Ballet’s spectacle does not always rest in high extensions and multiple pirouettes. In fact, sometimes precision gets lost in a catacomb of tricks. But moments such as the Dance of the Cygnets from Act II of Swan Lake recapture ballet's purity with meticulous footwork and teamwork. Its cohesiveness reveals how simplicity can enrapture an audience. With hands interlaced, these four Bolshoi ballerinas coordinate their épaulement and piqués as if they are perfect replicas of one another. Enjoy this quick moment of intricacy. Happy #ThrowbackThursday!
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Mar 01, 2021
Pacific Northwest Ballet's Sarah-Gabrielle Ryan, photographed by Jayme Thornton for Pointe
The Radiant Sarah-Gabrielle Ryan: Why She's One to Watch at Pacific Northwest Ballet
Hollywood could make a movie about Sarah-Gabrielle Ryan's big break at Pacific Northwest Ballet.
It was November 2017, and the company was performing Crystal Pite's film-noir–inspired Plot Point, set to music by Bernard Hermann from Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho. Ryan, then a first-year corps member, originally was understudying the role of another dancer. But when principal Noelani Pantastico was injured in a car accident, Ryan was tapped to take over her role.
<p>Ryan had danced featured roles before, including Maria in Jerome Robbins' <em>West Side Story Suite.</em> But she had just one day to learn Pite's choreography. It was a daunting task, but she was determined not to squander her shot. After a session in the studio with Pantastico, Ryan went home and rehearsed for hours in her living room. "I learned the hell out of that role," she laughs.</p><p>Her hard work paid off. When she hurtled onto the stage, draped in a gray trench coat, she stared at the body sprawled on the floor, turned to the audience, her dark eyes opened wide in shock, and let out a horrified scream. The audience was rapt.</p>
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTcwMzA0MS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY3MTEyNDEwN30.JfZ4BhAAn1SUQTr09grlx23kAedEonxs3UX-VFjtLd8/img.jpg?width=980" id="ad4cb" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="ed51712fa0e6221f0ab8f1e8dcd6d00b" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="Sarah-Gabrielle Ryan poses in sixth position on pointe. Her legs face profile while her upper body twists front and leans back and her arms raise high above her head with wrists together. Standing in front of a purple backdrop, she wears a pink leotard and long, brightly colored floral chiffon skirt that billows dramatically high behind her in the wind" data-width="1080" data-height="1080" />
Jayme Thornton for Pointe
<p>"The expectation was that we'd throw her onstage and she'd be tentative," says Pacific Northwest Ballet artistic director Peter Boal. "But she gave a really strong performance."</p><p>Ryan's success in <em>Plot Point</em> led to a string of featured roles at PNB, from the Sugarplum Fairy in George Balanchine's <em>The Nutcracker</em> to work by David Dawson and Donald Byrd. But Ryan is no overnight sensation; her success is the result of years of training, discipline and a passion for her art form. That passion also buoyed her during an on-going struggle with body-image issues, and her decision to establish her career a continent away from her close-knit Philadelphia family.</p>
Early Successes—and Struggles
<p>Ryan, now 23, has been dancing since she was 3 years old, when her parents enrolled her in tap, jazz and ballet classes at a local dance studio. At age 5, her teacher recommended she pursue more rigorous ballet training at Philadelphia's acclaimed Rock School for Dance Education.</p><p>Ryan flew up the levels there, and by the age of 12, she'd advanced to the top, the youngest student in her classes. Although she held her own with high-school–aged peers, Ryan knew she was different. "Everyone was older," she says. "You were expected to look a certain way, but I was still going through puberty!"</p><p>That didn't stop Pennsylvania Ballet, which then did not have an affiliated school, from casting Ryan in its annual <em>Nutcracker</em>. Ryan was 10 when she danced her first role, a toy soldier. Miami City Ballet School director Arantxa Ochoa was a principal dancer with Pennsylvania Ballet at the time, but she noticed the young dancer.</p><p>"I just remember her beautiful eyes and big smile," Ochoa recalls.</p><div style="padding: 20px 0 40px;">
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<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTcwNDEwOC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0NDQ1MTgwOH0.JH-mOCsrpfijQCRkaH65HdMS5VLtJuGzHfGsi20eMOY/img.jpg?width=980" id="78f26" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="cda1810e8c1ca1bfe7f5564896a2ab02" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="Sarah-Gabrielle Ryan wears a light gray dance dress and poses in front of a white backdrop in a low first arabesque on her left leg. She opens her upper body slightly towards the camera and smiles, her long brown hair billowing in the breeze." data-width="4500" data-height="4500" />
Jayme Thornton for Pointe
<p>Five years later, when Ryan enrolled in Pennsylvania Ballet's newly revived school, Ochoa was her teacher. "She was that ideal student," says Ochoa. "Hard worker. Very smart, very talented. To me, she had that thing, that 'It' factor."</p><p>Ochoa wasn't the only one to notice her potential. Ryan continued to win roles in Pennsylvania Ballet productions, including Balanchine's "Diamonds," videotaped for PBS. At 16, she was offered a contract with Pennsylvania Ballet's second company. From the outside, it looked like the culmination of Ryan's dream.</p><p>The reality was less idyllic. Ryan had struggled with body-image issues since her early years at the Rock School; she was particularly self-conscious about the size and shape of her thighs. She remembers one Rock School teacher asking if her Mexican-born mother made good flan. When Ryan replied in the affirmative, he told her she looked like she was enjoying too much of it. Another teacher at the school suggested she go on a liquid diet to drop some weight.</p><p>Ryan recalls other "advice," such as being told not to go out into the sun, so that her skin wouldn't get too dark. Although she took that particular comment in stride, it compounded her self-consciousness about her appearance. It also strengthened her resolve to work harder in the studio.</p><p>At PBII, Ryan was determined to show she had what it takes to succeed as a professional ballerina. But while artistic director Angel Corella told the young dancer that he liked her dancing, she says he advised her to slim down or risk fewer onstage opportunities. She valued his feedback, and her long relationship with Pennsylvania Ballet, but Ryan knew it was time to look for opportunities outside her hometown. She focused her attention on Seattle.</p>
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Ryan with company dancers in Jerome Robbins' West Side Story Suite
Lindsay Thomas, Courtesy PNB
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A New Home
<p>Ryan had attended Pacific Northwest Ballet's summer intensive the summer after joining PBII. She was among 30 young women enrolled in Peter Boal's class that summer—all excellent dancers, he says—but Ryan stood out.</p><p>"She had this kind of go-for-broke presence," Boal says. "A gutsiness." He made a mental note. A year later, when Ryan contacted him about an audition, Boal invited her to attend class when the company toured to New York City. At the end of that class, Boal offered Ryan a contract; she joined PNB as an apprentice in the fall of 2016.</p><p>"I loved PNB's rep, I loved the idea of working for Peter," Ryan says. Although she was scared about moving across the country, she calls it "good scared."</p><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTcwMjcwNC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxNjk1MjYxM30.x_BY9CkmMCJOsGUPG840LFL8UH70i6XoM-BWayy20cQ/img.jpg?width=980" id="aeb60" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="42f5d59af4e8522434111d7eacb5c8cd" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="Sarah-Gabrielle Ryan does a piqu\u00e9 retir\u00e9 on her left foot and holds her arms in fourth position en evant, leaning her upper body over to look towards her right leg. She wears an ornate blue tutu with off-the-shoulder sleeves, a blue feathered headress and pink tights and pointe shoes." data-width="2593" data-height="3300" />
Ryan in Ronald Hynd's The Sleeping Beauty
Angela Sterling, Courtesy PNB
<p>Ryan credits Boal with helping to free her from her self-image issues, but that didn't happen overnight. During her apprentice year, Ryan attended class in "trash bag pants," concerned that if Boal saw her thighs he'd decide not to cast her. She braced herself for the all-too familiar weight talk.</p><p>It never came.</p><p>But Boal noticed Ryan's tension, how she seemed intent on proving herself every time he was teaching class or watching rehearsal. He took her aside and explained that he'd hired her for a reason—he liked her dancing—and advised Ryan simply to dance for her own love of it. By the end of her apprentice year, new contract in hand, Ryan felt she'd found a true ballet home.</p><p>Ryan also credits her new-found comfort to the camaraderie she feels at PNB. She gravitated to a small group of Latinx dancers, who reminded her of her close-knit Philadelphia family. Ryan's mother is Mexican; her father grew up in Belize. The family identifies as Latin American, speaks Spanish at home and celebrates especially their Mexican heritage. Ryan was particularly touched when one colleague, a Seattle-area native, brought her samples of Mexican dishes her own mother had prepared. Small gestures like this helped ease the young dancer's homesickness.</p><p>Ryan had another reason to embrace her new city: Not long after she joined PNB, she caught the eye of a fellow dancer, principal Kyle Davis. They've been partners onstage and off for the past three years. "She's fantastic to work with," Davis says. "She's intelligent, open to discussing how steps work and how we can better work together. I personally think that's a phenomenal quality in a partner."</p>
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Finding Her Voice
<p>During this long pandemic year, Davis and Ryan have had ample opportunity to explore their partnership. They share a Seattle apartment with two miniature Australian shepherds, Hawk and Magpie, who make frequent cameos during the online classes the couple both take and teach.</p><p>PNB's 2020-21 season is all-digital, and when the dancers returned to the studio last August, only those who co-habitated could partner one another. In the company's opening program, Ryan and Davis reprised the pas de deux from Balanchine's "Rubies." While dancing for cameras instead of live audiences hasn't been ideal, Ryan says she's learned how to use her face to convey emotions in a more intimate way, instead of playing to the second balcony.</p><p>Beyond the pandemic, the past year also ushered in frank national conversations about race and racism, which freed Ryan to speak more openly about her Latin heritage. "It gave me a voice I didn't always have before," Ryan says. "I always knew I was different, especially in ballet, but didn't often talk about it."</p><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTcwMzM3My9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyNjgzNDE3N30.HGL1FFIRIjaLqqdnDeKEiigTOe_MA0RwtnuLZKkP6zQ/img.jpg?width=980" id="c1edf" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="276932390dfa9bc7606ff0a86cfbba7a" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="Standing in front of a bright purple backdrop, Sarah-Gabrielle Ryan wears a pink cap-sleeved leotard and long chiffon skirt with a bright floral pattern. She faces profile to her left, props her right foot up onto her pointe shoe and looks back toward the camera with a close-lipped, confident smile." data-width="1080" data-height="1080" />
Jayme Thornton for Pointe
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<p>Last fall she encouraged PNB to acknowledge Hispanic Heritage Month. But she also wants to see ballet open its ranks to more dancers of color, and to see them advance to the upper echelons of companies like PNB.</p><p>Perhaps she'll be one of those dancers; at 23, she still has a long career ahead of her. Although she dreams of dancing the iconic classical roles—Giselle, Juliet and Kitri—Ryan also looks forward to the contemporary ballets that are a PNB mainstay.</p><p>Boal believes she can do whatever she sets her mind to. "Some dancers, there is no ceiling to their capability," Boal says. "Sarah-Gabrielle Ryan is one of them."</p>
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Mar 08, 2021
Elliot deBruyn, Courtesy BalletX
Don’t Miss These Virtual World Premieres Happening in March
As the ballet world pushes into spring, companies across the country are adapting to the pandemic by premiering new digital works, wrapping up virtual seasons and engaging in artistic collaborations. Here are a few of the world-premiere digital programs on tap this month.
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Kansas City Ballet
<img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTgwMDE4My9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY2NjEzNDMyNX0.BqwFX4JG6d9sZQmj4guNs8OeJ2ADNjpG_G0jXYem9yg/img.jpg?width=980" id="7a341" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="84dd73210fb51fa156da33507fa1685e" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="Whitney Huell wears a sparkly long green dress and stans in tendu derriere crois\u00e9 in pli\u00e9 with her arms extended and tilted so that her left arm is higher. She looks over her right arm while standing under a spotlight on a darkened stage." data-width="2048" data-height="2048" />Kansas City Ballet dancer Whitney Huell in a new work by Helen Pickett
Courtesy Kansas City PBS
<p>On February 18, Kansas City Ballet premiered the first of its new seven-week virtual program, New Moves: The Broadcast Series. Structured as weekly ballet episodes, this program features a selection of 5- to 10-minute world premieres choreographed by <a href="https://www.dancemagazine.com/helen-pickett-rebel-on-pointe-2306957651.html" target="_blank">Helen Pickett</a>, Marika Brussel, <a href="https://www.pointemagazine.com/margaret-mullin-2646127853.html" target="_self">Margaret Mullin</a>, Caroline Dahm, Price Suddarth and KCB dancers <a href="https://www.pointemagazine.com/courtney-nitting-ballet-2627724488.html" target="_self">Courtney Nitting</a> and James Kirby Rogers. A site-specific series, New Moves features prominent Kansas City landmarks, including the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, Kansas City PBS Studio and Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, among others.</p><p>Episodes premiere on the <a href="https://kcballet.org/" target="_blank">company website</a> each Thursday at 7 pm CDT, through April 1. After its initial posting, each episode will remain online for free; on-demand viewing will run through April 9.</p>American Ballet Theatre
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="77359b71b7da4297a1284fa0198e8d81"><iframe lazy-loadable="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gTXvaXqk1qg?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span><p>This month, American Ballet Theatre is hosting two world-premiere events. First, it partnered with Tony Award–nominated choreographer Sonya Tayeh and musician Mike Milosh, founder of the Canadian music group <a href="https://www.rhyemusic.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Rhye</a>, for a commissioned dance film. Titled <em>What Becomes of Love?</em>, the piece debuted on March 4 and is part of this year's <a href="https://live.nationalsawdust.org/digital-discovery-festival" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Digital Discovery Festival</a> offered by Brooklyn-based arts organization National Sawdust. Tayeh's premiere explores love in all forms and features music by Rhye and performances by six ABT dancers, including Cory Stearns, <a href="https://www.pointemagazine.com/courtney-lavine-abt-2640729749.html" target="_self">Courtney Lavine</a>, Zimmi Coker, Jose Sebastian, Ingrid Thoms and <a href="https://www.pointemagazine.com/what-to-watch-go-inside-the-life-of-an-abt-studio-company-dancer-2623855341.html" target="_self">Joseph Markey</a>. <em>What Becomes of Love? </em>is available for on-demand viewing on the ABT Facebook and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/ABTBalletTheatre" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">YouTube</a> through March 14.</p><img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTc5OTg3MC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY2MjYzNzAxMn0.-39aYx6fZlbflR2ZB_wqRoBveH3osJurDk-HpiEkaXY/img.jpg?width=980" id="a6378" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="d5adc0292272c5608713f83707166833" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="A group of male and female dancers in practice clothing and face masks cluster together with their arms around each other on a bare stage. A male dancer in a blue T-shirt on the far right kneels and pretends to snap a picture with an imaginary camera while the others pose." data-width="3000" data-height="2000" />
ABT dancers rehearse Alexei Ratmansky's new work, Bernstein in a Bubble
Christopher Duggan, Courtesy ABT
<p>On March 23 at 7 pm EDT, ABT presents the world premiere of Alexei Ratmansky's <em>Bernstein in a Bubble</em> as part of the company's <a href="https://www.abt.org/performances/virtual-performances/abt-live-from-city-center/" target="_blank">ABT Live from City Center | A Ratmansky Celebration</a> virtual offering. The program, filmed live on the City Center stage, also features excerpts from Ratmansky's <em>The Seasons</em>, <em>Seven Sonatas</em> and <em>The Sleeping Beauty</em>. <em>Bernstein in a Bubble</em>, set to music by the legendary American composer Leonard Bernstein, was created during a quarantined "bubble" residency this past winter and features 15 dancers, including <a href="https://www.pointemagazine.com/catherine-hurlin-aran-bell-abt-2641653187.html?rebelltitem=2" target="_self">Aran Bell</a>, <a href="https://www.pointemagazine.com/isabella-boylston-dance-bag-2646375264.html" target="_self">Isabella Boylston</a>, <a href="https://www.pointemagazine.com/skylar-brandt-pointe-shoes-2639897584.html" target="_self">Skylar Brandt</a>, <a href="https://www.pointemagazine.com/abt-fall-season-2019-2640874118.html" target="_self">Herman Cornejo</a> and <a href="https://www.pointemagazine.com/james-whiteside-thom-browne-2638968271.html" target="_self">James Whiteside</a>.</p><p>Viewers can purchase tickets to ABT Live from City Center | A Ratmansky Celebration for $25 via <a href="https://nycc.vhx.tv/" target="_blank">New York City Center Digital</a> website. (You must open an NYCCD account first.) On-demand access will be available through April 18.</p><div style="padding: 20px 0 40px;">
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BalletX
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="b5cb7a6363fd221b2badd2a137808364"><iframe lazy-loadable="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XjCylmA3N-g?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span><p>Join BalletX beginning March 10 for the final installment of its 2020–21 <a href="https://www.balletx.org/join-balletx-beyond/?utm_campaign=later-linkinbio-balletx.official&utm_content=later-14925352&utm_medium=social&utm_source=instagram" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">BalletX Beyond </a>virtual season, featuring the premieres of three site-specific short films. First on the program is Maddie Hanson's <em>VIRTUALITY</em>, which<em> </em>stars BalletX dancer <a href="https://www.pointemagazine.com/switching-ballet-company-during-covid19-2649631626.html?rebelltitem=1#rebelltitem1" target="_self">Ashley Simpson</a> and explores the crossover between art and technology. Then, Stephanie Martinez's <em>Her Blood a Wild River</em> honors Mexican and Indigenous female pioneers and features seven company dancers, with a portion of the piece set to Denice Frohman's poem <em>A Woman's Place. </em>Finally, Gustavo Ramirez Sansano's <em>Hernando's Hideaway</em>, which explores the digital creative process, stars dancers Richard Villaverde, Zachary Kapeluck and Blake Krapels, and is set to The Johnston Brothers' performance of the namesake song.</p><p>The films premiere online on March 10 and will be available for online viewing through August 31. Audiences can access the films and other virtual premiere events by subscribing to BalletX Beyond via the <a href="https://www.balletx.org/join-balletx-beyond/?utm_campaign=later-linkinbio-balletx.official&utm_content=later-14925352&utm_medium=social&utm_source=instagram" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">company website</a>.</p>Carolina Ballet
<img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTc5OTkxOC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyNTI0MTQ3M30.L-0VvJcgY3vuLYJNhcefso33jaTYGdZJbvh3dQekb8k/img.jpg?width=980" id="81ada" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="e56e99714e82c02580fb1d23a7f9297c" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="In a large dance studio, Courtney Schenberger, wearing a black leotard, skirt face mask and wide legwarmers, stands in fourth position on pointe with her arms extended behind her. Her partner, Sam Ainley, holds onto her hands and stands in a casual first position. Pablo Perez stands to their left and gestures as if giving them a note." data-width="3417" data-height="2205" />Carolina Ballet dancers Courtney Schenberger and Sam Ainley rehearse the Spring section of Robert Weiss's The Four Seasons with ballet master Pablo Perez.
Courtesy Carolina Ballet
<p>This month, Carolina Ballet premieres former artistic director Robert Weiss' <em>Four Miniatures</em> alongside his 2018 piece <em>Vivaldi's Four Seasons</em>. Composed of two solos and two pas de deux, <em>Four Miniatures </em>stars CB company members Taylor Ayotte, Courtney Schenberger and Richard Krusch, as well as New York City Ballet guest artists Megan LeCrone, Alexa Maxwell and Amar Ramasar. The ballets feature music by Stravinsky, Pachelbel, Ravel and Tchaikovsky.</p><p>Season subscribers and single-ticket holders can catch the livestreamed program on March 17 and 18 at 7:30 pm EDT. Each performance will remain accessible through midnight on March 21.</p>Ballet Idaho
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="145d24ce71b89beaad5f96f813072d24"><iframe lazy-loadable="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-fmM9eG8cH0?list=PLWS9BVL3_qNAjopyNDhZMbY5ryBJD-KDv&rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span><p>Ballet Idaho continues its 2020–21 virtual season this month with Movement 4: New Dance, featuring five world premieres created by four company members and guest choreographer Yusha-Marie Sorzano. The program is divided into two episodes, the first showing works by dancers Ashley Baker and Antonio Carnell and the second including those by Cydney Covert, Daniel Ojeda and Sorzano.</p><p>Each performance streams throughout the month of March and is available through subscription via the Ballet Idaho <a href="https://balletidaho.org/movement-4/" target="_blank">website</a>.</p><div style="padding: 20px 0 40px;">
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Mar 08, 2021
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Dancing in a Mask? 6 Products to Keep Maskne at Bay
Wearing a mask while dancing in exchange for finally getting back into the studio seems like a small price to pay—though it doesn't make maskne any less pesky.
But the irritation and acne caused by sweating in a mask doesn't have to be part of the equation. To clear up breakouts and prevent new ones from popping up post-rehearsal, Dr. Melissa Kanchanapoomi Levin, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Entière Dermatology, explains the importance of a strong (but simple) skin-care routine.
"Masks cause heat, friction and occlusion on the skin," says Levin, who trained in ballet through her teenage years. Combine that with the sweat that gets trapped by your mask and you've got the perfect environment for clogged pores and bacteria overgrowth. Levin notes that the best approach for clear skin is to consistently use a gentle cleanser in the morning and at night, followed by a lightweight moisturizer, and a topical cream with an active ingredient to treat and prevent breakouts.
<p>And be wary of overdoing things. "Too many exfoliants further worsen the skin barrier disruption and can cause other inflammatory conditions," says Levin, who cautions against combining too many active ingredients like salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide and retinoids. "In general, I recommend adding one active ingredient at a time, and avoiding other irritating ingredients such as alcohol and fragrances."</p><p>To help get you started, try incorporating one (or more) of the products below to find your perfect lineup. But if breakouts still persist, don't hesitate to book an appointment with a professional. "For more moderate or severe breakouts, seeing a board-certified dermatologist is key," says Levin. And it doesn't even have to interfere with your training, as it's easier than ever to schedule a telehealth visit with a dermatologist.</p>
CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser
<img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTc5NjcwMi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY2ODU3MDc0NH0.Eup3sjBemMMQaH5KusBketwYyuasx4Zi8BB2qYnKpio/img.jpg?width=4558&coordinates=0%2C625%2C0%2C749&height=4722" id="86c71" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="aa6bee499882c62c31b61d5633f8ccde" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="A white and lime green bottle of CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser with a pump" data-width="4558" data-height="4722" />Courtesy CeraVe
<p>"I recommend washing your face before dance class and after a full day," Levin says. This <a href="https://www.ulta.com/hydrating-facial-cleanser?productId=xlsImpprod4190255" target="_blank">CeraVe cleanser</a> is formulated with ceramides and hyaluronic acid so it won't strip your skin of essential moisture, and it's noncomedogenic (meaning it won't clog your pores).</p>Differin Adapalene Gel
<img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTc5NjY5Mi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY2MzcxODM3NH0.W8eHIOdwEjSpwiy6x8Q6M-ZpkRDLfOUWpOXhAyOZ4KU/img.jpg?width=980" id="d0689" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="4fa8bdb9a5e5085dc7f03a425952a5e4" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="A white bottle of Differin Adapalene Gel with yellow accents and a blue cap" data-width="1785" data-height="1178" />Courtesy Differin
<p>An over-the-counter acne treatment can help to clear clogged pores, and Levin likes this drugstore find because it still provides prescription strength. "<a href="https://www.target.com/p/differin-adapalene-gel-0-1-acne-treatment-15g/-/A-51346324" target="_blank">Differin</a> is a retinoid or vitamin A derivative, which is the foundation of how dermatologists treat acne," she says of its ability to increase skin cell turnover to prevent breakouts. "However, it's important to ease into the frequency of the Differin gel, and use it with a moisturizer at night," she adds. That will help minimize signs of irritation, like dryness.</p>La Roche-Posay Effaclar Clarifying Oil-Free Cleansing Towelettes
<img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTc5NjY3MS9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxNjE2NDA2M30.42iUNYCK3N4dIOqumoYNbdflakV9XIKy8Cwip94yeUc/img.png?width=980" id="023df" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="fb498b42052c1c2a027fe0fbf1d05406" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="A white package of La Roche-Posey cleansing towelettes" data-width="1500" data-height="1180" />Courtesy La Roche-Posay
<p>It's important to keep your skin clean to help prevent acne, but excessively cleansing can actually just cause more irritation. Rather than wash your face after class or in between rehearsals (which is a pain to do in the studio anyway), Levin recommends using on-the-go wipes like <a href="https://www.ulta.com/effaclar-clarifying-oil-free-cleansing-towelettes?productId=xlsImpprod16011005" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">La Roche-Posay</a>'s. Not only are they alcohol-free and fragrance-free, but they also include soothing thermal spring water, and a gentler derivative of salicylic acid to exfoliate the skin without causing irritation.</p><div style="padding: 20px 0 40px;">
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Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel-Cream
<img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTc5NjY1OC9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzMDYwMzc4MX0._VrUehU3Ucoc1xHxJ_eOJAFiyd_8DX6qme9Lf-B8pO0/img.png?width=1539&coordinates=0%2C169%2C0%2C0&height=1079" id="7ff80" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="5790694efae14a2186591777e4c893cc" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="A small aqua blue jar of Neutrogena Hydro Boost gel-cream with a white screw-on lid" data-width="1539" data-height="1079" />Courtesy Neutrogena
<p>Skip the makeup, and apply a moisturizer under your mask instead. This gel formula from <a href="https://www.target.com/p/unscented-neutrogena-hydro-boost-hyaluronic-acid-gel-face-moisturizer-to-hydrate-and-smooth-extra-dry-skin-1-7oz/-/A-16600134" target="_blank">Neutrogena</a> is lightweight and oil-free, so it absorbs quickly without leaving your skin feeling greasy. Plus, it still contains super-hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid to protect against moisture loss.</p>Avène Cleanance Hydra Soothing Cream
<img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTc5NjY1My9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY2ODAwMzg1MX0.n_VC95QWwd1eakW2_lfR20N1h6m0ZAmp3llmSyLlyQs/img.png?width=980" id="119cf" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="1126dd3a20ea2428ccac14ddbb81a0a7" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="A white, squeezable tube of Av\u00e8ne Cleanance Hydra Soothing Cream with a light blue cap." data-width="1000" data-height="830" />Courtesy Avène
<p>Because over-the-counter acne treatments like Differin can be drying as your skin adjusts, <a href="https://www.walgreens.com/store/c/avene-cleanance-hydra-soothing-cream,-acne-treatments-adjunctive-care-1.3-fl.oz./ID=300399911-product" target="_blank">Avène</a> created this multitasking cream. Use it at night for a more moisturizing option that also helps to reinforce the skin's natural barrier and calm signs of irritation like redness.</p>The Klog Soft Shield Pimple Patch
<img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTc5NjY0OS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyNzUwOTkxMH0.ifP0bO_Lh9HGpetgQn06hxs8AYcDB9n2Tupe1N4Gbk0/img.jpg?width=980" id="1ec7a" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="610eaa3b73c5b7ec924837940c0d7e56" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="A package of The Klog Soft Shield Pimple Patch, featuring three sheets of pimple patches fanned out next to the packaging" data-width="1024" data-height="1280" />Courtesy The Klog
<p>When you start to feel a pimple brewing, apply one of these clear patches from <a href="https://sokoglam.com/products/soft-shield-pimple-patch" target="_blank">The Klog</a>. The hydrocolloid bandages absorb excess oil and pus, keeping the affected area clean while speeding up healing time. The tiny adhesives are meant to stay in place throughout the day, but if too much sweat has them sliding around while you dance, switch to using a pimple patch while you sleep instead.</p><div style="padding: 20px 0 40px;">
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