We're used to hearing about thieves targeting iPhones or bikes...but tutus and teddy bears? Police are searching for a tutu thief (or thieves) who stole nearly $17,000 worth of ballet costumes from an upper West Side dance company. In a separate incident, they're also looking for a thieving duo who pilfered a bunch of teddy bear centerpieces from the bris for the 8-day-old twin grandchildren of Brooklyn Councilman Michael Nelson. more ›

At the end of a November NY Times review, critic Alastair Macaulay wrote that ballerina Jenifer Ringer, as the Sugar Plum Fairy in George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker, "looked as if she’d eaten one sugar plum too many." The 37-year-old Ringer, a principal dancer at the New York City Ballet, is now speaking out about the criticism. more ›

Egad, the infernal bloodsucking parasites have expanded their onslaught to include the city's cultural centers! One day after Sarah Jessica Parker, Natalie Portman and Jake Gyllenhaal attended a black-tie gala at the David H. Koch Theater theater in Lincoln Center, the theater's managing director sent an e-mail notifying employees that bedbugs had infested one of the dressing rooms. "Please understand that this is an epidemic," Heiser writes in the e-mail, which was obtained by the New York Observer. "Any signs of bedbug activity should not be considered a sign of an untidy house." more ›

Recently a girl—who at one point in this video says she's 17—was doing some ballet moves in the middle of Times Square with what appears to be her family and friends around. As all of this is going on, one man (stranger danger!) comes up and starts videotaping her. Carlos Miller notes that his questionable zooms "prompt some of her friends to berate the guy for being a pervert, even though they were essentially doing the same thing, except with still cameras." more ›

Last night 241 ballerinas of all ages showed up to break the Guiness record for most ballerinas en pointe for one minute in one place. According to the Daily News, dancers from the American Ballet Theatre and the Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club were involved in breaking the record—in the end 230 stayed on their toes for the full minute, which is 10 more dancers than the previous record. While records are always so odd and particular, this one did make for a picturesque scene! more ›

Yesterday Michelle Obama was in town for a second time since becoming the First Lady, this visit emphasizing the important role of the arts. She helped reopen the newly renovated American wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (where she commented on how she spent her first date with the President at a museum), and later on attended the American Ballet Theatre's Spring Gala. With our cultural institutions suffering during the current financial climate, it's nice to hear the First Lady remind people, "Nearly 6 million people make their living in the nonprofit arts industry. Arts and cultural activities contribute more than $160 billion to our economy every year." more ›

If you're head over heels for the ballet, we've got some good news: The New York City Ballet announced last week that they would be hosting two open dress rehearsals of Susan Stroman's Double Feature this month. The company began the open rehearsals last year with Peter Martins's Romeo + Juliet, and they hope to continue them annually. more ›