DANCE

Li Cunxin, who found international fame for his remarkable rise from rural China to become one of the world’s leading ballet dancers, has announced his retirement as the artistic director of Queensland Ballet due to health issues. - CNN

After 16 years as a star of Houston Ballet and four at the Australian Ballet, followed by 13 years as a successful stockbroker, Li became in 2012 artistic director of Brisbane's Queensland Ballet, where he has doubled the number of dancers and quintupled the budget. - Australian Financial Review

"This year’s edition of the storied festival will be scaled back, featuring seven programs — nearly half the last slate." One BAM associate director says, "We prefer to think of it as dense and not necessarily shrinking." - The New York Times

Audience numbers are down at American Ballet Theater. So: Like Water for Chocolate. "For people who might not be familiar with the great abstract works of Balanchine or the classics, ... they might see a poster and think, ‘Well maybe I’ll go and see that.’" - The New York Times

But what is Tanztheater Wuppertal without Bausch? Answers may come as the group celebrates its 50th anniversary. In addition, there's now "a shortlist of candidates for design competition to build the Pina Bausch Center, a major new cultural building for the city." - The New York Times

"In the hothouse atmosphere of flamenco dance, where passionate display of the self is prized, divas abound. But Carlota Santana isn't one of them." - The New York Times

Austrian choreographer Florentina Holzinger "presents women’s ability to endure discomfort as something to be celebrated, but also questioned. Our resilience is mighty and formidable by way of our nature, but also because we’ve had to survive oppressive systems." - Arts Hub

"Caught in a web of financial difficulties, (the choreographer) and his board of advisers have decided to close the (Petronio Residency Center) and put the 175-acre property up for sale. The final residency takes place this month." - The New York Times

Janet Rollé’s hiring was announced with much fanfare: She had made a name in the entertainment industry, having served as the general manager of Parkwood Entertainment, Beyoncé’s media and management company. Rollé, who is Black, was the first person of color to lead the company. - The New York Times

"Van Cleef & Arpels, the French luxury jeweler, announced on Tuesday that it would sponsor a 16-day event partly aimed at bringing more international choreographers and ensembles to the city." The festival, called Dance Reflections, will run from Oct. 19 to Nov. 3. - The New York Times

"Ariana DeBose called me and asked if I was interested and available. I said yes and yes!" - Dance Magazine

In the 2010 movie. Natalie Portman "was dancing for up to eight hours a day by the time shooting rolled around. During one significant scene, where the ballet director, Thomas, encourages Nina to push herself to the limit, Portman channels a lifetime of pressure." - Far Out Magazine

"Audience members reserve a time slot and are paired with dance artists through a lottery system. 'Maybe we don’t want each other,' Bakst said. 'But what can we do together?'" - The New York Times

"Despite his success in the United States, … Millepied says it is easier to work in France. … But French society can feel less inclusive. It is something which his newly-formed Paris Dance Project, an incubator of young talent in the capital's suburbs, is aimed at combatting." - Yahoo! (AFP)

"The sticking point is management’s refusal to maintain a clause in the dancers' contract that guarantees pay will keep pace with inflation, a guarantee that has been in place for more than 20 years, to recognise dancers' comparatively short career span." - The Guardian