March 2016

Editorial and contents March 2016

Welcome to the biggest issue of Dancing Times we have ever produced! At 140 pages, I’m sure there are plenty of things in the magazine to interest everyone, whatever their taste in dance. This month we focus on the dance scene in France, with Laura Cappelle, writing for Dancing Times for the first time, giving a fascinating overview of French ballet, contemporary dance and hip hop.

Our main interview was meant to be with Benjamin Millepied, director of the Paris Opéra Ballet, but his sudden resignation from his post on February 4 put an end to those plans. Instead, Gerald Dowler gives his take on Millepied’s role with the company and the factors that led up to his resignation. We also pay tribute to Violette Verdy, the beloved French ballerina and the first woman to direct the Paris Opéra Ballet, who died on February 8. Elsewhere in the magazine, Jeannette Andersen wonders if dance has reached its physical limits, Iris Fanger remembers ballroom legends Vernon and Irene Castle, Nicola Rayner meets Germán Cornejo of Immortal Tango, Zoë Anderson reveals the winners of the National Dance Awards, and we report on the UK Open Championships held in Bournemouth. Finally, after a gap of several years, Dancing Times will once again be making an appearance at MOVE IT, the annual dance exhibition (see page 12). Why not come and meet the team on Stand 108!

JONATHAN GRAY

Dancing Times, March 2016 Volume 106 Issue 1267

Cover stories

15 – Here today… Gerald Dowler on Benjamin Millepied’s departure from the Paris Opéra Ballet

19 – Escaping definition. Laura Cappelle casts her gaze over the current dance scene in France

25 – National Dance Awards 2015. Zoë Anderson reveals the winners

41 – Fire in his belly. Nicola Rayner talks to Germán Cornejo about his new show, Immortal Tango

121 – Heel to toe. Debbie Malina looks at problems encountered when dancing in high heels

Features

12 – MOVE IT 2016

27 – Castle in the air. Iris Fanger remembers Vernon and Irene Castle

31 – Has dance reached its physical limit? Jeannette Andersen asks the question

37 – Six years on. Mark Rasmussen visits Scottish Ballet

45 – Moving theatre. The Young Vic’s current season moves between theatre and dance. Zoë Anderson finds out more

49 – Merging point. Clemmie Cowl highlights the merger of the Royal Ballet Benevolent Fund and the Dance Teachers’ Benevolent Fund

53 – Preserving the legacy. Gerald Dowler looks at the guardianship of the works of John Cranko and Kenneth MacMillan

86 – Open season. Nicola Rayner reports on the UK Open Championships

93 – Let’s get musical. Lee Knights talks to Andrew Cuerdon and Ross Mitchell

94 – Tips on technique by James Whitehead

95 – Technique clinic by Phil Meacham

96 – Simon’s Guide to Swing by Simon Selmon

97 – Stepping Out by Marianka Swain

98 – Notes from the dance floor

100 – Somewhere in time by Jack Reavely

Regulars

6 – News

10 – Talking Point by Gavin McCaig

59 – Variety Lights by Barbara Newman

63 – Letter from St Petersburg by Igor Stupnikov

65 – Notes from New York by Jack Anderson

67 – Media

69 – Dance Scene. Reviews include Resolution and Ballet am Rhein

103 – People. Laurretta Summerscales

104 – Dancer of the Month. Josef Perou interviewed by Margaret Willis

109 – Obituaries. Mrinalini Sarabhai, Nadine Senior, Violette Verdy

113 – Products

117 – Education. Prix de Lausanne, Early Dance Circle, Gala for Eve Pettinger

127 – Classified

129 – Calendar

134 – Listings

138 – Last Dance. We look back to March 1976

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.