Julio Bocca answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition
Q&A When did you start dancing? When I was 4 my mother started to teach me dance; my grandfather, as all good Italians, was a…
Baryshnikov is extraordinary as Nijinsky in Letter to a Man
Aged fifty, Virginia Woolf wrote in her diary, I don’t believe in ageing. I believe in forever altering one’s aspect to the sun. This is…
Sergei Polunin on sex change, his new girlfriend, and manning up
In an interview, before several appearances in the Italian peninsula over the next two months, Sergei Polunin said, I deeply believe in love. It’s a…
Yasmine Naghdi – the birth of a ballerina
Yasmine Naghdi was born on 25 March 1992 in London. Everyone I meet says, ‘Where are you from?’, and I say, ‘I’m from London’, and…
Ratmansky’s Sleeping Beauty in Milan casts its magic spell
Alexei Ratmansky’s ‘reconstruction’ of The Sleeping Beauty at La Scala made for one of the most interesting and satisfying evenings that I’ve had in the…
Eufemia Brancato, queen of the tutu, dies at 95
Eufemia Brancato died this morning three weeks before her 96th birthday. She was the head of Brancato Costumiers in Milan which she founded in 1961…
Zakharova, Bolle and Manni are excellent Principals in La Dame aux Camélias, but Andrijashenko steals the show at La Scala
Svetlana Zakharova and Roberto Bolle have both danced the lead roles in John Neumeier’s La Dame aux Camélias, but never together. La Scala united its…
[Interview] Meet Nikisha Fogo, San Francisco Ballet’s new Principal Dancer
Swedish ballerina Nikisha Fogo will soon take up a new position in a new company when she becomes a principal dancer at San Francisco Ballet.…
Lisa-Maree Cullum answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition
Q&A When did you start dancing? When I was 3. Why did you start dancing? My mum had a ballet school and when I saw…
McGregor’s Woolf Works thrills and enthralls at La Scala
The La Scala Ballet usually fields a first cast, and several alternative casts, but not with Wayne McGregor’s Woolf Works – here it was very…
Interview with Alicia Alonso at 95: my dancing is my most eloquent testament
I was fascinated by dance when I was very young, and after my first lesson I said to my mother, “This is what I want…
Roberto Bolle on why Natalie Portman should give back her Oscar… and more
The Bolle and Friends tour is in full swing, and one of the stops is Istanbul where Roberto Bolle was photographed last month. He talked to…
Isaac Hernández answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition
Q&A When did you start dancing? I was 8 years old. My father was teaching me in the backyard of our house. Why did you…
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,…
Balanchine’s Dream sprinkles its magic fairy dust over La Scala for the last time
In the ‘60s, A Midsummer Night’s Dream was all the rage: Benjamin Britten’s opera premiered in 1960, Balanchine’s ballet opened in 1962, Ashton’s The Dream…
Interview: For The Royal Ballet’s Yasmine Naghdi it’s “Ready, Steady, Go”!
Interview with Yasmine Naghdi as she dances in the world premiere of Alastair Marriott’s The Unknown Soldier – with photos by Dasa Wharton I last…
Ratmansky explains why his Swan Lake is arriving bigger and better at La Scala
Alexei Ratmansky’s reconstruction of Marius Petipa’s Swan Lake was rapturously received by almost all the critics when it premiered in Zurich in February. Alastair Macaulay…
Interview with Joseph Caley, English National Ballet’s new Principal Dancer
After more than a decade with Birmingham Royal Ballet, Principal Dancer Joseph Caley has packed his bags and headed south to join Tamara Rojo and…
Roberto Bolle: dancers need a perfect body, a great face, and passion
For the autumn/fall issue of Fashionisto, Roberto Bolle has been photographed by Brent Chua for a fashion shoot wearing Prada, Armani, and Dolce & Gabbana.…
Preview: Nureyev the film is a glorious celebration of an exceptional life
Nureyev is an important new documentary about Rudolf Nureyev’s extraordinary life which will be shown in cinemas around the UK from 25 September. BAFTA nominated…
How to stage a ballet… Maina Gielgud explains
The indefatigable Maina Gielgud is a freelance stager, guest teacher and coach. In 1983, two years after leaving her successful and varied career as a…
Photo Album: Nureyev Gala at La Scala – Zakharova, Louvet, Nuñez, Muntagirov and Bolle (and Nureyev at La Scala facts and figures)
Last night a Gala to celebrate Rudolf Nureyev was had at La Scala. It is the 80th Anniversary of his birth and also 25 years after his death.…
Marianela Nuñez and Roberto Bolle lead a top-notch cast in Onegin at La Scala
John Cranko’s ballet Onegin was brought to La Scala in 1993 as a vehicle for Carla Fracci with Rex Harrington in the title role. It…
18-year-old Vincenzo di Primo on winning at Lausanne and studying at the Vienna Ballet Academy
18-year-old Vincenzo di Primo was one of the seven winners at the annual Prix de Lausanne, taking away the Albert Amon Foundation scholarship which will…
18-year-old Julian MacKay becomes a soloist with the Mikhailovsky Ballet
After being introduced to Julian Mackay, and his whole dancing family, three years ago by his sister Maria Sascha Khan – now First Soloist with the Ekaterinburg…
In Balanchine’s Nutcracker at La Scala the magic is almost real – three casts reviewed
Balanchine’s The Nutcracker is new to La Scala, in fact, new to Italy. And how the Scala regulars were relishing in the opportunity to grumble…
The Tricks of the Trocks: powder, ice and pointe shoes
The audiences laugh, sometimes the dancers laugh, but getting a dozen or so male dancers on pointe through more than one hundred performances a year…
Martina Arduino and Marco Agostino make extraordinary role debuts in Don Quixote at La Scala
There was a buzz in the air at La Scala for the last in the short run of Rudolf Nureyev’s Don Quixote. Martina Arduino was…
Rothko in Rome: an interview with Carolyn Carlson
“It’s very difficult to tour now in Italy with its money problems,” Carolyn Carlson tells me, which makes producer Daniele Cipriani a brave man indeed: he is…
Dancers from the Royal Ballet and ENB reopen the glorious Teatro Colón in Bogotá
Teatro Colón in Bogotá reopens tomorrow night after a six-year restoration. Ten dancers from the Royal Ballet and the English National Ballet will help to…
Cynthia Harvey answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition
Q&A When did you start dancing? At age 8. A short time ago. Why did you start dancing? Apparently I preferred it to walking; actually…
Alessandra Ferri returns to dance the end of her marriage
At the end of June Alessandra Ferri will return to the stage after an absence of 7 years, and, at the age of 50, will…
Behind the Scenes with Marianela Nuñez: “This is where the magic begins”
“This is Covent Garden.” The recorded announcement reverberates along the platform. I always feel that this is when my ballerina day starts… It’s been 20…
Dutch National Ballet’s Marijn Rademaker on injury and recovery
‘Being injured is part of our job, it happens, we will get back stronger!’ That’s what we say when we try to sweet talk ourselves…
Pointe shoes and tutus at the Ziegfeld Follies
Florenz Ziegfeld created his Follies in 1907, and the successful format continued on Broadway until 1931. The Ziegfeld Follies were extraordinarily elaborate revues inspired by the Folies Bergères in…
Tamara Karsavina compares Rudolf Nureyev and Vaslav Nijinsky
Rudolf Nureyev defected to the West in 1961 and later that same year he danced with Margot Fonteyn for the first time, and the following…
Diana Vishneva: the Vaganova Academy gave me freedom to move in any way I choose
Diana Vishneva feels passionately about the Vaganova Ballet Academy, from where she graduated in 1995, and yesterday made it clear that she has doubts about its…
In and Out: Bolle, Gomes, Stiefel – how easy is it to be an openly gay ballet dancer?
When Roberto Bolle popped out and in of the closet four years ago internet forums and gossip rags foamed at the mouth. Openly gay ballet…
Svetlana Zakharova on her emotions, motherhood and not wanting to dance
Does Svetlana Zakharova find it easier to express her emotions on stage than in life? Without a doubt. In life I don’t like to reveal…
[Interview] The Royal Ballet’s Yasmine Naghdi: a time to reflect
I’ve interviewed The Royal Ballet’s principal ballerina Yasmine Naghdi several times over the past five years. The first time, she was a soloist and preparing…
In conversation with Marianela Nuñez
The Royal Ballet’s Argentinian principal dancer, Marianela Nuñez, is in lockdown in Buenos Aires. She went there to be near her family and partner, because…
Vladimir Shklyarov answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition
Q&A [на русском языке] When did you start dancing? I’ve suffered since childhood — my Mum wanted me to do it. Why did you start…
Young American at the Bolshoi: Julian MacKay wins Sochi and Istanbul medals
The (other) American at the Bolshoi, 16-year-old Julian MacKay, has been winning medals at the international ballet competitions at Sochi and Istanbul. Of course there…
Alessandra Ferri’s pain at being rejected and joy at being reborn
The word “comeback” isn’t one I like; what I am doing is going ahead. These years off stage have taught me that I can’t live…
Svetlana Zakharova: When they cut my costume in half
Svetlana Zakharova knows that a lot of jealousy surrounds her but she’s fought for her rightful position in the dance world since she was a child:…
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…
Interview with Alessandra Ferri: Maturing I find myself smiling more
I’m enjoying a new chapter in my life having the fortune to play women of my age and not romantic roles like the Giselles, Carmens,…
Meeting Davide Dato, the Italian ballet star who’s finally hitting the headlines in his homeland
Salsa, merengue and mambo… that’s how I started dancing. So says Davide Dato, Principal Dancer at the Vienna State Ballet. Many classical dancers began in…
Mara Galeazzi on Ferri, The Royal Ballet, Woolf Works and retiring
The Royal Ballet’s new few-length ballet, Woolf Works, brings two Italian ex-Royal Ballet dancers back to Covent Garden. Alessandra Ferri, who returned to dancing two…
Darcey Bussell answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition
Dame Darcey Bussell talks about loves and dislikes from Astaire to Jane Fonda, from Chorus Line to Romeo & Juliet, from dyslexia to diamond earrings.
La Scala Ballet School’s director for 32 years on “Teaching Dance”
versione italiana Anna Maria Prina was the director of the La Scala Theatre Ballet School for thirty-two years, producing artists such as Mara Galeazzi, Massimo Murru, Roberto Bolle, Mick…
The Style of Movement: Fashion and Dance – a new book of dance photography from NYC Dance Project
Ken Browar and Deborah Ory – the husband-and-wife team behind the NYCDance Project – have their second dance photography book coming out next week: The…
Introducing Michele Esposito… winner of the Prix de Lausanne 2017
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…
Marianela Nuñez celebrates 20 years with The Royal Ballet
Incredibly, this February Marianela Nuñez celebrates 20 years of dancing with The Royal Ballet. She arrived in London from Argentina when she was 16, and…
Julian Mackay on entering and winning the Prix de Lausanne 2015
Seventeen-year-old Julian Mackay is one of the six winners of this year’s Prix de Lausanne. He is part of the extraordinary Khan-MacKay family which boasts…
James Hobley, Britain’s Got Talent’s autistic dancer, now 19 leaves ENB’s school to join Scottish Ballet
James Hobley, first known to the general public as a Britain’s Got Talent finalist in 2011, has graduated from English National Ballet School and has…
Swan Lake at La Scala – Alexei Ratmansky puts the ballet’s heart where it belongs
Alexei Ratmansky’s reconstruction of the Petipa/Ivanov Swan Lake is as eye-opening as was his version of The Sleeping Beauty: it is fresh, it is vital,…
You choose it out of Love! Dancing with the Khan-MacKay family
Dancing, like acting and singing, often runs in the family. There are countless dancers whose parents danced: Zenaida Yanowsky (Royal Ballet), Yury Yanowsky (Boston Ballet) and Nadia…
The impeccable Bolshoi dancers in Maillot’s slick Taming of the Shrew at La Scala
Lots of empty seats were available for the Bolshoi Ballet at La Scala in The Taming of the Shrew. La Bayadère – great; Swan Lake…
Save the best until last – La Scala’s triple bill shows a company in excellent form
Save the best until last. Not a bad programming policy, and with La Scala’s recent triple bill, the last was Maurice Béjart’s Boléro. Obviously, with…
