Welcome to The Ballet Beat, the newsletter that celebrates the beauty, dedication, and stories of the ballet world. In each edition, we bring you inspiring tales of resilience, new insights into ballet technique, and a closer look behind the scenes at the artistry that fuels dance. This issue features an interview with Royal Ballet principal Joseph Sissens, tips for breaking in your pointe shoes, our weekly dance quiz, and a chance to showcase your ballet journey in our spotlight feature. Let’s embrace the beauty of ballet together.

Joseph Sissens dances at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Photograph: Andrej Uspenski

By Lyndsey Winship

Joseph Sissens, recently promoted to principal at the Royal Ballet, discusses his journey, balancing privilege with personal challenges, and his dedication to advancing diversity in ballet. He shares insights on confronting embedded racism and his new project, Legacy, a gala celebrating Black and Brown excellence. Sissens aspires to inspire change from within ballet’s traditional framework while dreaming of his next role as Romeo.

Read full article here

 

Lyndsey Winship is a dance critic and journalist dedicated to making dance accessible and engaging. Through her work with The Guardian, she highlights key figures and explores the cultural impact of dance, bridging the gap between the art and its audiences.

Video Credit: YouTube - How I Break in My Pointe Shoes Pain-Free.

This video shares ways to soften and shape pointe shoes to achieve a better fit.

Isabella trained at The Royal Ballet School and became the first British girl to join the Vaganova Ballet Academy in Saint Petersburg, Russia, at 15, where she studied for 4 years. She joined the Mikhailovsky Ballet in Russia as a soloist and later danced with Eifman Ballet. Isabella is now an international teacher and founder of BWI, an online ballet platform. 

The cover of the October 1974 issue of Dance Magazine featured a portrait of Mikhail Baryshnikov shot by Kenn Duncan in the photographer’s studio that August. From the DM Archives.

By Courtney Escoyne

The October 1974 Dance Magazine cover story marked Mikhail Baryshnikov's first appearance after defecting to the West. At 26, he quickly captivated audiences with his performances at American Ballet Theatre and a commitment to exploring new choreography and partnerships. Baryshnikov expressed a desire to take on roles with emotional depth, hoping Western choreographers would create pieces for him, marking the start of his legendary journey in ballet.

Read the full article here.

Courtney Escoyne is a dance writer and editor at Dance Magazine, known for her in-depth industry insights and performance reviews. Her work highlights the changing landscape of dance, supporting artistic growth and transparency within the field.

We want to see your ballet passion in action! Share photos that capture the beauty, dedication, and artistry of your performances or rehearsals. Whether it’s a breathtaking stage moment, a creative studio shot, or a candid glimpse of dancers perfecting their craft.

Showcase your best work! Submit your photo and you could be featured in next week's newsletter!

We hope you've enjoyed The Ballet Beat, where we showcase inspiring stories from the ballet community.

Stay tuned for next week's edition of The Ballet Beat!