Not that this is breaking news to those that are interested in reading about the local dance scene, or arts coverage in general, but another critic has left one of Boston’s daily newspapers. I received the following email as a member of the Dance Action Network:
Dear Dance Community,
I wanted to let all of you know that I’ve decided to stop writing for the Boston Herald. After 8 years I’ve seen the publication decline significantly, had my fees reduced, and watched as all of the intelligent and hard-working editors were terminated.
In the past week, the Herald declined to review Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at the Citi-Wang, the Flamenco Festival at the Cutler Majestic, Bill T. Jones at the ICA, and as of today was “undecided” about covering Boston Ballet’s opening night of “Romeo and Juliet” at the Citi-Wang. If this is how it’s going to be, there is really no chance that I will be able to review local companies performing in smaller venues for the Herald, which is of great interest to me. I’d rather focus my energy on other publications rather than try to “hang on” at the Herald.
I have features and reviews in the last two issues of Dance Magazine, the last two issues of Dance International, and the last two issues of Dancer (almost all of them focus on Boston companies), and I’ll continue to write for those magazines and journals. I’m also working on a book, which requires considerable effort and discipline, making it necessary for me to reduce my other writing projects.
If you’re concerned about dance coverage at the Herald, you might want to contact the publisher directly.
most sincerely,
Theodore Bale
