May 2010 in this issue [updated June 3, 2010] focus on Canadian Contemporary Dance Ballet Nacional de Cuba Taiwan Festival reviews editors' choice

Ballet Nacional de Cuba Magia de la Danza by Ana Abad-Carles April 7, 2010 -- London Coliseum As part of their London Season at the Coliseum, Ballet Nacional de Cuba brought a second programme of excerpts of classical ballets called “Magia de la Danza” (Magic of the Dance). I am not usually keen on this kind of programme, but I thought it would be a great opportunity to see the dancers tackling different bits and pieces of their repertoire. read more... "Swan Lake" by Stuart Sweeney April 4, 2010 -- Coliseum, London Cuban ballet dancers are famed and feted around the world, and the recent UK tour of Danza Contemporanea de Cuba proved a revelation, with superb artists putting their own stamp on Mats Ek among others. So, National Ballet of Cuba's “Swan Lake” promised to be a treat. read more...

Taiwan Festival Taiwan Festival by David Mead -- April 2010, Taipei You have to remind yourself sometimes that the Taiwan International Festival is only in its second year. It already seems so established. Actually, Taipei International Festival might be a more appropriate name, since all the events take place in and around the National Theater and Concert Hall in the city. read more... Tanztheater des Staatstheaters Darmstadt - 'Schwanengesang' by David Mead -- March 12, 2010, National Theater, Taipei Despite being born and bred in Yilan in the north-east of the island, and achieving considerable international success, Lin Mei-hong is not a choreographer whose name is to the forefront of most Taiwanese dance-goers minds. That is not all that surprising. She left Taiwan at 16 to study in Rome, and later in Essen with Pina Bausch. read more... Ballet Preljocaj - 'Snow White' by David Mead -- March 4, 2010, National Theater, Taipei After “Empty Moves” and “Eldorado”, Angelin Preljocaj says he was tiring of making abstract ballets and was keen to tell a story. “No doubt to avoid getting into a rut. And, because like everyone, I love stories,” he says. In a move that goes against pretty much everything you expect from the contemporary ballet choreographer, he looked for something magical, enchanted, and that he felt had not been fully dealt with before. read more... Compañia de danca Sol Picó - 'Sirena la plancha' by David Mead -- February 21, 2010, National Theater and Concert Hall Plaza, Taipei “Heavy rain forecast sinks Spanish mermaid show” was the headline in the Taipei Times, which added that “a mermaid who tries to save her world from its worst-ever drought has been done in – by too much rain.” read more... Robert Wilson and the U Theatre of Taiwan - '1433 - The Grand Voyage' by David Mead -- February 20, 2010, National Theater, Taipei Loosely based on historic texts, avant-garde American stage director Robert Wilson’s new work “1433-The Grand Voyage” reinterprets the life, and particularly the final seventh voyage, of 15th-century Chinese explorer Zheng He. Between 1405 and 1433 Zheng led naval expeditions designed to establish a Chinese presence in other parts of the world and to control trade. His fleet travelled as far as East Africa, promoting diplomacy and trade and fighting pirates. read more...

DVD Reviews - "Ballet Russes" and "Dancing for Mr. B: Six Balanchine Ballerinas" by Heather Desaulniers We live in a world where public libraries are downsizing their performing arts collections and video stores are becoming extinct. Even when video rental institutions were on every corner, they rarely had a good selection of dance films and documentaries. And, unless you live close to a major city, your library may not shelve any scholarly dance titles. We are so lucky to have Netflix. read more... The Celebration of Paul Taylor's 80th Birthday by Dr Tom Ferraro Who is Paul Taylor? Born and raised in and around Washington D.C. Shipped from family to family. He reminds me of Jasper Johns, another lonely child prodigy shunted from place to place. Fatherless, alone with his imagination, nicknamed variously Peter Rabbit, Paulie, Pedah, Peter Paul Mounds, Pablo, Geek, Boss or simply P.T. read more...

Focus on Canadian Contemporary Dance Click for this month's focus

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Gala Flamenca

Kings of Dance

David Bintley

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reviews

New York Theatre Ballet -- 'Dance on a Shoestring'
by Heather Desaulniers
April 10, 2010 -- NYTB Dance Gallery, New York City
These days, audience development for ballet companies must be high on the priority list. The situation is dire; the economy is bad and funding opportunities for the arts seem to dry up a little more every day. In such a climate, fostering long-term relationships with subscribers is of utmost importance. For some groups, it may even be the key to their survival.
read more

Baltimore Ballet - 10 Year Anniversary Gala
by Heather Desaulniers
March 28, 2010 -- The Lyric Opera House-Baltimore, Maryland
A Gala is a much-anticipated event in any ballet company's season. It is even more special when it commemorates a milestone, like the 10 Year Anniversary Gala for the Baltimore Ballet. But behind the jubilant nature of a gala lies a ton of work and effort. In addition to the usual logistic issues associated with such a production, this particular celebration had to weather and deal with the unexpected: Mother Nature.
read more...

Oregon Ballet Theatre - 'Midsummer Night's Dream' and 'The Four Temperaments'
by Dean Speer
March 7, 2010 -- Keller Auditorium, Portland
Balanchine’s 1946 “The Four Temperaments” is a work that I’ve long adored and Francia Russell’s staging of it is probably my favorite. This performance was bittersweet as we had to say adieu to the serenely elegant Gavin Larsen who gave her last rendering of the Third Theme and whose retirement from the stage was earlier announced by OBT – too soon for my money.
read more...

Kirov Ballet - 'Giselle'
by Catherine Pawlick
26 March 2010 -- Mariinsky Theatre, Saint Petersburg, Russia
Sometimes leaving the jewelry store is necessary in order to truly appreciate the blinding beauty of the jewels. But often a glimpse of precious gemstones leaves an impression strong enough to last well into the future. Both proved to be the case following this reviewer’s recent six-month hiatus from Petersburg and exposure to several Western ballet companies.
read more...

CityDance Ensemble - 'Catalyst' (A mixed repertoire program)
by Carmel Morgan
March 14, 2010 -- Harman Center for the Performing Arts, Lansburgh Theatre, Washington, DC
CityDance’s March 2010 program “Catalyst” provided an opportunity to preview the company’s newest work “+1/-1” by resident choreographer Christopher K. Morgan. The work will premiere on April 19, 2010, at the gala opening night of the Fifth Annual Ramallah Contemporary Dance Festival in Ramallah, The Palestinian Territories. It will be performed jointly with Sareyyet Ramallah, a Palestinian dance troupe.
read more...

EDGEWORKS Dance Theater - 'Snapshots,' 'Caution,' 'Cold Case' and 'Trigger'
by Carmel Morgan
March 13, 2010 -- Dance Place, Washington, DC
EDGEWORKS Dance Theater (“EDT”), a contemporary dance company based in Washington, DC, is composed of all males, predominantly African-Americans. EDT is led by founder and Artistic Director Helanius J. Wilkins, a beloved dance instructor. EDT has won numerous Metro DC Dance Awards and has performed at venues across the U.S., including Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, and also internationally.
read more...

Bolshoi Ballet - 'Don Quixote'
by Kathy Lee Scott
February 24, 2010 -- Orange County Performing Arts Center, Costa Mesa, California
They came to impress and they succeeded. Bolshoi Ballet brought its company to the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa, California, for an exclusive, six-performance engagement of "Don Quixote," February 24 to February 28, 2010. The Russian troupe last visited the Southern California venue five years ago.
read more...

Chop Shop: Bodies of Work
by Dean Speer
February 14, 2010 -- The Theatre at Meydenbauer, Bellevue, Washington
I have to applaud and admire Chop Shop’s artistic director Eva Stone for successfully trying to present all of the modern dance work happening in the Seattle area in 2010 through her annual series, Bodies of Work. With the exception of historic modern dance (isn’t that a phrase to wrap one’s head around?) such as Martha Graham or Doris Humphrey – the kind of work researched and restaged by the University of Washington’s Chamber Dance Company – I’d have to say that she succeeded very neatly.
read more...

The Seven Fingers - 'Traces'
by Cathy Scott
February 24, 2010 -- Curve Theatre, Leicester

Tiffany Mills Company - 'Tomorrow's Legs'
by Carmel Morgan
March 6, 2010 -- Dance Place, Washington, DC

Compañía María Pagés - 'Autorretrato'
by Stuart Sweeney -- February 25, 2010, Sadler's Wells, London

The National Ballet of Canada - '24 Preludes by Chopin', 'A Suite of Dances' and 'Four Seasons'
by Kate Snedeker -- March 3, 2010, Four Seasons Centre, Toronto

Black Grace
by Heather Desaulniers -- March 6, 2010, George Mason University, Center for the Arts-Fairfax, Virginia

National Ballet of Canada - 'Swan Lake'
by Kate Snedeker -- March 11, 2010, Four Seasons Centre, Toronto

Huang Yi - 'Spin 2010'
by David Mead -- February 25, 2010, Experimental Theatre, National Theatre, Taipei

The Israel Ballet - Triple Bill: 'Xta,' 'Gurrelieder,' 'Ni-Na'
by Carmel Morgan -- February 27, 2010, Montgomery College, Takoma Park/Silver Spring Performing Arts Center, Silver Spring, Maryland

Parsons Dance Company
by Philip W. Sandstrom -- February 2-22, 2010, Joyce Theater, New York

Kinesis Project Dance Theater - 'Pressing Empty'
by Victoria Dombroski -- February 13, 2010, Judson Memorial Church, New York

coming: Deborah Riley, Mark Morris and Royal Winnipeg Ballet

editors' choice · San Francisco International Arts Festival May 19 - May 30, 2010 -- San Francisco Performances by artists from around the world! · 7th International Festival of Contemporary Dance May 26 - June 12, 2010 -- Venice 36 performances, 5 world premieres, 7 European and 8 Italian premieres, 20 choreographers, 16 companies, an “off” section dedicated to new works, a choreography workshop, meetings with protagonists of international dance. · XVIII Music Festival Stars of the White Nights May 21 - July 21, 2010 -- St. Petersburg Opera, symphony and ballet!

 

For ballet-dance magazine
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Executive Editor
Kate Snedeker

Executive Editor 2003-2005
Mary Ellen Hunt

Focus and Photo Editors
Elizabeth McPherson, Dean Speer

Associate Editors & Compositors
Francis Timlin, Holly Messitt, Lori Ibay, Lisa Claybaugh, Azlan Ezaddin