December 2016

Posted on December 21, 2016

The approach of Christmas can mean many things to dance lovers: the opportunity to go out dancing with friends and family, an annual visit to see The Nutcracker, waiting to find out who wins this year’s final of Strictly Come Dancing, or even the chance just to sit down on the sofa and finish reading all those copies of Dancing Times that have been piling up on the coffee table. For many, it also means going to see a show by Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures, and this month the choreographer will be unveiling a new production at Sadler’s Wells, The Red Shoes, based on the legendary Powell and Pressburger film that starred Moira Shearer and Anton Walbrook. On page 17, Zoë Anderson talks to Bourne about the show, as well as his leading lady, Ashley Shaw. In addition, on page 33, Paul Arrowsmith will be finding out how dance shows such as The Red Shoes are marketed for the general public.

We also talk to Strictly professionals AJ Pritchard and Chloe Hewitt, find out about the 19th-century ballerina equestrienne Camille Leroux, and investigate why older dancers are coming to the fore. Merry Christmas!

Dancing Times, December 2016 Volume 107 Issue 1276

Cover Stories

17 – Art and love. Matthew Bourne and Ashley Shaw tell Zoë Anderson about The Red Shoes

23 – Bright young things. Nicola Rayner meets Strictly’s AJ Pritchard and Chloe Hewitt

33 – Another opening, another show. How dance companies get us to buy tickets, by Paul Arrowsmith

58 – Anastasia. Jonathan Gray reviews The Royal Ballet’s latest revival

Features

27 – Antwerp’s Royal Ballet School by Jenny Veldhuis

30 – The Taglioni of horsewomen. Caitlyn Lehmann looks at the life of Camille Leroux

39 – A new trend? With increasing numbers of older artists appearing in performances, Jeannette Andersen wonders if this is the start of a new era in dance?

Dance Today

74 – Cha-cha-cha changes. Nicola Rayner at the 2016 International Championships

78 – Christmas dancing. Zoë Anderson finds out where to go festive dancing

80 – Tips on technique by James Whitehead

81 – Technique clinic by Phil Meacham

82 – Simon’s Guide to Swing by Simon Selmon

83 – Stepping Out by Marianka Swain

84 – Notes from the dance floor

86 – Somewhere in time by Jack Reavely

Regulars

6 – News. The Royal Ballet DVD box set competition, Scottish Ballet plans, National Dance Award nominations announced

12 – Letters

15 – Talking Point by Neil Norman

43 – Variety Lights. Barbara Newman sees Side Show and Lulu

45 – Letter from St Petersburg by Igor Stupnikov

47 – Notes from New York by Jack Anderson

49 – Media. New books and DVDs

51 – Dance Scene. Reviews this month include Dance Umbrella 2016, Jasmin Vardimon Company, Rambert, New English Ballet Theatre, Royal Swedish Ballet, the Ballet of La Scala, Milan

89 – People. Roberta Marquez farewell, Liam Scarlett, Nicholas Legat celebrations in London

90 – Dancer of the Month. Margaret Willis meets English National Ballet’s Rina Kanehara

95 – Obituaries. Yvette Chauviré, Ellis Ann Rothenberg, Edward Griffiths

99 – Products

102 – Education. Dance Proms 2016

105 – Fire and light. Debbie Malina considers the role fire has played in shaping the stories of many of our theatres

109 – Classified

111 – Calendar

118 – Listings

122 – Last Dance. We look back to December 1976

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.