May 2019

Posted on May 23, 2019

In this special issue of Dancing Times, we mark the centenary of the birth of Margot Fonteyn, one of the greatest ballerinas of the 20th century, and the only dancer to be accorded the title prima ballerina assoluta by The Royal Ballet. Born in Reigate, Surrey, on May 18, 1919, Fonteyn had an extraordinary stage career, and her fame and influence was felt across the globe. In Talking Point, Kevin O’Hare, director of The Royal Ballet, pays tribute to Fonteyn’s legacy; dance critic Alastair Macaulay discusses how classicism was an integral quality to Fonteyn’s dancing; Gerard Charles, artistic director of the Royal Academy of Dance, writes about Fonteyn’s work as the Academy’s longest-serving president; and Fátima Nollén, in her exploration of the dance scene in Panama, finds out more about the role Fonteyn played in the development of that country’s national ballet company.

We also hear from the new directors of Rambert, Benoit Swan Pouffer and Helen Shute; from former Sadler’s Wells Ballet dancer Henry Danton, who has just celebrated his 100th birthday; from Stuttgart Ballet principal David Moore; from Neil and Katya Jones as they prepare for their show Somnium; and from Stas Portanenko and Nataliya Kolyada, who will be competing this month at Blackpool Dance Festival.

JONATHAN GRAY

Dancing Times, May 2019 Volume 109 Issue 1305

Cover Stories

13 – Talking Point. By Kevin O’Hare

14 – Margot Fonteyn and classicism. By Alastair Macaulay

19 – Elegance and generosity. Fonteyn and the RAD by Gerard Charles

23 – Festivals of dance. Fátima Nollén discovers how Margot Fonteyn helped shape the dance scene in Panama

Features

27 – Me and Mrs Jones. Nicola Rayner interviews Neil and Katya Jones

31 – Democratising dance. Laura Dodge meets Rambert’s Benoit Swan Pouffer and Helen Shute

35 – The slow burn principal. Stuttgart Ballet’s David Moore interviewed by Gerald Dowler

39 – In search of perfect training. Paul Arrowsmith talks to Henry Danton

Dance Today

72 – Shiny happy people. Alison Gallagher-Hughes meets Stas Portanenko and Nataliya Kolyada

75 – Bringing ballroom back. Nicola Rayner interviews Arthur Murray’s Victoria Regan about the brand’s UK Arthur Murray Campaign

78 – Tips on technique. By James Whitehead

79 – Technique clinic. By Phil Meacham

80 – Notes from the Dance Floor. By Laurie Yates

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

83 – Stepping Out. By Marianka Swain

84 – Somewhere in time. By Jack Reavely

Regulars

6 – News. Dance at the Edinburgh International Festival

43 – Dance Scene. Reviews include Mark Morris Dance Group, The Royal Ballet, Scottish Ballet, Boston Ballet, Queensland Ballet

58 – Variety Lights. By Barbara Newman

61 – FRANCE/dance. By Laura Cappelle

63 – Danza in Italia. By Graham Spicer

67 – Letter from St Petersburg. By Igor Stupnikov

69 – Notes from New York. By Jack Anderson

87 – Dancer of the Month. Margaret Willis talks to Northern Ballet’s Gavin McCaig

91 – People. Ivan Putrov’s Against the Stream gala

93 – Obituaries. Kevin Richmond

95 – Media. Dance on the big screen, plus Bryan Allen reviews a new Latin dance CD

97 – Products

99 – Education

100 – Health. Debbie Malina looks at the benefits of screening and profiling

104 – Calendar. Our guide to what’s on this month in the UK and abroad

110 – Listings. Where to learn to dance in the UK

114 – Last Dance. We look back to May 1979

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.