Miriam (Dancer)

At City Ballet, a Swan Is Born and a Firebird Flies Into the Sunset

David Bale4 months ago011 mins

“It was pandemonium,” Maria Tallchief wrote in her memoir about her “Firebird” debut, in 1949. “The theater had turned itself into a football stadium, and the audience was in a frenzy.” The only thing that went wrong was that they hadn’t rehearsed the curtain calls. Tallchief was New York City Ballet’s first star, a thrilling…

Miriam Miller Steps Into the Spotlight in ‘Swan Lake’ at City Ballet

David Bale4 months ago09 mins

Elegance has a way of pouring out of Miriam Miller. Her arms open like wings, her fingertips part like petals. At 5 foot 10, with long legs and an elastic back, she has the kind of line that goes on for days. But a body isn’t everything in ballet. What makes Miller so striking isn’t…

Review: In Justin Peck’s New Dance, Air, Earth and Self-Help

David Bale5 months ago09 mins

Justin Peck’s newest work for New York City Ballet, his 25th, is called “Mystic Familiar,” a title that turns out to be telling. Those two words encapsulate the rise and fall of its aspirations and limitations. It’s a dance that tries to be mystic, but mostly it’s just familiar. The title is borrowed from an…