nobody sits still here, in the company. Complacency does not exist at the New York City Ballet. And if it does, it’s… (as Peter Martins, the artistic director waves goodbye). – Peter Martins New York City Ballet was co-founded in 1948 by choreographer George Balanchine and Lincoln Kirstein, who envisioned a uniquely American aesthetic. – Sara Jessica Parker Sarah Jessica Parker Takes Us Behind The Scenes of New York City Ballet Intro & Ranks is the subject of the first episode of this series. Welcome to the New York City Ballet. Ballet Master in Chief, Peter Martins, and NYCB’s company members discuss what it takes to climb through the company... read more

Jacoby & Pronk, No Longer Together, Yet Still Stunning [Video]

by Romy Macias, Senior Editor | Mar 16, 2014

The powerful duo, though no longer together, has left a mark in the contemporary ballet world. Their performance below is a testament to their technical prowess and artistry. Drew Jacoby and Rubinald Pronk joined their talents in 2007 to create Jacoby and Pronk. But who are these dancers and how did they come together? Finally, why did they end their five year (2007-2012) successful partnership? Jacoby & Pronk, No Longer Together, But Still Stunning Drew Jacoby was born in Boise, Idaho, and studied at the School of American Ballet, and San Francisco and Pacific Northwest ballet schools. She began her professional career at 17 as a principal dancer with LINES Ballet in San Francisco. In 2005, she was invited to participate in Sylvie Guillem’s Japan tour, where she danced principal roles alongside dancers from the Royal Ballet London and Paris Opera Ballet. She won a 2005 Princess Grace Award and, in 2006, was voted Dance Magazine’s “It Girl.” Read more at DanceInternational.org. [Pronk] trained at the Royal (Dutch) Conservatory of Dance and joined the Dutch National Ballet at age 16 and was promoted to soloist. Rubinald performed works by choreographers including Sir Frederick Ashton, George Balanchine, William Forsythe, Jacopo Godani and Martha Graham. In 2006 he joined Dwight Rhoden and Desmond Richardson’s Complexions Contemporary Ballet, and is a guest artist with Dutch National Ballet. More on Pronk at wikipedia. Jacoby & Pronk, No Longer Together, Yet Still Stunning We can still enjoy the energy that Drew and Rubinald created when dancing together. Below a sample of what these extraordinary dancers are capable of on stage. Enjoy! Video of Drew Jacoby and Rubinald Pronk in B Sonata courtesy of YouTube. Choreography by Leo Mujic. In August 2012... read more

Great Reviews for San Francisco Ballet’s Cinderella [Video]

by Romy Macias, Senior Editor | Mar 12, 2014

San Francisco Ballet got great reviews from ballet critic Allan Ulrich. Yesterday SFB danced Christopher Wheeldon’s version of Cinderella. Great Reviews for San Francisco Ballet’s Cinderella What transfixes you about [the] setting of the Charles Perrault tale (a co-production with the Dutch National Ballet) is the fluid, often dazzling theatricality that captivates even before the curtain goes up. The swift transitions and seeming refusal to take a breath come close to exhausting you. The dozens of couples incessantly waltzing their way through Act 2 seem like an ode to hedonism. The jaw-dropping finale to Act 1, thanks to genius puppeteer Basil Twist, has already earned its place in company history. The opening episode of Act 3, the search for the foot that fits that slipper, is a marvelous visual gag. An ironic tone pervades those ballroom couples rocking on their heels, while those three foreign princesses make you shudder at thoughts of another “Swan Lake” divertissement. The SFGate wrote: “Simply wonderful.” Read full review at San Francisco Gate online. Great Reviews for San Francisco Ballet’s Cinderella The video below shows excerpts of important moments in the ballet; from Cinderella dancing with “a quartet of Fates, young men with blue jerseys and gold masks who guide her destiny,” to her two very limber stepsisters and a final pas de deux with her prince at the ball. Enjoy! Video courtesy of San Francisco Ballet on YouTube. Great Reviews for San Francisco Ballet’s Cinderella If you’re in the San Francisco area, make it a date to see this “thumbs up” production of Cinderella with amazing principals and cast of the San Francisco Ballet! San Francisco Ballet, Program 4: Christopher Wheeldon’s... read more

Misty Copeland in Dallas for Book Signing

by Romy Macias, Senior Editor | Mar 5, 2014

Misty Copeland, soloist with American Ballet Theatre and author of “Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina” will be signing books and talking about her journey to becoming one of America’s greatest classical ballerinas. In 2007, she made history by becoming the third African American female soloist at the American Ballet Theatre, and the first in decades. At this event, Copeland will discuss her new memoir, Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina. It transcends the bounds of the traditional ballet biography to tell a uniquely American story of perseverance and achievement in the face of extreme challenges. Time and place: Thursday, March 6th 7:30pm Location: Horchow Auditorium “Dare to Dream” For more information on tickets please go to the Dallas Museum of Art website. Misty posted on her Facebook wall today: Hey Texas! I’ll be @dallasmuseumart on 3/6 @ 7:30 pm chatting about ‪#‎LIFEINMOTION‬. Hope to see you there! If you’re in the Dallas area don’t miss this great opportunity to meet Misty in person. And remember to comment below with your experience!... read more

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