March 2013

Posted on March 25, 2013

In this bumper issue of Dancing Times, you will find a wide range of up-to-date news, interviews, features, and reviews that reflect the many aspects of the UK dance scene. On page 23, we publish the results of the Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards for 2012, and on page 25, Daniel Pratt considers what makes that intrepid dance company, Ballet Black, so special in the run-up to its new spring season.

Gerald Dowler talks to Birmingham Royal Ballet principal Natasha Oughtred about her career on page 14, illustrated with some specially-commissioned photographs by former dancer Tim Cross, and on page 41 we publish the first part of our A Level Study Aid on Jerome Robbins’ West Side Story. Finally, I would like to say “welcome” to all the visitors to MOVE IT 2013, the annual dance exhibition held at London’s Olympia, who might be seeing this magazine there for the very first time. We hope they like what they see!

Jonathan Gray, Editor

March 2013 Volume 103 Issue 1231

Features

14 True Brit. Gerald Dowler talks to Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Natasha Oughtred. Photographs by Tim Cross

23 The Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards. Zoë Anderson reveals the winners

25 Forging ahead. Daniel Pratt considers what makes Ballet Black so special

31 MOVE IT 2013

39 The Dance Register. Arlene Phillips talks to Dancing Times about the launch of DTAP’s The Dance Register

41 West Side Story. Part One of a two-part A Level Dance Study Aid by Dr Lorna Sanders

47 What if… Gerald Dowler imagines what if there were no Martha Graham?

49 Drew’s views. The Royal Ballet’s David Drew talks, Paul Arrowsmith listens

Regulars

6 Dance Matters. Benjamin Millepied, Romeo and Juliet DVD competition, Bolshoi news update

10 Letters

12 Talking Point. Margaret Watson believes the ballet world should be encouraging more female choreographers

33 Dance Health. Debbie Malina looks at core stability and its importance for dancers

55 Dance Scene. Reviews this month include : Resolution! at The Place, the BalletBoyz, Oguike Dance, and the Vienna State Ballet

79 Letter from St Petersburg. Igor Stupnikov sees The Nutcracker

81 Dance Media. New books and DVDs reviewed by Zoë Anderson, Richard Glasstone and Kathrine Sorley Walker

85 Dance People. Mara Galeazzi, Anya Linden

87 Obituaries. Stella Mann, Freda Pitt, Konstanze Vernon

91 Dance Education. Prix de Lausanne, Northern Ballet School, RAD Dance and Lifelong Wellbeing conference

95 Classifieds

96 Where to Learn

99 Calendar

IntoDance

109 Ugly Duckling. Zoë Anderson finds out about Northern Ballet’s new ballet for children

112 Dancer of the month. Margaret Willis meets Leon Poulton of the BalletBoyz

114 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.