Wayne McGregor We're so excited to bring Woolf Works to La Scala. It’s an amazing historic stage and the work is going to be fantastic in this theatre. The company is incredible and we've been really pleased to work with them over these last few weeks. I’m also excited because I made it with these two amazing Italian dancers [Alessandra Ferri and Federico Bonelli]. I thought … [Read more...] about Woolf Works at La Scala – McGregor, Richter, Ferri and Bonelli talk about making the ballet
Ballets Russes
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 year he joined The Royal Ballet. In 1963, the BBC asked the great Tamara Karsavina to comment on the new Russian dancer and compare him with her Ballets Russes partner Vaslav Nijinsky. Karsavina and Nijinsky had joined Diaghilev's troupe … [Read more...] about Tamara Karsavina compares Rudolf Nureyev and Vaslav Nijinsky
The first Benois-Massine prize is awarded in Moscow
The annual Benois de la danse prize-giving ceremony, one of the dance world’s most prestigious awards, was held at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow at the end of May. The prix is awarded not only to dancers and choreographers but also to composers and designers, reflecting Diaghilev’s noble concept that ballet is a fusion of all the arts. It is no coincidence, therefore, that the … [Read more...] about The first Benois-Massine prize is awarded in Moscow
Positano Massine Prize 2014: Ek, Laguna, Smirnova and Wheeldon honoured
The attraction that Positano and its seascape have always exercised over artists of the dance is the reason that, on 2 August 1969, the Premio Positano was established. Ten years later, on the death of Léonide Massine, the Award was named after him. Now into its 42nd edition, the 2014 Awards will be presented on Saturday 6 September in the captivating setting of Positano's main … [Read more...] about Positano Massine Prize 2014: Ek, Laguna, Smirnova and Wheeldon honoured
Fun and games with Carla Fracci, Genesia Rosato and George de la Peña
Jeux (Games) is the last work for orchestra written by Claude Debussy. It was composed for Serge Diaghilev's Ballets Russes with Vaslav Nijinsky's choreography. Jeux was was not a success when premiered in 1913, but this was nothing compared to the reception Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring received just two weeks later! Herbert Ross' 1980 biopic Nijinsky recreated several of … [Read more...] about Fun and games with Carla Fracci, Genesia Rosato and George de la Peña
Lifar’s Suite en Blanc “a clever, intriguing and intricately patterned work”
Well you can't blame them for trying. "Black & White: featuring the Black Swan pas de deux" was the cringe-making publicity for the English National Ballet's mixed programme. It didn't however draw the critics' attention away from the real gem of the evening: Suite en Blanc is a little-seen ballet by Serge Lifar, the last star of Diaghilev's Ballets Russes, that has been … [Read more...] about Lifar’s Suite en Blanc “a clever, intriguing and intricately patterned work”