When I think about the women who shaped dance history, I can’t help but go back to the names many of us didn’t grow up hearing. In the U.S., we talk a lot about Misty Copeland and the Black ballerinas who broke barriers here and rightfully so. But once I started digging deeper into global Black dance history, I realized how much we miss when we don’t look outward.

World Ballet Day is Back!! After taking a break in 2024. Every year, dancers and dance lovers around the world pause to celebrate the artistry, athleticism, and shared spirit that make ballet so extraordinary. World Ballet Day 2025 continues this beloved tradition, offering a rare glimpse behind the curtain into the world’s leading ballet companies. It’s more than a showcase, it’s a reminder of how dance connects us across borders, cultures, and generations.

When The Joffrey Ballet announced that Chanel DaSilva would premiere a new work on its mainstage, it marked a milestone long in the making. DaSilva is the first Black woman to choreograph a mainstage work for Joffrey, and her piece—Wabash & You—premieres November 6–9, 2025 at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Chicago. The work centers on a Chicago love story, features…

Dance history is full of hidden stories—moments where movement became more than performance. One of the most powerful examples comes from the Juba dance, sometimes called Pattin’ Juba. Born during slavery in the United States, Juba wasn’t just about entertainment. It was rhythm without instruments, resistance through movement, and a living link between African traditions and the future of American dance.

Misty Copeland retires from ABT on October 22, 2025. See how her legacy opens doors for rising New York City Ballet soloist India Bradley—and how to get free simulcast tickets in NYC.

Meta description (optional): From Carabosse to Rothbart, here are 10 unforgettable ballet villains for spooky season—complete with quick costume ideas, music cues, and class activities.

Discover the legacy of Lydia Abarca Mitchell, founding ballerina of Dance Theatre of Harlem. A trailblazer who paved the way for Black ballerinas today.

Engage your elementary dancers this October with fall dance lesson plans! Build teamwork, explore body shapes and levels, and finish with a class-created jack-o-lantern. Free downloadable lesson plan included.

Teaching preschool dancers is always a joyful challenge. Their excitement fills the room, but so does their endless energy and short attention spans. As the leaves start to change and the fall season begins, it’s the perfect time to bring a little extra creativity into your dance classes. Preschool dancers thrive on imagination, routine, and fun. Autumn offers plenty of inspiration.

National Dance Day 2025 is Saturday, September 20. Discover its history, meaning, and creative ways to celebrate in the classroom or dance studio.

Learn how to set back to dance goals with reflection, planning & focus. Advice from a dancer & educator + a printable planner for success.

The Kennedy Center is facing mounting turbulence. The recent departures of its Director of Dance, Jane Raleigh, and two full-time dance programming staffers mark a critical shift, but dance as an art form isn't being wiped out. Under newly installed leadership, programming maybe shifting toward a more commercial, So You Think You Can Dance‑style direction. This follows wide-scale upheaval, including the departure of 50+ staffers since Donald Trump took over the institution in February 2025.

There’s something about the back to dance schedule season that always feels like a fresh start. Much like the first day of school, the beginning of a new dance year carries excitement, nervous energy, and endless possibilities. The costumes, competitions, and recitals are still months away, but the foundation is set in these first weeks as we begin to shape technique, set goals, and create new memories in the studio.

Becket, Mass. — Jacob’s Pillow, one of the most iconic and historically significant dance centers in the United States, has announced the cancellation of the remainder of its 2025 season following a fatal workplace accident. The decision halts performances at the famed festival’s indoor and outdoor stages, a blow to the international dance community and to Berkshire County’s vibrant arts scene.

When I first stepped into the world of teaching in the school system as a dance educator, I never imagined how much my teaching space or lack of it would impact how I taught, connected with my students, or maintained classroom culture. Over the years, I’ve taught dance from a cart, in multipurpose rooms, and finally in a proper dance studio.

Teaching dance in elementary school can be a joyful, fun, and creative experience, but let’s be real: it can also feel overwhelming without a clear framework. That’s why the 5 Elements of Dance Body, Action, Space, Time, and Energy is such a great tool. They offer structure, flexibility, and a language both you and your students can grow with. Scroll all the way down for a free downloadable lesson plan template.

When most people think of Black dance in America, the name Alvin Ailey often rises to the top and rightfully so. Ailey’s work created a legacy that brought African American stories to the concert dance stage in a way that hadn’t been done before. His company opened doors. But as a Black dancer and educator who has trained and performed in multiple spaces, I’ve learned that the world of Black dance is much broader and deeper than many realize.

When I first started teaching dance, I thought my role would stay within the walls of the studio helping students learn to plié, chasse, and leap with confidence. What I didn’t expect was how often I’d get messages from parents and classroom teachers saying, “She’s focusing better in school,” or “He’s finally remembering how to count without skipping numbers.” That’s when it hit me…

I still remember the moment the difference hit me. I had just finished teaching a third-grade dance class at a public elementary school. We were exploring storytelling through movement, and one student who had never taken a dance class before used stomps and claps to show the sound of thunder in her routine. That same evening, I walked into the private studio where I also taught.

The Role of Art in Social Change: How Dance Moves Movements When I think about the power of dance, I don’t just think about technique or performance. I think about history. I think about identity. I think about how movement has always been a voice, especially when words have fallen short or been ignored. For me, art in social change…

I remember working the desk at Atlanta Ballet as the receptionist one of my first gigs out of college as I watched one of my tiniest students walk into the studio on shaky legs, her oversized ballet bag dragging behind her. She clung to her mom’s hand, wide-eyed and unsure. By the end of class, she was tiptoeing around the room with a smile, arms spread like butterfly wings.

As a dance teacher, there are days when the studio feels like home, filled with music, movement, and purpose. And then there are days when the pressure builds, choreography deadlines, classroom challenges, burnout creeping in. Over the years, I’ve learned that one of the simplest yet most powerful tools to protect my mindset is affirmations. These aren’t just feel-good phrases.

When I first heard the news that Misty Copeland was retiring, I had to sit with it for a moment. Misty isn’t just a ballerina to me, she’s a symbol of what’s possible. For years, I watched her redefine ballet on her own terms, pushing past gatekeepers and barriers that weren’t designed with her in mind. She wasn’t supposed to make it, and yet she did.

Dance has always been more than just movement. For many, it’s a language of healing, a way to connect, express, and rebuild. That’s why careers in dance therapy have been gaining attention, especially as more people recognize the mental, emotional, and physical benefits of combining movement with psychology. If you’ve ever considered turning your passion for dance into a profession that helps others especially children, dance therapy may be your calling.

It’s the end of an era, and what a powerful, graceful, and unapologetically bold era it’s been. On October 22, 2025, Misty Copeland will take her final bow with American Ballet Theatre at the David H. Koch Theater in New York City. The Fall Gala marks not just the end of her time as a principal dancer, but the beginning of her next act, one we know will be just as impactful.