June 2012

Posted on June 26, 2012

This month, we pay tribute to one of the greatest ballerinas of the 20th century, Anna Pavlova, who, in 1912, made her home in London. She used Ivy House in Golder’s Green as the base from which she and her company of dancers toured the world, taking classical ballet to people who had never experienced it before. Richard Buckle once described Pavlova as a “chocolate-box goddess”, and it is true that by nature her art and repertoire were conservative – a far cry from the works performed by her compatriots in Serge Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes – yet she also took inspiration from the varied national dances she saw whilst travelling abroad, and she was to become the very image of a ballerina for thousands of people.

A century later, the life of this extraordinary woman is celebrated this month in Pavlova 2012, a festival being held at the London Jewish Cultural Centre, which is based at Ivy House. As media patron for Pavlova 2012, Dancing Times hopes readers will sample the many exciting events taking place from June 17.

JONATHAN GRAY

Features

14 A modern ballerina. Gerald Dowler explores the life and career of Anna Pavlova celebrated in the Pavlova 2012 festival this month

19 Aqua kathak.Kevin Berry discovers more about an unlikely dance collaboration in Sheffield

25 Going for gold. Margaret Willis travelled to Texas to see Houston Ballet

33 Man on a mission. Jonathan Gray meets Mark Annear, The Royal Ballet School’s head of Outreach and Teacher Training Programme

36 U.Dance Ensemble. Linda Jasper introduces the first youth dance company for Britain and Northern Ireland

39 Transition. As Dame Monica Mason’s retirement from The Royal Ballet approaches, Matthew Hawkins recalls the impact she made on him as a dancer

6 Dance Matters. The Place Prize, Dance UK’s Nutrition Conference, new Anna Pavlova book

10 Letters

12 Talking Point. This month, Bob Lockyer reflects on today’s dance scene in the UK

23 Variety Lights. Barbara Newman on Wonderful Town

29 Dance Health. Debbie Malina investigates ways water can be used to increase fitness and improve overall health

43 Dance Scene. Reviews this month include : Royal Ballet of Flanders, Scottish Ballet, Breakin’ Convention, Ballet Preljocaj, Paul Taylor Dance Company, Paris Opéra Ballet

63 Letter from St Petersburg. Igor Stupnikov at the Dance Open

64 Dance Media. New books and DVDs reviewed by Mary Clarke, Jennifer Jackson, Barbara Newman and Jonathan Gray

67 Dance People. Dame Antoinette Sibley, Tony Shepherd

69 Obituaries. Moscelyne Larkin

71 Dance Education. International Dance Teacher Conference, London Children’s Ballet

75 Classifieds

76 Where to Learn

78 Calendar

85 Dancer of the Month. English National Ballet’s Ksenia Ovsyanick interviewed by Margaret Willis

88 Against Time. Zoë Anderson on English National Ballet and Flawless

90 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.