20 Wishes for 2011

Twenty dance-related (and other arts-based) wishes for 2011...

1. That I see as much ballet, dance & physical theatre as I did in 2009 and '10. Mission accomplished.
2. That no dance company goes under because of the destructive slashing of arts budgets by national or local government. Following the Arts Council spending review some companies gained and some lost. Henri Oguike Dance Company lost their funding and are now in hiatus. The Cholmondleys and The Featherstonehaughs also lost their funding and choreographer Lea Anderson announced the close of the company. 
3. 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. Amazingly, once of dance reviews inspired someone to go and see some contemporary dance. They are duly hooked. Result.
4. That the following companies (and many more) visit Manchester / Salford: DV8 Physical Theatre (due 2012), Jasmin Vardimon Company (no), Henri Oguike Dance Company (in hiatus), Rafael Bonachela Company Bonachela now working in Australia), Chunky Move (Australia) (no), Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet (US)(no), Stephen Petronio Company (US)(no), Toronto Dance Theatre (Cananda)(no) - 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. There is no doubt that arts funding is having a negative effect on touring companies. Either the companies have lost money, the venues have lost money or the organisations that promote touring, such as Dance Consortium, have lost money.
5. That Contact Theatre starts booking more dance and is less focused on its own narrow arts agenda. Contact Theatre actually seems to be widening its artistic agenda. This may be due to Barry Priest's role within the organisation...?
6. That greenroom books more dance. greenroom is due to close at the end of May 2011 following the withdrawal of its ACE funding (around £300k).
7. That the Royal Exchange Studio continues to book small-scale touring dance - in fact, more of it. At the moment they seem to have stopped booking any... They inform me they have no policy to book or not book dance so it's pot luck.
8. 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. This does indeed seem to be pure fantasy. I understand that The Dancehouse is privately owned and they are happy as things are.
9. 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. Not looking good...
10. That the Liverpool Playhouse continues to programme really great dance and that their investment plans don't fall through. Liverpool Playhouse and sister theatre the Everyman have had their funding significantly cut by Liverpool City Council. They are optimistic this is survivable. Both theatres seem to have sufficient  funding in place to continue and to redevelop the Everyman.
11. That the Manchester International Festival thrives in 2011 and isn't scaled down by arts funding cuts. The Manchester International Festival announced a programme in March full of music and with no dance events planned whatsoever. Over-familiar, dreary even, this year's MIF should be hugely successful... MIF have been awarded significant ACE funding for 2012-15. Previously they have only been funded for individual projects.
12. That Urban Moves returns in 2012 and is promoted more effectively - perhaps tying the free public performances in with some theatrical events...? Promoting agency DiGm have secured increased ACE funding and Urban Moves is scheduled to reappear in 2012. Urban Moves is specifically aimed at outdoor performance and presently have no interest in taking shows indoors.
13. 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.
14. That Queer Up North returns - but with a less narrow artistic agenda. Queer Up North have lost their funding from Manchester City Council and with no announcements, no pre- events and no update to the website looks to have folded?
15. 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).
16. 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. Birmingham Royal Ballet are bringing Coppelia (which I've never seen). English National Ballet are bringing their Strictly Gershwin show (should be popular with the Palace's mainstream audience but leaves me cold). The Northern Ballet are bringing The Nutcracker in November (again), although they have a number of other interesting productions on the go - their new ballet Cleopatra, Beauty and the Beast, Hamlet and Giselle.
17. That I see some amazing contemporary company that I've never seen before who really excite me. Michael Clark Company, Danish Dance Theatre, Scottish Dance Theatre, National Dance Compnay Wales...
18. That I go and see something in London that I never get the chance to see in Manchester. Not as yet.
19. That I will finish writing my ballet synopsis and send it to someone. Still unfinished.
20. That my reviews for The Public Reviews get better and get read. Hopefully...

Updated 29 March 2011
Updated 25 April 2011