January 2018

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Happy New Year! We start 2018 by taking a look at a new exhibition devoted to the pop group ABBA, which has just opened at London’s Southbank Centre. I can’t think of another song guaranteed to fill a dance floor quite like ABBA’s “Dancing Queen”, and Marianka Swain interviews the people behind ABBA: Super Troupers to find out why. It’s a fun way to mark a new year.

Also in this issue we highlight men in dance. Gerald Dowler meets Aaron Robison, English National Ballet’s new lead principal, who will be appearing with the company at the London Coliseum this month. Nicola Rayner talks to former Strictly Come Dancing professional Ian Waite about his career and his upcoming tour with Oti Mabuse. In addition, Daniel Pratt takes a look at the Royal Academy of Dance’s Project B, which aims to get more boys interested in ballet.

We also explore the forthcoming MOVE IT dance exhibition returning to London’s ExCel in March, recommend ways in which dance can help make those New Year Resolution dance classes fun, and celebrate the 50th anniversary of the New Zealand School of Dance. All this, plus our regular news, views and reviews from around the world.

JONATHAN GRAY

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Dancing Times, January 2018 Volume 108 Issue 1289

Cover Stories

17 – Thank you for the music. Marianka Swain explores an exhibition celebrating ABBA – the band that gets everyone dancing

27 – Dance forward. Jonathan Gray travels to Wellington for the New Zealand School of Dance’s 50th anniversary graduation performances

31 – Where the boys are. Daniel Pratt takes a look at the Royal Academy of Dance’s Project B

74 – Strictly season. Marianka Swain looks back over the 2017 series of Strictly Come Dancing

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Features

21 – MOVE IT 2018. The return of the UK’s biggest dance event

23 – Total commitment. Gerald Dowler meets Aaron Robison, English National Ballet’s new lead principal

36 – Edward Gorey and his dance world. Robert Greskovic highlights a new exhibition on the artist

39 – The perfect partner. Ian Waite talks to Nicola Rayner about his upcoming tour with Oti Mabuse

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Dance Today

78 – Fighting fit. New Year’s resolutions hanging over your head? Marianka Swain highlights some of the dance classes that can make fitness fun

80 – Tips on technique. By James Whitehead

81 – Technique clinic. By Phil Meacham

82 – Simon’s Guide to Swing. By Simon Selmon

83 – Stepping Out. By Marianka Swain

84 – Notes from the dance floor. By Helena Fitoussi

86 – Somewhere in time. By Jack Reavely

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Regulars

6 – News. The return of Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo

12 – Letters

15 – Talking Point. By Charlotte Vincent

43 – Variety Lights. Barbara Newman sees Everybody’s Talking About Jamie and Guys and Dolls

45 – FRANCE/dance. By Laura Cappelle

47 – Letter from St Petersburg. By Igor Stupnikov

49 – Notes from New York. By Jack Anderson

51 – Media. New books and DVDs

53 – Dance Scene. Reviews include Rambert, Men in Motion, Boston Ballet

89 – People. Iain Mackay

90 – Dancer of the Month. Margaret Willis meets Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Lachlan Monaghan

95 – Obituaries. Annette Page

97 – Products

99 – Education. Elmhurst Ballet School, Veronica Lewis, Tiny toes Ballet

103 – Health. Debbie Malina looks at Dance Movement Psychotherapy

109 – Classified

111 – Calendar

118 – Listings. Where to learn to dance

122 – Last Dance. We look back to January 1978