June 2008

Posted on May 4, 2008

We offer this month our apologies to all readers and advertisers for the slightly late delivery of the May issue. This was due to circumstances entirely beyond our control. With this issue we are moving to new printers and trust that you will receive your magazine regularly again on time. Despite the proliferation of musicals in the West End there is a dearth of dancing in the latest and biggest, Gone With the Wind. However, we are very happy to stir memories of a great opening night, 50 years ago, with Geoffrey A Guy’s recollection of the premiere of My Fair Lady at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane – a smash hit and not least because of Hanya Holm’s choreography.

Zoë Anderson talks to Desmond Kelly, who is retiring as assistant director of Birmingham Royal Ballet but staying in the family as the new artistic director of Elmhurst School for Dance in association with BRB. Michael Crabb introduces Guillaume Côté, the Canadian dancer who will guest with ENB in Derek Deane’s new ballet, Strictly Dancing. Debbie Malina gives advice about how orthopaedic surgeons can help dancers. Mary Clarke welcomes a fine biography of Lydia Lopokova, the Bloomsbury Ballerina, by Judith Mackrell. Jane Pritchard reports on 150 years of dance at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. DanceScene International ranges far and wide from classical ballet to Cloud Gate Dance Theatre, to British Asians in Play Ball, to Breakin’ Convention, and the Ballet Boyz.

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8 Letters to the Editor

11 Talking Point. Richard Glasstone writes about the changing technique of teaching ballet

12 Strictly Guillaume Côté. Michael Crabb talks to the Canadian dancer

17 Providing a Supporting Role. Debbie Malina looks at how orthopaedic surgeons can help dancers

20 GCE Dance: Modern Dance in the UK. Study Aid Part Two by Lorna Sanders

27 “What I was put here to do”. Zoe Anderson interviews BRB’s retiring assistant director Desmond Kelly

31 ROH: 150 years of dance. Jane Pritchard reports on the venue’s history

37 Motionhouse 20. David Mead talks to company founders Kevin Finnan and Louise Richards

41 Happy to be back. Ivan Putrov talks to Gerald Dowler about his return to The Royal Ballet

47 My Fair Lady remembered. Geoffrey A Guy reports on the musical’s London opening night

49 New Releases: Bloomsbury Ballerina by Judith Mackrell, reviewed by Mary Clarke

51 DanceScene International – UK: Srishti, Cloud Gate Dance Theatre, The Royal Ballet, Phoenix Dance Theatre, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Ballet National de Marseille, Breakin’ Convention ‘08, Ballet Boyz. Overseas: Dresden Semperoper Ballet, Kirov Ballet, Paris Opéra Ballet and the Paris Opéra Ballet School.

71 Letter From St Petersburg by Igor Stupnikov

75 Obituaries – Norman Maen, Sallie Wilson, Laverne Meyer and Lynne Golding

101 Megan Fairchild is our Dancer of the Month interviewed by Margaret Willis

104 Laura Knight at the Theatre

106 Your Page

6 Dancematters This month: RBS Performances, Richard Alston, Win ENB tickets

73 Miscellany This month: The Drummond Fund, new Nureyev book

78 Teachers & Training This month: IDTA Awards, Ballet Central, Elmhurst,

83 Classified

84 Where to Learn

86 Calendar

97 Book & DVD

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.