October 2021

Posted on October 28, 2021

I have some sad news to impart to you this month. Jack Anderson, who has been contributing to Dancing Times for 50 years as our regular New York correspondent, has decided to retire from writing about dance, and on page 57 of this issue he offers us his final “Notes from New York” column. It feels like the end of an era, one in which Jack has reported for us on all the exciting events taking place in one of the world’s great dance capitals. I’m very sad to see him go, but Jack has promised that, should he feel inspired, he may write the occasional article for us again in the future. Let’s hope so. 

This doesn’t, of course, mean the end of our coverage of performances from New York, and I’m happy to say that from next month onwards Leigh Witchel, who has already contributed to the magazine for a number of years, has agreed to take up the baton and continue the column. I’m sure you will all join me in wishing Jack a very happy retirement, and the best of luck to Leigh – he will, after all, have some big shoes to fill.

Elsewhere in the magazine, we celebrate the 20th anniversary of Ballet Black, discover the results of the delayed 2021 Blackpool Dance Festival, offer you a listing of where to learn to dance in the UK, and include an extract from Leanne Benjamin’s forthcoming autobiography. 

JONATHAN GRAY

Dancing Times, October 2021 Volume 112 Issue 1334

Cover Stories

14 – Boss Lady. Jonathan Gray meets Cassa Pancho to discuss the 20th anniversary of Ballet Black

39 – Built for ballet. In an extract from her forthcoming autobiography, Leanne Benjamin describes how the world of dance is changing for the better

60 – Blackpool in BACK! Martin Cutler reports from Blackpool Dance Festival

83 – Education. We find out who the winner of the RAD’s inaugural “Fonteyn” competition is

Features

20 – There is nothing like a dame. Marianka Swain hears from Arlene Phillips

23 – Talking dance. Laura Milner on the ISTD’s Talking Dance series

27 – An allegory of our time. Gerald Dowler talks to artist Tacita Dean about The Dante Project

31 – Ballet unleashed. Michael Crabb finds out about an innovative career path for young dancers

34 – Getting back to work. Jonathan Gray catches up with Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Dominic Antonucci

Dance Today

64 – Strictly speaking. Marianka Swain casts her eye over the launch show 

66 – Tips on technique. By James Whitehead

67 – Technique clinic. By Phil Meacham

68 – Simon’s Guide to Swing. By Simon Selmon

69 – Stepping Out. By Pete Meager

70 – Somewhere in time. By Jack Reavely

Regulars

6 – News. Martha Graham, World Ballet Day 2021, win a Royal Ballet DVD box set from Opus Arte, DeNada Dance Theatre

10 – Letters

13 – Talking Point. By Jann Parry

43 – Dance Scene International. Reviews include KVN Dance Company, Ukrainian Ballet Gala, Hofesh Shechter

51 – Variety Lights. Barbara Newman sees Cinderella and Operation Mincemeat

52 – Letter from St Petersburg. Igor Stupnikov meets the Maryinsky’s Yuri Fateyev

54 – Danza in Italia. By Graham Spicer

55 – FRANCE/dance. By Laura Cappelle

57 – Notes from New York. Jack Anderson offers us his final column

73 – Dancer of the Month. Margaret Willis interviews English National Ballet’s Emily Suzuki

76 – Obituaries. Avril Bergen, Sherrill Wexler

78 – Dancing Times, Volume 111

79 – Media

81 – Products

84 – Health. Debbie Malina looks at good dental health

87 – Classifieds

88 – Calendar. Our guide to what’s on

94 – Listings. Where to learn to dance

98 – Last Dance. We look back to October 1981

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.