HISSTORY, HERSTORY, OR OURSTORY?

Elina WisungBallet, breaking stereotypes, diversity, inclusion Leave a Comment

By Anagha Madhan and Maya Haridas for En Avant Magazine July/August 2024 There’s a Native American proverb, “The one who tells the story rules the world.” The stories told on stage have the power to subconsciously cement untrue stereotypes, or change the way we think altogether. For six centuries, ballet has served as a medium of storytelling, with its plots ...
diversity inclusivity

Ryan Anderson on Inclusivity and Diversity in the Performing Arts

Elina WisungBallet, breaking stereotypes, inspiration Leave a Comment

From  En Avant July/August 2024 Ryan Anderson, a Musical Theatre performer who has starred in productions such as Aladdin, Pippin and Peter Pan, tells us about life experiences with inclusivity and diversity in the world of Theatre. Can you tell us a little bit about how you first got into dance? What sparked your interest in it?   I got into ...
global

Ballet Gone Global: Why Ballet is Not Just for The West

Elina WisungBallet, breaking stereotypes, inspiration Leave a Comment

By Anagha Madhan My Love Chunhyang - Universal Ballet, South Korea Ballet’s universal appeal is taking root in India, but can it truly belong? Forget the borders – because, spoiler alert: it already does. Let’s explore why this ‘Western-only’ label no longer applies to ballet. Incepted in the royal courts of Italy and later refined on the grand stages of ...

Beyond Grace: Why Ballet Is More Than Just Grace & Elegance

Elina WisungBallet, breaking stereotypes Leave a Comment

By Anagha Madhan Often, ballet is seen as the ultimate expression of grace, beauty, and elegance. In fact, if you look up the terms “grace beauty elegance dance” on the internet, a majority of the images that pop up are of ballerinas on stage. However, behind every leap, behind every carefully placed pointe shoe, there is something more raw and ...

Pack Like a Pro: Essential Gear for Dance Intensives

Elina WisungBallet, community, experience, preparation Leave a Comment

By Anagha Madhan Photo - Ballet Arizona Attending a ballet intensive can definitely be a transformative and enriching experience for any dancer. An intensive will offer rigorous training, exposure to new techniques, and the opportunity to learn from seasoned dancers and esteemed instructors. However, for many Indian ballet students and their parents, the prospects of attending an intensive abroad is ...
standardization

From Royal Courts to Global Stages: The Journey of Ballet’s Standardization

Elina WisungBallet, ballet methods, Education Leave a Comment

By Neha Chowdhury from En Avant Magazine May June 2024  In the past, ballet was considered a form of entertainment; a pastime, something kings and queens watched for its beauty and their own enjoyment. Now, ballet is still a form of performing arts- but it has another side to its indomitable power; the side of examination, rule-following, and competitivity that ...
all ages beginners

Ballet for All Ages

Elina WisungBallet, beginner, Education Leave a Comment

By Anagha Madhan A common way ballet is perceived, is as a young person’s art form. As something you must start as a young child and dedicate your entire life to. This is further propagated since ballet is typically associated with young, lithe dancers making leaps that look physically impossible. While ballet does involve this, and the imagination does stem ...
exams

The Impact of ISTD Exams on Dance Education and Development

Elina WisungBallet, science Leave a Comment

By Kenisha Rao The Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) stands as a prestigious institution in the world of dance education, rooted in the heart of London, England. Under the leadership of its current Chair, Michael Elliot, the ISTD has cultivated a legacy of excellence and innovation in dance teaching since its inception. This renowned organisation is dedicated to ...
physics feature

Where Art Meets Science: The Physics Behind Ballet

Elina WisungBallet, science 3 Comments

By Anagha Madhan Ballet is often described as poetry in motion. As dancers, we aim to captivate audiences and make difficult movements that require a complex mixture of concentration and coordination look absolutely effortless. What is presented is not only a culmination of hard work and practice, but it is also the seamless application of scientific principles. So, let’s dive ...