“Making Television Dance”/The Ballet Boyz/La Scala
by John Percival
The most enjoyable series of performances I have seen for quite a time was the British Film Institute's presentation entitled Making Television Dance. As long ago as the 1930s BBC television was offering its then modest audiences programmes by the Vic-Wells Ballet and specially made works by Antony Tudor which proved highly popular. Two decades on, when Margaret Dale decided (at only about thirty!) that her days as a dancer with Sadler's Wells Ballet were numbered, she first turned briefly to choreography with just one ballet that flopped, then began as an assistant on television programmes, saw the opportunities for developing the medium, and joined the BBC in 1954. READ MORE
Tap City’s Tap/Forward
"Savion Glover’s Invitation to a Dancer”
by Sali Ann Kriegsman
The rhythmic and technical virtuosity of contemporary tap dancers — women and men — requires that we be as attentive and intelligent as they are. In other words, sharpen your senses and listen up!
The unfettered, audacious rhythmic freedom of American’s music, jazz, is matched by the phenomenal rhythmic invention and improvisational flights of contemporary tap.
There was plenty to challenge, delight, educate and transport audiences in New York in mid-July, continuing proofs that rhythm tap dancing is having a glorious, historic renaissance and those who are missing it are going to be very sorry. READ MORE
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