Ian Macmillan

In advance of tomorrow's Links, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune got a piece in very early for Florida local time: https://eu.heraldtribune.com/story/entertainment/dance/2023/04/26/sarasota-ballet-to-dance-at-royal-ballet-ashton-festival-in-london/70143692007/

That has got to be the longest Press Release posted here in our 11.5 years history - very well done, Janet!

Links - Wednesday 26 April, 2023 Feature - Star Choreographer Alexei Ratmansky on Russia’s Cultural War: Javier C Hernández, NY Times Feature - Season Planning and Transitions at San Francisco Ballet: Janos Gereben, SF Classical Voice Feature - ‘Mam, show us your interpretive dance!’ How a former mining village got into the groove: Lyndsey Winship, Guardian Preview - Royal Ballet, New McGregor, Corybantic Games, Anastasia Act III, London: Lyndsey Winship, Culture Whisper Review - Norwegian National Ballet, Light of Passage, Oslo: Graham Watts, Bachtrack Review - La MaMa Moves! Dance Festival, New York: Siobhan Burke, NY Times Review - Douglas Dunn, Mimi Gross & Dancers, Garden Party, New York: Gia Kourlas, NY Times Preview - At Trisha Brown, a New Voice Creates a ‘Symphony of Layers’: Gia Kourlas, NY Times News - Federico Bonelli announces first Northern Ballet season as artistic director: Jamie Body, The Stage David Mead, SeeingDance News - Nominations announced for the 23rd National Dance Awards: David Mead, SeeingDance News - A Festival of Korean Dance, The Place: Teresa Guerreiro, Culture Whisper

Links - Tuesday 25 April, 2023 A selection of Tributes to - Len Goodman, Strictly's original Head Judge: Anthony Hayward, Guardian Michael Hogan, Telegraph Julia Raeside, The i Jenny Gross, NY Times Staff, The Times (+ Share) --- A Life in Pictures: Pejman Faratin, Guardian Review - Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT 1), La Ruta, Gods and Dogs, Figures in Extinction [1.0], London: Jenny Gilbert, Arts Desk Review - San Francisco Ballet, Romeo and Juliet (Tomasson), San Francisco: Terez Rose, Bachtrack Review - Royal Swedish Ballet, Julia and Romeo (Ek), Stockholm, Bachtrack Review - Joffrey Ballet, The Little Mermaid, Chicago: Hugh Iglarsh, New City Stage Review - Finnish National Ballet, Jekyll and Hyde, Helsinki: Rosanna Liuski, BWW Review - Dance Theatre of Harlem: Higher Ground, Orange, When Love, Coming Together, New York: Mimi Liu, Ballet Herald ---- Allegro Brillante, This Bitter Earth, Sounds of Hazel, Blake Works IV, New York: Joel Benjamin, TheaterScene Review - Kathy Westwater, Lance Gries & Colleagues, Revolver, Choreomaniacs, New York: Siobhan Burke, NY Times Erin Bomboy, Bachtrack Review - Cloud Gate Dance Theatre, Legacy, Taipei: David Mead, SeeingDance Review - Alonzo King LINES Ballet, Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled, San Francisco: Toba Singer, Culture Vulture News - Edinburgh Festival - Programme includes Alvin Ailey & a multinational Bausch Rite: Official Programme, EIF Severin Carrell & Imogen Tilden, Guardian News - American Ballet Theatre’s Summer Season: Graham Spicer, Gramilano News - New York City Ballet 2023-2024 Season: Staff, Ballet Herald News - BalletMet 2023-24 Season: Staff, En Face Magazine

Links - Monday 24 April, 2023 Review - Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT 1), La Ruta, Gods and Dogs, Figures in Extinction [1.0], London: Sarah Crompton, The Observer Review - Alleyne Dance, Far From Home, Ipswich: Lyndsey Winship, Guardian Review - Ballet de Lorraine, For Four Walls, Cela Nous Concerne Tous, New York: Gia Kourlas, NY Times Feature - What’s in a page? To print theatre programs or deliver them digitally, that is the question: Karen Fricker, Toronto Star Feature + Video - Taking a look back at 60 seasons of Ballet West: Carole Mikita, KSL TV (Once past the Ads, there's a Nutcracker) News - Paragon - The Australian Ballet explores 'identity': Staff, Dance Australia News - Where dance meets exhibition: Staff, Dance Australia Interview - Talking to Philip Piggin about ZEST Dance for Wellbeing: Michelle Potter, ... on dancing Ukraine - Another dancer killed in action: Staff, Mail Online (and elsewhere)

You need look no further than the top of Friday's Links!!

Links - Sunday 23 April, 2023 Review - Iana Salenko & Invited Colleagues, Ballet for Life Gala, Berlin: Veronica Posth, Fjord Review Review - The Trocks in Milan: Graham Spicer, Gramilano Review - New York City Ballet, Concerto Barocco, Kammermusik No 2, Raymonda Variations, New York: Mary Cargill, Danceviewtimes Review - Tom Gold Dance, XV, Significant Strangers, A Felicidade, New York: Jerry Hochman, Critical Dance Film Review - Carmen shows the true potential of a dance feature film: ‘It’s poetry: Steven Vargas, LA Times Tour Review - Scottish Ballet, A Streetcar Named Desire, Inverness: Margaret Chrystall, Inverness Courier

And have a look at the Bay Area Reporter piece in Wednesday's Links for a comprehensive look at the Thomas Adès album.

Links - Saturday 22 April 2023 Obituary - Pierre Lacotte, Ballet Archaeologist: Laura Cappelle, Financial Times Obituary - Valda Setterfield, a leading figure in the New York dance world: Alastair Macaulay, NY Times Interview/Photo Book - Ed Watson: A Different Dance: Lyndsey Winship, Guardian Feature - Three senior dancers at Dance Theater of Harlem reflect on working with Virginia Johnson: Charmaine Patricia Warren, NY Times Feature - Benjamin Millepied uses movement to reinvent ‘Carmen’ on camera: Roslyn Sulcas, NY Times Feature - Pageant, an artist-run dance space that’s ‘All presentation, Baby’: Gia Kourlas, NY Times Feature - Mayara Magri - A day in her life: Amber O'Connor, Mirror Reviews - Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT 1), La Ruta, Gods and Dogs, Figures in Extinction [1.0], London: Graham Watts, Bachtrack Jann Parry, Gramilano Louise Levene, Financial Times Review - Ayodele Casel & Colleagues, Artists at the Center, New York: Cecilia Whalen, Fjord Review Review - Estonian National Ballet, Open Door, Suite en Blanc, Tallinn: Stuart Sweeney, Critical Dance Catchup Review - Bill T Jones/Arnie Zane Company, Curriculum II, Boston: Thea Singer, Arts Fuse Review - New Zealand Dance Company, Stage of Being Double Bill, Auckland: Jenny Stevenson, Theatreview Preview - Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Hissy Fits, Choke, Snatched Back from the Edges, Detroit: Duante Beddingfield, Detroit Free Press

It's been a busy week at the Guardian, and there are still some hours left!

Links - Friday 21 April 2023 Video Interview - Tamara Rojo, AD at San Francisco Ballet: Christiane Amanpour, CNN --- SFB 2024 Season announced: Chloe Rabinowitz, BWW. Staff, En Face Magazine --- Can EDM get millennials and Gen Z to love classical dance? SF Ballet hopes so: Christina Campodonico, SF Standard Reviews - Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT 1), La Ruta, Gods and Dogs, Figures in Extinction [1.0], London: Siobhan Murphy, The Stage Teresa Guerreiro, Culture Whisper Lyndsey Winship, Guardian Mark Monahan, Telegraph Vera Liber, BTG Debra Craine, The Times (+ share) Anna Selby, The Arbuturian Review - New York City Ballet, Concerto Barocco, Kammermusik No 2, Raymonda Variations, New York: Ivy Lin, Bachtrack Review - Dance Theater of Harlem, Allegro Brillante, Sounds of Hazel, Blake Works IV, New York: Brian Seibert, NY Times Review - Youth American Grand Prix, Gala Performance, New York: Faye Arthurs, Fjord Review Review - Queensland Ballet, Giselle, Brisbane: Madelyn Coupe, Fjord Review Reviews - Joffrey Ballet, Little Mermaid, Chicago: Lauren Warnecke, Chicago Tribune Kyle MacMillan, Chicago Sun-Times Review - Shen Yun: speed of costume changes was more impressive than any of the dancing, London: Rupert Christiansen, Spectator Review - Diabolo Dance Theatre, VALO I - Amoeba, Taipei: David Mead, SeeingDance Feature - Breaking down barriers at Brooklyn Ballet: Lora Strum, BWW Dance Film Review - Carmen, Directed by Benjamin Millepied: Joshua Barone, NY Times News - Ballet in the Coronation concert: Staff, BBC Music Magazine

Did we know that Francesca Hayward and Marcelino Sambé will be performing a "bespoke piece of choreography" at the Concert in Windsor on May 7th? https://www.classical-music.com/news/coronation-concert-will-feature-ballet-opera-and-shakespeare/

Links - Thursday 20 April 2023 News - Bolshoi ballet about Nureyev dropped due to ban on ‘LGBT propaganda’: Reuters via Guardian (and everywhere) Review - Martha Graham Dance Company, Get Up, My Daughter, Cortege 2023, Dark Meadow Suite, Cave of the Heart, New York: Brian Seibert, NY Times Catchup Review - New York City Ballet, Fancy Free, Rondo, Solo, Episodes, New York: Leigh Witchel, dancelog.nyc Review - Now Festival/Marikiscrycrycry, Goner, London: Sanjoy Roy, Guardian Review - Bulareyaung Dance Company: tiaen tiamen Episode 1, Taipei: David Mead, SeeingDance Interview - Georgina Pazcoguin, leaving NYCB for the 'next big thing': Juan Michael Porter II, BWW Feature - Inside YAGP’s Celebration of 25 Years Producing the Stars of Tomorrow: Kasey Broekema & Nadia Vostrikov, Ballet Herald Feature - The magic within the living legacy of Virginia Johnson: Djassi DaCosta Johnson, En Face Magazine Book Feature - Don't Think, Dear by Alice Robb: Madison Mainwaring, New Republic News - Boston Ballet 2023-24 Season announced: Chloe Rabinowitz, BWW News - Bolshoi Theater announces new prima ballerina and principal dancer: RBTH 1, RBTH 2

Links - Wednesday 19 April 2023 Tribute/2004 Interview - Pierre Lacotte, Choreographer: Ismene Brown, Arts Desk Review - Scottish Ballet, A Streetcar Named Desire, Glasgow: Rothery Sullivan, Glasgow Guardian Review - American Ballet Theatre Studio Company, Ballet Superstars of the Future, Hong Kong: Natasha Rogai, SCMP Reviews - Rihoko Sato, Forest of Confession, London: Donald Hutera, The Stage Matthew Paluch, Gramilano Review - Florence Peake, Factual Actual, Southwark: Adrian Searle, Guardian Review - Paul Taylor Dance Company, Mixed Bill, Philadelphia: Ellen Dunkel, Philadelphia Inquirer Preview - National Youth Dance Company, Novacene, London: Teresa Guerreiro, Culture Whisper Preview - Joshua Beamish/MOVETHECOMPANY, @giselle, New York: Staff, Untapped New York Feature - ‘Disabled children need to know it is an option’: co-creating the future of dance: Caroline Butterwick, Guardian Ballet Score - To hell and back: Thomas Adès's 'Dante' ballet: Tim Pfaff, Bay Area Reporter Overhead Gallery - English National Ballet as seen by a Drone: Brad Walls via Jeremy Gray, PetaPixel Gallery - ‘The perfect body is not important’: discipline is the pointe for ballet dancers in Peru: Magda Gibelli, Guardian News - Virginia Johnson steps down from Dance Theater of Harlem. For Keeps: Gia Kourlas, NY Times News - National Ballet of Japan: Will Tuckett’s Macbeth to premiere in Tokyo alongside The Dream: Staff, Ballet Herald News - Cal Performances’ next Season has many debuts and treasured returns: Janos Gereben, SF Classical Voice News - Australian Dance Week, 2023, Canberra: Michelle Potter, ... on dancing

Links - Tuesday 18 April 2023 Reviews - Scottish Ballet, A Streetcar Named Desire, Glasgow: Louise Levene, Financial Times Kelly Apter, Scotsman Kathy Elgin, Bachtrack Review - Sarasota Ballet, La Sylphide, Sarasota: Leigh Witchel, dancelog.nyc Review - Queensland Ballet, Giselle (2 performances), Brisbane: Deborah Jones, Follow Spot Review - La Scala Ballet School, La Fille Mal Gardée (Olivieri), Milan: Graham Spicer, Gramilano Review - Spring Matinees in San Francisco (San Francisco Ballet & Others): Heather Desaulniers, Critical Dance Review - Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Two Programs, Berkeley: Aimée Ts'ao, SF Classical Voice Review - Boston Ballet, Don Quixote (Nureyev), Boston: Arielle C Frommer, Harvard Crimson Preview - English National Ballet, Cinderella-in-the-round (Wheeldon), London RAH: Teresa Guerreiro, Culture Whisper News - New York City Ballet to honour Past and Present in 75th Season: Javier C Hernandez, New York Times News - American Ballet Theatre 2023 Summer Season: Staff, Ballet Herald News - Northern Ballet's The Great Gatsby coming to Sadler's Wells next month: Stephi Wild, BWW UK News - Sadler's Wells launches schools project to get young people into dance: Matthew Hemley, The Stage News - Jersey's National Ballet (Ballet d' Jerri) premieres ahead of world tour: Staff, BBC News Interview - Jonzi D says ‘For me hip-hop has been a life-giving experience’: Debra Craine, The Times (+ Share)

I imagine that the basic reason behind all this recruiting is that 15 dancers are moving from Zurich to Berlin with their current AD - see the Germany etc News thread about a week ago - so Cathy needs to fill the ranks. (And whilst I stand to be corrected here, I think that Zurich gave her her first contract on leaving the RBS.). As time goes on, I'll be interested to see which, if any, of her creations for the small company at Bern (13/14 dancers) she revisits with a larger company - her Romanov-based Firebird, her Juliet and Romeo, and Hexenhatz/Witch Hunt come first to mind. But since leaving Bern, she has accumulated quite a body of work with larger companies internationally so may feel no need to do so. She is a voracious reader with an inquiring mind and I'm sure she will never lack for potential new stories to tell.

I'm locking this - the news has also been posted on the main News thread for this visit.

Further news from the front line (though we may have heard some of it before): Entitled theatregoers forget how to behave after Covid lockdowns https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/0ec79ede-d19b-11ed-b5c3-54651fc826e9?shareToken=6a15074dad746e2effab71336b33038d

MissFrankie, you are most welcome and we'll look forward to hearing more from you.

I direct your attention to the final letters from today's Times, in particular the final one from Simon Callow (scroll down): https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/942f469e-ce67-11ed-9a00-73fd2b90e22e?shareToken=7854b380c44bd61fc9cb629a8e397b49 (I never know quite how long the 'ShareToken' in the URL will last, so make hay while you can.)

Oh good - another tangent!!

Page 5 in just over 48 hours ...... is this a record?

Links - Saturday 25 March 2023 Rehearsal Gallery - Cinderella at the Royal Opera House – in pictures: Tristram Kenton, Guardian Review - DART Dance Company, Text Me When You Land, Ukiyo, London: Teresa Guerreiro, Culture Whisper Review - Tom Dale Company, SURGE, SUB:VERSION, London: Graham Watts, Bachtrack Review - Philadelphia Ballet, Sleeping Beauty; Dancing with Gershwin, Philadelphia: Lewis Whittington, Culture Vulture Review - New York Flamenco Festival/Sara Baras, Alma: Brian Seibert, NY Times Review - NW Dance Project, Common Ground - Triple Bill, Beaverton: Amy Leona Havin, Oregon Artswatch Feature - Ukrainian ballet students find safety and training far from home at Philly’s Rock School: Ellen Dunkel, Philadelphia Inquirer Feature - New York's 92nd Street Y, a storied home of Dance, gives it more space: Brian Seibert, NY Times Interview - Dame Darcey Bussell: ‘It was quite daunting kissing Harrison Ford – I still have the videotape!’: Ellie Muir, Independent Interview - National Ballet of Canada's Siphesihle November: The Soul Behind the Stardom: Cherilyn J Lee, Ballet Herald Interview - Ethan Stiefel on American Repertory Ballet: Graham Spicer, Gramilano News - Miami City Ballet 2023-2024 Season: Staff, Ballet Herald

Links - Friday 24 March 2023 Essay - Position. Positioned? Positioning… working environment standards in the dance world: Matthew Paluch, Gramilano Feature - Skylar Brandt, high-flying ballerina following in a family tradition: Joy Sable, Jewish Chronicle Feature - Akram Khan, Creature and more: Kate Maltby, The i Review - Australian Ballet, Don Quixote (Nureyev), Melbourne: Gracia Haby, Fjord Review Review - Sydney Dance Company, Ascent - Triple Bill, Sydney: Claudia Lawson, Fjord Review Review - Hungarian National Ballet, Swan Lake (Extended - van Dantzig), Budapest: Graham Watts, Bachtrack Review - National Ballet of Canada, Cinderella (Kudelka), Toronto: Denise Sum, Danceviewtimes Review - Tom Dale Company, SURGE, SUB:VERSION, London: Maggie Foyer, SeeingDance Review - Parsons Dance, Swing Shift, Balance of Power, Mr. Withers (premiere), The Ride Through (premiere), Caught, Nascimento, New York: Jerry Hochman, Critical Dance Review - Restless Dance Company, Exposed, Melbourne: Stephanie Glickman, Australian Stage News - Les Grands Ballets 2023-2024 Season: Staff, Ballet Herald Q&A - My London: Francesca Hayward: Soraya Gaied Chortane, Evening Standard Feature - Five, six, seven, eight: The steps to becoming a film and TV choreographer: Ada Tseng, LA Times

Links - Thursday 23 March 2023 Reviews - Tom Dale Company, SURGE, SUB:VERSION, London: Teresa Guerreiro, Culture Whisper Louise Levene, Financial Times Lyndsey Winship, Guardian Review - Gregory Maqoma & Colleagues: Broken Chord, London: Louise Levene, Financial Times Reviews - Northern Ballet, The Great Gatsby, Sheffield: Sheila Stratford, Reviews Hub Sarah Crabtree, Sheffield Star Review - Melbourne Frame Festival, Various Performances: Andrew Fuhrmann & Cameron Woodhead, The Age Review - Akiko Kitamura & Colleagues, Echoes of Calling - rainbow after -, Tokyo: Paul McInnes, Fjord Review Preview - Sarasota Ballet to stage La Sylphide: Monica Roman Gagnier, Your Observer Interview - Guillaume Diop: Paris Opera’s first black ‘star’ dancer on early discouragement and being proud to be a symbol: AFP via SCMP Feature - “They are so rising to it.” London Children’s Ballet’s Snow White comes to the stage: David Mead, SeeingDance News - Christopher Wheeldon’s Cinderella returns to San Francisco: Staff, Ballet Herald News - National Ballet of Canada to debut Angels’ Atlas in New York City: Debra Yeo, Toronto Star News - Queensland Ballet Season for remainder of 2023: Staff, Dance Australia News - New York City Ballet 2023 Spring Season: Staff, Ballet Herald News - Misty Copeland to receive 2023 Jacob’s Pillow Dance Award: Maddie Browning, Boston Globe