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DANCE

The Ukrainian Ballet Company Fighting From The Stage

"I still think about how I could do more for my country. I think about this every day, but while my friends and family fight for Ukraine, for now my contribution is to dance for Ukraine." - BBC

Milan Cancels Sergei Polunin’s “Rasputin” Following Social Media Protests

The run of performances was called off by the Arcimboldi Theater as "an act of 'political and moral responsibility,' given 'a climate of tensions and threats.'" Polunin, who was born and raised in Kherson, is a prominent supporter of both Putin and his war on Ukraine. - Reuters

What Should We Do With ‘Giselle’ And Other Problematic Story Ballets?

Sometimes, it's simply time to reimagine. - The New Yorker

Phnom Penh’s Gender-Bending All-Gay-Male Classical Dance Troupe

"Merging two cultural streams — the progressive and the conservative — that many see as mutually exclusive, Prumsodun Ok presents a new outlook on Khmer culture" with his company, Natyarasa, which now consists of ten professional dancers. - VOD (Cambodia)

“My” Dancers?

I started bristling at the commonplace phrase: “my dancers.” And I find it increasingly problematic, especially in light of our woefully overdue national reckoning with systemic racism and the most recent stripping of women’s agency over their own bodies. - Dance Magazine

“Nutcracker” As Vehicle For Dance Injuries

Accidents in "The Nutcracker" are so common there are injuries named after the ballet. A nutcracker fracture is a foot fracture of the cuboid bone. - Salon

Pointe Magazine’s Favorite Ballet Performances of 2022

"Here are 12 standout onstage moments from 2022, in chronological order, from large ensemble works to surprise star turns." - Pointe Magazine

In San Francisco, A First-Ever Sensory-Friendly “Nutcracker” For Kids

"The idea is for the show to be a relaxed, shush-free, shame-free environment. ... House lights will be kept on (and) guests will also be free to move, talk, or dance as they please throughout the show. ... Potentially startling moments during the full-length show will be removed or modified." - CBS San Francisco

The Days Of TikTok Dance Videos Becoming Viral Megahits Are Ending

Unless, that is, you're already famous; Lizzo's dance videos easily draw a million viewers.  Earlier in TikTok's history, before there were mountains of content, it was easier for an unknown to catch users' attention; now, the pandemic days when folks were cooped up at home watching videos are gone. - Yahoo! (Bloomberg)

This Choreographer Wanted To Move Back Home To San Diego To Live And Work.  It Shouldn’t Have Been This Difficult.

"Exorbitant venue rental costs, cultural ignorance, a dismissive response to concerns of racial inequalities and funding models that make artistic careers a bleak option for survival have become a common occurrence in America's finest city." Just ask Jeremy McQueen, founder of the Black Iris Project. - The San Diego Union-Tribune

Alexei Ratmansky Will Leave ABT This Summer

Considered by many the greatest living ballet choreographer, Ratmansky will have been artist-in-residence at American Ballet Theater for more than 13 years when he steps down upon expiration of his contract next June. - AP

San Francisco Ballet Uses AI-Generated Art To Promote Its “Nutcracker,” And Backlash Ensues

Said one of many Instagram commenters, "This AI art looks like CRAP, I can't believe you did this instead of hiring real artists." Another: "A despicable decision, especially for an arts org." Says a company spokesperson, "In the spirit of Bay Area ingenuity, we tried something new." - The San Francisco Standard

The Dance Data Project Looks At The Gender Balance In Leadership Changes In 2022

"(This report) details changes among artistic directors, executive directors, associate artistic directors, and resident choreographers at dance venues, ballet companies, contemporary/modern companies, and prominent schools/conservatories." - Dance Data Project

Atlanta Ballet Eliminates Its Low-Paying Apprentice Program And Will Expand Its Corps Instead

"Going forward, entry-level dancers who pass the main company audition will start as full company members, earning entry-level pay based on a collective-bargaining-agreement scale. ... Last season's roster of 39 company members, six of whom were apprentices, now comprises 40 company dancers and no apprentices." - Pointe Magazine

Here Are Half A Dozen Dance Companies Who Are Thriving Despite The Field’s Post-Pandemic Troubles

"Now expenses are high, earned income from ticket sales is limited, touring remains complicated and budget deficits loom large. Against these odds, a few organizations are doing better than ever, thanks to innovative partnerships, new business models, increased commitments by funders ..., or some combination thereof." - Dance Magazine

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