Michele Esposito has won the Prix de Lausanne 2017.The first prize, sponsored by the Swiss investment firm Adveq, was not his only award as he also won the Best Swiss Candidate Prize as well as the Contemporary Dance Prize for his interpretation of an extract from John Neumeier’s ballet Nijinsky.The 17-year-old comes from Aversa, a town 5 kilometres north of Naples, … [Read more...]
Monica Vaglietti, the ballet dancer with thirteen Greyhounds
Monica Vaglietti is a corps de ballet dancer at La Scala in Milan. She is also an animal lover. Greyhounds especially. Nothing exceptional so far, but there is something that makes Monica unusual.So, Monica, just how many Greyhounds do you have? Thirteen! Though, to be precise, one is actually an Ibizan Hound, Filippo. That isn’t normal, is it? Why so many? Well, I was … [Read more...]
From Noverre to Chauviré: A dancer must have a real depth of culture
If you read November’s edition of Dancing Times (and I strongly recommend that you do!), the magazine’s Talking Point column has some musings by Gramilano on the importance of dancers being informed not only about their own art, but about other arts, many of which are accumulated to make a ballet anyway: prose, music, painting, sculpture. Kenneth MacMillan’s Romeo and Juliet is … [Read more...]
Xander Parish on life with the Mariinsky Ballet
You were recently promoted to First Soloist at the Mariinsky Ballet. Happy? Yes, I was promoted after a show of Giselle back in January and it was quite out of the blue! Leaving the corps Xander Parish joined the Mariinsky as a Coryphée in 2010 after twiddling his thumbs for five years at The Royal Ballet. He was 23, frustrated with his spear-carrying duties and itching to … [Read more...]
To Carla Fracci, on your 80th Birthday, from your colleagues and friends
Today is the 80th birthday of the Italian ballerina, Carla Fracci. She was born in Milan on 20 August 1936. To celebrate we asked fellow ballerinas, as well as actresses and designers she has worked with, for messages and best wishes on a very special day.with thanks to Merrill Ashley - Aurora Benelli - Rebecca Bianchi - Sabrina Brazzo - Rossella Brescia - Deborah Bull - … [Read more...]