Today (some of) the world celebrates International Dance Day – Wednesday 29 April 2026 – and many initiatives have arrived in gramilano’s inbox over the last few days. Here is a selection. Siamo … [Read more...] about (A few) International Dance Day events – 29 April 2026
Alice Mariani
Navrin Turnbull is appointed Principal Dancer at Teatro alla Scala
After last night’s performance of Sleeping Beauty at La Scala, soloist Navrin Turnbull was promoted to the rank of Principal Dancer of the company. Turnbull has been a soloist with La Scala Ballet … [Read more...] about Navrin Turnbull is appointed Principal Dancer at Teatro alla Scala
Review: The Magnificent Return of Serata William Forsythe at La Scala – Blake Works V
Kathrina Farrugia-Kriel and Graham Spicer see performances of William Forsythe's Blake Works V at La Scala – a truly magnificent production. TitleBlake Works VCompanyBallet of La ScalaVenueTeatro … [Read more...] about Review: The Magnificent Return of Serata William Forsythe at La Scala – Blake Works V
Review: English National Ballet’s R:Evolution – a beautiful dance down memory lane
Lucía Piquero sees English National Ballet’s mixed bill with a “company full of energy and vision, galvanised through dancers you cannot stop looking at”. TitleR:EvolutionTheme and Variations, … [Read more...] about Review: English National Ballet’s R:Evolution – a beautiful dance down memory lane
Review: Nureyev’s Swan Lake at La Scala with Alice Mariani and Navrin Turnbull
Graham Spicer sees Swan Lake at La Scala - one of Rudolf Nureyev’s most successful choreographies. TitleSwan LakeCompanyLa Scala BalletVenueTeatro alla Scala, MilanDate10 July 2025ReviewerGraham … [Read more...] about Review: Nureyev’s Swan Lake at La Scala with Alice Mariani and Navrin Turnbull
Review: La Scala Ballet in Pierre Lacotte’s Paquita – a triumph for Nicoletta Manni
Graham Spicer sees Paquita at La Scala – a tribute to choreographer Pierre Lacotte, who died in 2023, but it was Nicoletta Manni's night. TitlePaquitaCompanyLa Scala BalletVenueTeatro alla Scala, … [Read more...] about Review: La Scala Ballet in Pierre Lacotte’s Paquita – a triumph for Nicoletta Manni
Review: From Cacti to Angelic Forms, an Evening of Contemporary Authors at the Rome Opera
Marta Mele sees Dawson / León-Lightoot / Ekman at the Rome Opera House, a choreographic journey that seems to go backwards in time, asking us to question the ultimate nature of dance. TitleDawson / … [Read more...] about Review: From Cacti to Angelic Forms, an Evening of Contemporary Authors at the Rome Opera
Review: Gala Fracci 2025 – Marianela Nuñez and Reece Clarke join La Scala Ballet to celebrate Carla Fracci
Graham Spicer sees Gala Fracci, La Scala’s annual festa to celebrate the great Italian ballerina Carla Fracci who died in 2021, now in its fourth edition. TitleGala FracciCompanyLa Scala … [Read more...] about Review: Gala Fracci 2025 – Marianela Nuñez and Reece Clarke join La Scala Ballet to celebrate Carla Fracci
Review: Peer Gynt at La Scala – an outstanding, spellbinding performance
Graham Spicer sees La Scala Ballet in Edward Clug’s Peer Gynt that demonstrates the breadth of the company’s talent, with an impressive Navrin Turnbull in the title role. TitlePeer GyntCompanyLa … [Read more...] about Review: Peer Gynt at La Scala – an outstanding, spellbinding performance
Review: Alice Marini and Roberto Bolle in a new Carmen in ‘Kratz / Preljocaj / De Bana’, La Scala’s contemporary triple bill
Graham Spicer sees works by Philippe Kratz, Angelin Preljocaj, and Patrick de Bana in an uneven triple bill. TitlePhilippe Kratz - Solitude SometimesAngelin Preljocaj - AnnonciationPatrick de Bana - … [Read more...] about Review: Alice Marini and Roberto Bolle in a new Carmen in ‘Kratz / Preljocaj / De Bana’, La Scala’s contemporary triple bill
A new Carmen at La Scala – Roberto Bolle and Nicoletta Manni star in Patrick de Bana’s new work
Carmen is Patrick de Bana’s first work created for La Scala Ballet. De Bana delves into the mythology, culture, perfumes and icons of Spain filtered through his own personal experience, to reinforce … [Read more...] about A new Carmen at La Scala – Roberto Bolle and Nicoletta Manni star in Patrick de Bana’s new work
Review: Rudolf Nureyev’s The Nutcracker at La Scala – outstanding five-star dancing
Graham Spicer sees Rudolf Nureyev’s The Nutcracker at La Scala – some odd dramatic choices but the company has never looked so good. TitleThe NutcrackerCompanyLa Scala BalletVenueTeatro alla … [Read more...] about Review: Rudolf Nureyev’s The Nutcracker at La Scala – outstanding five-star dancing
Review: La Scala dances Balanchine and Robbins – mesmerising beauty and charm
Graham Spicer sees La Scala Ballet’s triple bill with George Balanchine’s Theme and Variations and Dances at a Gathering and The Concert by Jerome Robbins. TitleBalanchine and RobbinsCompanyLa Scala … [Read more...] about Review: La Scala dances Balanchine and Robbins – mesmerising beauty and charm
Two ballets by Jerome Robbins to be live-streamed from La Scala on 12 November
Works by Jerome Robbins have not been seen at La Scala since 2004, but now he is being celebrated as part of the Balanchine/Robbins Triple Bill which opened on Friday 8 November. The programme … [Read more...] about Two ballets by Jerome Robbins to be live-streamed from La Scala on 12 November
Review: La Dame aux camélias at La Scala – Cojocaru, Coviello, Manni, Bolle
Graham Spicer sees John Neumeier's La Dame aux camélias with wonderful performances from two casts but gets itchy for it to end. TitleLa Dame aux caméliasCompanyLa Scala Theatre BalletVenueTeatro … [Read more...] about Review: La Dame aux camélias at La Scala – Cojocaru, Coviello, Manni, Bolle
Reece Clarke and Myriam Ould-Braham are last-minute guests at La Scala
After a spate of injuries during the run of La Bayadère at La Scala, which ended last week, the company has invited two last-minute guests to complete the casting of the Manon performances that begin … [Read more...] about Reece Clarke and Myriam Ould-Braham are last-minute guests at La Scala
Review – La Bayadère at La Scala with Nicoletta Manni and Kimin Kim
His first entrance saut de chats provoked audible gasps, he hovered in the air for his effortless double cabrioles during the engagement celebrations of the second act, Nureyev’s eccentric solo before … [Read more...] about Review – La Bayadère at La Scala with Nicoletta Manni and Kimin Kim
[Review] La Scala’s Gala Fracci shows a company in spectacular form
Gala Fracci at La Scala has reached its third edition. It was La Scala Ballet’s director, Manuel Legris, who had the idea to stage an annual gala dedicated to the great Italian ballerina who died in … [Read more...] about [Review] La Scala’s Gala Fracci shows a company in spectacular form
Rudolf Nureyev’s Bayadère returns to La Scala with Kimin Kim guesting
Rudolf Nureyev's production of La Bayadère returns to La Scala for 10 performances from 26 May to 21 June, with Kimin Kim making a guest appearance. The company’s new étoile, Nicoletta Manni, will … [Read more...] about Rudolf Nureyev’s Bayadère returns to La Scala with Kimin Kim guesting
La Scala Ballet returns to China – on tour to Hong Kong and Shanghai
La Scala Ballet returns to China with eight performances of two ballets from 15 to 24 March La Scala Ballet will perform in China from 15 to 24 March, with Manuel Legris’s Le Corsaire at the Grand … [Read more...] about La Scala Ballet returns to China – on tour to Hong Kong and Shanghai
[Review] Contemporary dance triple bill at La Scala – Simone Valastro’s spectacular Memento will not be forgotten
Graham Spicer sees La Scala's "Smith/León and Lightfoot/Valastro" contemporary dance triple bill in Milan TitleSmith/León and Lightfoot/ValastroCompanyLa Scala BalletVenueTeatro alla Scala, … [Read more...] about [Review] Contemporary dance triple bill at La Scala – Simone Valastro’s spectacular Memento will not be forgotten
A new triple bill of contemporary choreographers at La Scala
From 7 to 18 February, a new triple bill of contemporary choreographers at La Scala After the success of Alexei Ratmansky’s Coppélia La Scala Ballet changes direction abruptly with a triple bill of … [Read more...] about A new triple bill of contemporary choreographers at La Scala
[Review] Alexei Ratmansky’s Coppélia for La Scala Ballet – endlessly inventive with extraordinarily good storytelling
Alexei Ratmansky’s beautifully judged version of Coppélia for La Scala Ballet expertly combines the celebrated moments – the line of girls holding hands as they muster up the courage to enter Dr … [Read more...] about [Review] Alexei Ratmansky’s Coppélia for La Scala Ballet – endlessly inventive with extraordinarily good storytelling
Alexei Ratmansky’s new Coppélia opens La Scala’s Ballet Season (in streaming)
Alexei Ratmansky's new production of Coppélia will be broadcast abroad live on the Medici TV digital platform on 17 December, and on 28 December on Italian national television, Rai5 and RaiPlay. La … [Read more...] about Alexei Ratmansky’s new Coppélia opens La Scala’s Ballet Season (in streaming)
[Review] Romeo and Juliet at La Scala with Alice Mariani and Nicola Del Freo
“We didn't need dialogue. We had faces,” said Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard. One of the striking aspects of the final cast to be seen during the run of Kenneth MacMillan’s Romeo and Juliet at La … [Read more...] about [Review] Romeo and Juliet at La Scala with Alice Mariani and Nicola Del Freo
The second edition of the Carla Fracci gala arrives at La Scala
After the resounding success of the first edition of Gala Fracci – a tribute by La Scala to Carla Fracci – now, two years after her death (she died on 27 May 2021) comes the second edition of what … [Read more...] about The second edition of the Carla Fracci gala arrives at La Scala
[Review] Le Corsaire at La Scala – if it ain’t broke, why try to fix it?
If it ain't broke, don't fix it. How odd then, that at La Scala, the applauded version of Le Corsaire by Anna-Marie Holmes has been substituted for that by the Milanese company’s director, Manuel … [Read more...] about [Review] Le Corsaire at La Scala – if it ain’t broke, why try to fix it?
[Review] An avalanche of debuts in Onegin at La Scala
TitleOneginCompanyLa Scala BalletVenueTeatro alla Scala, MilanDate22 and 26 September 2022ReviewerGraham Spicer Photos with Nicola Del Freo and Vittoria Valerio are featured in an album … [Read more...] about [Review] An avalanche of debuts in Onegin at La Scala
[Photo Album] Onegin at La Scala with Roberto Bolle and Marianela Nuñez
Onegin returns to La Scala this evening, Wednesday 14 September, with Roberto Bolle in the title role, Marianela Nuñez as Tatiana, Nicola Del Freo as Lensky, Martina Arduino as Olga and Gabriele … [Read more...] about [Photo Album] Onegin at La Scala with Roberto Bolle and Marianela Nuñez
Wayne McGregor fascinates with his new double-bill at La Scala: AfteRite + LORE
Though Wayne McGregor’s choreography sometimes seems to ‘go against’ the music, it provokes fascinating revelations and is, however, always extremely musical. In his 2014 work Kairos, to Max Richter’s … [Read more...] about Wayne McGregor fascinates with his new double-bill at La Scala: AfteRite + LORE