Dance

1. Deborah Jowitt
The Village Voice
Started a dance column in the Voice in 1967; writing is collected in three books; her biography of Jerome Robbins came out in 2004.

“An amazing writer, able to capture the work poetically. I wish she would take a stronger critical voice.”…“I trust her, even though she has a tendency to always remember she was a dancer, i.e., she tends to be kind.”

2. Robert Greskovic
freelancer
Has been writing about dance since 1972; now contributes to The Wall Street Journal; author of 1998’s Ballet 101: The Complete Guide to Learning and Loving the Ballet.

“The last serious newspaper critic. But how many dance fans read the WSJ?”…“Really gets out to everything! I respect him for that.”…“Reliable, fair; does his homework.”

3. Jennifer Dunning
The New York Times
Became a critic for the Times in 1977; author of books on the School of American Ballet, Alvin Ailey and Geoffrey Holder.

“Great critic with broad knowledge and interests. I think her age is affecting her writing in that she seems to be getting tired.”…“Critical relevance seems to be waning.”

4. Joan Acocella
The New Yorker
Staff writer for The New Yorker; edited the diary of Nijinsky and wrote a biography of Mark Morris.

“Raises the level because she never critiques within dance but within the cultural field.”…“Very smart, but her lack of criticism of Mark Morris hinders her ability to move forward and be a more insightful critic of the field.”

5. Apollinaire Scherr
Newsday
Writes about dance for Newsday; has also contributed to The New York Times and The New Yorker.

“Apollinaire, girl, you are doing unbelievable work!”…“Great, but her position at Newsday limits who/what she can cover.”

6. Roslyn Sulcas
freelancer
Contributes regularly to The New York Times.

“Ugh. Too much ballet. Get in touch, for gosh sakes!”…“Very specific sensibility that is more than needed.”…“Jury is still out.”

7. Claudia La Rocco
Associated Press
On staff at the AP; contributes to The New York Times.

“Very good young critic. Occasionally lashes out.”…“Always a pleasure to read. I like her choices, too.”…“I hope that she is appointed the chief dance critic for the Times.”

8. John Rockwell
The New York Times
Chief dance critic at the Times retiring at the end of the year.

“Needs to stop evaluating dancers based on weight and looks.”…“Love the sweeping changes John has made at the Times—new writers, fast turnaround on reviews. I do feel he is sexist and lacks knowledge of dance.”…“Good writer with wide knowledge, which is unfortunately not appropriate for a field he obviously doesn’t know.”

TONY’s own

Gia Kourlas
Dance editor since 1995; frequent contributor to The New York Times.

“Extremely talented, courageous and knowledgeable. Her opinion is very precious, because it’s controversial.”…“Tabloid journalist. She is a petty, gossipy bitch. A fashionista, rather than a critic. Her sense of favoritism is obscene and obnoxious.”…“From her writing and strong opinions, I made the assumption that she would be difficult to work with. However, I’ve discovered that all of these assumptions are false. Among a handful of young writers-editors who will save the field of dance criticism.”