The winner of the first New Adventures Choreographer Award, set up by dancer and choreographer Matthew Bourne, has been named as James Cousins. The 22-year-old, who beat 14 other finalists, was praised by judges for his “refreshing desire to entertain”.
The London Contemporary Dance School graduate will receive a £15,000 grant to work on his choreographic skills. He will also be mentored by Bourne and will give a showcase performance of his new work next year.
Cousins, from Newbury in Berkshire, graduated from LCDS in 2010 where he received an award for most promising dance artist.
via BBC News

Graham Spicer is a writer, director and photographer in Milan, blogging (under the name ‘Gramilano’) about dance, opera, music and photography for people “who are a bit like me and like some of the things I like”. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy.
His scribblings have appeared in various publications from Woman’s Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the ‘Danza in Italia’ column for Dancing Times magazine.