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Celebrate World Ballet Day Live with 5 First-Class Dance Companies

Spend October 4 with the Australian Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet, Royal Ballet, National Ballet of Canada, and San Francisco Ballet companies.
Images via World Ballet Day

Ever wonder what a day in the life of a professional ballet company is like? Well, wait no longer—today, five iconic ballet companies around the world will open their doors through a live video feed in celebration of World Ballet Day. This year, the participating companies are The Australian Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet, The Royal Ballet, National Ballet of Canada, and San Francisco Ballet.

This tradition only began in 2014, but it is already being referred to as "Ballet Christmas," and last year garnered 350,000 viewers from 150 countries, according to Dance Spirit Magazine. World Ballet Day gives aspiring dancers, international members of the ballet community, balletomanes, and ballet neophytes alike a rare glimpse behind the scenes of an art form that is all about the stage.

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While interviews with movie stars and visual artists abide, the preparation process of a ballet performance is a bit more mysterious. The day usually starts with a company class, where dancers can work on their technique and warm up for the full day of rehearsal ahead. One of the most exciting parts of World Ballet Day is the opportunity to see the rehearsals of brand new works not yet ready for the stage, giving viewers an unprecedented preview into the dancers’ and choreographers’ artistic processes. The video feed is also peppered with interviews and commentary from dancers and directors involved.

As shown in the fast-paced trailer for World Ballet Day 2016, this is a an opportunity to see a truly well-rounded, unfiltered, and uncensored look at what it’s like day to day for those who have chosen to devote their lives to this classical art form. From the barre in the studio to the marley of the stage, World Ballet Day shows us that ballet is very much alive and kicking.

Watch the live feed on World Ballet Day's website, where you can also see footage from previous years' broadcasts.

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