Mar 2008 in this issue focus on ballet competitions San Francisco Ballet Georgian & Russian Ballet in US reviews editors' choice

Remembering Maurice Bejart by Colleen Neary When I first met Maurice Bejart, I knew he was considered a great genius of the 20th century. Having worked with George Balanchine, I recognized that Bejart had a similar, immense impact on the people around him, but the nature of Bejart’s genius was a mystery. I also knew I wanted to dance for him, but I had no idea the enormous influence he would have on my career and my life. And then I met him. read more... Talking with Oregon Ballet Theatre Principal Dance Ronnie Underwood by Dean Speer and Francis TImlin "By tagging along as my sister went to her ballet classes. I was born in California but grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma and my sister was studying ballet at the Tulsa School of Ballet. I was – and still am – a really huge car enthusiast and was playing with some toy cars while waiting for her during her lesson. When I was about six and a half or seven, I was imitating some ballet moves and they saw me jump – I could really jump for a little kid!" read more...

Focus on International Ballet Competitions Click for this month's focus

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Chalnessa Eames

LaLaLa Human Steps

New York City Ballet

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reviews

Luna Negra Dance Theatre
by Elizabeth McPherson -- February 3, 2008, The New Victory Theatre, NYC
The Chicago-based Luna Negra Dance Theatre produces and presents works by Latino choreographers. The company of thirteen dancers is directed by Eduardo Vilaro, former principal dancer with Ballet Hispanico of New York. Though The New Victory Theatre is known for its programming for young people, this performance was not tailored to that audience, meaning that the dances were accessible to the young viewer, but appeared to be choreographed for a general audience.
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Utah Dance - a look at the dance out west in December
by Karen Webb -- December 2008,  various locations in Utah
When I hear about a new Nutcracker by a local company, my usual reaction at this point is, “Oh, good, another Nutcracker.” (That was sarcastic, in case the tone didn’t come across in print.) Well, if all newborn Nutcrackers could be as fine in conception and execution as the one offered by Ogden's youth ballet, Imagine Ballet Theatre, it would put an end to reactions of that type forever. The production played at Peery's Egyptian Theater in Ogden.
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Susan Marshall Dance Company
by Carmel Morgan -- February 9, 2008, The Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago
The Dance Center of Columbia College, located in downtown Chicago, presented the last of a series of performances of “Cloudless” by New York City-based Susan Marshall & Company on Saturday, February 9, 2008. “Cloudless” is a breath-taking tour de force worthy of the praise that has been heaped upon it, including a 2006 Bessie Award (the New York Dance and Performance Awards for Outstanding Choreographic Achievement).
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Mark Morris Dance Group - 'Dido and Aeneas'
by Carmel Morgan -- February 15, 2008, George Mason University Center for the Arts, Fairfax, Virginia

Liz Lerman - 'Love, Etcetera: Dances to William Shakespeare and Willie Nelson' - 'Nocturnes' and 'The Farthest Earth From Thee'
by Carmel Morgan -- February 14, 2008, The Gonda Theater, David Performing Arts Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC

Sankai Juku - 'Kinkan Shonen' ('The Kumquat Seed')
by Carmel Morgan -- February 12, 2008, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, DC

AEROS
by Carmel Morgan -- February 8, 2008, The Warner Theatre, Washington, DC

Illusion: Takami and MoBu Dance Group
by Jez Lee -- February 2, 2008 -- SomArts, San Francisco

Pacific Northwest Ballet - 'Roméo et Juliette'
by Dean Speer -- February 2, 2008 -- McCaw Hall, Seattle, Washington

Washington Ballet - Genius!: 'Drink to Me Only With Thine Eyes', 'There Where She Loved', 'Nine Sinatra Songs'
by Carmel Morgan -- January 31, 2008 -- Harman Center for the Arts, Washington, DC

Buenos Aires Tango
by Ana Abad-Carles -- January 29, 2008, Peacock Theatre, London

Royal Ballet - 'Sylvia'
by Ana Abad-Carles -- January 24, 2008, Royal Opera House, London

editors' choice · PNB's Spring Dance Festival: Laugh Out Loud! April 17–20, 2008, Marion Oliver McCaw Hall, Seattle, Washington Ballet and comedy collide in two mixed bills of Laugh-Out-Loud premieres, plus a special Best of the Fest performance followed by a terrific Backstage Bash party. · Belgrade Dance Festival April 4-19, 2008, Belgrade, Serbia Ballet Teatro Alla Scala, Inbal Pinto Dance Company, Henri Oguike Dance Company, Alias, Shen Wei Dance Arts, Club Guy & Roni, Spellboundance Company, National Ballet of Slovenia and National Ballet of Marseille perform.

 

For ballet-dance magazine
_______________________________
Executive Editor
Kate Snedeker

Founding Executive Editor 2003-2005
Mary Ellen Hunt

Senior and Supervising Editors
Azlan Ezaddin, Holly Messitt, Catherine Pawlick

Forum Editor
Elizabeth McPherson

Associate Editors & Compositors
Katie Rosenfeld, Cecly Placenti, Dean Speer, Francis Timlin, Toba Singer, Lori Ibay, Lisa Claybaugh