Category: dance

Michael Kaiser: “[D]ance is a powerful educational tool for several reasons,” among them that it “teaches a love of body. Children who dance are far more likely to appreciate their own physical selves. Dance training helps address the obesity problem currently facing our nation,” and it makes it less likely that children will endanger their bodies in other ways.

That would be Adam Cooper, who left a thriving career at the Royal Ballet to play a leather-clad stranger and a ferocious male swan in Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake – then went on to co-found the popular/populist Ballet Boyz, appear as grown Billy in Billy Elliott, and be a high-art heartthrob. About that sex symbol nusiness, he says, “It’s an act, isn’t it?”

“[The Segovia-based] classical ballet company founded in 2008 by the much-loved Spanish dancer Ángel Corella (who is also a principal dancer with A.B.T.), will travel to the U.S. for the first time next spring, performing at the New York City Canter March 17-20.”

At the New York Times‘s ArtsBeat blog, readers answer the question, “There are, of course, many veterans in the performing arts who have faced and struggled with unemployment. If you are among them – or are among those who may be hiring them – what advice would you offer these young dancers [laid off from NY City Ballet]?”

“The Saratoga Performing Arts Center announced today that it pulled in 24 percent more people on a per-performance basis for this summer’s residency of the New York City Ballet, which concluded Saturday night. Total attendance dropped by 18 percent, from about 42,000 people in 2008 to 35,000 this year, but because City Ballet’s stay was shortened to two weeks instead of three, the per-performance audience average climbed.”

“Ballet Master Peter Martins, who kept the New York City Ballet in front of audiences as its Lincoln Center home was being renovated, earned $699,000 in pay and benefits for the year ending in June 2008, according to the company’s tax return. The Danish-born dancer and choreographer took a 1 percent cut from the previous year’s $706,000.”

“The Royal Ballet’s inaugural visit to Cuba last week has been hailed a triumph, but a spokeswoman has also confirmed that a few dancers came down with swine flu during the trip. Speaking for the London-based company Monday, Elizabeth Bell confirmed that five dancers contracted the H1N1 virus and a sixth showed flu-like symptoms.”

“Wim Wenders has decided to forge ahead with his 3D dance film about legendary choreographer Pina Bausch, who died last month. Pre-production had barely started on their long-gestating project, which was scheduled to begin shooting in September, when she died.”

“Almost $20,000 in ballet costumes and props are missing from the Lakeville City Ballet, and ballet officials and police said Sunday that they’re stumped about who might have taken the items and why. … Among the items taken were a large sleigh and dozens of costumes for the ballet company’s annual production of ‘The Nutcracker.'”

“Whether he went it alone or got help, the result was much the same. He didn’t have a lot of moves. You can almost count them on your fingers: the gyrating hips, the bending knees (reversing from inward to outward), the pivoting feet (ditto), the one raised knee, the spins, and, above all, the rotated or raised heel, which is what he gets around on. These steps are generally done staccato.”