Dance News - Sadler's Wells plans to create a new venue it hopes will help establish London as a global centre for dance to rival New York and Paris. The search has begun for the site of the 500-seat theatre, which could open as early as 2018. Sadler's Wells' artistic director Alistair Spalding said the plan was a result of "frustration" with not having a medium-sized venue to stage work. "Dance is a really strong art form," he said. "We deserve proper spaces." Spalding made the announcement as he unveiled a 10 Year Plan, which included investing £5m in commissioning new dance work. "New York and Paris were seen as the leading centres of the art form. I believe that is no longer the case and my ambition is to make London the greatest centre for dance," he said.
Annie Honoured - Annie Lennox has been honoured with the 22nd Music Industry Trusts Award. Lennox accepted the award for her "outstanding contribution to British music" and her charity work. The former Eurythmics frontwoman is one of the UK's most successful solo artists, selling in excess of 80m records and winning eight Brit awards. Paying tribute, singer Adele called her "an example of a brilliant talent". More than 1200 guests attended the charity event in Aid of Nordoff Robbins and The BRIT Performing Arts & Technology School.
CMA Awards - The Country Music Association has handed Taylor Swift its Pinnacle Award - a prize only awarded once before to Garth Brooks in 2005. It recognises artists who take the genre to a worldwide audience, and comes despite Swift's recent shift towards more mainstream pop. George Strait, 61, won entertainer of the year at the ceremony in Nashville. Blake Shelton and wife Miranda Lambert were named best male and best female vocalists, each for the fourth time.
(Jim Evans)
