CRUNFLORVAME

The multifaceted Ebony Williams has made dances for pop stars, movies, commercials, musical theater, and more. Now, she’s got a new credit: cartoon choreographer. Williams recently created the movement for a new half-hour special of the Emmy-nominated animated series “Alma’s Way,” a PBS KIDS show set in the Bronx that follows a 6-year-old Puerto Rican girl named Alma. Ahead of the June 9 debut of the special, “Alma’s Summertime Musical,”…

As a native New Yorker, I’m ashamed to admit I’d never been inside the flagship New York Public Library. That changed on a recent weekend, when, as an audience member at Monica Bill Barnes’ Lunch Dances, I ended up donning neon-green headphones and jogging around the iconic landmark with my hands in the air. Lunch Dances is the perfect introduction to the library. But it’s also a statement about the…

In the first episode of Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino’s series “Étoile,” a ballet company director from Paris says to another in New York City: “I propose a swap!” They devise a plan—which becomes the premise for the whole show—to rescue both organizations from their post-COVID fragility: They’ll trade artists for a year, a publicity stunt and an artistic experiment rolled into one. If that all sounds a little dramatic…

Flexibility is an important requirement for dancers of all ages. Young dancers, in particular, need flexibility not only to perform but also to maintain overall health. Sometimes, younger students may lack flexibility in specific areas or experience overall tightness that hinders their dance technique. Modern lifestyles can exacerbate these challenges, with excessive sitting and time spent in front of screens contributing to stiffness. Well-informed, patient work is essential to help…

One recent morning, I opened TikTok to find a video of a man doing a vaguely familiar dance step—something that resembled the whisk, a foundational element of ballroom’s International Latin samba. The video referenced “Blue Shirt Guy” as its inspiration. Soon, TikTok’s algorithm showed me the surprising source material: a 2021 video of the ballroom dance luminary Ruslan Aidaev wearing a blue shirt while teaching whisk technique to a group…

In the season premiere of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 17, Suzie Toot wowed the judges, her fellow contestants, and viewers with a tap routine that proved she has serious dance chops. Her side-splitting Morse code interpretation of the Gettysburg Address secured her the season’s first win, and unleashed a wave of new fans. Ms. Toot—born Benjamin Shaevitz—is no stranger to the spotlight: In 2023 she opened for Chappell Roan at…

Are you getting these key nutrients? It’s unnecessary to spend tons of money or go to extremes for better health. Dancers are already overachievers as it is, so just focus on eating enough throughout the day and then five simple nutrients that will make a difference. #1. Vitamin D3 Many people don’t know that this vitamin improves muscle strength. Two recent studies on ballet dancers showed that supplementation of 1000-2000 IU…