He tried the United States for a while, but then a spot opened in Japan - and, like many other Chinese intellectuals, he’s found his spot in a country closer to home, with a changing immigration policy. - Associated Press
England's Northern Ballet premiered Geisha just before the 2020 COVID lockdown. The troupe has several Japanese dancers who were excited about it, the creative team worked with experts on authenticity, and the Japanese Embassy gave official approval. Who made the accusations of appropriation, and who accepted them? - The Spectator
Never mind that Junko Hagiwara (stage name "La Yunko") has lived and studied in Seville for 20 years. Dance critics, fortunately, have been unanimous in their approval of her work. - AFP (MSN)
"One of the most ambitious shows the museum has ever presented — six years in the making and bigger than any Whitney biennial — it tracks the development of an American art form through Ailey’s singular vision." - The New York Times
"We’re the only company in the world that performs in three different opera houses (in one city). … One-hundred-and-twenty people work at this institution. When I arrived, I understood very quickly that making sure that they are all happy is just as important as the company’s performances and artistic vision." - Pointe Magazine
There are very legitimate concerns which such agreements can protect against, so an NDA shouldn't be rejected on general principle. Here's what to look for to make sure that the document is safeguarding creative product and personal security rather than covering up malfeasance. - Dance Magazine
"Diop’s progress through the strict hierarchy at the Paris Opera – he joined the corps de ballet in 2018 – has been stunningly swift. … In March 2023, he was made danseur étoile, the highest of the five ranks, bypassing the premier danseur stage that precedes it." - Financial Times
When you peel away layers of cliché and coarseness accrued over the course of the twentieth century, you often find works that are full of variety, contrasting dance styles, storytelling, humor, and relatable, appealing characters. You can distinguish the good from the bad. These ballets were meant to keep people engaged, entertained, and moved. - Marina Harss
"I spoke to many UK venues that London City Ballet once toured to, and it seemed these days few British ballet companies are passing through them. … Large-scale companies cannot necessarily fit into the mid-scale venues I was looking at … (and) a flexible company of 14 dancers with a mouldable repertoire felt (workable)." - Gramilano
Company founder Jawole Willa Jo Zollar has handed the reins to co-artistic directors Chanon Judson and Mame Diarra Speis. "In the spirit of sankofa — the Akan word for holding our history while imagining our future — here are some lessons these leaders have uncovered in their stewardship of this organization." - Dance Magazine
Company soloist Ellen Hummel filed suit earlier this month against SF Ballet and a volunteer physician, alleging medical negligence and "reckless disregard" for her condition, resulting in career-ending injury. Former principal Mathilde Froustey filed a similar lawsuit, still in discovery, last year. - San Francisco Chronicle (MSN)
These scores, which had never been publicly shown together, offered an uncommon perspective on the Ballets Russes productions that defined and transformed a generation of artists. The scores, by Stravinsky, Debussy, Ravel and others, many heavily annotated, “give a visceral sense of the working process.” - The New York Times
St. James Joy is now one of a handful of dance parties around New York City where house music fanatics and babies alike find a dose of social life together in broad, pre-bedtime, daylight. It’s a city tradition that has grown in recent years. - The New York Times
But some ballet dancers, or more likely companies, refuse to use them. Says one consultant, “The classical ballet world has a resistance to change that can be a huge obstacle.” - Wall Street Journal (MSN)
“Touring gives the dancers a chance for exposure for our creativity and artistry.” And a chance for audiences around the world to get a taste of what’s happening. - Seattle Times
