Hi, everyone! :) My name is Katarina Rafael and I am 17 years old. Last year, I was a student in the Professional Training Program at Princeton Ballet School and a graduating senior. Currently, I am taking a few classes at the PBS Summer Intensive. Feel free to follow my blog! 

My tour of the dance and theater worlds continued last weekend as I went in for a several more performances around the area.  Friday, it was Susan Marshall & Company at the Baryshnikov Arts Center.  Susan, a “MacArthur Genius,” is the relatively new Dance Program Chair at Princeton University, my alma mater.  While some artists might become artistically complacent in the academic environment, Susan proves that she is still actively creating visionary work with poignant imagery and design.  Adamantin

Bummed because ARB's Spring Season is over?  Never fear - I’ll take you with me on my marathon of dance around the area.  Last week, the Brian Brooks Moving Company kicked off the Gotham Dance Festival at the Joyce Theater in NY.

Mr. Balanchine once described ballet as “architecture in time.”  We dancers deal constantly in the elements of architecture:  line, rhythm, support, grace, strength.  But we don’t often have opportunities to deal with real architecture, and the people who make it.  Ralph Lerner, who died last week of brain cancer, too young, gave a great gift to the ballet school and our community.

This past weekend I had the opportunity to see American Repertory Ballet return to one of my favorite ballets, Philip Jerry’s version of the Thornton Wilder play, ”Our Town.” 

For everyone coming to American Classics this weekend:

We're gearing up for the final performance of the season, and I'm as thrilled as anyone.  Here's a look at Robert Johnson's preview in today's Star Ledger.