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Posted on September 24, 2020
Well, here we are entering the sixth month of lockdown in the UK due to the coronavirus pandemic and there is still virtually no dance to be seen live on our stages. Although Dancing Times is able to report this month on recent performances in France and Italy seen by Laura Cappelle and Graham Spicer, it is with a heavy heart that I realise it may be some time before professional ballet and contemporary dance companies are able to return to our theatres and dance venues in the UK.This month, Gerald Dowler talks to a number dance professionals across the country in order to find out how things are progressing. In addition, Nicola Rayner investigates how COVID-19 has affected major ballroom and Latin American dance championships.
On a happier note, we highlight two people who have made significant contributions to dance in this country – English National Ballet’s Jane Haworth and Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Doug Nicholson – as hear from four upcoming young male dancers in the worlds of classical ballet and same-sex dance competitions.
Jonathan Gray
17. Starting again
Gerald Dowler finds out how UK dance companies and venues are preparing to come out of lockdown
22. Calling it a day
English National Ballet’s Jane Haworth discusses her career with Deborah Weiss
35. Waking up from a dream
Graham Watts interviews choreographer Luca Silvestrini about 21 years of Protein Dance
58. Eat to beat disease
Lee Knights talks to Dr William Li about how we can eat our way to strong immunity
29. Back to Blackpool?
Nicola Rayner speaks to competitors, teachers and dance promoters about the postponement of this year’s Blackpool Dance Festival and other major championships
38. Dancing for Mr B
Gavin Larsen concludes her interview with the School of American Ballet’s Susan Pilarre
42. “How fortunate am I…”
Paul Arrowsmith meets Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Doug Nicholson, a veritable man of the theatre
60. Tips on technique
By James Whitehead
61. Technique clinic
By Phil Meacham
62. Simon’s Guide to Swing
Simon Selmon reflects on what five months of lockdown has meant for social dancing
63. Stepping Out
Marianka Swain speaks to new same-sex competitors Dean Thirwell and Orion Russell
64. Somewhere in time
By Jack Reavely
8. News
Northern Ballet postpones the premiere of Merlin, redundancies at Sadler’s Wells, Michael Clark exhibition at the Barbican
12. Letters
14. Talking point
By Paul Arrowsmith
48. FRANCE/dance
Laura Cappelle sees two live dance performances in Paris
50. Danza in Italia
By Graham Spicer
52. Letter from St Petersburg
Igor Stupnikov hears from the Maryinsky Ballet’s Konstantin Zverev
54. Notes from New York
Jack Anderson watches the two online dance festivals
65. Subscriptions
67. Dancer of the Month
Margaret Willis interviews Northern Ballet’s Joseph Taylor
70. Obituaries
Zizi Jeanmaire, Jelko Yuresha
73. Media
New on DVD and Blu-ray disc
75. Products
77. Education
Ballet West
78. Health
Debbie Malina consider some of the mental health issues being faced by dancers at this time, and the range of options that can enable them to access help appropriate for their needs
81. Classifieds
82. Last Dance
We look back to September 1980