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Posted on April 4, 2009
There is no escaping the celebrations for the centenary of Serge Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes in Dancing Times this month. It’s hard to imagine how the international dance world might have evolved without the impact made by this extraordinary company – there would certainly be no UK ballet or contemporary dance scene as we know it today – and it is entirely appropriate we should reflect on the astonishing legacy of the Ballets Russes in its centenary year.
Dancing Times itself was born just one year later, in 1910, and extensively recorded the company in its pages following their first performances in London in 1911. In the September issue of 1911, we reported that: “…the London opera season of 1911 has been marked by a complete triumph of the Russian Ballet. Old frequenters of Covent Garden are ready to maintain that nothing of its kind equalling it has been seen upon these historic boards, at all events within living memory”. On page 15, Iris Fanger gives a tantalising glimpse of what promises to be a fascinating new Ballets Russes exhibition currently on display at Harvard University and on page 19 Sarah Woodcock demonstrates the lasting impression Diaghilev, his collaborators and his dancers made on the worlds of film, theatre and literature. Also this month, we conclude Sheila Cross’ invaluable series of articles on dance degrees on page 29 and Louise Bennett’s informative guide to European companies for dancers about to embark on a professional career on page 43. Diaghilev would surely be amazed to see how much dance has changed since his death in 1929.
Jonathan Gray
To purchase a copy of this issue click here
Features
15 BALLETS RUSSES 100 On display. A look at the Harvard Theatre Collection’s exhibition by Iris Fanger
19 BALLETS RUSSES 100 Refractions. Sarah Woodcock describes the influence of Diaghilev’s
Ballets Russes on theatre, film, literature and fashion
22 BALLETS RUSSES 100 Ballets Russes de Serge Diaghilev. Part 7 researched
by Sarah Woodcock
25 Outstanding Achiever. Part 2 of Barbara Newman’s interview with Richard Alston
29 Dance by Degrees. Part 3. Sheila Cross looks at career progression
35 Danza in Fiera. Katie Gregory reports on
the Italian dance festival
39 Behind the scenes at the museum. Kathy Elgin visits the new theatre and performance galleries at the V&A
43 Dancing Around Europe. Part 8. By Louise Bennett
46 Another Opening.
Barbara Newman reviews Twelfth Night After William
Shakespeare and Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
51 DanceScene International UK: The Royal Ballet, Flamenco Festival London,
American Ballet Theatre, Russell Maliphant OVERSEAS: Paul Taylor Dance Company, Lucy Guerin Inc, The Australian Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet, Royal Danish Ballet
72 Obituary. Eva Evdokimova and Doris Barry
Regulars
6 Dancematters. RB and BRB plans, New Flyte pointe shoe
10 Letters to the Editor
12 Talking Point. By David Vaughan
69 Letter from St Petersburg. By Igor Stupnikov
71 Miscellany. Spanish Dance Society
75 Teachers & Training. Gala at White Lodge, IDTA Awards, Tring Park
79 Classified
80 Where to Learn
82 Calendar
91 DVD reviews
IntoDance
93 Dancer of the Month – Sergei Polunin.
Interviewed by Margaret Willis
96 BALLETS RUSSES 100 IntoDance. Ballets Russes celebrations around the world
98 Your Page.