Criticism & History of the Performing Arts

with Alastair Macaulay

Alastair Macaulay, former Chief Dance Critic of the New York Times and Chief Theatre Critic of the Financial Times, is now freelance critic and historian of the performing arts. In this collection of writings, he allows his interest in all the arts to roam, both within current events and his own fascination with history. He covers theatre, dance of all kinds, dance history, and music.

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Welcome.

Recent Essays

Featured
Amy Watson, new director of the Royal Danish Ballet, speaks to Alastair Macaulay
Amy Watson, new director of the Royal Danish Ballet, speaks to Alastair Macaulay
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The Royal Ballet’s “Encounters: Four Contemporary Ballets”
The Royal Ballet’s “Encounters: Four Contemporary Ballets”
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Maggie Smith (1934-2024)
Maggie Smith (1934-2024)

Maggie Smith in the title role of Edna O’Brien’s “Virginia”

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The six men who originally interrupted the divertissement pas de deux of George Balanchine’s “Midsummer Night’s Dream”: a piece of ballet archaeology.
The six men who originally interrupted the divertissement pas de deux of George Balanchine’s “Midsummer Night’s Dream”: a piece of ballet archaeology.
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Justin Peck in 2016 interview about his own 2015 “Rodeo: Four Dance Episodes”.
Justin Peck in 2016 interview about his own 2015 “Rodeo: Four Dance Episodes”.

The male Nocturne quintet second movement of Justin Peck’s “Rodeo: Four Dance Episodes”

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The Body’s War Within: Stillness Versus Motion
The Body’s War Within: Stillness Versus Motion

Members of the Merce Cunningham Dance Company in "eyeSpace," the longer version, at the Carnival Center for the Performing Arts in Miami in 2007. Ben Thacker

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Being Alone Together in Cunningham’s World
Being Alone Together in Cunningham’s World

Merce Cunningham Event: Performers, including Andrea Weber, front, inhabiting the expanses of Dia:Beacon. Photograph: Stephanie Berger

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Walking to and Fro to Eye Dance, Sky and Sculpture
Walking to and Fro to Eye Dance, Sky and Sculpture

Andrea Weber, center, and members of the Merce Cunningham Dance Company performing next to a giant metal sculpture by Richard Serra, partly visible at left, in a gallery at Dia:Beacon. Photograph: Stephanie Berger

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Popular Essays

Photo: Suzanne Farrell in 1977 as Dulcinea in “Don Quixote.” Credit: New York City Ballet

Giselle: Questions and Answers

with Alastair Macaulay, Doug Fullington, Maina Gielgud, Jane Pritchard, Alexei Ratmansky, and Marian Smith.