April 2008

Posted on March 4, 2008

The Dance Review, a Report to Government on Dance Education and Youth Dance in England by Tony Hall, chief executive of the Royal Opera House, just published, states unequivocally that “dance is central to a number of Government initiatives”. Dance – one of the fastest growing subjects for GCSE and A Level students in England – is to receive a £5.5 million boost from the Government. The new investment, plus a support structure, will boost dance opportunities for young people, both in school and out of school hours. It will help young people dance for fun and fitness, and support talented young dancers move into the profession.

The initiative will include : for the first time, an organisation, Youth Dance England, charged and funded to develop a national youth dance strategy across both school and youth dance sectors; six new Centres of Advanced Training (CATs) between now and 2011, training and supporting around 1,500 young people inspired to take dance to the next level; a new leadership from a joint DCMS/DCSF Dance Review Programme Board which, for the first time, will bring together stakeholders, agencies and funders from education and dance sectors and young dancers themselves. Tony Hall says his review “aims to do one thing – and that is to get young people dancing, wherever they live and from whatever background they come… I am delighted the Government is acting on our ideas”. The report has been widely welcomed, not least by ourselves and the CDET, and we hope to publish further details next month. In the meantime copies of The Dance Review and a response from ministers Andrew Adonis and Margaret Hodge may be obtained from the Department for Culture, Media and the Arts website culture.gov.uk.

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In this month

8 Letters to the Editor

11 Talking Point. This month Kim Brandstrup writes about the challenges working with and mentoring young choreographers

13 “I’d hate to be fake”. The Royal Ballet’s Edward Watson interviewed by David Jays

18 GCE Dance: Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes Study Aid Part Two by Elizabeth Marshall

23 Zoë Anderson reports on this year’s MOVE IT exhibition in London’s Olympia

27 San Francisco Ballet celebrates. Allan Ulrich looks back at the oldest US ballet company

31 Tilted brave the cold. Maresa von Stockert talks to Lydia Polzer

35 Gravity and Levity. Louise Bennett meets up with Aerial dancer Lindsey Butcher

37 The monumental Moor by Zoë Anderson

41 The Making of a Dancer Part 19. Mary Goodhew looks at the role of the dance teacher

45 Remembering Maris. Andris and Ilze Liepa talk to Margaret Willis about their father, Maris Liepa

49 Royal Ballet plans for 2008/9 by Jonathan Gray

51 Dance Scene International – UK: Diversions; Pina Bausch Tanztheater Wuppertal; National Theatre; The Royal Ballet; Northern Ballet Theatre; Divine Performing Arts; Flamenco Festival London; Birmingham Royal Ballet; New York City Ballet. Overseas: New York City Ballet; New York Theatre Ballet; Bolshoi Ballet

71 Letter from St Petersburg by Igor Stupnikov

75 Obituaries – Natalia Bessmertnova, Ernestine Stodelle

101 Dance Story: Margot and the Zoo Keeper. Anthony Meredith tells of a charming friendship

104 Clara Barbera is our Dancer of the Month interviewed by Margaret Willis

106 Your Page

6 Dancematters

This month: DVD Box Set competition, new exhibitions, Scottish Ballet

73 Miscellany
This month: Flight gala, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Royal Danish Ballet

79 Teachers & Training
This month: Young British Dancer of the Year

83 Classified

84 Where to Learn

86 Calendar

97 Book & DVD

Simon Oliver

Simon Oliver has been production editor of Dancing Times since 2010 and is highly experienced in design across print and online magazine production. Throughout his career, Simon has worked on a diverse range of subjects including music, family history, book collecting and poker.