November 2011

Posted on November 29, 2011

In this month’s issue of Dancing Times, we focus on men who dance. Gerald Dowler talks to English National Ballet’s exciting new senior principal, Zdenek Konvalina, and Yonah Acosta, also of English National Ballet, is our Dancer of the Month. Dance critic and historian Kathrine Sorley Walker uncovers for us the fascinating story behind the little-known Tonbridge Boys’ Ballet, an amateur ballet company of the 1930s made up entirely of male dancers, and Kevin Berry talks to Anthony Missen and Kevin Turner of Company Chameleon Dance Theatre, who are inspiring boys and young men of today to take up dance in the Manchester area.

Sadly, we are unable to bring you our Talking Point column this month, but it will return as usual in December. With the November issue, subscribers of the magazine will receive a free 2012 calendar in recognition of their support over the year. If you would like to obtain a calendar, which is not for sale in the shops or newsagents, why not take out an annual subscription for Dancing Times, or sister magazine Dance Today? They make perfect Christmas presents! Details can be found here: https://www.dancing-times.co.uk/dancing-times-store.

JONATHAN GRAY

November 2011 Volume 102 Issue 1215

Features

14 Broadening his horizons. English National Ballet’s new senior principal Zdenek Konvalina interviewed by Gerald Dowler

19 It’s kind of alright. Kevin Berry meets Anthony Missen and Kevin Turner of Manchester’s Company Chameleon Dance Theatre

23 Tonbridge Boys’ Ballet. Kathrine Sorley Walker uncovers the story behind a little-known 1930s boys’ ballet company

27 Males to the fore? David Mead discovers how male dancers and choreographers are emerging in Taiwan

30 Dancing Times 2010–11, Volume 101

38 A spring in your step. Research inspires safer dance floors, says Caroline Reilly of British Harlequin plc

43 Romanian dances. Zoë Anderson visits the George Enescu Festival in Bucharest

Regulars

6 Dance Matters: Ashton Foundation launched, Blu-ray musicals to be won, dance debate in Parliament, Northern Ballet

11 Letters

12 Letter from St Petersburg. By Igor Stupnikov

33 Dance Health: Dynamic relaxation. Debbie Malina looks at Sophrology

49 Dance Scene. Reviews this month include : Candoco Dance Company, Akram Khan, Northern Ballet, Sonia Sabri, Phoenix Dance Theatre, The Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Royal Danish Ballet, New York City Ballet and Paris Opéra Ballet

67 Dance Media. New books, CDs and DVDs previewed by Jonathan Gray

69 Dance People: Dollie Henry, Gary Avis Gala

71 Obituary: Alexander Grant

73 Dance Education: Dolmetsch Society, RBS Super Sunday, International Dance Teachers’ Conference

81 Classifieds

82 Where to Learn

85 Calendar

Into Dance

93 Dancer of the Month. English National Ballet’s Yonah Acosta interviewed by  Margaret Willis

96 Dance Proms. By Zoë Anderson

98 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.