David Howard News

BroadwayWorld spoke with Natasha about her new book and how her dance life and career as a chef intertwine.

HOUSTON, TEXAS – Houston Ballet Artistic Director Stanton Welch promoted Jared Matthews to the rank of principal dancer after a well-received performance as Lucentio in John Cranko's production of The Taming of the Shrew on Saturday, June 20. 

A collaborative effort between in-demand German DJs and Producers Julian Wasserman and Pete Kaltenburg, 'Sweet Hard' has now hit the shelves

Steps on Broadway, one of New York's premiere dance studios, has announced that the Steps Beyond Foundation, its educational and presenting program, has received non-profit status, enabling the organization to provide more services and support to the artistic community.

Schimmel Center at Pace University is proud to host the return engagement of Gelsey Kirkland Ballet'sproduction of the perennial holiday classic The Nutcracker. Due to the success of the production's debut last season at Schimmel Center, this year's production of The Nutcracker will be performed over the course of a special two-week engagement, running tonight, December 11-21.

Schimmel Center at Pace University is proud to host the return engagement of Gelsey Kirkland Ballet'sproduction of the perennial holiday classic The Nutcracker. Due to the success of the production's debut last season at Schimmel Center, this year's production of The Nutcracker will be performed over the course of a special two-week engagement, running December 11–21. This 30-member company, under the artistic direction of Gelsey Kirkland and Michael Chernov, is comprised of nineteen dancers and eleven apprentices, and is based in Lower Manhattan.

Kansas City Ballet is pleased to announce that Grace Holmes, previously Professor of Dance at University of Texas at Austin, assumed the role of Kansas City Ballet School Director beginning September 1, 2014. Her responsibilities will include oversight of the Academy, the Kansas City Youth Ballet, the newly created Trainee Program, the Studio Division and the summer programs for the more than 600 children, young adults and adults in the downtown Bolender Center campus and the Johnson County campus.

Kansas City Ballet Artistic Director Devon Carney today announced the appointment of three new members of the artistic staff: Grace Holmes as the new Director of Kansas City Ballet School, Kristi Capps as the new Ballet Master and Anthony Krutzkamp as newly created position of Manager of KCB II. Carney also announced eleven new members of the Company, increasing the Company from 28 to 29 members for the 2014-2015 season. He also announced the appointment of four new KCB II dancers, which stands at six members. Carney also announced the creation of a Trainee Program with five students, two selected from Kansas City Ballet School.

Aspen Santa Fe Ballet (ASFB), one of the country's leading contemporary ballet companies, returns to Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival for the 82nd season finale.

Aspen Santa Fe Ballet (ASFB), one of the country's leading contemporary ballet companies, returns to Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival for the 82nd season finale.

Hilda Morales was born in N.Y. City, and grew up in Puerto Rico. Her early training was with Ana Garcia of the Ballet San Juan. At 14 years of age, Ms. Morales received a Ford Foundation Scholarship to study at George Balanchine's School of American Ballet. She danced as a principal dancer with the Pennsylvania Ballet, soloist with American Ballet Theatre, artist-in-residence with the Colorado Ballet and guest appearances with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, Albuquerque Ballet and Jacksonville Ballet. During her dancing career, Ms. Morales performed in full-length classic ballets as well as works by George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, Agnes de Mille, Antony Tudor, John Butler, Alvin Ailey, and Jose Limon. Ms. Morales was featured in the movie The Turning Point, in the role of Sandra, directed by Herbert Ross. She guest teaches and is on the faculty of the Central Pennsylvania summer programs, and joined The Hartt School faculty in 1998.

Musical Theatre West presents the third production of their 61st season, the West Coast Premiere of S'WONDERFUL: The New Gershwin Musical, created and directed by Ray Roderick, musicaldirection by Bret Simmons with choreography by Charlie Williams. S'WONDERFUL will preview today, April 4, open on Saturday, April 5 and perform for three weeks only through Sunday, April 20 at The Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center, located at 6200 Atherton St., Long Beach on the campus of California State University, Long Beach.

Scarsdale Ballet Studio, Westchester's premier destination for classical and contemporary ballet training presents Coppelia this weekend, March 29 and 30 at the Dance Lab at SUNY Purchase College.

Musical Theatre West presents the third production of their 61st season, the West Coast Premiere of S'WONDERFUL: The New Gershwin Musical, created and directed by Ray Roderick, musicaldirection by Bret Simmons with choreography by Charlie Williams. S'WONDERFUL will preview on Friday, April 4, open on Saturday, April 5 and perform for three weeks only through Sunday, April 20 at The Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center, located at 6200 Atherton St., Long Beach on the campus of California State University, Long Beach.

Scarsdale Ballet Studio, Westchester's premier destination for classical and contemporary ballet training presents Coppelia on March 29 and 30 at the Dance Lab at SUNY Purchase College.

Following their critically acclaimed world premiere in December the Gelsey Kirkland Ballet returns with an evening of dance at the Peter Jay Sharp Theatre at Symphony Space (2537 Broadway on the southwest corner of 95th Street and Broadway) Friday, March 7 at 7:30PM and Saturday, March 8 at 7:30PM. This 20-member company, under the artistic direction of Gelsey Kirkland and Michael Chernov present their first mixed program including 'Raymonda Suite,' 'Leaves are Fading' Pas de Deux, 'Ballebille' from Napoli, 'Flames of Paris' Pas de Deux, 'Pas De Quatre' and 'Cavalry Halt.' As part of the shared vision that Ms. Kirkland and Mr. Chernov are attempting to fulfill with the creation of Gelsey Kirkland Ballet, Ms. Kirkland has provided her own personal touch to master works such as The Leaves are Fading, which was created on her at ABT by the renowned British choreographer Antony Tudor. The program also includes the New York premiere of Petipa's Cavalry Halt, a piece rarely viewed by US audiences.

Let's begin with a short history of Michele Wiles. What are the origins of your desire to dance? How did you begin?

As we approach the end of 2013, Broadwayworld Dance pays tribute to the many artists who enriched, inspired, and captivated us as dancers, teachers, musicians, painters, producers, photographers, writers, historians, and philanthropists.

On the evening of Sunday, October 13th 2013, an invitation-only crowd filed into Studio II at Steps on Broadway in NYC to share fond memories of David Howard, the beloved ballet teacher who once said that he arrived in New York 'as an upstart and became part of the American Dream.'