Breaking ground on gender.

Your November issue made me want to tell you how much I enjoy the look of the magazine these days. Your fresh design and photography are superb, but you are also really pushing the envelope, addressing vital issues like race and gender without fear of stirring controversy. My favorite part of the issue was "He Said, She Said"--I loved the diversity and range of the artists quoted. That's the dance world I know and love. Keep these conversations going!

EVA YAA ASANTEWAA

NEW YORK, NY

Thanks so much for your recent gender issue. I was surprised to discover that there wasn't an article dedicated to The Gender Project, founded by choreographers Ellis Wood and JoAnna Mendl Shaw in 1997, which examined gender disparities in our field. It received national press coverage; substantial funding awards; and was presented nationally and featured at panel platforms by such organizations as Jacob's Pillow, the New York Women in Film & Television, and Dance/USA's 2004 Roundtable. In addition, it conducted some 60 personal interviews with individuals within our field. Many are on permanent record at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. Background, history, and research from the project can be found at Dance/NYC's website: www.dancenyc.org.

LAURA COLBY, DIRECTOR

ELSIE MANAGEMENT

DM Responds: In the March 2001 issue, the "Presstime News" section carried an item on The Gender Project titled "Study Exposes Gender Gap." Unfortunately, the project ceased operations January 1, 2005.

You had some great and thought-provoking information in the November issue. The questions of gender, leadership, and artistic expression were so well covered, and I appreciated the different perspectives. DANCE MAGAZINE is doing a great job of articulating today's ideas, concerns, and joys about dance.

VICTORIA MORGAN

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

CINCINNATI BALLET