May 2012

Posted on May 30, 2012

We celebrate some dance landmarks in the latest issue of Dancing Times. Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures is 25 years old this year, and he discusses the company’s future and its past with Zoë Anderson on page 15. Richard Glasstone reports from Istanbul on page 25 about the State Ballet’s celebration of Dame Ninette de Valois, a company she helped establish over 60 years ago, and on page 37 you can read my tribute to Nina Ananiashvili, who marked her 30-year stage career with a wonderful mini-festival held in Tbilisi, Georgia, in March. Paul Arrowsmith highlights the return of Kenneth MacMillan’s The Prince of the Pagodas with an exploration of this elusive ballet on page 41, and Kevin Berry investigates on page 19 how some dance companies are coping one year on from the cuts in funding by Arts Council England.

Our letters pages includes tributes from readers to Wayne Eagling, English National Ballet’s departing artistic director, and on page 6 we announce his successor, Tamara Rojo.

JONATHAN GRAY 

May 2012 Volume 102 Issue 1221

Features

15 Think theatrically. Matthew Bourne talks to Zoë Anderson about the 25th anniversary of his company, New Adventures

19 The unkindest cut? One year on from Arts Council England’s cuts in funding, Kevin Berry finds out how some dance companies are coping

22 MOVE IT 2012. Laura Dodge visits the annual dance exhibition held at London’s Olympia. Photographs by Murray Thompson

25 Madam’s Turkish legacy. Richard Glasstone travelled to Istanbul to participate in the State Ballet’s celebration of Dame Ninette de Valois

37 Celebrating Nina. Jonathan Gray journeyed to Tbilisi to see the celebrations marking Nina Ananiashvili’s 30 years on stage

41 Changes in Pagoda Land. As The Royal Ballet revives The Prince of the Pagodas next month, Paul Arrowsmith explores Benjamin Britten’s elusive ballet

Regulars

6 Dance Matters. Tamara Rojo is ENB’s new artistic director, New Adventures competition

10 Letters

12 Talking Point. This month, Laura Dodge on dancers who have that “x factor”

29 Variety Lights. Barbara Newman on Singin’ in the Rain and The Master and Margarita

33 Dance Health. Debbie Malina explores some of the benefits of cross-training

45 Dance Scene. Reviews this month include : DV8, Birmingham Royal Ballet, English National Ballet, The Eifman Ballet, Royal Ballet of Flanders

61 Letter from St Petersburg. Igor Stupnikov at the Maryinsky

63 Dance Media. Michael Crabb reviews a new biography on Celia Franca by Carol Bishop-Gwyn

65 Dance People. Olivier Award winners

67 Obituaries. Ethel Winter, David Ellis, Mollie Webb

71 Dance Education. Pavlova 2012, Phyllis Bedells Bursary

75 Classifieds

76 Where to Learn

79 Calendar

Into Dance

85 Dancer of the Month. State Ballet of Georgia’s William Pratt interviewed by Margaret Willis

88 Dance GB. By Zoë Anderson

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.