Where every step tells a story
Never whistle in the theater. Never say 'good luck.' Never, under any circumstances, open your umbrella in the wings. Ballet is an art form built on centuries of strange and stubborn superstitions — and even the most modern dancers still honor more of them than they'd care to admit.
A pointe shoe's lifespan may be measured in performances, but a dancer's artistry is measured in decades. We followed four former GM Ballet dancers into their second acts — and discovered the stage never really lets them go.
Ever wondered why a ballet ticket costs what it does—or whether you really need to spend $100 to see great dance? We open our books and walk through the real economics of a regional ballet season, from orchestra payroll to pay-what-you-can nights.
French classicism, the Vaganova method, Cuban dynamism, and Balanchine speed all converge on American stages every night. We profile three GM Ballet dancers from different pedagogical traditions and ask what an 'American style' of ballet is becoming.
Princes get the pas de deux, but villains get the applause that lasts. Meet five of ballet's most magnetic antagonists—and the GM Ballet character artists who explain what it takes to make an audience hiss.
When the theater lights dim for summer, GM Ballet's artists are anything but idle. From guesting with regional companies to leading studio intensives, here is how professional dancers sustain both their artistry and their livelihoods between seasons.
Every season announcement looks effortless from the outside, but each program is the product of negotiation, budget math, and artistic conviction. We went behind the scenes with GM Ballet's leadership to learn how a season really gets built — and why The Nutcracker quietly underwrites nearly everything else we do.
Think ballet's male roles begin and end with a prince lifting a ballerina? Think again. This beginner-friendly guide tours eight roles — classic and contemporary — that reveal how much range, grit, and vulnerability the male dancer now carries on American stages.
Enrolling your child in ballet raises a hundred questions: what to buy, what to expect, and when to worry about burnout. This practical guide walks parents through every stage of training, from wobbly three-year-olds to teens weighing a pre-professional path.
Long before the curtain rises, another company of artists has already begun to work. We spent a week with the musicians of the GM Ballet Orchestra to learn how a hundred players, one conductor, and a sleeping swan move as one.
Audiences see the tutus and the lighting cues; they rarely see the 9:30 a.m. theraband, the taped toes, or the silent ritual before a entrance. We spent a full day with one of our corps de ballet dancers to reveal the discipline, endurance, and quiet artistry behind every performance.
Never been to the ballet? Perfect — you're in for a treat. From haunted forests to midnight balls, these five narrative ballets prove that you don't need a dance background to be swept away. All you need is a seat and an open mind.