From Bone Breakers to Ballerinas, Meet the Most Exciting New Faces in Dance
We here at Teen Vogue are big fans of dance—both editor in chief Amy Astley and features editor Jessica Pels are former bunheads, and our magazine has a long history of supporting the art (if you haven't seen our feature stories about teen ballet phenom Michaela DePrince or universally inspiring star Misty Copeland, hop to it!).
This year, we started to notice something exciting: up-and-comers from around the world making a name for themselves by reinventing the wheel—or, rather, the plié. From Beyoncé's backup dancers Les Twins to "bone breaker" Hob.Dot to the new guard of classical elite at the School of American Ballet, dance has never looked this fresh.
Click through the slides to find out who you should have on your radar, and tell us in the comments who you're loving most. But what about seeing them actually, you know, dance? Check out these videos of Lil Buck, Les Twins, and the kids of the National Dance Institute below, recorded on the set of our May issue photo shoot.
Want more? Be sure to stay tuned for the debut of our brand-new, totally exclusive series "Strictly Ballet," where we go behind the scenes at the School of American Ballet to show you what it's really like to become a star.
To see more, pick up our May issue on newsstands now. And to have Teen Vogue delivered every month, subscribe here!
1/6These stars are taking center stage.
2/6The Band of Brothers
If you saw Beyoncé;’s Mrs. Carter Show World Tour, you’ve witnessed this dynamic duo in action. The six-foot-four identical twins, aka Les Twins, are the unofficial mascots of new hip-hop, having taken the world by storm after winning an international dance competition in 2011. "It was like a flood," says Larry Bourgeois, right, of their big break. "We got to work with Jay Z, Missy Elliot, everybody." The 25-year-old guys may have distinctive personalities, but they join forces to powerful effect. "When we do choreography together, we are totally the same. That’s our strength," Laurent says. As for their star-studded résumés? He adds: "They make us feel like all our dreams are too little, that no dream is too big."
Laurent wears a Dries Van Noten shirt, $450. Alexander Wang tank. BLK DNM jeans, $190. Bond Hardware necklace, $195. Marc Jacobs belt. Neff hat (on belt), $26. Amigaz wallet chain, $26. Larry wears a 3.1 Phillip Lim top, $250. Alexander Wang shirt, $250.
3/6The Best in Ballet
There’s pretty much one way to get into the world-renowned New York City Ballet: You have to be chosen for and trained by the equally famous School of American Ballet (SAB), a rigorous boarding school in the heart of Manhattan. It’s what countless bunhead dreams are made of: living in a dorm in the city, studying with larger-than-life dance legends, working toward (hopefully) joining one of the best ballet companies in history. But, as the six SAB students pictured here from our exclusive new YouTube series Strictly Ballet show, it takes more to become a star than simply wanting it. "Ballet isn’t all pink tutus and pointe shoes and twirling around in circles," says Stephanie, 15. "There’s a lot of hard work and pain." She’s not kidding: The SAB students train six days a week, pushing themselves to the physical limit in pursuit of perfection. "It’s a lot to work for," says Jasmine, 18, "but we’re normal teens, too!" Normal teens doing extraordinary things.
Stephanie wears Capezio shorts, $21. Mimi wears an Elizabeth and James top, $195. Live the Process leotard, $210. On Emily: Mirella camisole dress, $42. Victor and Alec wear their own shirts and tights. Jasmine wears a Chacott tutu, $150.
4/6The New Kids
For former New York City Ballet star Jacques d'Amboise (far left), dance is much more than an art form—it's a way to help young people reach their potential, harness their creativity, and inspire their confidence. Founded almost 40 years ago, his hugely successful National Dance Institute (NDI) reaches tens of thousands of public school students around the world every year, including those with special needs, cost-free. "Children deserve the best of everything," he says of his award-winning program. And the kids reap the rewards, even if their ultimate goal isn't to land on the Lincoln Center stage. "I love to dance because I can express who I am and how I feel," says Janeva, 12. For Ben, 17, "dance lets me focus all my energy into something beautiful." But it isn't only about what happens in class—for some, it's about redefining their lives outside the studio. "I love NDI because it's opened up new aspects of life," says Dharon, 17. "It's allowed me to make lifelong friendships and take advantage of the opportunities in front of me."
The National Dance Institute dancers wear LPD New York T-shirts customized for Teen Vogue, $85 each. American Apparel leggings, $38 each. Hue socks, $7 per pair. Keds sneakers, $45 per pair, Bucketfeet slip-ons, $68 per pair, and assortment of Converse sneakers.
5/6The Bone Breaker
Twenty-five-year-old Los Angeleno Hob.Dot (Habby Jacques) likes to defy the laws of physics. With flexing, a style of dance that incorporates double-jointed movements and hip-hop, he makes audiences' jaws drop—and, yes, maybe even makes them wince. But through the "how does he do that?" haze, it's still easy to see what a performing powerhouse Habby is, a fact that didn't go unnoticed by Madonna, the matron saint of hypertalented backup dancers. Habby landed a spot in her 2012 MDNA tour, where he met fellow artist Lil Buck, at right. "Dance gives people of different backgrounds a reason to interact," Habby says. "Whether socially, competitively, or just as a form of entertainment, it brings communities together."
Hob.dot wears a BLK DNM tank, $75. Alexander Wang shorts. Louis Vuitton scarf (worn as headband), $410. American Apparel socks, $8. Adidas Originals sneakers, $130.
6/6The Mighty Buck
Grace and poise—in sneakers? Lil Buck, the 25-year-old who’s popularized jookin, is exactly that. For proof, just watch his 2011 performance of "The Swan" with Yo-Yo Ma, which was so artistic and moving that it went viral. No wonder he’s caught the eye of everyone from Janelle Monáe to Cirque du Soleil. "When I dance, I choose from a catalog full of moves that flow through my mind," Lil Buck (otherwise known as Charles Riley) says of his process. "Sometimes nothing is in my head at all, just limitless space to create." Jookin—weightless, fluid steps combined with uncanny flexibility, the latter of which he perfected on scholarship at Memphis’s New Ballet Ensemble & School—may be a contemporary style, but this star is already looking ahead. Up next? An epic collaboration with artist JR, musician Woodkid, and 40 dancers from New York City Ballet to kick off its spring season. "I would love for the future of dance to be a tool for the mind, body, and soul," he says. "For it to help us find peace within ourselves and inspire one another."
Lil Buck wears a 3.1 Phillip Lim top, $295, and white shirt, $250. Stampd hat, $68. In this story: hair, Shin Arima for Frank Reps; makeup, Fara Homidi for Frank Reps; locations: LightBox-NY, National Dance Institute, and School of American Ballet.__
