Lily Hyde sees BalleyBoyz’s 'Still Pointless' programme, admiring the company’s ten accomplished dancers, but finds some works… pointless? TitleStill PointlessCompanyBalletBoyzVenueSadler’s Wells, … [Read more...] about Review: BalletBoyz’s 25th anniversary show, Still Pointless – lacking evolution
Interview: The Royal Ballet’s William Bracewell on his journey to Mayerling
Lily Hyde talks to William Bracewell on preparing to play Prince Rudolf in The Royal Ballet's Mayerling, his acting process, and an unlikely source of inspiration. William Bracewell’s journey to … [Read more...] about Interview: The Royal Ballet’s William Bracewell on his journey to Mayerling
Review: Carlos Acosta’s Don Quixote with Birmingham Royal Ballet – a frothy delight
Lily Hyde sees BRB's Don Quixote and is impressed by the lead dancers, the orchestrations, and the design, though disappointed by the corps de ballet. TitleDon QuixoteCompanyBirmingham Royal … [Read more...] about Review: Carlos Acosta’s Don Quixote with Birmingham Royal Ballet – a frothy delight
Interview: Royal Ballet Principal Calvin Richardson on life before and after Mayerling
After his debut in the ballet Mayerling, The Royal Ballet's Calvin Richardson spoke with Lily Hyde about his dream role and career as Principal Dancer. Like many male ballet dancers, Calvin … [Read more...] about Interview: Royal Ballet Principal Calvin Richardson on life before and after Mayerling
Review: Kontakthof – Echoes of ’78, Pina Bausch through the eyes of Meryl Tankard
Lily Hyde sees a reworked version of Pina Bausch’s Kontakthof with original cast members from 1978 – mired in the old, the show presents something remarkably new. TitleKontakthof – Echoes of … [Read more...] about Review: Kontakthof – Echoes of ’78, Pina Bausch through the eyes of Meryl Tankard
Review: English National Ballet’s My First Ballet: Cinderella – moments of real magic
Lily Hyde sees My First Ballet: Cinderella, a production of an incredibly high standard for audience members of any age, with a strong calibre of dancing. TitleMy First Ballet: … [Read more...] about Review: English National Ballet’s My First Ballet: Cinderella – moments of real magic
Review: William Bracewell gives a Shakespearean performance in his debut in Mayerling with The Royal Ballet
Lily Hyde sees William Bracewell's debut in Mayerling – one of The Royal Ballet’s most intelligent dancers, a singular performer who evades comparison. TitleMayerlingCompanyThe Royal … [Read more...] about Review: William Bracewell gives a Shakespearean performance in his debut in Mayerling with The Royal Ballet
Review: Covent Garden Choreographics with New English Ballet Theatre
Lily Hyde sees New English Ballet Theatre at Royal Ballet & Opera in Covent Garden Choreographics – a company whose ambitions far outpace its resources. TitleCovent Garden … [Read more...] about Review: Covent Garden Choreographics with New English Ballet Theatre
Interview: Hannah O’Neill, Paris Opera Ballet Étoile, to debut with The Royal Ballet
Paris Opéra Ballet Étoile Hannah O’Neill will make her debut with The Royal Ballet in London as Giselle. Lily Hyde talked with her a few days before her first performance. In a dazzling run of … [Read more...] about Interview: Hannah O’Neill, Paris Opera Ballet Étoile, to debut with The Royal Ballet
Review: Mayara Magri’s ‘revelatory’ debut as Giselle with Matthew Ball and The Royal Ballet
Lily Hyde sees Mayara Magri’s debut as Giselle and thinks it ‘will go on to be regarded as timeless and perennial as Wright’s ballet itself’. TitleGiselleCompanyThe Royal BalletVenueRoyal Ballet … [Read more...] about Review: Mayara Magri’s ‘revelatory’ debut as Giselle with Matthew Ball and The Royal Ballet
Review: Ballet Nights – The New Year’s Day Concert with dancers, musicians and opera singers “of an incredible standard”
Lily Hyde sees Ballet Nights' New Year's Day Concert and finds some very strange artistic choices, though enjoys several dazzling performances. TitleThe New Year’s Day ConcertCompanyBallet … [Read more...] about Review: Ballet Nights – The New Year’s Day Concert with dancers, musicians and opera singers “of an incredible standard”
Review: Valentino Zucchetti’s The Nutcracker for New English Ballet Theatre
Lily Hyde sees Valentino Zucchetti's production of The Nutcracker for New English Ballet Theatre – it’s a show with heart. TitleThe NutcrackerCompanyNew English Ballet TheatreVenueSainsbury … [Read more...] about Review: Valentino Zucchetti’s The Nutcracker for New English Ballet Theatre
Interview: Valentino Zucchetti, choreographer and Royal Ballet First Soloist, talks about his new Nutcracker
Lily Hyde talks to choreographer and Royal Ballet First Soloist Valentino Zucchetti as his new production of The Nutcracker for New English Ballet Theatre tours to the Bahamas before a pre-Christmas … [Read more...] about Interview: Valentino Zucchetti, choreographer and Royal Ballet First Soloist, talks about his new Nutcracker
Review: Kenneth MacMillan’s The Sleeping Beauty with English National Ballet
Lily Hyde sees English National Ballet in Kenneth MacMillan's 1987 version of The Sleeping Beauty, created for American Ballet Theatre. TitleThe Sleeping BeautyCompanyEnglish National … [Read more...] about Review: Kenneth MacMillan’s The Sleeping Beauty with English National Ballet
Review: The Royal Ballet’s Like Water for Chocolate – a cast full of debuts
Lily Hyde sees a young cast in Christopher Wheeldon's Like Water for Chocolate with The Royal Ballet – dancers to watch in an uneven ballet. TitleLike Water for ChocolateCompanyThe Royal … [Read more...] about Review: The Royal Ballet’s Like Water for Chocolate – a cast full of debuts
Review: Hofesh Shechter’s Theatre of Dreams – magical and compelling
Lily Hyde sees the return of Hofesh Shechter Company’s Theatre of Dreams to Sadler’s Wells – an overwhelming sensory experience. TitleTheatre of DreamsCompanyHofesh Shechter CompanyVenueSadler’s … [Read more...] about Review: Hofesh Shechter’s Theatre of Dreams – magical and compelling
Review: Black History Month Draft Works at The Royal Opera House – the future is certainly looking bright
Lily Hyde sees Black History Month Draft Works at The Royal Opera House curated by Marcelino Sambé with the work of five Black female choreographers. TitleBlack History Month Draft … [Read more...] about Review: Black History Month Draft Works at The Royal Opera House – the future is certainly looking bright
Review: Acosta Danza’s A Decade in Motion – an incredible coterie of dancers
Lily Hyde sees Acosta Danza celebrating A Decade in Motion – the incredible dancers deserve a better programme in which to display their talents. TitleA Decade in MotionCompanyAcosta … [Read more...] about Review: Acosta Danza’s A Decade in Motion – an incredible coterie of dancers
As queer male representation in ballet soars, queer female representation stays firmly on the ground
Ballet has long served as a haven for queer people. From composers such as Pyotr Tchaikovsky to choreographers like Frederick Ashton and Jerome Robbins, impresarios like Sergei Diaghilev, and, of … [Read more...] about As queer male representation in ballet soars, queer female representation stays firmly on the ground