David Hallberg, the first American to be a principal dancer at the Bolshoi Ballet, discusses the pressure he faces and his ankle injury, which will force him to sit out for two weeks.

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ArtsBeat | Q. and A.: For Hallberg, a Month Inside the Bolshoi Pressure Cooker

Back in 1984, the news hit the dance doubles hard: “ Footloose ” was going to have more story than dancing. But that choice has served fans of the original film well — we got more of Kevin Bacon’s finely pitched vulnerability, and the moves that made the final cut were brilliantly conceived, were exhilarating to watch and reign among the most memorable dance sequences in recent filmdom. Read full article > >

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‘Footloose’: Dancing lets off steam, loses heat of original film

David Hallberg, a principal dancer with American Ballet Theater, will join the Bolshoi Ballet of Moscow, the first American to do so.

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ArtsBeat: A Ballet First: An American to Join the Bolshoi

When the dancers of Pearson Widrig Dance Theater fall to the ground, it’s rarely with a soft, sensible landing. Rather, their risky balances, flailing leaps and floor-grazing slides all seem to come crashing down in a glorious, bone-rattling thud. This propensity for big, sweeping movement that ultimately ends in a heap on the floor exemplifies what choreographers Sara Pearson and Patrik Widrig are all about — taking chances and testing the human body’s limits. Read full article > >

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Pearson Widrig Dance Theater at Dance Place

Ladies in strappy heels and minidresses crowd around the bathroom mirror on a recent Friday night, touching up lipstick. Done with their primping, they join a growing crush of people shimmying on the dance floor, lemony cocktails in hand, to the peppy sounds of Swedish pop star Robyn. Not far from the action, someone waiting — and waiting and waiting — for a drink at the bar abandons her place in line with a squeal when the DJ switches over to Lady Gaga. It’s a familiar scene that could have been playing out at local clubs Current or Josephine, but it was happening in the institutional doughnut known as the Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum . Just as many partygoers were streaming up escalators bound for an exhibition of paintings by Blinky Palermo as were outside indulging in cocktails and conversation. Read full article > >

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Culture shock: High art meets mass appeal

Her reps must have been up all night so that Simon Cowell could get his way: Paula Abdul has been released from her contract with CBS’ Live to Dance and will join Cowell on the X Factor judges bench for Sunday’s taping of its premiere episode. Other…

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Paula Abdul Seals X Factor Deal

The Merce Cunningham Dance Company, in its final year, is reviving works by its founder, who died in 2009.

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Dance Review: A Golden Age Continues Without Its Midas

With funders in place and former ballerina Virginia Johnson as artistic director, Dance Theatre of Harlem’s rebirth seems more likely than ever, after its shutdown in 2004.

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Virginia Johnson, choreographing Dance Theatre of Harlem’s rebirth

With funders in place and former ballerina Virginia Johnson as artistic director, Dance Theatre of Harlem’s rebirth seems more likely than ever, after its shutdown in 2004.

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Virginia Johnson, choreographing Dance Theatre of Harlem’s rebirth

The Merce Cunningham Dance Company revived “Antic Meet” at the University of California, Berkeley.

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Dance Review: A Long-Absent Comedy Leaps Out for a Farewell

Katie Price transforms herself into Freddie Mercury for her performance in this year’s Let’s Dance for Comic Relief.

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Dancing Queen: Who’s Comic Relief’s Freddie?

In Durham, N.C., the dance troupe of Merce Cunningham puts his art on display in the Legacy Tour.

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Dance Review: In the State Where It All Began, a Cunningham Farewell

Kay Bailey Hutchison’s clearly choosing not to show her cards.

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Kay Bailey Hutchison’s Dream Act dance

Bristol Palin signed up for “Dancing with the Stars” hoping to emerge from her mother’s long shadow and establish her own identity. But her image-changing exercise didn’t really pan out.

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ArtsBeat: TV Watch | Palin Dances in Circles

Michael Flatley, creator of the Lord of the Dance show which has played to more than 60 million people since its creation in 1996, is returning to his role in the production for the first time in 12 years.

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Flatley returns to Lord of the Dance