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DANCE

Susan Jaffe Will Be American Ballet Theater’s New Artistic Director, The First In 30 Years

She spent 22 years dancing with ABT (1980-2002), 19 of them as principal, and became one of ballet's top stars. She went on to serve as dean of dance at the UNC School of the Arts and, through the pandemic, artistic director of Pittsburgh Ballet Theater. - The New York Times

How Russia’s War On Ukraine Is Changing The World’s Ballet Stages

24th of February, this is, was the line, Because it's all changed. All changed. The reputation of Russia and Russian people, even if you are not a soldier, you're just Russian. It, it's all, it still make a shadow on you. - 60 Minutes

How Debbie Allen And Shonda Rhimes Combined Forces To Build A Performing Arts Center

It's big for L.A.: "Five dance studios, a 200-seat performance area and classrooms for the Debbie Allen Middle School of the Performing Arts. The facility also has a studio theater and art gallery." Thank you, Grey's Anatomy and Fame. - Los Angeles Times

A Choreographer Says To Find The Right Way, He First Has To Lose Himself

That might mean collaboration, that might mean mixing forms and traditions - and that might mean rehearsing in silence, with no music for the dancers to hear what their beats should be. - Irish Times

Nijinsky’s Sister Was Even More Revolutionary Than He Was

And she was revolutionary in more than one way.  Not only did Bronislava Nijinska embrace choreographic aesthetics that were radical for her day, she understood — from watching Diaghilev and her brother trying to maintain dance companies in the West — how commercial pressures could be as oppressive as political ones. - The Nation

Ballet Performances Resume In Lviv

An abnormal announcement. "Dear guest, our event will be suspended in case of air raid alert. Dancers and spectators must go to the bomb shelter situated in the theater," it tells the crowd -- a poignant reminder that this is not a regular night at the theater. - CNN

Former Paris Opera Ballet Star Who Fled Moscow Lands As Artistic Director In Munich

Laurent Hilaire, who was an étoile in Paris since Nureyev's days, became director of dance at the Stanislavsky Theatre in 2017; he left Russia after the Ukraine invasion in February. He now succeeds Igor Zelensky (who has returned to Russia) at the helm of the Bavarian State Ballet. - Yahoo! (AFP)

Charlotte Ballet’s New Artistic Director On How Newcomers Can Appreciate Dance

Alejandro Cerrudo: "One of the most common thoughts I've heard from audiences is, 'Sometimes I feel like I don't understand it.' You don't have to. You just have to experience it. Sometimes you like it, sometimes you don't, and sometimes you don't know why you like it, and that's OK." - Charlotte Magazine

The Dispute Behind A Problematic NY City Ballet Retirement

The dispute provides a window into the complex, often fraught dynamics of City Ballet, a close-knit company in which relatives, spouses and romantic partners often share a workplace. - The New York Times

Royal New Zealand Ballet Fires Its Ballet Master, The Artistic Director’s Husband, For “Inappropriate Behaviour”

Michael Auer joined RNZB when Patricia Barker, his wife, took the helm of the Wellington-based company in 2017.  His contract was terminated in April following repeated complaints of abusive remarks to female dancers about weight and the quality of their work, both in studio and on tour. - 1News (New Zealand)

One Of New York City Ballet’s Male Stars Reconsiders (Almost) Everything About Partnering

Russell Janzen writes, "Not the mechanics of partnering: I relish the physical challenge of supporting and entangling with someone else. But rather the politics of two bodies dancing together." - The New York Times

Statue Of Pioneering Native American Ballerina Stolen, Hacked Up, And Sold For Scrap Metal

The bronze sculpture of Marjorie Tallchief was part of a monument at the Tulsa Historical Society honoring the "Five Moons," American Indian women from Oklahoma who became renowned ballerinas during the mid-20th century. The thieves sold the cut-up bronze to a recycling center for $250. - MSN (The Washington Post)

In Russia, Most Foreign Ballet Dancers Have Fled Because Of The War

One dancer who fled to Estonia and then to the United States says, "Russian ballet is definitely going to be totally isolated," and the editor of Pointe magazine says, "It feels like we’re going backward in time." - Yahoo (AP)

A Ukranian Dance Troupe In The US Tries To Fight Disinformatio

The Voloshky Ukranian Dance Ensemble, "sees its role in combating Russian aggression as diplomacy through dance, teaching U.S. audiences about Ukrainian history and culture. ... ' trying to rewrite our history and it's our time to say 'no.' We're fighting back,' said dancer Maria Molyashcha." - NPR

Is Bob Fosse’s ‘Dancin’ The Most Dangerous Job In Theatre?

Changes have been made; one act is gone. The director, who was in the original Broadway show, says, "We evenly distributed the show so there’s less injuries. ... I wanted every dancer to have spots in the show that they’re recognizable and featured to their best ability." - Los Angeles Times

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