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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
June 2012 Volume 102 Issue 1222
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
Regulars
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
Into Dance
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