2008: The Year in Review
There is no doubt that 2008 was a big year for dance in the competition scene and beyond! From television reality shows to anniversaries and premieres, dance reached audiences far and wide with an unprecedented boom in mainstream popularity. With the uncertainty of America’s financial future, many people found comfort and solace in the arts, giving back more than ever before. Even more telling, Americans voted overwhelmingly for a presidential candidate who supports continued arts funding. In fact, some speculate that President Obama may be entertaining the idea of creating a special cabinet position called Secretary of the Arts in 2009.
Dancer Publishing made the most of the recent dance boom and used the opportunity to open more doors within the industry. In 2008, Dancer Magazine got an extreme makeover from the inside out. The newly designed Dancer logo made its official debut in April, and the July issue boasted a completely new interior. In November, Dancer made history in the dance industry by publishing the first illustrated cover in recent years. Check out our 2008 cover gallery below for before and after pictures!
Dancer Magazine April 2008
A couple months later, Dancer Publishing moved its headquarters from Miami, FL to its new home in New York City. And only a short time after, Dancer acquired DanceArt.com and has since become the most comprehensive online dance resource.
On DancerUniverse.com, the blog and ‘Flix’ pages blew up with posts, videos and commentary. Popular blog posts ranged in topics from makeup and costumes to celebrity gossip and politics. The blog with the most hits, nearly 13,000, was “What is ‘age appropriate’ stage makeup?” by Jessica Dupont from JAM Cosmetics. The most popular original Dancer video on Flix was the exclusive “Laura Live” interview with Miss America with over 500 hits.
While reporting every newsworthy dance event from 2008 is nearly impossible, we have managed to narrow it down and provide you with recaps of the most significant happenings. So now, 2008, the Year in Review.
The Best of 2008
In 2008, there were a few key trends and fads that dominated the dance scene. Some were hot and others were, well, not. On the next few pages you’ll find the Top 5 ‘Best of’ trends in Choreography, Music and Costumes with commentary by expert judges, teachers, studio owners and costume designers.
Currently reading page 1 of 7.