May 2013

Posted on May 28, 2013

With spring finally sprung, this special issue of Dancing Times marks the 100th anniversary of Igor Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring, the ballet that caused a scandal at its first performance by Serge Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris on the evening of May 29, 1913.

Rite went on, in almost unstoppable fashion, to become one of the most significant artistic works of the whole of the 20th century. I am delighted Richard Alston, Stephanie Jordan and Sarah Woodcock have contributed excellent articles on the subject of Rite for this issue, and that Jeannette Andersen, our regular contributor from Munich, was able to travel to Hamburg on our behalf to interview choreographer and director John Neumeier, who owns one of the world’s most important private collections of material relating to Vaslav Nijinsky, the choreographer of the very first Rite. It’s not just about Rite this month, however, as we also include for you an extensive array of news, views and reviews. I hope you enjoy it.
Jonathan Gray

May 2013 Volume 103 Issue 1233

Features

15 Rite 100. Sarah Woodcock and Stephanie Jordan explore aspects of Igor Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring to mark the 100th anniversary of its controversial first performance in Paris

23 What if… Gerald Dowler imagines what if Serge Diaghilev had not died in 1929

25 Everything Nijinsky. Jeannette Andersen talks to choreographer and director John Neumeier about his fascination with Vaslav Nijinsky

30 MOVE IT 2013. Laura Dodge attended the dance exhibition held from March 8 to 10. Photographs by Murray Thompson

33 A focus on style: the schools that
inspired De Valois. In the penultimate instalment of a six-part series, Patricia Linton looks at the English school of ballet

41 Dance education in schools. Laura Dodge reports on the National Dance Teachers Association Making It Happen conference

Regulars

6 Dance Matters. Osipova to join The Royal Ballet, Nureyev DVD box-set competition

11 Letters

12 Talking Point. Richard Alston reveals what it is like to choreograph The Rite of Spring

29 Variety Lights. Barbara Newman reviews The Book of Mormon at the Prince of Wales Theatre

36 Dance Health. Debbie Malina considers the subject of relaxation

45 Dance Scene. Reviews this month include : London Flamenco Festival 2013, balletLORENT, The Mikhailovsky Ballet, and Paul Taylor Dance Company

61 Letter from St Petersburg. Igor Stupnikov at the International Ballet Festival

63 Dance Media. New books reviewed

65 Dance People. Kim Brandstrup, Isabel Rawsthorne

67 Obituaries. Joan Fosas, André Gingras, Noël Goodwin, Maria Tallchief

71 Dance Education. Young British Dancer of the Year

75 Classifieds

76 Where to Learn

79 Calendar

IntoDance

85 Dancer of the month. Margaret Willis talks to William Bracewell of Birmingham Royal Ballet

88 Street dance star. Zoë Anderson talks to street dancer Akai Osei about his role in the new film All Stars

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.