Arts in the News, the 7th of July 2015
Photo credit: Julieta Cervantes for The New York Times
Groundbreaking Promotion in the American Ballet Theater: In an historic move, the American Ballet Theater (ABT) has made Misty Copeland a principal dancer— the first African-American woman to be named as such in the entire 75-year history of the ABT. Copeland’s popularity has soared in the past year, such that after starring in “Swan Lake” with the ABT last week, the crowd of fans seeking autographs was so large it had to be relocated away from the stage door. “I had moments of doubting myself, and wanting to quit, because I didn’t know that there would be a future for an African-American woman to make it to this level,” Copeland, 32, admits. Copeland’s amazing achievement reminds us, however, of the stark underrepresentation of black women in the top echelons of the ballet community. While debate continues over the precise causes of the paucity of black women in ballet (some point to a legacy of discrimination and ballerina-body stereotypes while others to the lack of opportunities in black communities), Copeland’s achievement is a first step in the right direction.
A Shakespearean Marathon: The Druid Theater Company (DTC) of Ireland has condensed the four Shakespeare histories (“Richard II”, both parts of “Henry IV,” and “Henry V”) into a single seven-hour performance. Known as “DruidShakespeare,” the performance includes thirteen actors who play multiple roles, often across gender lines. The DTC’s artistic director, Garry Hynes, talks to The Huffington Post about Shakespeare, the company’s history, and projects on the horizon, saying: “Once the lines were in our own voices, the world of Shakespeare–instead of feeling like this distant 16th-century world, this kind of Disney World–felt suddenly very present and very present tense,” reminding us all of the continued relevance of the Bard’s classic tales.
A New Way to Kickstart Your Day: In New York City, a series of events known called “Daybreaker” has people setting their alarms extra early to join in pre-work dance parties. Participants enjoy a short group yoga session followed by a DJ-led dance session–some of which boast over 500 participants. Started in December 2013 in New York, Daybreaker and events like it have spread to cities all over Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. The two young entrepreneurs that founded Daybreaker cite their frustration with the “dark, or exclusive, or negative” vibe of NYC nightlife as the inspiration for these dawn dances: “So we thought, What if we throw out all these negative things and create an experience that feels uplifting, and celebratory, and allows people to come together and be creative?” notes co-founder Matthew Brimer, 28. The fun comes at a price, however, with tickets costing up to $50. For those willing to pay, however, Daybreaker gives individuals a much-needed creative and energetic outlet to the 9-to-5 routine.
Music on the Rise: Nielsen’s mid-year report for 2015 reveals a 14% increase in music consumptionover last year. The increase is fueled by on-demand streaming (rising 92%) and, interesting, vinyl sales (which comprise nearly 9% of physical sales). Nielsen also reports digital track sales and physical album sales have both fallen, while digital album sales have stayed steady. With seven albums already having sold more than 600,000 units in 2015, as opposed to only four at this time last year, 2015 is looking like a great year for the music industry!
Fourth of July Celebrations: As this past weekend saw Independence Day celebrations around the country, The Wall Street Journal gathered some of the fireworks highlights, set to various musical scores, in this video. Hoping everyone had a safe and enjoyable celebratory weekend!