Category: dance

Impressario Raymond Gubbay is bringing the Bolshoi to London for a week. But the critics are already sniffing at the self-styles “people’s impressario.” The reason – it’s not the entire Bolshoi, only a pared down group. And they’ll only be dancing a hits-of-the-hits program. The Independent (London)

A year of turmoil at the top and unsettled artistic fortunes. New York Times (one-time registration required for access)

For his final production, outgoing English National Ballet director Derek Deane had planned a provocative new Romeo and Juliet in which the main dancers ended up nude onstage. But then allegations that Deane had harassed a junior soloist surfaced and now the original production has been canceled. Sunday Times (London)

“Emil De Cou, the San Francisco Ballet’s acting music director and conductor since 1998, will leave the company after the Paris tour next month…The San Francisco Ballet has been without a permanent music director since the late Denis de Coteau retired in 1999.” San Francisco Chronicle

“No one begrudges dancers their moment in the media spotlight, or indeed the additional income they can earn in what is a relatively poorly-paid profession.” But some of British ballet’s biggest stars seem more intent on fame than their art… The Times (London)

It’s National Dance Week in the US. Dance may be a universal language, but sometimes it needs a little help getting attention. The New York Times (one-time registration required)

Russia’s Maryinsky Theatre launches a new international dance festical. “During the eight-day, nine- performance festival, guest stars from Europe and the United States danced with stars of the Maryinsky Ballet (which tours abroad as the Kirov Ballet, its former name).” The New York Times (one-time registration required)

Archaeologists suggest that dance may be the oldest art form. But of all the major arts, dance seems to struggle the most to survive. Is it somehow a lesser art? ArtsJournal.com

A dazzling new generation of dancers is lighting up the British dance scene. Here’s a guide to the stars. The Telegraph (London)

“The Boston Ballet administration’s recent decision to appoint Music Director and Principal Conductor Jonathan McPhee as interim artistic director has prompted audience and company members to question his ability to provide artistic leadership. Notably, the man who served in that role for more than a decade isn’t among the critics. To the contrary, Bruce Marks expresses no concern.” Boston Herald