choreographs

UK gets a slice of French culture

Dance inspired by the movements of a conductor and a new staging of Dante's writings will form part of a major Franco-British performing arts season, Paris Calling.

Madonna tops 2008 concert league

Madonna's Sticky and Sweet show was the highest-earning music tour of 2008, taking $281.6m (£193m) worldwide.

Review of the year 2008: Art and culture

Kate Moss sculpted in gold, a £50m price tag for a painting and a dead pianist makes his Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) debut - what happened in the arts world in 2008.

In pictures: Diversions at 25

Images from 25 years of performances by the Cardiff-based Diversions dance company.

X Factor crown eludes Eoghan

Despite winning six of the 10 viewer votes over the course of the series, Eoghan Quigg fails to take X Factor crown.

Strictly semi hit by scoring tie

All three semi-finalists proceed to the Strictly Come Dancing final after the judges' scoring creates an "unprecedented" tie.

Profile: Chen Shui-bian

President Chen Shui-bian overcame adversity to stamp his identity on the island but his political legacy has been undermined by corruption scandals.

Five Star singer joins Thriller

Former Five Star lead vocalist Denise Pearson joins the cast of Thriller - Live.

Stars collect US Kennedy honours

Actor Morgan Freeman and singer Barbra Streisand are among the stars to receive awards for their contribution to US culture.

Martha Kearney's week

Martha Kearney looks at where the real power lies in UK politics.

UK jobs open to migrants unveiled

The list of jobs open to non-EU immigrants is published - amid calls for the points-based system to be suspended.

Thai crisis exposes class struggle

Ongoing political protests are splitting Thai society along class lines, the BBC's Jonathan Head finds.

TV's Castle flops out of Strictly

GMTV presenter Andrew Castle is the seventh celebrity to be booted off the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing show.

New theatre opens to the public

Leicester's new multi-million pound Curve Theatre opens its doors to the public.

Ballet founder Arpino dies at 85

Gerald Arpino, the co-founder and former artistic director of the Joffrey Ballet, has died at the age of 85.

Obama campaign's media blitzkrieg

As US Democratic candidate Barack Obama spends millions on a primetime TV ad in the hope of swaying undecided voters, Kim Ghattas asks whether it was overkill.

Historic battle film given update

More than 120 actors are to feature in a new updated film version of the Battle of Bannockburn.

'Fame' recalled in Britannia High

Arlene Phillips, co-creator of new 'Fame-esque' musical TV drama Britannia High, says the show is in another league to High School Musical.

British talent leads Emmys charge

Shaun the Sheep and Maxwell, starring David Suchet, are among the British shows nominated in this year's International Emmys.

Dancer Khan is captured on canvas

A portrait of dancer Akram Khan is unveiled at the National Portrait Gallery in London