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Posted on November 3, 2020
Welcome to this special anniversary edition of Dancing Times. We are incredibly proud the magazine has reached this momentous milestone in its history, especially in light of the fact that within that time span of 110 years – two world wars, and political and economic turmoil, as well as pandemics – it has never missed an issue. The COVID-19 lockdown has been especially difficult for the magazine, but our small and dedicated team of just five people – all of them working from home – are totally committed to bringing you as much material on dance as possible. I would like to thank them – as well as all our contributors and advertisers, and Warners, our printer and distributor – for their continued dedication and support during the past six months.
As the world slowly returns to some semblance of “normality” (I know I’m not the only one thrilled to be able to take a dance class again), you will notice we have been able to re-introduce the Calendar pages at the back of the magazine. As we go to press, there remains precious little dance to be seen live on stage here in the UK (top marks to Birmingham Royal Ballet, then, set to be back on stage later this month), but it’s heartening to observe just how many performances are scheduled to take place across Europe. Dance has always found a way to survive; we must be optimistic and look forward to a new, reinvigorated and highly creative future for the art form we love.
JONATHAN GRAY
12. Dancing Times at 110
Gerald Dowler interviews editor Jonathan Gray about the Dancing Times’ 110th birthday, and hears from other figures in the UK dance world
18. A tribute to Philip Richardson
Beth Genné on the founding editor of Dancing Times
22. Going outside
Fátima Nollén discovers how Miami City Ballet has re-imagined its upcoming season
28. Shine on
Photographer Chris Nash introduces a new volume of his pictures celebrating the Richard Alston Dance Company
31. Back in the room
Strictly Come Dancing siblings Kevin and Joanne Clifton talk to Nicola Rayner about returning to theatres this autumn
37. Gardening leave
Gavin McCaig discovers that dancers have been taking to their gardens and allotments during lockdown
54. Socially distanced Strictly
This year’s edition of Strictly Come Dancing will look and operate rather differently – but the spirit should be the same, says Marianka Swain
56. Tips on technique
By James Whitehead
57. Technique clinic
By Phil Meacham
58. Simon’s Guide to Swing
By Simon Selmon
59. Stepping Out
Marianka Swain finds out what Pete Meagher has been doing during lockdown
60. Somewhere in time
Jack Reavely remembers Major Eric Hancox
6. News
English National Ballet postpones autumn 2020 season
12. Talking point
By Henry Danton
41. Dance Scene UK
David Mead attends The Grange Festival
44. Variety Lights
Barbara Newman sees Fanny and Stella at the Garden Theatre, the first musical to be produced in London following lockdown
46. FRANCE/dance
By Laura Cappelle
48. Letter from St Petersburg
By Igor Stupnikov
50. Notes from New York
Jack Anderson samples dance at the Guggenheim Museum
61. Subscriptions
63. Dancer of the Month
Margaret Willis interviews The Royal Ballet’s Ashley Dean
66. Obituaries
José Barrios, Joan Harris, Pauline Wadsworth
71. Products
73. Education
English Youth Ballet, Ballet West goes into liquidation
74. Health
Debbie Malina investigate craniosacral therapy and its origins
77. Classifieds
78. Calendar
Our guide to what’s on in the UK and abroad
82. Last Dance
We look back to October 1980