November 2014

Posted on November 28, 2014

As we well and truly move into the winter months, this issue of Dancing Times has a little bit of something for everyone with an interest in dance, from a story about the “Child Pavlova”, dancer Marjorie Stevens, to Broadway choreographer Susan Stroman’s thoughts on her latest West End production, The Scottsboro Boys, as well as an exploration of what it takes to be a man in dance.

We also talk to The Royal Ballet’s Marcelino Sambé, pay a behind-the-scenes visit to Tring Park School for the Performing Arts, and find out all about a Community Dance gathering in Cardiff. If that wasn’t enough, Talking Point offers some thoughts about moving on from dance, and we also look at an inspiring project based at Liverpool’s Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.

Demonstrating the vast array of themes and subjects that dance can offer, we review recent performances from companies as wide-ranging as Birmingham Royal Ballet, Richard Alston Dance Company and Grupo Corpo, as well as bringing you up to date with all the latest news. We hope you enjoy it. If you do, why not think about taking out a subscription – either in print or digitally? Details on how can be found in this issue.

JONATHAN GRAY

Cover stories

14 “What did you do in the Great War, mum?” Michael Barber is ashamed at how little notice he took of the early life of his mother, dancer Marjorie Stevens

19 / Tough and tender. What it takes to be a man in dance, by Paul Arrowsmith

23 A happy place for dancers. Excellent teaching, beautiful surroundings and a wide curriculum make Tring Park School for the Performing Arts an inspiring place to train, finds Laura Dodge

35 / Making history. Director-choreographer Susan Stroman speaks to Nicola Rayner about her latest production, The Scottsboro Boys, and being a woman in the male-dominated world of choreography

Features

27 People dancing. David Mead finds out about a Community Dance
gathering taking place in Cardiff this month

32 Dancing Times Volume 104

Regulars

06 Dance Matters. Northern Ballet plans, Fallen Angels Dance Theatre

11 Letters

12 Talking Point. Jack Thorpe Baker on moving on from dance

38 Dance Scene. Reviews this month include BalletBoyz – The Talent, The Royal Ballet and Lord of the Flies

55 Variety Lights. Barbara Newman sees Anna Nicole at Covent Garden

57 Letter from St Petersburg. Igor Stupnikov reviews the Mikhailovsky Ballet

59 Notes from New York. Jack Anderson on a performance of Christopher Wheeldon’s Alice

61 Dance Media. Jonathan Gray reviews Tina Sutton’s new biography of Dame Alicia Markova

62 Obituaries. Joan Benesh, Suzana Braga, Geoffrey Holder, Moshe Romano

65 Dance People. Zdenek Konvalina, Elena Glurdjidze

66 Dance Health. Debbie Malina looks at a project at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital

73 Dance Education. RAD Genée results, Elmhurst

81 Classifieds

82 Where to Learn

91 Calendar

Into Dance

85 Dancer of the Month. The Royal Ballet’s Marcelino Sambé interviewed by Margaret Willis

88 The Little Match Girl. Zoë Anderson finds out about Arthur Pita’s show

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.