OAKLAND – Just a mention of his beginnings in dance and it doesn't take long for a smile to spread across Roberto Vega Ortiz's face. "I've always danced. Always, always," said Vega Ortiz, Ballet 22 ...

In professional ballet, the female dancer often appears light and airy and seems to float lightly into the air without effort performing en pointe (on the tips of the toes). By contrast, the male ...

The first time Ashton Edwards tried dancing on pointe, it felt like coming home. “It was just like magic. It felt beautiful on pointe. I felt like I could dance forever.” Edwards, originally from ...

Upstairs in a lofty studio at the Margaret Alkek William Center for Dance, there's something a little different about Monday's afternoon class. Some of the male dancers wear cargo-style joggers and ...

Before we explain why Ashton Edwards is such a groundbreaking ballet dancer, give us a second to define some ballet terminology. You've probably heard the phrase "on pointe," which refers to the style ...