Dance Magazine articles from April 2007

Dance Magazine archives from April 2007

Curtain up.(Editorial)
April 1, 2007... The possibilities in choreography are endless. If there was any question about that in my mind, the recent Association of Performing Arts Presenters conference in New York City reminded me. At this annual showing of performing arts from around...

Relevant rants.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2007... In "Beyond Ballet Bashing" (Jan.), the real subject is ballet companies' individuality. Each company has a different repertoire and audience, so why is the art of ballet treated as a single entity? The needs of a company in Houston aren't the...

Souvenirs from the past.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2007... Clive Barnes' January "Attitudes" was very poignant. I share his concern that today's young dancers know so little about the great American choreographers. I was an original member of New York City Ballet (1948-59) when it was still a little...

Forever young.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2007... Allegra Kent's eloquent explanation of why she continues to take class ("Her Favorite Pursuit," Feb.) very much reflects my own reasons for taking class. I have taken ballet classes since early childhood. I am so grateful that my ballet...

Corrections.(Letters)(Correction notice)
April 1, 2007... The author of February's "Teacher's Wisdom" was Dena Abergel. The photo was taken by Nobukani Kandoh. Hilary Cartwright is a master teacher at Yogamoves in NYC. Summer Study Guide Corrections: The Rock School for Dance Education in...

Hunting for dancers.(VITAL SIGNS)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... Once an 18th-century hunting cabin, White Lodge has housed The Royal Ballet Lower School for half a century. White Lodge: 50 years of the Royal Ballet Lower School, an exhibit at the Orleans House Gallery in Twickenham, England, celebrates the...

Going bananas.(VITAL SIGNS)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... In 1926, sexy Josephine Baker turned heads by wearing only bananas (see "They Did What?" Nov. 2006). Eighty-one years later, the Black Pearl's erotic moves return in the form of a musical revue. It traces the life of Baker-who's played by New...

Auto-bodies.(VITAL SIGNS)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... You could say that Pilobolus dancers have drive. Literally. Always the illusionists, their bodies can mold into any shape-and this time it's a car. The recent ads (TV right, print below) for the Hyundai Santa Fe shows these dancers creating...

See me, hear me.(VITAL SIGNS)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... After a European tour, Pascal Rioult Dance Theatre performs its Ravel Project in West Palm Beach, April 13-15. Wanna get inside the mind of Pascal's creative process? Check out the company's audio guide on their website to hear mp3s explaining...

3 x 3.(VITAL SIGNS)(Ballet Nouveau performance)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... Dancing through their fifth season, Ballet Nouveau in Colorado pairs classical technique with contemporary choreography. This month, THR3E by THR3E features premieres by three choreographers: Lee-Wei Chao's Dusty Heat, Game Piece by Amy Seiwert...

Time travel.(VITAL SIGNS)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... Nixon and The Beatles? Sounds like Houston Ballet II has turned back the hands of time to the late '60s. But these are the musical inspirations for the pre-professional training program of Houston Ballet's spring concert. Choreographed by...

Way cool.(VITAL SIGNS)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... A cold front of edgy and acrobatic contemporary dance blew over Brooklyn in the fourth annual Cool New York 2007 Dance Festival this January. Presented by WHITE WAVE, a performance hub committed to the creation of new dance, the festival...

Mix it up.(VITAL SIGNS)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... Has Stephen Petronio set his iPod to "shuffle" for this month's concert? The soundtrack includes Bud Suite, set to the folky sounds of Rufus Wainwright; a world premiere of Without You II to the modern rock of Placebo; and For Today I Am a Boy...

Kick it.(VITAL SIGNS)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... How better to kick-off National Dance Week (April 20-29) than with a huge kickline? The ninth annual Capitol Kickline, in Harrisburg, PA, is a free event for dancers of all ages. It takes place on the steps of the capitol building, and the rest...

Rodin's royal impression.(VITAL SIGNS)(Auguste Rodin)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... When the Cambodian court ballet performed at the palace of the French president in 1906, sculptor Auguste Rodin was turned away for not wearing a tie. But after seeing them perform in a Parisian park, he followed them to Marseille and turned...

Chita Rivera.(QUICK Q&A)(Interview)
April 1, 2007... Broadway legend Chita Rivera is such a vortex of energy onstage that it's hard to look away when she is dancing, singing, or just standing there. Her biographical musical, Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life, which ran for 72 performances on...

A continental journey.(ANNIVERSARY GALLERY: WORLD DANCE COVERS)
April 1, 2007... Dance Magazine has always traveled the globe to discover dance. From Scandanavia to the Ivory Coast to Bali, decade by decade our world dance covers offer a visual journey. Even in our first years there were illustrations of festive flamenco...

The Royal's renegade: Wayne McGregor becomes resident choreographer.(DANCE MATTERS)
April 1, 2007... His work is angular, cutting, and often downright dangerous. He likes club music rather than Tchaikovsky. He has found inspiration for his works from the cyber world and from biological disorders--heart disease and degenerative neurological...

Monaco Dance Forum: leaping into the future.(DANCE MATTERS)
April 1, 2007... For a few days every two years, the posh Mediterranean principality of Monaco becomes the center of the international dance world. Yet, to describe the Monaco Dance Forum, the fourth and most comprehensive edition of which was held December...

New York City Ballet resident choreographer Christopher Wheeldon announced the formation of his new company, Morphoses the Wheeldon Company, which will debut in August at the Vail International Dance Festival and have later seasons at Sadler's Wells Theatre and City Center.(COMINGS AND GOINGS)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... New York City Ballet resident choreographer CHRISTOPHER WHEELDON announced the formation of his new company, Morphoses the Wheeldon Company, which will debut in August at the Vail International Dance Festival and have later seasons at Sadler's...

Atlanta Ballet.(COMINGS AND GOINGS)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... Atlanta Ballet welcomed BARRY HUGHSON as their new executive director. He was previously executive director of Complexions Contemporary Ballet, American Repertory Ballet, and Princeton Ballet School.

LINES Ballet.(COMINGS AND GOINGS)
April 1, 2007... Interim general manager ANN MARIE NEMANICH has become the new executive director for Alonzo King's LINES Ballet.

Smuin Ballet.(COMINGS AND GOINGS)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... DWIGHT HUTTON, who has been the company manager at Pacific Northwest Ballet for seven years, was appointed to managing director of Smuin Ballet in San Francisco.

In December, Barbara Bryan joined Movement Research as the executive director.(COMINGS AND GOINGS)
April 1, 2007... In December, BARBARA BRYAN joined Movement Research as the executive director and KIM DOELGER as the managing director.

Pacific Northwest Ballet.(COMINGS AND GOINGS)
April 1, 2007... CHALNESSA EAMES, LESLEY RAUSCH, and KAREL CRUZ of Pacific Northwest Ballet have been promoted from the corps to soloists.

ABT alums, unite!(DANCE MATTERS)(American Ballet Theatre)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE will hold an Alumni Dancer Reunion May 26, during the 2007 spring season at the Metropolitan Opera House. The event is co-chaired by Gage Bush Englund, Cynthia Gregory, and Susan Jaffe. Former ABT dancers who would like...

Noah D. Gelber.(AWARDS)
April 1, 2007... NOAH D. GELBER received a Golden Sofit Award, given to the best stage productions in St. Petersburg, for his Kirov choreography of Overcoal.

The 2006 recipients of the Choo-San Goh Awards for Choreography were given to William Soleau of Ballet NY.(AWARDS)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... The 2006 recipients of the Choo-San Goh Awards for Choreography were given to WILLIAM SOLEAU of Ballet NY, KIRK PETERSON for a piece for Cincinnati Ballet, JORMA ELO of Boston Ballet (see p. 30), and JAMES SEWELL of James Sewell Ballet.

Pedro Ruiz.(AWARDS)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... The Joffrey Ballet, in partnership with Luna Negra Dance Theater, received a $50,000 Joyce Award to support a commission of a new ballet by PEDRO RUIZ, the Cuban-born choreographer associated with Ballet Hispanico.

Masterpiece theater.(NEW YORK NOTEBOOK)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... John Butler's work spans both classical and modern, from Carmina Burana to A Portrait of Billie. The prolific choreographer, who died in 1993, is honored at The Joyce with a retrospective April 10-15. A Dance Magazine awardee in 1964, he...

From Memphis to the Joyce.(NEW YORK NOTEBOOK)(Ballet Memphis)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... Music, not ballet, comes to mind when Memphis gets mentioned, but Ballet Memphis braids dancing with the city's sound during its first Joyce run April 3-8. The 14 dancers, including Dawn Fay ("25 to Watch," Jan.), perform in two programs of...

Nothing to it.(NEW YORK NOTEBOOK)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... What's new at DTW in April? Nothing--that is, The Nothing Festival. Three-time Bessie winner Tere O'Connor was frustrated with the bureaucratic nature of selling one's art and came up with the idea. Choreographers are given no cue and no...

Healing touch: find the right PT.(HEALTH and Fitness)(physical therapist)
April 1, 2007... When dancers get injured, a physical therapist can play a key role in their recovery, but not all have the same approach or skills. How do you find one who can help? Some health insurance plans allow self-referral; others require a...

Advice for dancers: former New York City Ballet dancer Linda Hamilton, Ph.D., is a lecturer, a psychologist in private practice, and the author of Advice for Dancers (Jossey-Bass). She has been offering advice to Dance Magazine readers since 1992.
April 1, 2007... ONSTAGE I FEEL PASSIONATE ABOUT BALLET; THE PROBLEM IS I HARDLY EVER FEEL THAT WAY IN CLASS. I'LL SAY TO MYSELF, "I DON'T WANT TO DO THIS. WHY AM I HERE?" THEN THERE WILL BE A DAY WHEN I FIND MYSELF SAYING, "I LOVE THIS. I CAN'T LEAVE!" WHAT'S...

Something in the way he moves them: choreographer of the moment Jorma Elo talks about his creative process and how dancers inspire him.(Interview)(Cover story)
April 1, 2007... The dancers of Boston Ballet are rehearsing a new work with Jorma Elo, the company's Finnish-born resident choreographer. At one point, ballet master Tony Randazzo invites them to gather around a video to see the phrase as it was recorded four...

Minds in motion: choreographers talk candidly about their dancers' contributions, the impact of music, and projects on the horizon.(Directory)
April 1, 2007... DONNA UCHIZONO Artistic director, Donna Uchizono Dance Company, NYC ON DANCERS A lot of time I will "throw" material at the dancers and they will "catch" whatever essence they got from it. I'll look at the caught material and make...

Shaking it up: Peter Boal brings his distinctive vision to PNB's repertoire and profile.(Pacific Northwest Ballet)(Interview)
April 1, 2007... Since taking over the leadership of Pacific Northwest Ballet, Peter Boal has heaped challenge upon challenge on the dancers. He has added new repertoire, more performances, and more touring. Rehearsals are now shorter and more intense, and...

Giving it a whirl: dancers & choreographers on skirts vs.tutus.
April 1, 2007... While tutu chic may be in vogue now--French designer Christian Lacroix's latest made-to-measure gowns sport ostrich-trimmed hems and sparkly puffball skirts of organza and tulle--the archetypal ballerina costume wages war in the contemporary...

Skirts & tutus: costumes to dream of ...(DM STYLE)(Directory)
April 1, 2007... Do you want to dance Aurora? Do you dream you're a swan or a jewel or Juliet? No matter what your dream is, a costume awaits. Step into a skirted dress and be filled with whimsy or romance. Don a regal tutu and relish the attention of your...

The Apollo next door.(DANCE MAGAZINE RECOMMENDS)(Video recording review)
April 1, 2007... Jacques d'Amboise: Portrait of a Great American Dancer Produced by Allan Altman, Video Arts International DVD. $34.95. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers Warner Brothers Two-DVD Special Edition. $21.99. Carousel (50th Anniversary Edition)...

Lighting their spark: helping students learn how to choreograph.(TEACH-LEARN CONNECTION)
April 1, 2007... A volcano of voices erupts in the stairwell as backpack-laden children, their morns, siblings, and babysitters head to the dressing room. The young dancers shed their jackets and shoes, and bang their way into the studio. A boisterous game of...

The beauty of Bournonville.(TECHNIQUE)(August Bournonville)
April 1, 2007... Whenever I take my '69 Alfa Romeo out for a spin on windy back roads, it feels similar to taking a Bournonville class. Both look easy and fun but are harder than they seem. And both have a ratio of gratification that grows with the learning...

From Boston to Bolshoi.(ACROSS THE FLOOR)(Boston Ballet)(Bolshoi Ballet Company)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... Boston Ballet II dancers and students from the Boston Ballet School trainee program traveled to Moscow in January to perform excerpts from artistic director Mikko Nissinen's The Nutcracker. While there, the dancers also had the chance to take...

School of American Ballet.(NEW SPACE)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... When competition for available studios left dancers at the School of American Ballet rehearsing late into the night, chairman of faculty Peter Martins saw two options: move the school to a larger location or carve out more space in their...

Regional Dance America.(FESTIVITIES AND AWARDS)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... Regional Dance America is holding a National Dance Festival from April 24-28 in Pittsburgh, PA. For only the second time in the organization's 50-year history, all 92 member companies and nearly 2,000 dancers will come together for more than 40...

University of Wisconsin, Madison.(FESTIVITIES AND AWARDS)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... As the first university to offer a degree in dance, University of Wisconsin, Madison, is celebrating the dance program's 80th anniversary from April 25-28. Founded in 1926 by dance pioneer Margaret H'Doubler, graduates include Anna Halprin,...

Rolex Mentor and Protege Arts Initiative.(FESTIVITIES AND AWARDS)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... Anani Dodji Sanouvi was named 2006 dance protege of the Rolex Mentor and Protege Arts Initiative. The program annually awards one talented dancer or choreographer with "the gift of time": one year of creative collaboration with an...

Congratulations to the winners of the 2007 National Dance Week Poster Contest.(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... Contest sponsored by Dance Magazine and Capezio/Ballet Makers[C] From left to right: First Place Ages 6-10 Jessica Taylor Leesville, LA First Place Ages 11-13 Natalee Maxwell Albuquerque, NM First Place Ages...

Lupe Calzadilla: teacher's wisdom.(THIS MONTH)(Interview)
April 1, 2007... Lupe Calzadilla says she owes everything she knows about ballet to Alicia and Fernando Alonso. After graduating from their prestigious National Ballet School in Havana, Calzadilla spent 11 years performing with Ballet Nacional de Cuba. She then...

Lily Rogers: long lines and fiery technique make this SFB corps member a favorite with choreographers.(On the Rise)(San Francisco Ballet)
April 1, 2007... The pale sun streaming onto San Francisco Ballet's company class bathes Lily Rogers' delicate blond beauty with a translucent sheen. With her slender frame, finely tapered limbs, and oval face dominated by huge green eyes, the 5' 7" corps...

Jerry Mitchell, Legal Eagle: the choreographer tries on his directing hat.(ON BROADWAY)(Interview)
April 1, 2007... For Jerry Mitchell, there's a lot riding on Legally Blonde, which opens this month on Broadway. If it's a hit, he joins the storied ranks of choreographers who've become successful directors. If not, well, he'll always have his Broadway Bares...

Kirov Ballet of the Maryinsky Theater.(Dance review)
April 1, 2007... OPERA HOUSE, THE KENNEDY CENTER, WASHINGTON, DC JANUARY 16-21, 2007 Ancient stones blush in a new day's light as a handsome lad wends his tardy way to bed. The city begins to stir. This is vibrant and violent Verona waking to a way of life...

Urban Bush Women.(Dance review)
April 1, 2007... GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR THE ARTS, FAIRFAX, VA JANUARY 24, 2007 On a cold Wednesday night in northern Virginia, witnessing Urban Bush Women at work felt like warming your hands at a bright fire. The concert opened with a solo...

Preview: Dance Salad.(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... The Italians are coming to Houston--along with the Russians, Dutch, Koreans, and a host of other companies from distant shores. April is Houston's unofficial international dance month, thanks to Dance Salad. The festival moves into its 12th...

Preview: The EveryWoman Series: The Red Thread.(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... Melding the movement language and themes of Isadora Duncan's dances with West African, Caribbean, and other dance styles, choreographer Lori Belilove has created a multimedia collaboration, The Every Woman Series: The Red Thread. "The red...

Preview: Ballet West's Giselle.(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... For a ballet that was first performed in 1841, Giselle remains remarkably current with its timeless tale of heartbreak and betrayal. This month, Ballet West reprises former artistic director Jonas Kage's 2003 staging of the quintessential...

Preview: Detroit Dance Collective.(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... During its 37 years, DDC has produced many stunning multimedia collaborations with visual artists. For Michigan Trilogy II, artistic director Barbara Selinger teams up with painter Mel Rosas, who sees his work as the line between the real and...

Glen Tetley (1926-2007).(DEATHS)(Obituary)
April 1, 2007... Glen Tetley had a special gift for making dances and for inspiring affection. The dances were not always kindly received by critics, but the gentle, soft-spoken man almost invariably was. Not that he was easy on dancers. Tetley was notoriously...

Ruthanna Boris (1918-2007).(DEATHS)(Obituary)
April 1, 2007... Born in Brooklyn at the end of World War I, Ruthanna Boris was one of the lesser-celebrated but nonetheless vital pioneers of 20th-century American dance. As a dancer, she was known for her attack, technique, and a dramatic style that embraced...

Antonina Tumkovsky (1905-2007).(DEATHS)(Obituary)
April 1, 2007... Renowned School of American Ballet teacher Madame Antonina Tumkovsky died in January at 101. The Ukrainian-born former soloist of the Kiev Ballet moved to Berlin during World War II. She came to the U.S. and was hired by George Balanchine in...

Robert de Warren.(RETIREMENT)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... After 14 years at the helm of Sarasota Ballet, during which he choreographed 12 full-length ballets and 25 total works for the company, artistic director Robert de Warren is retiring in June. "At 73," he says, "I think it's time to take it...

United States.(DANCE FINDER)(Directory)
April 1, 2007... United States ALABAMA ALABAMA BALLET Wes Chapman, Artistic Director Alice Cox, Director of External Affairs 2726 1st Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35233 (205) 322-4300; Fax (205) 322-4444 www.alabamaballet.org ...

International.(DANCE FINDER)(Directory)
April 1, 2007... ARGENTINA MANUEL VALLEJOS DANCE JAZZ STUDIO Lavalle 1579 C.P.1048-Buenos Aires Tel/Fax (541) 371-6811 AUSTRIA SALZBURY INTL. BALLET ACADEMY (SIBA) Yehuda Maor, Ballet teacher/Master Salzburg Ballet. Phone...

Somatic Practices, Movement Arts, and Dance Medicine.(DANCE FINDER)(Directory)
April 1, 2007... Certification and training in somatic and movement-based arts. Contact: dcastro@dancemagazine.com AERIAL DANCE/ACROBATIC/CIRCUS ARTS LAVA HOME STUDIO / BROOKLYN, NY Acrobatics & trapeze emphasizing strength, flexibility, ...

Legends of invention.(DANCE FINDER)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... Mingling Western ballet with traditional Chinese legend, Ballet San Jose presents Middle Kingdom--Ancient China, April 26-29. The production is created in collaboration with the Chinese Performing Artists of America, with choreography by the...

Attitudes.
April 1, 2007... At times it's useful to consider, perhaps reconsider, basics. The other day sitting at my desk, idly staring at the Chelsea Hotel, I found myself wondering about a stupid question upon which few might have a definitive answer but all will have...