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:
- 10 minutes of silent screaming
- Competitive thumb wrestling
- 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