Hi Azlan, Stuart Sweeney, Joanne, and other moderators;

I just joined your wonderful forum, and I must say I'm extremely excited I found it. I was actually searching google on something on wilis, and found a review i found offensive on your site. But quite apart from that, your site is something I've been needing for a long time!

I'm an ex-dancer, gave up a pro career to study instead, and i was a dance critic while i was writing for my local newspaper. Your site will give me hours of inspiration and renewed fervour.

Thank you from the bottom of my dance-deprived heart.
Joanne Lee
Singapore

Joanne, I'm sorry you found a review offensive.

We try very hard to foster an attitude wherein artists and audiences feel comfortable. Users posting reviews are encouraged to do so in a positive manner (this doesn't mean reviewers can't make critical comments; we just ask that they do so in a constructive manner and avoid gratuitous insult). It is sometimes unavoidable, however, that one person's opinion will offend another.

I hope you'll continue to find criticaldance.com informative and entertaining.

<small>[ 19 June 2003, 06:11 AM: Message edited by: salzberg ]</small>

Hey Salzburg,

Thanks for the encouraging reply. I'm not at all put off by offensive reviews. If you read the Singapore Dance Theatre Giselle review by Malcolm Tay, you'll know why I got ticked off. Calling dancers rubber-faced, and saying Myrtle waved cauliflowers at Giselle is just a little too infuritating, wouldn't you say?

But that's the whole point that I love about this website. That people are interested in dance, and their misconceptions hopefully can be put right.

I also find it just as encouraging, and also inspiring, that there are so many

a) passionate dance people
b) people with a variety of views and ideas
c) a place for all to gather and discuss
d) a resource for ndance info and news

Isn't it great that there are people passionate enough about the art to debate a call, just like I hear folks at work debating the game calls by some football officials.