Edgar Degas
Degas's only showing of sculpture during his life took place in 1881 when he exhibited "The Little Dancer of Fourteen Years". A nearly life-size wax figure with real hair and dressed in a cloth tutu, it provoked a strong reaction from critics, most of whom found its realism extraordinary but denounced the dancer as ugly. In a review, J.-K. Huysmans wrote: "The terrible reality of this statuette evidently produces uneasiness in the spectators; all their notions about sculpture, about those cold inanimate whitenesses ... are here overturned. The fact is that with his first attempt Monsieur Degas has revolutionized the traditions of sculpture as he has long since shaken the conventions of painting."
Tiler Peck
Tiler Peck has explored other activities besides ballet, such as musical theater and acting. As she had also studied in jazz, acting and singing. At the age of 11, she obtained a role in the production of "The Music Man" on Broadway and also starred in "On the Town". In 2014, Peck played the title role of the Kennedy Center production of the musical "Little Dancer" directed by Susan Stroman. The musical is inspired by the work of sculptor and painter Edgar Degas. She performed as Clara in the "Radio City Christmas Spectacular".