August 2017

Posted on August 24, 2017

Dancing Times may not have been invited to review any of the performances by the Maryinsky Ballet in London this summer, but there is no shortage of Russian ballet in this issue of the magazine. As well as Igor Stupnikov’s regular Letter from St Petersburg, we also publish Margaret Willis’ report on the 2017 Moscow International Ballet Competition, as well as Graham Watts’ round-up of the Rudolf Nureyev Festival held in Ufa, the home town of the great dancer. In addition, we also report on the sudden and dramatic cancellation of a new ballet based on the life of Nureyev at the Bolshoi.

It’s not all Russian ballet in this issue of the magazine, however, so Nicola Rayner talks to Latin dancer Flavia Cacace about Tango Moderno, her forthcoming show with Vincent Simone, Lee Knights takes a look at belly dancing, Barbara Newman reviews two new stage musicals – Bat Out of Hell and YANKS! – running in the West End, and actor Trader Faulkner remembers the Australian-born ballerina Elaine Fifield, who performed with The Royal Ballet during the 1950s. All this, plus our regular news and reviews from around the world of dance. Enjoy the summer holiday!

Dancing Times, August 2017 Volume 107 Issue 1284

Cover Stories

14 – Moscow International Ballet Competition 2017. Margaret Willis sees the winners

20 – Thoroughly Moderno. Nicola Rayner talks to Flavia Cacace about her and Vincent Simone’s Tango Moderno. Photographs by Hugo Glendinning

24 – Nureyev Festival. Graham Watts travelled to Ufa to attend a festival celebrating the life of Rudolf Nureyev

31 – DC dancing. The Washington Ballet’s 2017–18 season, photographed by Dean Alexander

Features

17 – Musical theatre in the Midlands. Laura Dodge visits MADD

27 – A fractured, tragic ambition. Trader Faulkner remembers Elaine Fifield

Dance Today

6 – Up in arms. Nicola Rayner thinks arms are the unsung heroes of ballroom and Latin American dancing

60 – Keeping the legacy alive. Alison Gallagher-Hughes on the importance of inspiration in dance

62 – I dream of Genie. Lee Knights takes a look at belly dancing

64 – Tips on technique. By James Whitehead

65 – Technique clinic. By Phil Meacham

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

67 – Stepping Out. By Marianka Swain

68 – Somewhere in time. By Jack Reavely

Regulars

6 – News. Arts Council England funding announced, Bolshoi cancels Rudolf Nureyev ballet

10 – Letters

12 – Talking Point. By Daniel Pratt

33 – Variety Lights. Barbara Newman sees Bat Out of Hell and YANK!

35 – FRANCE/dance. By Laura Cappelle

37 – Letter from St Petersburg. Igor Stupnikov attends the Dance Open Festival

39 – Notes from New York. Jack Anderson reviews LA Dance Project at the Joyce Theater

41 – Dance Scene. Reviews include Scottish Dance Theatre, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Alexander Whitley, les ballets C de la B, Dorrance Dance, National Ballet of China, Dutch National Ballet

71 – People. Nicolas Le Riche, Royal Ballet promotions

72 – Dancer of the Month. Margaret Willis meets Scottish Ballet’s Araminta Wraith

77 – Products

78 – Education. National Youth Ballet, Central School of Ballet

82 – Health. Debbie Malina looks at the issue of muscle memory

85 – Classified

87 – Calendar. Our guide to what’s on stage in the UK and abroad

94 – Listings. Where to learn to dance

98 – Last Dance. We look back to August 1977

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.