Ouverture — est. 2011

Front row and behind-the-scenes news from the world of ballet

Independent journalism on dancers, companies, history, health and full-length ballets — from Prix de Lausanne to the corps de ballet, in English y en español.

Classical Ballet News — featured photo
150+articles & features
29rubrics & categories
1passion · classical ballet
Act I · The repertoire

Now playing

The pieces audiences keep returning to — the most-read pages of the season, rebuilt for the new site.

No. 1

The Ritual of the Reverence

Why every class ends with a bow — the meaning, history and etiquette of the reverence, from the studio to the stage.

2 079impressions · No. 1
No. 2

Top 10 Dance Partners of All Time

From Fonteyn & Nureyev to the great pas de deux of the modern stage — the partnerships that defined an art.

1 141impressions · No. 2
No. 3

Ballet Company Hierarchy

Corps de ballet, soloist, principal — how the ranks of a company work, and what it takes to move up the ladder.

2 277impressions · explainer
No. 5

Mikhail Baryshnikov — Quotes

The dancer, defector and director on art, discipline and what ballet taught him about life.

433impressions · No. 5
Act II · The company

One art, many roles

The rubric of a living theatre: every corner of the site is a member of the troupe.

Soloists

Ballet Dancers

Profiles and features on the artists of our time.
14 articles
Historian

Ballet History

From Degas' era to the global stage — the chronicle of an art form.
14 articles
Corps de ballet

Ballet Companies

Troupes, theatres and the news from their seasons.
10 articles
Répertoire

Classical Ballets

Full-length ballets: Giselle, Romeo & Juliet, A Midsummer Night's Dream.
9 articles
Pilates master

Ballet Health

Floor-Barre, injuries, nutrition and longevity for dancers.
11 articles
Stage manager

Ballet in the Media

Video interviews, film and the ballet on screen.
12 articles
Pageant master

Ballet Competitions

Prix de Lausanne, YAGP and the rising stars they crown.
19 articles
International tour

En Español

Nuestras noticias y entrevistas en español.
33 artículos
En Pointe · The reference desk

Questions the world keeps asking

These are the pages people search for most — and we are rebuilding them first, deeper and clearer.

Five Ballet Feet Positions

1 711searches

The five positions of the feet — the grammar of every step.

How to Relevé in Ballet

1 388searches

Rising to pointe with control — technique and video guide.

Parts of a Pointe Shoe

778searches

Box, shank, vamp, ribbons — anatomy of the dancer's tool.

The Reverence, Explained

500+searches

Meaning, translation and etiquette of the closing bow.

Definition of Ballet

93searches

What ballet is — and what it is not — in one considered page.

Straightening the Knees

110searches

Alignment, turnout and the path to full extension.

Join with us in spreading the beauty and appreciation of Classical Ballet far and wide.

— Classical Ballet News · Our Mission
Finale · The curtain call

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