February 2015

Posted on March 4, 2015

Welcome to the latest issue of Dancing Times! At 124 pages, we believe it to be the largest magazine we have ever put together in our 105-year history, and I’m sure you will find plenty of interesting things to read within the covers. Highlights this month include interviews with The Royal Ballet’s Vadim Muntagirov, choreographer Richard Alston and former ballerina, now dancewear and costume designer, Yumiko Takeshima.

We also talk to theatre designer Richard Hudson about his latest project recreating designs by the great Léon Bakst for Alexei Ratmansky’s new production of The Sleeping Beauty for American Ballet Theatre, which opens next month; and we pay a visit to the New Zealand School of Dance in Wellington. In addition, we bring you dance reviews from recent performances in London, Paris, Munich, Edinburgh, Hong Kong, Monte-Carlo, New York, St Petersburg and Stuttgart, as well as all the latest dance news.

JONATHAN GRAY

February 2015 Volume 105 Issue 1254

Cover stories

14 It couldn’t be better. Vadim Muntagirov joined The Royal Ballet last year. He talks to Zoë Anderson about changing companies, new roles and a new start

23 Awakening Aurora. Theatre designer Richard Hudson talks to Paul Arrowsmith about awakening designs for The Sleeping Beauty by Léon Bakst

31 Always learning. Choreographer Richard Alston speaks to Zoë Anderson about his company’s 20th anniversary

35 Stitches from steps. David Mead interviews Yumiko Takeshima, the former ballerina who has a second career as a dancewear and costume designer

Features

19 Creativity: process or product? Laura Dodge reports from The Royal Ballet School’s Focus on Creativity seminars

29 MOVE IT

39 Creating opportunities. Maggie Foyer visits the New Zealand School of Dance

Regulars

06 Dance Matters. BBC launches dance season

10 Letters

12 Talking Point. Graham Watts says, “We are all Charlie”

46 Dance Scene. Reviews this month include The Royal Ballet and New Adventures

73 Variety Lights. Gerald Dowler sees An American in Paris

75 Letter from St Petersburg. Igor Stupnikov enjoys a tribute to Balanchine

77 Notes from New York. By George Dorris and Jack Anderson

79 Dance Media. New books and DVDs

81 Obituaries. John Chesworth, Brian Macdonald, Derek Rencher, Sitara, Stephen Speed

87 Dance People. New Year Honours

89 Dance Science. Debbie Malina considers dance and science

95 Dance Education. West London School, Rambert

99 Classifieds

100 Where to Learn

109 Calendar

Into Dance

103 Dancer of the Month. Oihana Vesga Bujan of Richard Alston Dance Company interviewed by Margaret Willis

107 Romeo and Juliet. By Zoë Anderson

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.