Nadezhda von Meck

Tchaikovsky’s Patroness

Madame von Meck offered Tchaikovsky her generous patronage, but spoke to him only through letters.
Janet Collins

The History of African-American Casting in Ballet

Ballet has been slow to accept African-American dancers in major companies, and those who make it tend to be offered limited roles.
Ballerinas

Can Ballet Be Feminist?

Ballerinas have long made feminists both uneasy and excited, embodying fulfillment and the shackles of feminine performance.
Close-up of Carmen de Lavallade with her eyes closed and her arm bent over her head in a dance pose

83-Year-Old Carmen de Lavallade Dances at Kennedy Center

Dance icon Carmen de Lavallade, 83, was the first African-American prima ballerina at the Metropolitan Opera.