Ian Macmillan

A contribution from Florida: http://www.miamiherald.com/entertainment/performing-arts/article30869652.html

Links – Wednesday, 12 August, 2015 Feature – Dancing into freedom: 4 great Soviet ballet defectors: Dmitriy Romendik, RBTH Festival Review – ABT, NYCB, Boston Dancers, Balanchine Programs, Vail, CO: Alastair Macaulay, NY Times Review – Balé de Rua, Baila Brazil, London: Louise Levene, Financial Times Drive East Festival Review – Archana Joglekar, Solo Kathak Program, NY: Siobhan Burke, NY Times Review – MOVE: the company, Pierced, Little Eye, Burrow, Stay, Surface Properties, NY: Rose Marija, BWW Previews – Indian Dance, Sarasota Ashton, Joyce Festival: Alastair Macaulay, NY Times Interview – Christopher Marney, on making the moves for McQueen: Clare Evans, Londondance Review – SummerWorks Performance Festival, Toronto: Martha Schabas, Globe and Mail Edinburgh: Review – Sylvie Guillem, Life in Progress: Kelly Apter, WOW24/7 Reviews – 5 Shows at Dance Base, Nijinsky’s Last Jump, Underneath, Special Edition 2015, Gaze of the Kavaluan, Between Us & Hunting Dust: Mary Brennan, Herald Review – Impermanence Dance Theatre, Da-Da-Darling: Kelly Apter, WOW24/7 Review – Mary Bijou Cabaret, Hitch!: Ben Walters, Scotsman, WOW24/7 Review – Let’s All Dance, Princess and the Frog: Brian G.Cooper, The Stage

Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose? Perhaps nothing has happened to the audience outside London. I've quoted this several times before but, in the ROH 1959-60 Annual Report, the following was said, no doubt written by Madame De Valois: "The company's provincial tours ... have revealed the essentially conservative nature of provincial audiences, who have preferred to play safe with the classics rather than risk a triple bill of novelties, and the repertory has been modified in consequence." With that said, and on a similar tack to earlier posts in this thread, the report goes on to pray TV in aid: "Television could play a helpful educative role here if, instead of concentrating on presenting the classics which are particularly unsuited to the medium, it showed some modern ballets which would seem better adapted to the limitations inevitably imposed by the screen." It's possibly no help in pursuit of cause of a malaise and a cure, but all of the above was written during what many now look back to as the "Golden Age" of British ballet - yet we now sustain more companies up and down the land than was the case then. And, Floss, purely out of interest, why do you single out the Covent Garden Amphitheatre audience as your comparator with the ENB audience more generally?

As irrevocable proof that Ms Copeland has 'arrived,' had anyone else noticed that she was the answer to the picture question in today's Times 2 Quiz?

John is probably slotting this in as I write ... but see final Link back on Saturday 1 August. Some things stick in the mind!

A little more background here: https://www.thestage.co.uk/news/2015/matthew-bournes-car-man-cancelled-following-tragic-accident/

I trust that the shade of Robert Burns will forgive me but, back in the ballet.co era, I seem to recall ending some remarks on a RB performance on these lines: "From scenes like these Auld Scotia's grandeur springs, And flies around the world on shortbread tins." Sir Walter Scott would surely revel in knowing that, some 200 years after he stage-managed the visit to Scotland of a tartan-clad George IV, this Bournonville ballet keeps his work alive. What he'd make of the natty pin-striped kilts for business use now seen in the Edinburgh tartan shops is perhaps another thing.

The 'Style' supplement in today's Sunday Times is running a feature around what appears to be a coffee table photo book "Roberto Bolle: Voyage into Beauty." Seems there's yet another upsurge in chaps doing ballet classes etc etc in pursuit of a super-fit physique.

240 views in 10 hours and 3 replies - very quiet. Good night all.

Almost 72 hours since the last post in this area - a record?

Links – Saturday, 1 August, 2015 Festival Preview – Akram Khan on Sylvie Guillem, Life in Progress, Edinburgh: Kelly Apter, The List Next Week: - London & Edinburgh: Judith Mackrell, Guardian - New York & Jacob’s Pillow: NY Times Reviews – Daniel Ulbricht & Stars of American Ballet, Mixed Bill, Jacob’s Pillow Festival: Ken Ross, Mass Live Janine Parker, Boston Globe Review – The 7 Fingers, Cuisine & Confessions, Vaison-la-Romaine: Christina Gallea Roy, DanceTabs News – Alistair Spalding, Director at Sadler’s Wells, awarded Honorary Doctorate: Londondance Fringe Preview – Vangeline, Butoh Beethoven, Edinburgh: Donald Hutera, The List Review – QL2 Dance, Reckless Valour, Canberra: Michelle Potter, The Age Review – Renegade Performance Group, Dapline!, NY: Brian Seibert, NY Times Review – Walter Dundervill, Arena, NY: Gia Kourlas, NY Times Review – New Original Works (NOW) Festival, Program 1, LA: Jean Lenihan, Arts Journal/Fresh Pencil Gallery – Ballet British Columbia interprets the headlines: John Lehmann & Marsha Lederman, Globe and Mail US TV Preview – Flesh and Bone: Yvonne Villareal, LA Times

Links – Friday, 31 July, 2015 News – Sergei Filin’s Contract as Bolshoi Director Will End in March, 2016: Tass, via Ismene Brown Blog Staff, Moscow Times and elswhere Ismene Brown, Arts Desk Reviews – Sylvie Guillem, Life in Progress, London: Jann Parry, DanceTabs Siobhan Murphy, Londondance Feature – Violette Verdy, Elements of Style: Marina Harss, The Nation Feature – The Creation of Kenneth MacMillan’s Manon: Jann Parry, Playbill Arts Review – Daniel Ulbricht & Stars of American Ballet, Mixed Bill, Jacob’s Pillow Festival: Brian Seibert, NY Times Review – Philadanco & TU Dance, Outdoor Mixed Bill, NY: Gia Kourlas, NY Times NY Weekend Preview – Lincoln Center Out of Doors Programme: Joshua Barone, NY Times Review – Fuzion Dance Company, Bubbe Dance, Sarasota: Carrie Seidman, Sarasota Herald-Tribune Preview – Farm to Ballet Project, Vermont: Kathleen Burge, Boston Globe Edinburgh Festival Fringe: Preview – Dance Base Programme: Mary Brennan, Herald Preview – Danza del Caribe, Itara: Donald Hutera, The List Preview – Discotheque Machine: Kelly Apter, The List

Some English-language links: https://au.news.yahoo.com/entertainment/a/29132907/russias-bolshoi-theatre-to-ditch-acid-attack-ballet-chief/ http://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-entertainment/article/1845228/bolshoi-wont-renew-sergei-filins-contract-ballet

Links – Thursday, 30 July, 2015 Interview – Li Cunxin, Director Queensland Ballet: Judith Mackrell, Guardian Review – Mariinsky Ballet, Le Parc, St Petersburg: Isabella Zijp, Bachtrack Review – San Francisco Ballet, Outdoor Mixed Bill, SF: Paul Parish, Bay Area Reporter Review – Carlos Acosta, Cubanía, London: Margaret Willis, DanceTabs Review – Matthew Bourne, The Car Man, London: Ismene Brown, Spectator Review – Ardani 25 Dance Gala: London: Ismene Brown, Spectator Feature – Dance This Week: New Books and Exhibitions: Alastair Macaulay, NY Times News – NY Fall For Dance Program: Joshua Barone, NY Times News – Joyce Theater Festival: Siobhan Burke, NY Times Fringe Preview – Scottish Ballet, 1 to 10, Edinburgh: Kelly Apter, The List Review – Circa/Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, French Baroque, Sydney: Valerie Lawson, Dancelines Interview – Wang Yuanyuan, Choreographer: Vanessa Yung, SCMP Review – Reckless Sleepers & Sarah Aiken, A String Section, SET, Melbourne: Gracia Haby, Fjord Review Reassuring News – Coliseum Lake Refilled! BTG

Links – Wednesday, 29 July, 2015 Reviews – Carlos Acosta, Cubanía, London: Lyndsey Winship, Evening Standard Vanessa Keys, Telegraph Siobhan Murphy, Londondance Neil Norman, The Stage Howard Loxton, BTG Feature – Danza Contemporanea De Cuba: Rhiannon Brace, Londondance Gallery – Tocororo Suite: Foteini Christofilopoulou, DanceTabs Feature – Sylvie Guillem’s “Big Goodbye”: Lyndsey Winship, Evening Standard News – ABT announces its Koch Theater Fall 2015 Season: Staff, BWW Review – Compagnie Maguy Marin, May B, Enniskillen: Judith Mackrell, Guardian Related: Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph Simon O’Hagan, Independent Review – New Art Club, Hercules, A Dance Cabaret for All Ages, London: Louise Levene, Financial Times Interview – Sally Marie: Donald Hutera, Londondance

Links – Tuesday, 28 July, 2015 Review – San Francisco Ballet, Outdoor Mixed Bill, SF: Mary Ellen Hunt, SF Chronicle Review – Daniil Simkin, Intensio Quad Bill, Jacob’s Pillow Festival: Ken Ross, Mass Live Review – Doug Varone, ReComposed, The Fabulist, Durham, NC: Brian Seibert, NY Times News – New dancers join Miami City Ballet: Jordan Levin, Miami Herald Review – Michelle Dorrance, Blues Project, NY: Apollinaire Scherr, Financial Times Feature – BRB’s Celine Gittens: Janelle De Souza, Newsday Review – Antony Hamilton, Ruth, Sydney: Jill Sykes, Sydney Morning Herald Preview – Kate Ben-Tovim/Gideon Obarzanek, Kuda Lumping, Melbourne: Philippa Hawker, The Age Review – Nacera Belaza, Into The Night, London: Neil Norman, The Stage Review – Christopher Williams, Jason, Ruins, Janet, Spirits of the Air, Dardanus Suite, NY: Leigh Witchel, Danceviewtimes

There's also a hefty DanceTabs piece by Jann Parry in today's Links: http://dancetabs.com/2015/07/a-heads-up-on-queensland-ballets-la-sylphide-li-cunxin/

This supplement was certainly not included in the pack delivered here this morning.

This article from The Stage may not come as a surprise to everyone, but anyone considering a career through Dance might like to have an inkling of what may lie ahead: https://www.thestage.co.uk/news/2015/professional-dancers-earn-less-5k-year/?utm_content=buffer78982&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Links – Friday, 17 July, 2015 Interview – Marcelo Gomes: Judith Mackrell, Guardian News – UK £500K Rural Dance Scheme Launched: Clare Evans, Londondance News – New Adventures Choreographer Award, 2015: Clare Evans, Londondance Review – Dancenoise: Don’t Look Back, NY, Whitney Museum: Gia Kourlas, NY Times Review – Company Wang Ramirez, Monchichi, Becket: Ken Ross, MASS Live Preview – Sue Healey, On View: Live Portraits, Sydney: Elissa Blake, Sydney Morning Herald Review – Moves After Dark, Various Performers, LA: Victoria Looseleaf, Fjord Review

Links – Thursday, 16 July, 2015 Reviews – National Ballet of China, Peony Pavilion, Red Detachment of Women, NY and DC: Phil Chan, Huffington Post Sarah Kaufman, Washington Post (Pavilion only) Feature/Gallery – He Fei: CRI English Review – Stanislavsky Ballet, In The Night, Other Dances, The Concert, Moscow: Isabella Zijp, Bachtrack Feature – Giants of dance reveal its tolls and triumphs: Lyndsey Winship, Guardian Opinion – Black Dancers, White Ballets: Laurie A. Woodard, NY Times Review – NDT2, I New Then, Shutters Shut, Sara, Schubert, Some Other Time, Becket: Martha Sherman, Danceviewtimes Review – Dutch National Ballet, Cinderella, London: Ismene Brown, Spectator Review – Whelan/Watson, Other Stories, London: Ismene Brown, Spectator Review – American Ballet Theatre, Cinderella (Nunez), NY: Leigh Witchel, Danceviewtimes Late Review – Royal Ballet, Infra, Divertissements, Age of Anxiety, NY: Marianne Adams, Danceviewtimes Preview – English National Ballet, Swan Lake, Bogota: Richard Emblin, The City Paper Review – ballets C de la B, KVS, Qattan Foundation, Badke, London: Zoe Anderson, Independent Review – Hip Hop Dance, From the Street to the Stage, NY: Apollinaire Scherr, Financial Times Review – Francesca Benitez, As you lean on me …., NY: Gia Kourlas, NY Times News – Bessie Nominations Are Announced: Joshua Barone, NY Times Review – E-Side Dance Company, Allegro, HK: Natasha Rogai, SCMP News – Joffrey Ballet’s Sixth Winning Works Competition: Hedy Weiss, Chicago Sun-Times

Robert Fairchild is a nominee for a Bessie award, the dance world's equivalent of the Oscars or Tonys: http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/07/15/bessie-nominations-are-announced/

Links – Wednesday, 15 July, 2015 Interview – Carlos Acosta – what comes next: Lyndsey Winship, Evening Standard Reviews – National Ballet of China, Peony Pavilion, Red Detachment of Women, NY: Robert Greskovic, WSJ Robert Gottlieb, NY Observer Andrew Blackmore-Dobbyn, Bachtrack (Pavilion only) Review – Houston Ballet, Tapestry, Maninyas, Velocity, Hamburg: D L Groover, Houston Press Preview – Daniil Simkin and friends, Intensio, Jacob’s Pillow: Ken Ross, Mass Live Feature – Finding the next ‘Misty’: Why black ballerinas are in such short supply: Unattributed, NY Daily News News – English National Ballet, Promotions, Joiners, Leavers: DanceTabs with discussion here Review Roberto Bolle, Herman Cornejo and friends, Ballet Now Galas, LA: Steven Woodruff, Bachtrack Tour Preview – Northern Ballet, 1984: Rebecca Cope, Harper's Bazaar Interview – Jane Hackett, Director of National Youth Dance Company: Sara Veale, DanceTabs Review – Momix, Alchemia, NY: Siobhan Burke, NY Times News – FRAME: The London Dance Film Festival: Carmel Smith, Londondance This week: - In New York: Francisca Benitez, Yvonne Rainer and more: Gia Kourlas, NY Times - At Jacob’s Pillow: Alonzo King LINES Ballet: BWW - At the Latitude Festival: Lise Smith, Londondance Feature – Caitlin Mackenzie, Reckless Valour, Canberra: Kimberley Le Lievre, Sydney Morning Herald

Is Michael Coleman's continuing career in 'elderly' character parts with ENB to be put at risk by the arrival of Mr Mukhamedov, or will there be roles that will suit each?

Links – Tuesday, 14 July, 2015 Review – National Ballet of China, Red Detachment of Women, NY: Gia Kourlas, NY Times Review – Carlos Acosta & Zenaida Yanowsky, On Before, Brighton: Louise Levene, Financial Times Late Review – American Ballet Theatre, Romeo and Juliet (Obraztsova, Cornejo), NY: Marianne Adams, Danceviewtimes Review – Mark Baldwin & Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Inala, London: Graham Watts, Londondance Preview – Marcelo Gomes, The Car Man, London: Staff, BWW Review – Garrett + Moulton Dance, The Luminous Edge, SF: Claudia Bauer, DanceTabs Feature – Natalia Osipova: Rosanna Greenstreet, Daily Mail Feature – Janet Collins, who made history 64 years before Misty Copeland: Carmen de Lavallade, Time Review – Reggie Gray, FlexN Manchester, Manchester: Judith Mackrell, Guardian Review – New English Ballet Theatre, Kreutzer Sonata, Tangents, Toca, Mad Women, Orbital Motion, London: Philippa Newis, Londondance Feature – RAD Geneé International Ballet Competition: Jessica Wilson, Londondance Preview – Julia Adam Dance, The Woodland Project, Bay Area: Rachel Howard, SF Chronicle Preview – Amy Seiwert/Imagery, Sketch 5/Stirred, Back To, SF: Allan Ulrich, SF Chronicle Review – Dancing on the Edge, Final Programmes, Vancouver: Janet Smith, Straight.com Feature – Peek Into Paris, Recent contemporary performances: Gillian Jakab, Brooklyn Rail Report – Will Rawls, Settlement House, NY: Jaime Shearn Coan, Brooklyn Rail Report – Blanca Li, ROBOT, NY: Erica Getto, Brooklyn Rail Review – Spartacus of Africa, Cape Town: Alain Fleischman, Artslink