This week, October 12-16, The Suzanne Farrell Ballet at the Kennedy Center celebrates its 10th anniversary with two mixed programs each featuring Balanchine’s Diamonds. In honor of the engagement, principal dancer Heather Ogden shares her thoughts on Degas in this guest post.

(left) Heather Ogden. (right) Edgar Degas, Ballet Rehearsal, c. 1885–91. Oil on canvas, 18 7/8 x 34 5/8 in. Yale University Art Gallery. Gift of Duncan Phillips, B.A. 1908.

This past summer I took a trip to Paris with my husband and one of the many things we saw was a Degas exhibit.  As soon as we arrived at the museum I bee-lined to the Degas section because I knew I would love it.  I have always admired the paintings of Degas because the subject of his paintings is most often about my first love . . . ballet. Continue reading →