English National Ballet’s new programme ‘Solstice’
This summer, from 16 – 26 June, English National Ballet presents Solstice, a programme of repertoire highlights, at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall.
Solstice features excerpts from the classics – Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, Le Corsaire – as well as a passionate duet from Broken Wings, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s ballet inspired by the life of Frida Kahlo, Stina Quagebeur’s Hollow and sections from Coppélia.
There are moments of reflection and tenderness in extracts from Akram Khan‘s Dust and Ben Stevenson’s Three Preludes, set to Rachmaninov’s music. The programme concludes with William Forsythe‘s Playlist (Track 1, 2), a high-energy work set to neo-soul and house music.
Tamara Rojo, English National Ballet’s Artistic Director, said:
I’m so pleased we will be performing at the Royal Festival Hall this summer. After so long without performing in theatres it’s wonderful to have the opportunity to have so many of the Company back on stage showcasing highlights from English National Ballet’s much loved and diverse repertoire.
Accompanied by live music performed by musicians of English National Ballet Philharmonic, Solstice follows English National Ballet’s return to the stage at Sadler’s Wells earlier this month.
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 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.
