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
unesco is best known for its prestigious list of World Heritage sites. But its most interesting endeavor might be a survey of humanity’s cultural practices. - The New Yorker
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)
The magazine, once a prominent publication for fiction, poetry, and literary nonfiction, with a focus on global art and politics, quickly found itself imploding as its all-volunteer staff revolted over the essay. - The Atlantic (MSN)
While women played key roles in the development of crosswords in the US, by the late 20th-century, puzzle-constructing was dominated by college-educated white guys, and clues reflected that. Today the puzzling world, gradually becoming more diverse, can help create a common cultural vocabulary in a diverse society. - The Atlantic (MSN)
The novel was published this week, unleashing a backlash from scholars, writers and fans who’ve taken exception not with the novel itself, but rather with what they see as an act of betrayal that endangers García Márquez’s legacy. - The New York Times
"Ten years after a renovation, the Musée Picasso (in Paris) – which holds the world’s largest collection of Picasso’s work – has installed a new permanent exhibition … in 22 rooms. The Françoise Gilot exhibition in room 17 on the third floor is temporary but expected to be in situ for a year." - The Guardian
Giving marks to people playing a Chopin polonaise is no different from deciding on medals in gymnastics, dressage and judo at the Olympic Games, as we shall see again in Paris this summer. The spectacle is governed by invisible rules that connect to no verifiable reality. - The Critic
"Everyone in Philly is always walking by these incredible buildings, including gorgeous houses of worship, but going inside is something we don’t usually get an opportunity to do," said John Walthausen, artistic director of the first Philadelphia Organ Festival, running March 15-23 in various parts of the city. - The Philadelphia Inquirer (MSN)
How does this practice affect the market? The art market is self-regulating, and since 2010 the practice of offering works at auction with third-party guarantees has seeped into almost every sale category where objects sell above $500,000. - The Critic
"President Vladimir Putin on Monday signed into law a bill that bans advertisers from working with 'foreign agents,' a move widely expected to make it next to impossible for independent media outlets hit with the designation to earn money." - The Moscow Times
"If you were asked to guess which prestigious film-making duo spent their career scratching around desperately for cash, trying to wriggle out of paying their cast and crew, ping-ponging between lovers, and having such blood-curdling bust-ups that their neighbours called the police," you probably wouldn't pick Merchant and Ivory. - The Guardian
"A horde (sic) of jewelry and gold statues ... worth €1.2 million was stolen last week from the Museo d’Annunzio Segreto (near) Lake Garda in northern Italy. A gang of thieves (took) all but one of the exhibits from a show dedicated to the 20th-century Italian sculptor Umberto Mastroianni." - Artnet
The 55-year-old Spanish-Italian conductor succeeded Andrew Davis in 2021, with a five-year contract. That agreement will now run for an additional five seasons, through the summer of 2031. - AP
"The trial is scheduled to take place on Aug. 4, 2025, following a lawsuit that accused Polanski of giving a (13-year-old girl) alcohol and raping her at his Benedict Canyon home. The complaint was filed last June in Los Angeles County Superior Court." - Los Angeles Times (Yahoo!)
