Confronting America’s Racist Past: Conceptual artist Paul Rucker’s multimedia show “Rewind” at the Baltimore Museum of Art focuses on racism and “American history repeating itself over and over again.” Rucker confronts some of the most brutal images of U.S. history; his show presents KKK robes in various loud fabrics, reimagined postcards of lynchings, and maps of the proliferation of the American prison system. Rucker explains that “Rewind” is his “life’s work”–he has been documenting police violence and incarceration since 1992, when the police officers on trial for the beating of Rodney King were acquitted. Rucker’s work examines and reimagines artifacts from the past as well as the present–much of his work revolves around the current American prison system. For Rucker, the ultimate goal of the show is to “create a starting point for informed discussion.” His work certainly forces viewers to confront the horror of racism and draw connections between past and present acts of brutality.

Celebrating World Ballet Day: On October 1, top ballet companies around the world opened their studios and stages to the public for the second annual World Ballet Day. Main participants included the Australian Ballet, the Bolshoi Ballet, the Royal Ballet, the National Ballet of Canada, and the San Francisco Ballet. Companies provided live streams of classes and rehearsals, recordings of performances, and interviews with company members and directors. Dancers around the world were able to submit their own photos to the “Dance Anywhere” contest using the hashtag #WorldBalletDay. This rare look inside the world of the top ballet companies shows audiences the dedication and athleticism of these amazing dancers.

Working with Deaf Actors on Broadway: The current Broadway revival of the hit musical “Spring Awakening” challenges preconceived notions by featuring eight deaf actors, eight hearing actors, and seven onstage musicians. This move has proven to add a layer of complexity to the production but also led to innovations in stage directions and cues. Director Michael Arden, choreographer Spencer Liff, and actors themselves have devised an array of silent cues, including hidden lights, coded gestures, timed touches, and prompting props. Arden believes that the musical, which he viewed as “a cautionary tale about the perils of miscommunication,” would have particular resonance with a deaf cast. Keeping the original book and lyrics, Arden has contextualized the story in a school that does not allow the use of sign language. The production revolutionizes our ideas about who can star in a musical production and shows the incredible results of teamwork and communication.

Julliard to Open New School in China: New York-based Juilliard School president Joseph W. Polisi has announced plans for The Tianjin Juilliard School as part of the performing arts school’s expansion in Asia. The new school, set to open in 2018, will offer a U.S.-accredited master’s degree in Music as well as a pre-college program, instrument training, adult education, and public performances and exhibits. Juilliard is planning to initiate a program to bring New York faculty members to China for master classes and performances. Polisi explained that the new school and similar expansion plans will “build communities of support around the world, open access to new pools of talent, and position Juilliard as a leader in global performing arts education.” The new school will certainly provide amazing opportunities for aspiring performers and patrons alike.