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Posted on December 18, 2012
As 2012 draws to a close, we reflect on a year that saw a number of changes within the UK dance world. There were three new artistic directors of leading UK dance companies, cuts in Arts Council funding and threats to the inclusion of arts subjects in the new English Baccalaureate exams from 2015. (Click here for the link) One reason to be cheerful, however, was the formation of the National Institute of Dance Medicine and Science, on which we reported in our February 2012 issue.
We have, as always, an array of news, views and reviews in this latest issue, but I would like to take the opportunity here to mark two other events relevant to Dancing Times. December 16 is the centenary of the birth of James Monahan, poet, BBC administrator, former director of The Royal Ballet School from 1978 to 1983, and dance critic for The Guardian from 1935. Monahan had a distinguished military career during World War II and, before his death in 1985, contributed extensively and authoritatively to the pages of this magazine for many years. We salute the memory of a multi-talented man. Finally, as well as offering our readers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, we also offer congratulations to Katie Gregory, former editorial assistant to this magazine as well as former editor of Dance Today, and to her husband, James, on the birth of their son, Charlie George, on September 30, 2012.
JONATHAN GRAY
December 2012 Volume 103 Issue 1228
Features
14 The footballer, the gardener, his wife and their love of dance. Prominent figures in their own field talk dance with Paul Arrowsmith
19 A focus on style: the schools that inspired De Valois. In the first of a six-part series, Patricia Linton looks at the French school of ballet
23 Life on board. Laura Dodge explores the trials and tribulations of dancing at sea
27 A homecoming. Gerald Dowler attended the Ninette de Valois Symposium held at Dublin’s Abbey Theatre
35 View from the barre. At the age of 45, Frederick Lewis was inspired to take an adult ballet class…
Regulars
6 Dance Matters. Liam Scarlett, Sadler’s Wells, Midnight Tango and Musicals DVD competitions
11 Letters
12 Talking Point. Graham Watts wonders if it’s time to hold a dance Olympics?
31 Dance Health. Debbie Malina on the Dance Again Foundation, a charity launched to help dancers return to the stage after injury
39 Dance Scene. Reviews this month include : English National Ballet, Michael Clark Company, Jonzi D, and New York City Ballet
67 Letter from St Petersburg. By Igor Stupnikov
68 Dance Media. New books and DVDs reviewed by Jonathan Gray and Barbara Newman
71 Dance People. Daria Klimentová, Dance UK
72 Obituaries. Piers Beaumont, Hans Werner Henze, Helen Kastrati, Zora Semberova
75 Dance Education. Northern Ballet School, SLP College, National Youth Ballet
81 Classifieds
82 Where to Learn
85 Calendar
Into Dance
93 Dancer of the Month. San Francisco Ballet’s Sarah Van Patten interviewed by Margaret Willis
96 Stage Picture. Raymonda Act III by Zoë Anderson
98 Your Page