March 2021

Posted on March 25, 2021

Editorial and contents March 2021

Looking back over the past year, none of us could have guessed the huge, long-lasting impact COVID-19 would have on all of our lives. That impact will still be felt in the months to come, but I do hope the UK government will soon be able to give us some more concrete plans as to when we can come out of lockdown and life can take on some semblance of normality again, especially for those of us working in the dance world. In any other year, the Dancing Times team would be welcoming visitors and readers to the annual MOVE IT dance event, held each year at London’s ExCeL, but for the second year in a row it has unfortunately had to be cancelled. 

Life, however, goes on despite the pandemic, and, in this issue, Graham Watts writes about the huge amount of dance he has been watching online since the start of 2020. I highlight the 75th anniversary of Frederick Ashton’s sublime Symphonic Variations, and we also hear from Nicola Rayner about the new UK Argentine Tango Association. In addition, Matthew Paluch asks some searching questions of the accountability of ballet companies for their dancers; Alison Gallagher-Hughes concludes her interview with Len Goodman; and in Stepping Out we welcome a new contributor, Pete Meager.

JONATHAN GRAY

Dancing Times, March 2021 Volume 111 Issue 1327

Cover Stories

16 – A year of dance online. By Graham Watts

22 – The secret of joy in dance. Jonathan Gray highlights the 75th anniversary of Frederick Ashton’s Symphonic Variations

28 – A wordless language. Nicola Rayner hears from the chairman of the new UK Argentine Tango Association

Features

33 – We know what’s wrong. Matthew Paluch asks when we can put it right?

38 – Broadway icon. Francis Yeoh looks at Jerome Robbins’ work in musical theatre

Dance Today

54 – With a little bit of luck. Alison Gallagher-Hughes concludes her interview with Len Goodman

56 – Tips on technique. By James Whitehead

57 – Technique clinic. By Phil Meacham

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

59 – Stepping Out. By Pete Meager

60 – Somewhere in time. By Jack Reavely

Regulars

8 – News. Scottish Ballet’s new Coppélia

12 – Letters

15 – Talking Point. By David Jays

44 – FRANCE/dance. By Laura Cappelle

46 – Danza in Italia. By Graham Spicer

48 – Letter from St Petersburg. By Igor Stupnikov

50 – Notes from New York. By Jack Anderson

63 – Dancer of the Month. Margaret Willis interviews Scottish Ballet’s Jerome Anthony Barnes

66 – Obituaries. Patricia Barnes, Juan Carlos Copes, Sara Leland

68 – Media. New books, CDs and DVDs

71 – Products

72 – Education. Prix de Lausanne 2021 results

75 – Health. Debbie Malina concludes her article on dance classes for older people

79 – Classifieds

80 – Calendar. Our guide to what’s on in the UK and abroad

82 – Last Dance. We look back to March 1981

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.