“Malaysia on Thursday denied reports that the Muslim-majority country blocked a performance by a Singapore ballet troupe due to squeamishness over tights-wearing dancers and said the show could go on. However, the Singapore Dance Theatre had earlier said it was too late to stage the performance.”
Author: Matthew Westphal
Is Paul Taylor At The Center Of American Contemporary Dance?
Alastair Macaulay makes that proposition to his fellow New York Times dance critics, who have some things to say about the matter.
Virginia Quarterly Review‘s Embattled Editor Steps Down
“Nearly two years after the managing editor of the Virginia Quarterly Review killed himself following complaints he made about his boss, Ted Genoways, Mr. Genoways has announced that he is stepping down as editor of the award-winning literary journal.”
US Seizes Ancient Cambodian Statue, Allegedly Stolen, From Sotheby’s
“Federal agents in New York on Wednesday moved to seize a thousand-year-old Cambodian statue from Sotheby’s, alleging in a civil complaint that Sotheby’s had put the 10th-century figure of a mythological warrior up for auction despite knowing that it had been stolen from a temple.”
Malaysia Cancels Nutcracker Because Tutus Are Indecent
“Malaysia has denied a permit for a Singapore dance troupe to perform The Nutcracker and other ballet works due to concerns about ‘indecent’ costumes.”
Pennsylvania Orchestra Office Manager Pleads Guilty To Embezzlement
“A former York Symphony Orchestra employee admitted in court Wednesday to stealing more than $200,000 from the symphony to cover her gambling addiction. Phyllis A. Shoff, 56, of New Cumberland, will serve 9 to 23 months in York County Prison, followed by 10 years’ probation for theft and access-device fraud.”
CBC Faces Three Years Of Job And Programming Losses Following Budget Cuts
“CBC/Radio-Canada will eliminate hundreds of jobs, cancel some programs and boost ads as part of cost-cutting measures to cope with planned budget cuts outlined in the recent federal budget.”
National Film Board Of Canada To Cut Jobs, Close Viewing Rooms
“The National Film Board will cut 61 jobs and close its viewing rooms in Montreal and Toronto to comply with a $6.68 million cut over three years imposed in Thursday’s federal budget.”
E-Book App For ‘Dumb Phones’ Makes Texts Available For Free In Third World
“US non-profit literacy agency Worldreader has beta-launched an app for non-smartphones in order to distribute free e-books into sub-Saharan Africa and other parts of the developing world.”
Catharsis In Theater: Putting Customer Service Horror Stories Onstage
“Playwright Lisa Kron mines her own life to create her often-hilarious work. She has written about being the child of a Holocaust survivor, and about her mother’s struggles with chronic illness. Her latest play deals with a struggle common to all of us – the agony of computerized customer service.”