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DANCE

Ballet Dancers Are Not All Anorexic (Anymore) And Other Myths Busted

A principal dancer and the director of Munich's Bavarian State Ballet explain that dancers are athletes as well as artists, they're thin because they're exerting themselves for at least eight hours every day, and "ballet is a competitive sport in an artistic guise." - South China Morning Post (Hong Kong)

Attributing The Provenance Of The “Just Ken” Dance

Dance makers of Hollywood are seeking recognition for their craft by pressing the Motion Picture Academy to add an Oscar for Best Choreography. That is understandable. But they must first recognize their own. - ArtsMeme

ABT Chooses A New Chief Exec — From National Ballet Of Canada

Ballet Theater’s leaders said they chose Barry Hughson, executive director at the National Ballet of Canada since 2014, because of his extensive experience in the field. He has held top positions at Boston Ballet and Atlanta Ballet, among other organizations. - The New York Times

Ballet Ireland Drops An Ohad Naharin Piece Because He’s Israeli

"'We stand by the right to freedom of artistic expression, and despite our belief that art should not be drawn into politics, we feel the time is not right to be performing this work,' said Anne Maher, artistic director and CEO of Ballet Ireland," of Naharin's Minus 16. - The Irish Times

Cincinnati Ballet Gets A New Leader After a Year Of Upheaval

Artistic director Jodie Gates left after just 14 months on the job, followed six days later by then-president and CEO Scott Altman announcing that he would leave at the end of 2023. -Cincinnati Enquirer

“Bayadère” Is Awash In Cultural Appropriation. Should It Be Canceled?

Like so many of the 19th century ballets, it has been subject to some controversy in recent years. Set in a fanciful Hindu temple, choreographed by a Russian to music by an Austrian (Ludwig Minkus), it is accused of colonialist attitudes and insulting stereotypes. - Dance Australia

Pro Basketball Has A Set Of Dance Teams Made Up Of Dancers Over 40

Both the NBA and the WNBA have, in addition to their "regular" dance crews (the Raiderettes, the Laker Girls, etc.) with members in their 20s, a number of teams with "mature" dance crews. Here's a visit with the Ole Skool Crew, which performs for the WNBA’s L.A. Sparks." - The Cut (MSN)

Batsheva Dance Company Creates An Entire Piece About Cultural Appropriation

Choreographer Hillel Kogan calls the work, titled Appropriation, a ballet because "In a symbolic way, ballet is the major appropriator." Yet Kogan also incorporates, among other forms, breakdance, jazz, voguing, Chinese dance theater, various folk dances, Broadway, gymnastics, and capoeira. - The Jerusalem Post

Meet The Founders Of Hollywood’s New Union For Choreographers

Although choreographers for the stage are represented by the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, the film/television/video industry had no equivalent of SAG-AFTRA or the Writers Guild for dancemakers — until 2022, when the Choreographers Guild was born. Here's a Q&A with a few of its founding leaders. - LA Dance Chronicle

American Tap Dance Foundation Closes Its Building And Cancels Its Annual Festival

"The ATDF non-profit organization will downsize yet retain its 501c3 status as a nonprofit organization to produce projects and programs in the future. Tap City, the annual New York City Tap Festival which would have celebrated its 24th year, will also be canceled this year." - Dance Informa

He Went From Hip-Hop Moves In Iraqi Kurdistan To New York’s Hotbed Of Contemporary Dance

Hussein Smko learned his first hip-hop at age 9, from an American soldier in Erbil, and founded a street dance troupe there when he was 13. From there it's been a long journey, with some very good luck, to his debut this week at the Joyce Theater. - The New York Times

Carlos Acosta Is Creating A Cuban-Style “Nutcracker”

Nutcracker in Havana, performed by Acosta's Cuba-based company, Acosta Danza, "will weave traditional Cuban rhythms and dances together with classical ballet, all set to a revised version of Tchaikovsky’s famous musical score by Cuban composer Pepe Gavilondo." - The Guardian

New Dance Company In Ireland Will Change Irish Dance

The establishment of a new, all-Ireland dance company has been described as “a new dawn” for the art form in Ireland by the Arts Council which will provide €2 million in funding for the initiative this year. - Irish Times

Why Is There No Best Choreography Oscar?

Why isn’t there an Oscar for best choreography? It’s a question people in the dance world have been asking for decades. And there’s no satisfying answer. - The New York Times

While We’re Adding Oscar Categories, How About Choreography?

"The Oscars omission carries a special sting: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which presents the Academy Awards, used to celebrate choreography." - The New York Times

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