"In the performing arts, it’s often assumed that audiences consider international or 'big-city' imports higher quality than locally-produced talent and creativity. But for decades, regional companies have been proving that false. … While these 'homegrown' companies may have relatively low profiles, they’re a crucial part of the national dance landscape." - Dance Magazine
"After five months of tense negotiations, the American Guild of Musical Artists says it has made limited progress in securing a new collective bargaining agreement for its members that addresses important issues like wages, safety and working conditions." The contract ends on Dec. 6, Nutcracker's opening night. - San Francisco Chronicle (MSN)
“Athletes, coaches, and choreographers are now facing the fact that they’ve been unintentionally breaking the law nearly every day, through the music that soundtracks their performances. And as rumors of the dollar amounts in musicians’ complaints spread, many athletes began to question” if their sports can continue at all. - Slate - Slate
"Throughout his career, he has struggled with stage fright, he said, especially when dancing in groups. ... But for “Dear Lord, Make Me Beautiful,” a new large-scale, evening-length production that deals with themes of aging, change and vulnerability, he knew he needed to be present onstage." - The New York Times
"The lawsuit brought by Chang Chun-Ko in White Plains federal court sought unspecified damages on behalf of Chang and other alleged victims of Shen Yun, … saying it has subjected some children who perform for it to harsh conditions, including long hours for little pay." - AP
“I’d always been curious about ballet,” says one woman who started taking classes “after a major life shift.” She’s far from alone. - Los Angeles Times
“When you think of the English tradition of Morris dancing, you might not picture a group of young, gender non-conforming, drag kings who dress like ‘chimney sweeps’ - but that will be because you've not seen Molly No-Mates.” - BBC
The 45-year-old educator, an Ailey alumna who has been dean of the Juilliard School's dance division since 2018, will take the helm at the company in July. She succeeds Robert Battle, who resigned suddenly this time last year for health and personal reasons. - The New York Times
"Founded 30 years ago by two former Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater dancers, ... the company has developed a signature style that’s both immediately recognizable and widely influential. Echoes of it can be seen all over today’s opera houses, competition ballrooms, and TV screens." - Dance Magazine
The performers, ages 69 to 80, will dance the roles they created while footage from that first production, filmed by Rolf Borzik, plays alongside them onstage. - The New York Times
The original building, the smallest of the dance festival's three venues, was destroyed by fire four years ago. The rebuilt Duke, opening July 9, is three times the size of the old one, has flexible configurations for both stage and audience, and is equipped to livestream performances. - The Berkshire Eagle
Judy Morr "decided to do something nobody else was doing in Southern California, which was to bring major international dance companies to Orange County. That’s how it all started. Dance became the way to establish the Center’s reputation nationally and internationally.” - CultureOC
Meryl Tankard was one of the dancers in the 1978 premiere of Bausch's Kontakthof, and she has now restaged the piece with herself and eight other performers from the first run dancing alongside film footage of the original production. - The New York Times
The company is alleged to use underage student performers to work on and off stage for workweeks of well over 40 hours, with extremely busy touring schedules, for only nominal pay. - The New York Times
The Minneapolis-based company will shut down next March. "It’s the latest blow to the Twin Cities dance community, less than a year after ... Minnesota Dance Theatre announced in February it would pause its performing company, and the Cowles Center for Dance and Performing Arts went dark." - The Minnesota Star-Tribune
