National Ballet of Canada brings Ratmansky’s Romeo and Juliet to London

The National Ballet of Canada will perform Alexei Ratmansky's new production of Romeo and Juliet from tonight, 17 April, until 21 April at London's Sadler's Wells Theatre.

The ballet has obviously been an audience favourite ever since it came to the National Ballet in 1964, but the company's new version, by Russian choreographer Alexei Ratmansky, which premiered in 2011 to ecstatic acclaim, only enhances its position in the repertoire. Ratmansky's work is known for its mastery of the classical vocabulary, yet he is equally adept at employing that vocabulary for fresh, modern effects.

The Globe and Mail said,

In terms of choreography, Ratmansky's greatness lies in his ability to mirror music in dance. There is absolutely no mime. The emotional arc of the characters is cunningly shown in movement. In fact, the music and the dance seem inseparable… Ratmansky's vision for Romeo and Juliet works on every level.

The Toronto Star agreed that it's a winner,

Ratmansky has given them a Romeo and Juliet that puts the ecstasy and anguish of young love front and centre, a Romeo and Juliet with soul.

Now the London press can have their say.

Principal dancer Greta Hodgkinson, who has just completed a Gramilano Questionnaire, will dance Juliet on 19 April, with Guillaume Côté as her Romeo. The Toronto Sun commented,

Greta Hodgkinson's magnificently youthful and innocent Juliet… manages to capture both the tentative awkwardness of a colt and the sleek lines of a thoroughbred in every magical turn.

More information on the National Ballet's casting and booking information can be found on the Sadler's Wells site.

Photo: Greta Hodgkinson and Aleksandar Antonijevic in Romeo and Juliet – photo by Sian Richards

Gramilano( Editor )

Graham Spicer is a writer, director and photographer in Milan, blogging (under the name ‘Gramilano') about dance, opera, music and photography for people “who are a bit like me and like some of the things I like”. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy.

His scribblings have appeared in various publications from Woman's Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the ‘Danza in Italia' column for Dancing Times magazine.