Bill Bankes-Jones: How can opera rediscover its bold and daring spirit?

How can opera rediscover its bold and daring spirit? Bill Bankes-Jones believes revitalised connections with a booming fringe can help to bring it all together Thirty years ago, Val Bourne created the Dance Umbrella festival at the Riverside Studios in Hammersmith. Here, in direct contrast to the traditional Royal Ballet, was a young and thrusting creative force. Dance exploded on to the arts scene, while ballet continued to plough its more traditional furrow of Nutcrackers and Swan Lakes. "When we started out," says Bourne, "we were a showcase for the British independent dance scene. [The UK dance scene at the time] was 12 companies and four soloists, and that was it. Now there are 300 to choose from. There has been an explosion of activity and interest." A host of companies and artists including Michael Clark, Shobana... [read full story]