May 2009

The Blackpool Dance Festival celebrates its 84th year at the end of the month, when thousands of competitors and spectators will once again flock to the extravagant environs of the Empress Ballroom at the Winter Gardens to take part in the nine-day event. In The Many Faces of Blackpool (page 28) Alison Gallagher-Hughes meets some of the key players in the run-up to the Festival and gives an illuminating insight into the preparations involved. One familiar face is Ashley Frohlick, whose role as musical director of The Empress Orchestra sees him at the helm of the Festival’s proceedings. He gives us a glimpse of the Orchestra’s latest project – recording a debut album, due out this month – in One Step at a Time on page 16. Also in this issue, seasoned professionals and cover stars Anton du Beke and Erin Boag – fresh from performing in Cheek to Cheek at The London Coliseum – take their “Strictly” skills to school for Sky1 in “Ballroom High” (page 42). Expect to see much more of them in the coming months, including a recently announced performance at London’s Tower Festival in September. For a chance to win tickets to the one-night-only event, take a look at the news pages for an exclusive competition and full details of the star-studded line-up.
Katie Gregory

 

In this month's issue    

6 News
Win tickets to see Anton and Erin at the Tower of London, theatre round-up, and more
9 Letters
Your views and opinions
10 DanceScene
NDA Strictly Spring Ball; South of England Latin Championships; BDF Page
16 One step at a time
Alison Gallagher-Hughes talks to Ashley Frohlick and The Empress Orchestra as they record their debut album
22 Danza in Fiera
Katie Gregory travels to Italy for the annual dance extravaganza in Florence
28 The many faces of Blackpool
Alison Gallagher-Hughes meets key people involved with the British Open Championships

36 A chance to dance: Part two
Rachelle Stretch explores the Born to Dance scheme in UK schools
42 Ballroom High
John Baster goes behind the scenes on Sky1’s new show with Anton du Beke and Erin Boag
47 Eat to compete
Rachelle Stretch talks to Andrey Sirbu and Alexandra Hixson about diet for dancers
52 Review: Flamenco Festival 2009
Jonathan Gray reviews this year’s performances at Sadler’s Wells
54 The India express
Carole Edrich samples an India-inspired season at York’s National Railway Museum
57 CD reviews
Bryan Allen reviews the latest releases for dancers
58 Sequence section: Sequence successes by Helen Blackburn

60 Silver Anniversary Saunter by Graham and Kathy Thomson
62 Variations: A simple sparkler in Rumba by Pamela McGill
63 A simple sparkler
in Foxtrot by Steven Verrall
65 Listings
Dance schools, classes and events around the UK, including competitions and musical theatre
74 The Last Dance
A dancing flashback, plus: The Ball-Room Guide

Exclusive online content
A “Strictly” style day of dance

On the cover: Anton du Beke and Erin Boag in Cheek to Cheek. Photograph © Elliott Franks. www.elliottfranks.co.uk