December 6, 2024
by Michael Cornell Recently, we came across a thoughtful question on a ballet forum that raised concerns about safety and teaching practices in adult ballet classes. The student shared their experience with a new studio and asked whether the teaching…
November 29, 2024
by Michael Cornell Great dancing doesn’t happen by magic. It’s often said that the legendary Fred Astaire rehearsed for hours every day. I don’t doubt it. The appearance of effortlessness demands an extraordinary amount of effort. I am by no…
November 22, 2024
by Michael Cornell I remember vividly the first day at my ballet school, The National Academy of Arts, where the Director sat us down and recommended we all become doctors, lawyers, or accountants instead of pursuing a career in ballet.…
November 15, 2024
My Unlikely Ballet Journey I’ve shared my ballet story with a few people over the years, but I’ve never taken the time to write it down—until now. My journey into the world of concert dance is far from conventional, so…
October 31, 2024
In the best-case scenario, only 3-5% of American males participate in any form of dance training. Realistically, I suspect it’s closer to 1-2%. While my experience is anecdotal, the number of male dancers in our adult ballet training program is…
October 25, 2024
Observe Verb: Notice or perceive something and register it as significant. Watch someone or something carefully and attentively. Detect something during a scientific study. Maintain silence as a mark of respect or compliance with a rule. Derived from the Latin…
October 11, 2024
by Michael Cornell I wish I could tell you that after decades of dancing, you’ll never experience moments of complete frustration, but it happens—even to seasoned dancers like me. Recently, I had one of those moments. While it’s uncommon for…
September 27, 2024
by Michael Cornell The other evening, while attending a tango practica—a gathering where tango dancers come together to simply practice—I had an extraordinary experience. I danced with a wonderful follower from Uruguay, a very experienced dancer with an authentic, classical…
September 13, 2024
From Align Ballet Method founder Michael Cornell. I've been dancing classical ballet since the age of 15. I put myself into class—no one encouraged me. It was my decision to be there. My entire life, I have loved the process…
September 6, 2024
by Michael Cornell I didn’t start dancing until I was nearly 15, and I thought I was too late. But I wasn’t. In fact, it turned out to be perfect timing. For a boy with some physical talent, starting at…
