Category: dance

As dance, music and opera companies seek ways to stream performances online; dance teachers hold class and dance parties on Instagram live; university dance programs unveil plans to move curriculum online; and pioneering choreographers seek ways to make virtual dances amidst this period of social distancing, an uptick in innovative online dance experiences is imminent. But it is impossible to predict now what the overall economic impact of COVID-19 will be on arts and culture—an $800 billion U.S. industry. – Dance Magazine

Moira Macdonald was at Pacific Northwest Ballet’s final (in too many senses) dress rehearsal for a program the public won’t get to attend. “There was no one in the seat in front of me, no one next to me, no one across the aisle — just performance, filling up the empty spaces. You don’t usually think of McCaw Hall as a room, but it is; this was like a large version of a living-room entertainment. Were those people onstage, dancing with the fierce passion that comes when you only get one shot at something, performing only for me? It was easy to think so.” – The Seattle Times

Mistake. “Not long after she started working again at the academy, she misappropriated $1.5 million from its coffers.” – The New York Times

Seriously: Dance is doable in-the-house exercise. Though the five dancers in this article all have extensive gym and group class routines, one also says that “dancing helps me appreciate my body and how much it can do for me. I can ask it to be coordinated, connected, and challenged. I like that it can surprise me, too!” – HuffPost

Kathryn Morgan, who spoke on the Today Show about mental health and the ballet world, went viral for that – but had much more to say. On her own YouTube channel, she gave a lot more details. – Dance Magazine

Merce Cunningham, Alvin Ailey, Mark Morris, Pina Bausch, Richard Alston … and the list goes on. Writer Lyndsey Winship gives a brief survey of the various ways (and no, video alone is not enough) that companies and archives are working to preserve modern choreography. – The Guardian

The Brazilian-born star will become, along with Sofiane Sylve of San Francisco Ballet, principal dancer and ballet master of the Semperoper Ballett in Dresden. In late 2017, Gomes was pressured to resign from ABT over what the board chairman called a “highly concerning” accusation of (unspecified) sexual misconduct in 2009 that was unconnected with the company or anyone in it; Gomes has since worked freelance as dancer and choreographer, most notably with former ABT colleague Julie Kent at The Washington Ballet. – Pointe Magazine

“During his time at Houston Ballet as choreographic apprentice in 1989, and later as choreographic associate from 1995 to 2008, he created seven ballets … Although the company has returned to his popular full-length Peter Pan several times over the years, and In Dreams in the 2017/18 season, [Pretty Things] is McIntyre’s first new work for the company in nearly two decades.” – Dance Magazine

“Alas, few of us were fortunate enough to witness this production. Friday night, the Ballet announced that all further performances of this “Midsummer” run have been canceled because city officials ordered that the Opera House and other venues be closed as a precaution amid the coronavirus crisis. If I do get the virus (not to suggest there were suspicions of contagion at Friday’s engagement), I’d almost say the performance I saw would be worth it.” – San Francisco Chronicle

“The dancing is already at a very high standard, the repertoire is solid and the audience base is dedicated. But I want to add certain things to the repertoire that haven’t yet been seen in Australia. … I also want to bring the company around the world. … And I want to dive into the company’s responsibility to the greater Australian community.” – Dance Magazine