Toba Singer - Dance Writer - Divertissements

"Teacher's Wisdom: Edward Ellison" for Dance Magazine

The following article appeared in Dance Magazine July 2007.

Teacher's Wisdom: Edward Ellison
by Toba Singer

Former San Francisco Ballet soloist Edward Ellison is the “go-to” teacher for many young dancers who want to polish their technique and artistry. He opened his own ballet school, Ellison Ballet Professional Training Program, in New York two years ago after teaching at San Francisco Ballet School, Boston Ballet, Alberta Ballet, and company class at American Ballet Theatre. Ellison also holds  open classes at New York’s Steps on Broadway that are a destination for dancers looking for a rigorous technique class. Toba Singer observed his class and asked about his approach to training.  

"Teacher's Wisdom: Lupe Calzadilla" for Dance Magazine

The following article appeared in Dance Magazine April 2007.

Teacher's Wisdom: Lupe Calzadilla
by Toba Singer

Lupe Calzadilla says she owes everything she knows about ballet to Alicia and Fernando Alonso. After graduating from their prestigious National Ballet School in Havana, Calzadilla spent 11 years performing with Ballet Nacional de Cuba. She then returned to the school to teach while raising her daughters Lorena and Lorna Feijóo (who are now principals with San Francisco Ballet and Boston Ballet, respectively). Having taught children and adults around the globe for over 34 years, she is now a master teacher at City Ballet School in San Francisco. Toba Singer met with Calzadilla to ask her about how the Cuban system has influenced her as a teacher. (Freddi Kirchner, Justin Coe, and Lorena Feijóo aided with translation.)

"The Forsythe Company 'Three Atmospheric Studies'" for CriticalDance online

The following article appeared on CriticalDance online February 23, 2007.

The Forsythe Company 'Three Atmospheric Studies'
by Toba Singer

February 23, 2007 -- Zellerbach Auditorium, Berkeley, CA

This is not the Forsythe you remember from in the middle somewhat elevated. It’s the expatriate Forsythe who’s spent a long time on the outside looking in. If you’ve ever been the family pariah or shunned by others, you know how disarmed, disoriented and alone you can feel when a crisis is at hand; you can feel like a mother whose son has been sacrificed for some intangible purpose belonging to history, belonging to your enemies, but not to you.

"San Francisco Ballet 'Falling,' 'Rubies,' 'Artifact Suite'" for CritialDance online

The following article appeared on CriticalDance online March 30, 2006.

San Francisco Ballet 'Falling,' 'Rubies,' 'Artifact Suite'
by Toba Singer

March 30, 2006 -- War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco

The linchpin work of the evening’s program comes last, William Forsythe’s “Artifact Suite.” The dancers appear to have collectively fallen in love with Forsythe, having consecrated their bodies to him, and so if there was an impatience to “get on with it,” it showed up ever so slightly, as a zephyr of resistance that blew through “Rubies.”