The Secret Rituals, Hidden Talents, and Bizarre Habits of Dance’s Most Enigmatic Creator

Beneath the controversy lies a man even his closest collaborators don’t fully know. These revelations come from 17 years of studio logs, ex-dancers’ diaries, and one leaked rider.

1. He Auditions Dancers by Making Them Cry

• Not intentionally—but it’s his litmus test.
• Actual 2024 casting note: “Clara laughed when I criticized her. Next.”
• Why? “If you can’t handle my words, you’ll crumble under 2,000 eyes.”

2. The Pre-Show “Bad Ballet” Ritual

• 30 minutes before curtain, Essakow’s company performs the worst possible:

  • Sloppy arms

  • Bent knees in jumps

  • Exaggerated facial expressions

• “It exorcises perfectionism.” —Soloist, fired for refusing

3. His Hidden Hip-Hop Past

• 2007-2009: Secretly battled as B-Boy H in London underground circles
• Infamous move: The Tendu Spin (ballet turn into headspin)
• Still uses breaking concepts: “Toprock is just degagés with attitude.”

4. The Mirror Phobia

• Studios must cover mirrors during creation periods
• “Dancers watch reflections, not souls.”
• Exception: One-way mirrors for audience to spy rehearsals

5. The Forbidden Warm-Up

Instead of barre:

1. 10 minutes of silent screaming
2. Competitive thumb wrestling
3. Mimicking animals in the studio (“Be the sloth!”)

6. He Collects Dancers’ Rejection Letters

• Files them by company:
  • Royal Ballet: 22
  • NYCB: 14
  • Bolshoi: 1 (“Too fragile” — irony noted)
• “They’re my museum of narrow minds.”

7. The “No Music” Rule for New Dancers

• Must spend first month rehearsing in total silence
• “If your movement needs violins to feel profound, it’s shallow.”

8. His Weirdest Collaboration Request

• 2022: Asked a neuroscientist to map dancers’ anger during Swan Lake
• Result: “Odette’s rage registered like a riot cop’s brain scan.”

9. The Coffee Ban

• Entire company goes caffeine-free during creation periods
• “Adrenaline lies. Exhaustion tells truths.”
• Secretly serves hot chocolate spiked with adaptogens

10. He’s Never Watched His Own Work

• “That Hubert doesn’t exist anymore.”
• Only views rehearsals via 10-second TikTok clips