New indie documentary film War Child is a must-see. It tells, often to a rhythmic beat, the sad, courageous story of Emmanuel Jal, a young Sudanese man (he doesn't know his age, but assumes he was born around 1980) who was a child soldier...

I was rooting this week more than ever for Cloris Leachman after the judges' nasty, and very unfair, comments to her on Monday night's show. Bruno Tonioli told her no one else could carry off the "nonsense" she does and actually get applause for it, and guest judge Michael Flatley,...

The 1940s, a time of war and economic crisis, appears to be a popular period to revisit in the performing arts world right now, with Doctor Atomic, and some of the best dances American Ballet Theater is putting on in this, their season of Contemporary work, currently underway at...

Is it just me or is this the most boring season thus far of Dancing With the Stars? I don't know why either -- Cody Linley and Julianne Hough's jitterbug Monday night was one of the best, most crazy fun dances I've seen ever on the show. And Cody really...

When Argentine ballet star Julio Bocca retired two years ago from (arguably) the world's greatest ballet company at the age of 39, he gave as one of his reasons that it was just getting so hard on his body; year after year of returning from a nice vacation,...

(Photo of Wheeldon by Arthur Elgort)

British-American choreographer Christopher Wheeldon's new modern ballet company, Morphoses (whose name connotes change), just finished its second, too-short season at New York's City Center with two programs containing a total of seven short ballets, almost...

It's not surprising that the first two to go in this premiere week were comedian Jeffrey Ross and actor Ted McGinley, though it's somewhat unfortunate. This show is much more of a popularity contest than the other dance programs, I think, because there's really very little basis on which to...

On August 25th, Good Morning America officially announced the show's season seven celebrity contestants. They are:

1) Grammy winner Lance Bass;

2) TV Chef Rocco DiSpirito;

3) Olympic Gold Medalist (just crowned) Misty May Treanor;

4) Gold medalist sprinter Maurice Greene;

5) Broadway star and singer Toni Braxton;

6)...

You never know who's going to win this competition since it's, as many of you have noted, ultimately a popularity contest. You don't know who's all voting and what criteria they're using (the young women holding up the "Marry Me, Twitch" signs made me realize he's become a bit of...

So it'll be the Contemporary girls versus the Hip Hop guys in the finale. I was pretty surprised about the results for the girls. I thought it was going to be Courtney to go this week, not Chelsie. I don't recall Chelsie being in the bottom yet. With the guys...

I am shocked. Will's Samba this week completely blew me away, as did his slow Hip Hop. As did his solo. He hasn't done a thing this season that hasn't been excellent. I really thought it was going to be Twitch to go, though I have to admit I got...

This show outdoes itself each week. I was in a very blissful state of shock Wednesday night to see none other than the breathtaking Desmond Richardson, one of the greatest Ballet / Contemporary dancers in the world right now, helping to choreograph. I only wish they'd had him perform, though...

Wow, what a week. Highlights to me were definitely Alvin Ailey, which happens to be my favorite dance company in the world. And they danced my favorite excerpt, "Sinner Man," from my favorite dance, Revelations, Mr. Ailey's greatest work, a creation he called from "blood memory," celebrating the African American...

I'd braced myself for it to be Matt and Kourtni to be booted off this week. I knew after the judges' remarks on Wednesday they were going to be in the bottom (since this season votes seem to echo the judges), and it seemed from earlier comments during elimination rounds...

Was it just me or did Nigel seem to be much nicer this week? I think he must have got a lot of criticism. Maybe he's more sensitive than his American Idol counterpart.

After I was critical of him last week, now I'm sad to see Chris go! Especially...

American Ballet Theater is currently in the midst of their production of La Bayadère, one of the most breathtakingly spectacular and heartbreakingly tragic of all classical story ballets. Set in royal India, La Bayadère tells the story of Solor, the warrior, who falls hopelessly in love Nikiya, a poor temple...

It's Friday and I'm still in shock that Marquis has been eliminated. I honestly thought he was one of the best dancers on the show and as much as I like Chris's personality, I'm dumbfounded that the judges kept him over Marquis -- Marquis with the beautiful line, the gorgeous...

photo by Pablo Hojas, courtesy of American Ballet Theater

Ballet season is in full swing here in New York and between American Ballet Theater at the Met Opera House and New York City Ballet...

I wasn't surprised it was Jamie and Rayven who were the first to go, though I was disappointed. They went first on Wednesday night and I think Nigel was right when he said the routine wasn't memorable enough, though I didn't think that was the dancers' fault. I definitely don't...

I had a wonderful night at New York City Ballet the other night. The program, titled "Here and Now", focused on some of the company's newest works, all but one created within the last year by three of the hottest current ballet choreographers. It was kind of a celebration of...