Beyoncé, Madonna, West Side Story, Children's Literature
Beyoncé's new film and Madonna's new Madame X alter-ego discussed, Aletta Collins on changing West Side Story's choreography, is reading between 7 and 12 the most formative time.
Two female icons of the music industry release new works today. Beyonce’s new film Homecoming is released alongside a surprise new live album. The film focuses on her historic 2018 Coachella performance in which she celebrated America's historically black colleges and universities, black culture and black female empowerment. Also today, Madonna releases a new single ahead of her upcoming album and has revealed a new alter-ego - Madame X. Academic Emma Dabiri and broadcaster Katie Puckrik discuss Beyonce’s cultural significance and Madonna’s latest reinvention.
Choreographer Aletta Collins talks about her work for the Manchester Royal Exchange’s new production of Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim’s classic, West Side Story. She reveals why they chose to change Jerome Robbins's famous choreography, the first time a professional production has done so.
Ahead of a Front Row bank holiday special on children’s literature, two award-winning writers of children’s fiction, Katherine Rundell and Bali Rai, discuss the significance of reading between the ages of 7 and 12.
Presenter: Kirsty Lang
Producer: Ben Mitchell
Last on
Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé
Courtesy of Parkwood
Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé is available on Netflix
Main image: Beyoncé
Courtesy of Parkwood
Madonna
Madonna's new album
Madame X, is dropped
this summer
Her new single Medellin is
out now
West Side Story
Photo credit:
Richard Davenport
West Side Story is at the Manchester Royal Exchange until 25 May
BBC Student Critics' Award
The BBC Student Critics' Award is open now for applications for
16 - 18 year olds as part of the BBC National Short Story Award
The deadline for entries is 9 am on Monday 29 April
Broadcast
- Wed 17 Apr 201919:15BBC Radio 4
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