January 2020

Posted on January 28, 2020

Editorial and contents January 2020

The start of a new year is a time to take stock of the 12 months gone by, and then start to plan ahead. It’s a theme we explore in this latest issue of Dancing Times, which celebrates achievements already won, and anticipates events in the year to come. Deborah Weiss, a former dancer with English National Ballet (ENB) when it was known as London Festival Ballet, highlights ENB’s 70th anniversary with a nostalgic article to mark the company’s past and herald its future. In addition, Gerard Charles looks at 100 years of the Royal Academy of Dance; Francis Yeoh assesses the choreographic works of both Mikhail Fokine and Frederick Ashton; Gerald Dowler embarks on a new series covering the history of Soviet ballet from 1961 to 1990; Amanda Hodgson brings to our attention Madame Celeste, a long-forgotten dancer of the 19th century; Marianka Swain takes a view on the most recent season of Strictly Come Dancing, and also informs us about some new dances for the New Year; and Paul Arrowsmith discusses with Nikolai Hübbe, artistic director of the Royal Danish Ballet, how best to preserve the legacy of August Bournonville. All this, as well as our regular features – it should keep you busy reading until February. Happy New Year!

JONATHAN GRAY

Dancing Times, January 2020 Volume 110 Issue 1313

Cover Stories

17 – A company well travelled. Deborah Weiss marks English National Ballet’s 70th anniversary

21 – A forgotten dancer. Amanda Hodgson celebrates the career of Madame Celeste

24 – Sitting pretty. Nicola Rayner talks to musical theatre choreographer Jerry Mitchell

78 – Strictly surprising. By Marianka Swain

Features

29 – Cold War dances. In the first part of a new series, Gerald Dowler looks at ballet in the Soviet Union between 1961 and 1990

33 – Thank you, Mr B. Nikolai Hübbe, artistic director of the Royal Danish Ballet, in conversation with Paul Arrowsmith

37 – Choreographic visions. Francis Yeoh on the ballets of Frederick Ashton and Mikhail Fokine

40 – RAD 100. Gerard Charles reflects on RAD training past, present and future

Dance Today

82 – New dances for the New Year. Marianka Swain recommends some intriguing new dance styles and classes

84 – Tips on technique. By James Whitehead

85 – Technique clinic. By Phil Meacham

86 – Simon’s Guide to Swing. By Simon Selmon

87 – Stepping Out. By Marianka Swain

88 – Notes from the dance floor. By Helena Fitoussi

90 – Somewhere in time. By Jack Reavely

Regulars

8 – News. BalletBoyz on tour in the UK

13 – Letters

15 – Talking Point. By Paul Arrowsmith

43 – Dance Scene. Reviews this month include Ballet Cymru, Dorrance Dance, English National Ballet, National Ballet of Canada, Hamburg Ballet

66 – Variety Lights. By Barbara Newman

69 – FRANCE/dance. By Laura Cappelle

71 – Danza in Italia. By Graham Spicer

73 – Letter from St Petersburg. By Igor Stupnikov

75 – Notes from New York. By Jack Anderson

93 – Dancer of the Month. Margaret Willis meets Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Edivaldo Souza da Silva

97 – People. Frederick Ashton in Ecuador

99 – Obituaries. Eunice Bartell, Shirley Rees-Edwards

101 – Media. By Barbara Newman

103 – Products

105 – Education. New Zealand School of Dance

108 – Health. Debbie Malina looks at Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport

111 – Classifieds

113 – Calendar. Our guide to what’s on

118 – Listings. Where to learn in the UK

122 – Last Dance. We look back to January 1980

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.