August 2021

Posted on August 26, 2021

Editorial and contents August 2021

It’s too early to know, just yet, what impact “Freedom Day”, on July 19, may have had on dance in the UK. From that date onwards, people were no longer required to socially distance themselves from others, and were also free not to wear face-coverings if they chose not to. Theatres, restaurants, pubs and clubs could open at full capacity again, which also meant dance schools and studios could begin to operate “normally”. Is all this too much, too soon? In this issue of Dancing Times, Nicola Rayner hears from ballroom, Latin American and partner dance teachers – whose businesses have perhaps been the hardest hit within the dance industry during the pandemic – on how they were planning to “get back to normal”, if indeed they were. Additionally, Ginny Brown of the ISTD offers an antidote to teaching dance in a digital world. We also find out what live dance events are being planned for this year’s Edinburgh International Festival. 

Exploring other areas of dance in a post-pandemic world, Daniel Pratt asks how much the dance industry will protect its artists in his Talking Point column, and on page 22 Matthew Paluch looks at queer representation in ballet. All topics that are food for thought.

JONATHAN GRAY

Dancing Times, August 2021 Volume 111 Issue 1332

Cover Stories

15 – Right as rain. Nicola Rayner talks to Faye Tozer about her upcoming role in Singin’ in the Rain

26 – Something to be shared. Zoë Anderson previews the 2021 Edinburgh International Festival

52 – Back to the ballroom. Nicola Rayner hears some thoughts on Freedom Day

Features

19 – Keep dancing. Ginny Brown offers an antidote to a digital world

22 – Queering ballet. Matthew Paluch looks at queer representation in ballet

29 – Gone but not quite forgotten. Gerald Dowler highlights the history of International Ballet

Dance Today

54 – Tips on technique. By James Whitehead

55 – Technique clinic. By Phil Meacham

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

57 – Stepping Out. By Pete Meager

58 – Somewhere in time. By Jack Reavely

Regulars

6 – News. Scottish Ballet, National Dance Awards

10 – Letters

13 – Talking Point. By Daniel Pratt

33 – Dance Scene International. Reviews this month from Birmingham, Copenhagen, Hong Kong, London, Manchester and Munich

46 – Variety Lights. Barbara Newman reviews Hairspray

47 – Danza in Italia. By Graham Spicer

48 – Letter from St Petersburg. By Igor Stupnikov

49 – FRANCE/dance. By Laura Cappelle

61 – Dancer of the Month. Margaret Willis interviews Phoenix Dance Theatre’s Natalie Alleston

64 – Obituaries. Lucette Aldous, Olga Moiseyeva, Elizabeth Souritz, Donald York

66 – Media. New books, CDs and DVDs

69 – Products

71 – Education. Fonteyn finalists announced

74 – Strictly for the birds. Debbie Malina looks at dance in the animal kingdom

77 – Classifieds

78 – Calendar. Our guide to what’s on

82 – Last Dance. We look back to August 1981

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.