Producer Gabriella Tana: “What started out as a documentary and seeing where it went, has evolved, and changed and grown. It’s become much more about making something together (with Polunin) and more of a collaboration. And when David LaChapelle (who contributed several clips) got involved it became more exciting, and it wasn’t just about documenting a life, but about creating something.” (includes video clip)
Category: dance
How Ballet Turned A Profoundly Autistic Boy Into An Independent, Functional Young Man
At age 3, Philip Martin-Nielson couldn’t communicate in any way, make eye contact or concentrate on a task; doctors said he’d never be able to live on his own. Now, at age 21, he’s a full-time member of the Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo troupe – and a genuinely cheerful, chatty person.
Twyla Tharp Hits The Road With A New Set Of Dancers (With A Commitment)
“Obviously,” she said, “the dancers are at the heart of the whole matter.” But she also knows that they’re only human — and that 10 weeks on the road has its risks. “Every single one of these people has taken a pledge on a stack of Bibles: I am not going down, I am not going down, I will not go down,” Ms. Tharp said.
Surveying The History Of Dance Through DVDs
Watching dance online is now probably the primary way of watching dance. But if you’re interested in a historical record, New York Times critics suggest you look to DVDs…
La La La Human Dance Steps Shuts Down
“The last tour was a difficult one financially. Though the debt was reduced substantially due to the generosity of many of our creditors, the cuts that followed and the decision not to guarantee more than the current year of subsidy has made it impossible to continue.”
How An Australian Dance Company Found A Big New Audience
“The Queensland Ballet is probably experiencing one of the most noticeable periods of change in any arts company in the country. It is an ideal case study of how an organisation can embrace inevitable change and take calculated risks.”
Atlanta Ballet’s Longtime Artistic Director To Retire
“John McFall, who has led Atlanta Ballet into what many consider a “golden era” during his 20 years as the troupe’s artistic director, announced yesterday that he will retire at the end of the upcoming season.”
Julie Kent’s New Jobs At ABT
“Julie Kent, the star ballerina who retired as a principal dancer with American Ballet Theater in June, is taking on several new roles with the company, including as the artistic director of its summer intensive programs for young dancers.”
What’s With All These Punctuation-Challenged Dance Company Names?
“Sure, it’s fun to play around with the punctuation marks on your keyboard. But invented punctuation doesn’t guarantee inventive choreography. It’s just punctuation run amok.”
With Misty Copeland On Board, Broadway’s ‘On The Town’ More Than Doubles Its Box Office Take
“The first African-American woman to be named a principal in the 75-year history of American Ballet Theater provided a jolt to On the Town during her first week in the musical. The show, which is closing on Sunday, immediately went from a laggard to a leader: It grossed $914,434 in the week that ended Sunday, up from $395,379 the week before.”