April 2017

Posted on May 3, 2017

April always feels to me like the beginning of spring, but one reality of life is that, without fail, it’s also the start of the new tax year. In one of the articles we offer this month, Lee Knights explains how dance schools have been hit by a recent tax ruling, and advises what teachers can do to help protect their businesses. Turn to page 78 to find out more. In this issue we also take a behind-the-scenes view at the workings of ballet companies, with Maggie Foyer reporting on the Positioning Ballet conference held recently in Amsterdam that aimed to discuss the future of the art form. In addition, Graham Watts travels to Spain to find out more about the Grand Audition scheme set up by David Makhateli, a new way for young dancers to audition in one place for positions in ballet companies across the world. Vikki Jane Vile takes a look at the latest instalment of MOVE IT, held last month at London’s ExCeL; Anna Mackey discovers new historical evidence that suggests ballet in Ireland started earlier than is currently accepted; and we also reveal the name of the winner of the Dance Today Dance Teacher of Year for 2017, voted for by our readers.

Dancing Times, April 2017 Volume 107 Issue 1280

Cover Stories

17 – Dirty, flirty and thirty. As Dirty Dancing celebrates its 30th anniversary, Nicola Rayner explores its enduring appeal

21 – Positioning ballet. Maggie Foyer attends a conference that looks to the future of ballet

42 – Making dreams come true. Graham Watts reports on ballet’s Grand Audition

78 – Taxing dance. Lee Knights explains how dance schools have been hit by a recent tax ruling

Features

27 – Junior Ballets. Jenny Veldhuis is impressed by a collaboration between Cannes Jeune Ballet, Norwegian National Ballet, and Houston Ballet II

31 – Ashton rediscovered. Jonathan Gray attends a series of masterclasses focusing on the choreography of Frederick Ashton

35 – Madam or Madam Wanda? Anna Mackey investigates who really founded ballet in Ireland

39 – MOVE IT 2017. Vikki Jane Vile reports from the UK’s biggest dance event

Dance Today

82 – Dance Today Dance Teacher of the Year 2017. Zoë Anderson introduces our winner

84 – Tips on technique. By James Whitehead

85 – Technique clinic. By Phil Meacham

86 – Simon’s Guide to Swing. By Simon Selmon

87 – Stepping Out. By Marianka Swain

88 – Notes from the Dance Floor. Lee Knights on Afro Cuban Fiesta

90 – Somewhere in time. By Jack Reavely

Regulars

6 – News. English National Ballet, Vincent Simone and Flavia Cacace, Edinburgh International Festival

12 – Letters

15 – Talking Point. By Gavin McCaig

45 – Variety Lights. Barbara Newman reviews The Wild Party and Twelfth Night

47 – Letter from St Petersburg. By Igor Stupnikov

49 – Notes from New York. By Jack Anderson

51 – Media. New books and DVDs

53 – Dance Scene. Reviews include Resolution at The Place, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Julie Cunningham, Northern Ballet, Project Polunin

93 – People. Charlie Stemp, Nicolai Legat

94 – Dancer of the Month. Margaret Willis meets English National Ballet’s Madison Keesler

99 – Obituaries. Giannandrea Poesio, Mary Willis

103 – Products

104 – Education. Dance Teacher Conference, new RAD headquarters

106 – Health. Debbie Malina looks at burnout

111 – Classified

112 – Calendar

118 – Listings

122 – Last Dance

Simon Oliver

Simon Oliver has been production editor of Dancing Times since 2010 and is 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 even poker.