​Inmates of this Portuguese prison dance to get out

​Six Dance Organizations Defy All Odds to Survive in Tough Times

The COVID-19 pandemic and, more recently, economic and political unpredictability have presented significant challenges—at times, existential ones—to the majority of dance organizations during the past three years. Many established arts and cultural NGOs reported operational surpluses and record high contributed revenue (i.e., gifts and grants) in 2021, thanks in large part to emergency relief funding and lower expenses while live events were suspended. Those circumstances didn't last very long, though, and today costs are high, earned money from ticket sales is few, touring is still challenging, and budget deficits loom big. Despite the odds, some businesses are succeeding more than ever because of creative alliances.

For the full article please go to: https://www.dancemagazine.com/six-organizations-thriving-during-hard-times/

​For more than 25 years, Brigadoon Dance Academy in Nanaimo, British Columbia, has made Highland dancing synonymous with the festive season.

​Oleksandr Shapoval, a Ukrainian ballet dancer, gets killed in combat.

​Oleksandr Shapoval, a Ukrainian ballet dancer, is known as a brave romantic. Shapoval chose to fight after Russia invaded Ukraine a few days earlier. According to the National Opera of Ukraine, where he was a prominent dancer, he was killed in fighting in September. In his 48 years, he was. Here is Elizabeth Blair from NPR.

BYLINE: ELIZABETH BLAIR Oleksandr Shapoval and prima dancer Christina Shishpor first met back in 1992. She claims that they danced the leads in "Swan Lake" for their first ballet together, speaking from Kyiv.

When I danced with him for the first time in "Swan Lake," it took my breath away and my heart. CHRISTINA SHISHPOR

For the full article please go to: https://www.npr.org/2022/11/30/1139848262/ukrainian-ballet-dancer-oleksandr-shapoval-is-killed-on-the-battlefield