As Kevin O’Hare moves from administrative work into the directorship of the UK’s Royal Ballet, he’s thinking about money, sports science, and how much of an advantage it is not to be a choreographer.
Author: ArtsJournal2
The Hungarian Government’s Culture Wars Continue
A virulently anti-Semitic play has been canceled in Budapest – but how it got scheduled in the first place “is part of a larger drama involving this country’s leadership and its assault on culture. And that drama has a few more acts to go.”
And Britain’s Most Prestigious Painting Prize Goes To …
Sarah Pickstone, whose entry won out over more than 3000 other entries, is the first woman to win the John Moores Painting Prize since 1989.
Keeping An Ancient Art Alive, With Approval From The Government
Emika Iwashita, “who is among the youngest artisans in the aging community of kimono dyers, says she sees unlimited creative potential in her field.”
Want To Heal Faster? Subconscious Cues May Help
“If we can identify cues that subliminally aid recovery, ‘such as background smells or simply a firm, reassuring handshake from a doctor,’ then we could incorporate them into clinical practice. Likewise, we could try to reduce or eliminate people’s exposure to cues that can hamper recovery.”
Can J.K. Rowling Really Move Beyond Harry Potter?
“The unusual (some might say defensive) marketing strategy is a reminder of just how much is at stake for Rowling, creator of the biggest franchise in the history of children’s literature. Worth £560 million, there is no financial imperative for her to keep on writing never mind experiment with a new genre. She must know the omens are not good.”
Take Note, Museums: Prada Outdraws Picasso
“With many art museums pondering how to boost attendance – and some critics, curators and museum directors wondering whether maximizing crowds is really the best measure of success – it’s worth noting that Prada beat Picasso in recent blockbuster shows at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.”
Is Stravinsky’s Classic Now Just A Rite Of Enjoyment?
“It was not Stravinsky’s music that did the shocking. It was the ugly earthbound lurching and stomping devised by Vaslav Nijinsky, the greatest dancer in the troupe but a novice choreographer, that offended the Paris public, for whom ballet was all about swans and tutus and elevation. Once the whistlers and hooters got going, nobody even heard the music.”
Texting In The Theatre In London? Watch Out For Ninjas
“Wearing black bodysuits, these volunteers roam the theatre in stealth silence during films, pouncing on anyone who may be disturbing other patrons with a warning: ‘Shhhhhh.'”
Pasadena Playhouse Survives Bankruptcy – And Thrives
“The Pasadena Playhouse, which survived a recent bankruptcy, is going into its new season flush with a massive infusion of cash and planning to expand its production calendar.”