Azlan - on TODAY IS (Fun Stuff) you were talking about re-naming this board, so that people could just use it to natter about anything ,including subjects not remotely dance related.<P>It would be nice to have a board that is open to any discussion (books, films, animals, holidays, fashion, music and so on).<P>If you didn't want certain subjects to be on the agenda (health, politics or religion, for example) you could just say so in the board description, and simply close any posts that didn't comply. <P>What do you think, and what do others think?<BR>I mean, we all enjoy talking about dance, but it would be nice to talk about other things as well. Yes, there's Fun Stuff, but even there the 'job description' says funny websites, anecdotes. <P>Just an idea: hope you don't think I'm being pushy.

I'd like that idea too.

I surely am open to this idea...

Well, Red Shoes, we're cooking up a plan even as I type this.

Can't wait!

A great idea! Anyone like Opera? (my other love).

Only a bit, but I LOVE musicals...

GREAT IDEA RED SHOES!

Kathy, we can talk about opera but exclude me from any discussion of SF Opera's "A Streetcar Named Desire"...

Red Shoes - do look in other Dance - we quite often have discussions about musicals there. It would be great to have you in the discussions.

Er...thanks Joanne...never even occurred to me! <P>

Azlan,<BR>I haven't seen very "Streetcar" or very many modern works. I'm still pretty much just getting to know the standard repetorie. Mozart, Verdi, and a few others are pretty much the limit of my experience. My favorite Opera recording is The Magic Flute with Nicolai Gedda, Gundula Janowitz, Lucia Popp, and Walter Berry, conducted by Otto Klemperer--I can listen to it over and over. Unlike Ballet, I am just getting to know the Operatic repetori and it is such a deep well, I'm sure I'll never be bored.

Azlan,<BR>Based on that comment I think you SHOULD BE included in every discussion concerning Streecar. <P>:-) <P>DH

Oh, great... And David, you shall be included in every discussion about Smuin's ballets...

Thanks to Red Shoes for raising this topic and to katheryn, kathyrufous and angela for sharing their views. It's provided an opportunity to think about where criticaldance goes from here. <P>criticaldance was set up to help promote dance for the benefit of dancers, companies, venues and fans by providing a platform for discussion, news and sharing a passion for dance of all styles. The site will continue to develop and we have another 4 new dance forums and under discussion at the present time.<P>From the start the sole focus here has been dance and after an extensive debate we have decided that we should stick with this strategy and continue to devote our finite resources to dance themes. As a result, after much deliberation and discussion among the 'staff', we have decided not to set up a non-dance forum. <P>If non-dance topics are taken up in 'Fun Stuff' from time to time, then that will be fine, but the majority of the topics there should also be dance based or at least close relatives. <P>I know this will come as a disappointment for the readers who have expressed their views here, but I hope you can understand the rationale for the decision. <P>Once again we would like to thank you for your valued suggestions. All proposals for improving the criticaldance site are welcomed and appreciated.<p>[This message has been edited by Stuart Sweeney (edited July 21, 2001).]