January 2015

Posted on January 29, 2015

Happy New Year! As you will have probably noticed by now, we commence 2015 with a magazine dedicated to international dance, with a particular focus on training. Gerald Dowler talks to Christopher Powney, the new director of London’s Royal Ballet School, about his ambitions and plans for the future of the school, and Richard Glasstone marks the 50th birthday of the Spanish Dance Society by highlighting its origins in South Africa.

I travel to China to participate in the Beijing Dance Academy’s 60th anniversary celebrations, and Zoë Anderson talks both to Aakash Odedra about his training in Indian kathak and Bharata Natyam, and to British dancers Gregory Dean and Kizzy Matiakis about dancing ballet the Danish way. In addition, Igor Stupnikov and Jack Anderson offer their regular columns from St Petersburg and New York, and we include reviews of ballet and dance from the UK, Australia, Belgium, Germany and the US. You can also read Barbara Newman’s views on two musicals that have just opened in London’s West End and, finally, there is a round-up of just some of the latest dance books and DVDs that have recently been made available. We hope you enjoy it!

JONATHAN GRAY

January 2015 Volume 105 Issue 1253

Cover stories

14 Improving on excellence. In a wide-ranging interview with Gerald Dowler, Christopher Powney spoke about the challenges and issues he is facing as the new director of The Royal Ballet School

19 A Beijing anniversary. Jonathan Gray travelled to the Chinese capital to participate in Beijing Dance Academy’s 60th anniversary celebrations

Features

25 MOVE IT. The UK’s biggest dance event returns

27 More to life. Aakash Odedra interviewed by Zoë Anderson

31 Spanish celebrations. Richard Glasstone celebrates 50 years of the Spanish Dance Society

Regulars

06 Dance Matters. Northern Ballet’s Emerging Choreographer, Dance UK

11 Letters

12 Talking Point. Nathalie Harrison highlights the importance of arts education

34 Dance Scene. Reviews include Rambert, Sylvie Guillem, Boston Ballet

57 Variety Lights. Barbara Newman sees Memphis and Made in Dagenham in the West End

61 Letter from St Petersburg. Igor Stupnikov attends the Diaghilev Festival

63 Notes from New York. Jack Anderson on a visit by the Mikhailovsky Ballet

65 Dance Media. New books and DVDs previewed by Jonathan Gray

67 Obituaries. Harry Haythorne, Alla Sizova

69 Dance People. Darren Goldsmith

71 Dance Health. Debbie Malina considers the benefits of osteopathy

77 Dance Education. Royal visit to Elmhurst

81 Classifieds

82 Where to Learn

91 Calendar

Into Dance

85 Dancer of the Month. Margaret Willis meets English National Ballet’s Junor Souza

88 A Bournonville celebration. 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.