Dance Criticism in a European Context

When the train leaves the station in Prague, I already start to imagine the bodies of my fellow critics from the three days spent together at a workshop and panel talk on dance writing at the Czech Dance Platform festival. 

The critic has never been a particularly popular person. In his poem Rezensent, published in 1774, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe writes: ‘Schlagt ihn tot den Hund! Er ist ein Rezensent.’ (‘Beat the dog to death! He is a reviewer.’). 

I, like many other writers, suffer from imposter syndrome. Before every pitch email I send, show I attend, or interview I conduct, I ask myself: “is anyone really interested in little old Emily May from Worcestershire’s opinion on this?”