Editorial #12

“Eclecticism, resources, and high standards” have been the three guiding values of CND Magazine since it was launched in June 2022. For the past four years, each issue has been the result of contributions from journalists, researchers, and artists as well as editorial committee discussions, all aimed at addressing the unique characteristics of the dance world and its evolving landscape.

This edition, our twelfth, places political and social issues at the forefront, both in the French dance scene and elsewhere. What does ‘feminist leadership’ mean at a time when there are still few women in positions of power in dance institutions? How can current reflections on the notion of consent inform the design of arts education workshops for children? 

We have increased our international focus, with an article about pioneering Senegalese dance legend Germaine Acogny, a story on Palestinian choreographers working in France, and with a feature on Tunis’ voguing scene at a time when LGBTQIA+ rights in the country are under threat. 

In 2026, we continue to focus on “decolonizing gestures,” a topic we broached in our last issue from a Belgian and French perspective. Issue #12 broadens the topic with a feature on the dance department at Spelman College, a historically Black women’s university in Atlanta, Georgia. And we honor the legacy of the recently departed Elsa Wolliaston, a decades-long fixture of the Paris cultural scene with lifelong ties to the dance world on her home continent of Africa. 

We remain focused on emerging artists and trends, with a portrait of Greek choreographer Katerina Andreou’s evolving and intense style, a feature on collaborations between fashion designers and contemporary choreographers, and the first instalment of the podcast Composing dance, with guest Soa Ratsifandrihana. And we close our Carte Blanche series with Christian Rizzo, a CND associate artist in 2025 and 2026. 

Finally, in a nod to amateur dance practises, we bring you a feature on outdoor, open-to-all ballet barres – a growing offering across French festivals and a first, joyful taste of summer.