Rachel Rizzuto

Associate Editor at Dance Teacher

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Articles

Agrippina Vaganova: The Queen of Codified Ballet Technique

1 week ago | dance-teacher.com | Rachel Rizzuto

Agrippina Vaganova (1879–1951) transformed ballet training, melding French Romanticism and Italian strength and athleticism with Russian expressivity. The publication of her book, Basic Principles of Classical Ballet, systemized her technique that is now the foundation for ballet schools all over the world. Vaganova was born in St. Petersburg with ballet already in her blood: Her father was an usher at the Mariinsky Theatre.
New Creative Possibilities Between Museums and Dance Artists

Nov 11, 2024 | dancemagazine.com | Rachel Rizzuto

Dance—expansive, ephemeral, distinctly alive—probably isn’t the first thing you think of when you picture a museum gallery’s austere, hushed vibe.
Alwin Nikolais: Multimedia Dance Pioneer

Aug 13, 2024 | dance-teacher.com | Rachel Rizzuto

Alwin Nikolais: Multimedia Dance Pioneer Alwin Nikolais, or “Nik,” as he was known, considered himself an artistic polygamist. He is best known for his multimedia approach to dance, using electronic scores, special-effects lighting and elaborate costumes and props in his pieces. But he also paved the way for abstract modern dance.
How Hanya Holm Brought German Expressionism to America

Jun 13, 2024 | dance-teacher.com | Walter Sorell |Wesleyan Press |Rachel Rizzuto

Dance History |Member Exclusives |Teaching Tips How Hanya Holm Brought German Expressionism to AmericaHanya Holm was a catalyst in America’s early modern dance scene, first ushering in her teacher Mary Wigman’s German expressionistic dance and later bringing modern dance concepts to Broadway choreography. Holm is known as one of the “Big Four” of modern dance along with Martha Graham, Doris Humphrey, and Charles Weidman.
How Hanya Holm Brought German Expressionism to America

Jun 13, 2024 | dance-teacher.com | Walter Sorell |Wesleyan Press |Rachel Rizzuto

Dance History |Member Exclusives |Teaching Tips How Hanya Holm Brought German Expressionism to AmericaHanya Holm was a catalyst in America’s early modern dance scene, first ushering in her teacher Mary Wigman’s German expressionistic dance and later bringing modern dance concepts to Broadway choreography. Holm is known as one of the “Big Four” of modern dance along with Martha Graham, Doris Humphrey, and Charles Weidman.
How Three Broadway Choreographers Create in Nontraditional Theater Spaces

Apr 15, 2024 | dancemagazine.com | Rachel Rizzuto

Even conventional Broadway prosceniums can present plenty of challenges for choreographers: steep rakes, gargantuan moving set pieces, awkward sightlines. But what happens when a show’s creative vision includes a total overhaul of the theater’s playing space, eliminating the familiar stage-and-seating setup in favor of something more immersive? What goes down with the dancing when the physical boundaries between the audience and the cast become less defined—or even nonexistent?
4 Choreographers and Their Go-To Nondancer Collaborators on Making Magic Together

Jan 15, 2024 | dancemagazine.com | Rachel Rizzuto

For choreographers, the name of the game is, frequently, collaboration: with dancers, with designers, with composers. But what about the choreographers who find artistic soulmates, making long-term collaboration central to how they create work? That kind of partnership can transcend disciplines, decades, and dynamic approaches, leading to a distinctly exciting kind of art-making.
The Open Class Conundrum: How to Cultivate Your Student Base, Cater to Different Levels, and More

Aug 1, 2023 | dance-teacher.com | Rachel Rizzuto

The Open Class Conundrum: How to Cultivate Your Student Base, Cater to Different Levels, and MoreTeaching an open class can feel like a paradoxical puzzle: Though your class might be labeled as “Intermediate Contemporary,” you may have beginner as well as professional dancers in the room. You might see the same students every week, but it’s equally possible your class will be populated with new faces each time.