Rethinking Gender in Ballet

Chase Johnsey made history in 2018 as the first man to dance female roles in a traditional company at English National Ballet. He dicsusses how he hopes to carve out space for more nuanced gender expression in his new role as artistic director of Ballet de Barcelona.

January 6, 2020  |  Read Article

Choreographing His Trans Experience

An Interview with Elby Brosch BY EMMALY WIEDERHOLT Elby Brosch is a trans masculine dancer and choreographer based in Seattle. Here, he shares his history and why making dances from a trans masculine perspective is important to him, as well as his observations on the different ways men, women and […]

December 3, 2018  |  Read Article

Ballez: Redefining Ballet

An Interview with Katy Pyle BY EMMALY WIEDERHOLT Katy Pyle is the founder, director and choreographer of Ballez, a dance company in New York City that celebrates lesbian, queer and transgender communities and histories through ballet classes, as well as by reimagining classical ballets through an LGBTQ lens. Katy discusses […]

November 6, 2017  |  Read Article

Bringing African Dance into the Larger Conversation

An Interview with Rujeko Dumbutshena BY EMMALY WIEDERHOLT Originally from Zimbabwe, Rujeko Dumbutshena is a contemporary African dance artist currently living in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Her artistic statement describes herself as: “representing the roots of my people while embracing the vibrant evolution of our culture.” In this interview, she discusses […]

February 20, 2017  |  Read Article

Exploring Intersectionality Through Dance

An Interview with Alice Sheppard BY EMMALY WIEDERHOLT; PHOTOS BY ROBBIE SWEENEY Alice Sheppard is a dancer and choreographer who splits her time between San Francisco, New York and the United Kingdom. Her work is most notable for exploring the intersections between disability, race, gender and sexuality. Her newest work, […]

February 16, 2017  |  Read Article