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Spring is in the air, and with it, the beginnings of Spring Performances. While just a few have started in on what is for most , the last performances of the season, it looks like it might be a very interesting spring.

First up, from down south, Atlanta Ballet premiered their risky venture which paired Hip hop icon Big Boi with ballet. There are lots of reviews on the piece, including blogs from people who have never even seen ballet, as well as from giants like The New York Times. All agree, hip hop and ballet really do go together, and it is downright fun. While they all seem to agree the choreography by Lauri Stallings isn't anything to really rave about, the concept of meshing two completely different styles does, somehow, work. It is quite apparent in some of the posted videos, though, to see that, as one of the reviews pointed out, the dancers were just not anywhere near the music. You have to give Atlanta Ballet credit, at least they are trying to do something different, something to generate an interest in the next generation. If anyone

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Another slow week in ballet. Luckily, the spring seasons are just getting ready to start up so make sure you stay tuned to keep up to date on what is happening in the world of dance. Also, please feel free to submit reviews of things you will be seeing. We love to hear what you have to say!

First up, The Kirov opened their three week season at the City Center in New York. While the company usually performs at the Metropolitan Opera House, they were forced to relocated to the smaller City Center due to scheduling conflicts at the Met. They opened to not such nice reviews. The New York Times had very few nice things to say. Amidst political drama

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Well another quiet week in the world of dance. How quiet you ask? Our lead story is about a donkey, what does that tell you.

You read that right. It seems that Monika the premier donkey at the Meriinsky Ballet of St Petersburg, formerly the Kirov Ballet, is retiring after 19 years of service. Best known for her dramatic role of carrying Sancho Panza across during Don Quixote, she will be missed for her accuracy and wonderful stage presence. The company has brought in a new donkey, Alina, to fill in the role, and they are hoping Ms. Monika can help in the coaching of the young blood. The BBC reports that Ms. Monika was given a farewell celebration which included a waltz with the dancers, a pinafore and kerchief and a carrot cake. Geez, I didn't get a carrot cake. Another reason it is better to be a dancer in Russia, human or animal.

More bad news for the Boston Ballet. It looks like their long standing contract with the Wang Center has come to an end. The split stems from contract negotiations that demanded the Citi Center return the venue to Boston Ballet for its annual "Nutcracker" performances. The Wang dropped the company a few years ago to make room for the Rockette's Christmas Show. The company has signed a 30 year contract with the Opera House. Mikko Nissinen, the company's Director, says it is better this way," the 30-year deal with the Opera House will give the ballet the financial stability it lacked at the Citi Center. In addition, the smaller Opera House is better suited for ballet than the Wang." Let's hope this will mean a better year next season. The company announced a few weeks ago they

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As kind of a sequel to the "Day in the Life" story, I am going to share with you another little known part of the dancer's life... Theater Life. You see, we spend 4-6 weeks in a studio rehearsing as described in the previous article, but at the end of this, we actually have to perform the things that we have been working on so tirelessly. This is the Theater life. It is the greatest and worst time for a dancer. Greatest because you get to perform, and let's face it, why do this profession at all if you don't get to perform it for others. For me, sharing the enjoyment I got from dancing with an audience was what it was all about. Sure, I would beat myself up over a bad show, but when I took it into perspective, it was just about giving something to the audience.

It is the worst time because it is perhaps the most exhausting time for the dancer. We don't just show up at the theater at night and perform. We are there bright and early in the morning starting our day with ballet class, then moving on to rehearsal for most of the day. While the ballets are already set, we have to stage them, meaning, adjust all we have done in the studio to work on the stage. This can mean doing parts of the ballet several times to get it right. Plus you have to alternate with other casts so that everyone can get a feel for the stage. Rehearsing with a mirror in the studio and dancing on an open stage are two completely different things. It throws off your balance, your depth perception, and can be down right scary! I remember the first time I walked on to the Metropolitan Opera House Stage. I just stood there for about 5 minutes. I was dumbstruck. The house was immense. The stage bigger than anything

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