Jan 2009 in this issue Best of 2008 features Best of 2008 reviews Best of 2008 galleries

A Letter from the Editor As we begin 2009, here are some of our favorites from 2008. I want recognize everyone who has contributed to Ballet-Dance Magazine in the last year. Firstly, a huge thanks to our editors who put in countless hours each week to assess and proofread submisssions: Katie Rosenfeld, Cecly Placenti, Francis Timlin, Toba Singer, Lori Ibay, Lisa Claybaugh, Holly Messitt, Catherine Pawlick and Mike Wyne. A very special thanks to Elizabeth McPherson for her creativity in putting together our foci and to Dean Speer for his help in preparing photos. And last, but not least, great thanks to Azlan Ezaddin for his tireless work -- Ballet-Dance Magazine wouldn't exist without him. I would also like to thank our many writers -- your contributions are the heart of BDm. We welcome all submissions, and are happy to work with new writers to help them improve.  Lastly, thanks to all our readers for their continued support. To all, best wishes for 2009! Kate Snedeker

The Best of 2008 Click for our favorite images from 2008

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best of 2008 reviews

Rebecca Stenn Dance Company
by Elizabeth McPherson -- December 7, 2007, Dance New Amsterdam, New York City
This performance series marked the premiere of “Periphery,” a duet for choreographer Rebecca Stenn and Eric Jackson Bradley. The dance appeared to be about a relationship in which there is a strong connection between two individuals.
read more...

National Ballet of China - 'Raise the Red Lantern'
by Stuart Sweeney -- August 1, 2008, Royal Opera House, London

Volochkova Revue
by Catherine Pawlick -- July 19, 2008, St. Petersburg, Russia

The Eighth Anuual Mariinsky Festival Opening Night
by Catherine Pawlick -- March 13, 2008, Mariinsky Theatre, St. Petersburg, Russia
Opening night of the Eighth Annual International Mariinsky Festival provided a cozy retreat from drizzle and near-freezing temperatures in chilly St. Petersburg this time of year.
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The Eighth Anuual Mariinsky Festival Closing Night Gala Concert
by Catherine Pawlick -- March 23, 2008, Mariinsky Theatre, St. Petersburg, Russia

Pennsylvania Ballet - 'Messiah'
by Lori Ibay -- March 8, 2008 at 2:00pm -- Academy of Music, Philadelphia

Sylvie Guillem and Russell Maliphant - 'PUSH'
by David Mead -- April 4, 2008, London Coliseum
“PUSH” has been honoured with four major dance awards and nominated for several others, and it’s easy to see why. The combination of Russell Maliphant and Sylvie Guillem is dance at its very best. Maliphant’s fluid and physical choreography alone is enough to grab you by itself, but when he performs it himself he seems to add an extra dimension. And then of course there is Guillem.
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Pacific Northwest Ballet - Director's Choice Program
by Dean Speer -- March 15, 2008, Seattle, Washington

Cas Public - 'Diary' ('Journal intimé)
by David Mead -- May 8, 2008, Patrick Centre, Birmingham, UK

The Tehreema Mitha Dance Company - 'Across All Borders: A Choreography with Freedom'
by Carmel Morgan -- April 27, 2008, The Lyceum Museum, Alexandria, Virginia
Tehreema Mitha came to the United States in search of choreographic freedom. She had pushed the envelope as far as she could in her native Pakistan, where she headed the country’s only dance company. Mitha learned classical Indian Bharatanatyam-style dance from her mother, Indu Mitha, a noted teacher and performer. She is a gifted performer with a hunger for experimentation as well as traditional dance.
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225th Anniversary of the Mariinsky Theatre - 16th Annual White Nights Festival
by Catherine Pawlick -- May 13, 2008, Mariinsky Theater, St. Petersburg

Royal Ballet - 'The Sleeping Beauty'
by Ana Abad-Carles -- 5 May 2008, Royal Opera House, London

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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Rachid Ouramdane - 'Far...'
by Theodore Bale -- May 17, 2008, Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston, Massachusetts

Birmingham Royal Ballet - Stravinsky: 'Petrushka', 'Le Baiser de la fée', 'Card Game'
by David Mead -- July 3, 2008, Hippodrome Theatre, Birmingham, UK

Downtown Dance Festival
by Elisabeth McPherson -- August 20, 2008, Chase Plaza, New York City
From August 16-24, over thirty dance companies performed in three downtown New York City locations as part of the Downtown Dance Festival 2008. Now in its 27th year, the festival was established by Battery Dance Company... Highlights of the program on August 20 were performances by Battleworks Dance Company & Naomi Goldberg Haas/Dances for a Variable Population.
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Pacific Northwest Ballet - New Works Program: What's New Is Old Again
by Dean Speer -- November 8, 2008, McCaw Hall, Seattle, Washington

editors' choice · Sydney Festival January 10-31, 2009 -- Various venues in and around Sydney, Australia For three weeks, the festival offers a rich program of around 80 events involving upwards of 500 artists from Australia and globally covering dance, theatre, music, visual arts, cross media and forums. · Cool New York 2009 DANCE Festival January 29 - February 8, 2009 -- WHITE WAVE's John Ryan Theater Nineteen performances in this year's program will feature both young choreographers and well-known ensembles.

 

For ballet-dance magazine
_______________________________
Executive Editor
Kate Snedeker

Executive Editor 2003-2005
Mary Ellen Hunt

Focus Editor
Elizabeth McPherson

Senior and Supervising Editors
Holly Messitt, Lori Ibay, Catherine Pawlick

Associate Editors & Compositors
Dean Speer, Francis Timlin, Lisa Claybaugh, Azlan Ezaddin, Toba Singer, Mike Wyne, Katie Rosenfeld, Cecly Placenti