Twenty dance-related (and other arts-based) wishes for 2011...
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- That I see as much ballet, dance & physical theatre as I did in 2009 and '10.
- That no dance company goes under because of the destructive slashing of arts budgets by national or local government.
- That at least one of the people I have taken to see dance goes to see some more - either with me or because they liked it enough to want to see more and have bought tickets.
- That the following companies (and many more) visit Manchester / Salford: DV8 Physical Theatre, Jasmin Vardimon Company, Henri Oguike Dance Company, Rafael Bonachela Company, Chunky Move (Australia), Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet (US), Stephen Petronio Company (US), Toronto Dance Theatre (Cananda) - basically that a combination of arts cuts, financial downturn, absurd visa restrictions on artists and performers don't result in an end to national and international touring.
- That Contact Theatre starts booking more dance and is less focused on its own narrow arts agenda.
- That greenroom books more dance.
- That the Royal Exchange Studio continues to book small-scale touring dance - in fact, more of it.
- That some fantastic redevelopment plan is announced for The Dancehouse - one that brings the theatre into more use, improves the public spaces and facilitites, improves the standing of the attached dance school and Manchester City Ballet and increases the amount of dance actually programmed to appear in the theatre (i.e. some). This is pure fantasy.
- That the BBC site on Oxford Road is earmarked for a landmark urban regeneration project and not a mixed use hotel/offices/apartments/retail units yawnfest.
- That the Liverpool Playhouse continues to programme really great dance and that their investment plans don't fall through.
- That the Manchester Internatonal Festival thrives in 2011 and isn't scaled down by arts funding cuts.
- That Urban Moves returns in 2012 and is promoted more effectively - perhaps tying the free public performances in with some theatrical events...?
- That some theatrical use is found for the Theatre Royal (Peter Street) if it's not going to be the new home of the Library Theatre.
- That Queer Up North returns - but with a less narrow artistic agenda.
- That there is some positive movement on the former Odeon on Oxford Street (although imagining that it will be restored to its former Paramount glory or returned to any kind of theatrical use is pure, pointless fantasy).
- That Birmingham Royal Ballet, the English National Ballet and Northern Ballet bring some more fabulous fully-staged narrative ballet (not just Swan Lake, Cinderella, The Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker and Romeo & Juliet - much as we love them). Actually, I'm about ready for another Swan Lake.
- That I see some amazing contemporary company that I've never seen before who really excite me.
- That I go and see something in London that I never get the chance to see in Manchester.
- That I will finish writing my ballet synopsis and send it to someone.
- That my reviews for The Public Reviews get better and get read.
