December 2009

Posted on November 4, 2009

As 2009 draws to a close, Dancing Times can look back at an eventful year in the world of dance. We have celebrated the centenary of Serge Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes and the birth of Sir Robert Helpmann; we have marked the 40th anniversaries of both Northern Ballet Theatre and Scottish Ballet, and also the opening of Glasgow’s Tramway and the Jerwood DanceHouse in Ipswich; we have paid tribute to figures in the dance world who have reached a significant birthday and sadly mourned the passing of many dance luminaries.

December is a month for reflection, but it also gives one the chance to look ahead, and 2010 promises to be another eventful year for dance: not only will there be anniversaries to be celebrated by English National Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet, but Dancing Times itself will be 100 years old in October. Sadly, this month we say farewell to our colleague Alison Kirkman, who as production editor not only made sure each issue was finished to deadline every month, but also did so much to make it a lively and interesting read, and something wonderful to look at. We wish her all the very best for her future plans. And finally, we would like to wish all our readers a very Merry Christmas.

Jonathan Gray

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In this month’s issue

14 Prima la Danza. Federico Bonelli interviewed by Gerald Dowler

19 Playing creatures. Zoë Anderson on how dance forms the basis for some memorable science fiction creatures

23 Excellence is the only answer. David Mead talks to Zurich Ballet’s Heinz Spoerli

29 A glass half full. Laura Blazy highlights the importance of hydration for dancers

33  Man at the top. Margaret Willis talks to Yuri Fateyev of The Maryinsky Ballet

36 The Vaganova Academy. By Igor Stupnikov. Photographs by James Hill

39 All in a spin over CRB? Tracey McCreath highlights new changes in legislation

40 Ballets Russes de Serge Diaghilev. Part 14 researched by Sarah Woodcock

42 The Jerwood DanceHouse. Jonathan Gray visits DanceEast’s new home

45 Another Opening. Barbara Newman reviews Annie Get Your Gun at the Young Vic

49 DanceScene International UK: In the spirit of Diaghilev, Dance Umbrella, Morphoses/The Christopher Wheeldon Company, The Royal Ballet, Rambert Dance Company OVERSEAS: American Ballet Theatre, Ballett Basel, Chunky Move, Boston Ballet, SLAMAction ON SCREEN: La Danse, “Margot” on BBC4

75 New Releases.
A selection of reviews of new books and DVDs

Regulars

6 Dancematters.
Northern Ballet Theatre, Auditions, Win dance DVDs

11 Letters to the Editor

12 Talking Point. By Richard Glasstone

73 Letter from St Petersburg. By Igor Stupnikov

81 Miscellany. Farukh Ruzimatov

82 Teachers & Training. Michael Corder, Wells Summer School, Bonnie Bird Awards

87 Classified

88 Where to Learn

90 Calendar

IntoDance

101 Dancer of the Month – Melissa Hamilton. Interviewed by Margaret Willis

104 IntoDance. What to see this Christmas

106 Your Page.

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.