New York City Ballet’s Wendy Whelan brings new work to London for European Première
New York City Ballet principal dancer Wendy Whelan, who recently announced her retirement as a classical ballerina to focus on choreography and contemporary dance, is bringing Restless Creature to The Linbury Studio Theatre in July.
Whelan, described by The New York Times as ‘America’s greatest contemporary ballerina’, collaborates with young choreographers Kyle Abraham, Joshua Beamish, Brian Brooks and Alejandro Cerrudo, and with each she will dance a duet. The combination of diverse choreographic styles and Whelan’s vivid individuality makes Restless Creature an unmissable summer highlight, say the Royal Ballet. I’d agree as this is a rare opportunity to see Whelan perform in London.
In a year’s time there are already plans for her return in a new evening of work with Royal Ballet Principal Edward Watson.
Throughout my career, some of my most exciting moments have happened in the rehearsal studio, creating a new work with a great choreographer. I thrive on the challenge, the exchange, the collaboration and the discovery,
said Whelan. There have been many of these ‘exciting moments’ as she has originated featured roles in 13 ballets for Christopher Wheeldon, William Forsythe, Alexei Ratmansky, Wayne McGregor, Jorma Elo, Shen Wei and Twyla Tharp.
In Restless Creature, Whelan is creating new work with some of the most exciting emerging names in contemporary choreography, using music which ranges from Max Richter and Philip Glass to Hauschka & Hildur Guðnadóttir.
Wendy Whelan: Restless Creature
The Linbury Studio Theatre
22 – 26 July 2014 at 7.45pm
Graham Spicer, aka ‘Gramilano’, is a writer, director and photographer based in Milan. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy. His articles have appeared in various publications from Woman’s Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the Danza in Italia column for Dancing Times magazine. Graham was the historical advisor on Codice Carla, the 2023 documentary on Italian ballerina Carla Fracci.
Graham also works as a dance photographer, and his photos have appeared in many books, theatre programmes, and magazines, including Dancing Times, Dance Spirit and Ballet2000, as well as all the major Italian newspapers.
He is a member of the Dance Section of The Critics’ Circle.
