Rockwell On Dance

Longtime New York Times arts writer John Rockwell is preparing to take on a new position as the Grey Lady’s chief dance critic, and he sees much to recommend a corner of the arts world which seems always to be on the edge of fiscal collapse. “Dancers are paid less than other performing artists. Dance companies, even the big ballet troupes, must furiously run in place, like terpsichorean hamsters, just to sustain themselves. But that means dancers do it for love, not fame or fortune, though some are famous, and a very few earn modest fortunes. Dance critics can still cover any and all forms of dance without feeling that they’re sullying themselves.”