Dorothée Gilbert and Hugo Marchand (Paris Opera Ballet), Jacopo Tissi and Alena Kovaleva (Bolshoi Ballet), Bakhtiyar Adamzhan (Astana Opera, Kazakhstan), Tatiana Melnik (Hungarian National Ballet), … [Read more...] about Photo album: Gala Les Étoiles at Ravenna Festival with international ballet stars
Black Swan
Derek Deane on 20 years of his Swan Lake ‘in the round’
Swan Lake 'in the round' has been performed for 7 seasons at the Royal Albert Hall since its conception in 1997, so this year marks its 20th anniversary. It has also been seen in Melbourne, Sydney, … [Read more...] about Derek Deane on 20 years of his Swan Lake ‘in the round’
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: It was a tough struggle at the Vaganova Academy. I … [Read more...] about Svetlana Zakharova: When they cut my costume in half
Maria Riccetto answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition
Q&A When did you start dancing? When I was 6. Why did you start dancing? My mother thought it would be great for me, and my parents needed to find something for me to do after … [Read more...] about Maria Riccetto answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition
Natalia Osipova and Claudio Coviello début in Nureyev’s Swan Lake
Prince Siegfried sleeps on his throne and in his dream he sees the evil Rothbart carrying off a white swan into the sky. This is how Rudolf Nureyev's version of Swan Lake begins, and ends. The ballet … [Read more...] about Natalia Osipova and Claudio Coviello début in Nureyev’s Swan Lake
Critics round-up: Peter Schaufuss’ Tchaikovsky Trilogy
This promises to be the most fun critics round-up yet. Rarely have reviews been so unanimously foul. Being that there was so little to save, the critics left their stars in the drawer, and polished … [Read more...] about Critics round-up: Peter Schaufuss’ Tchaikovsky Trilogy
Roberto Bolle: I conquered America… ABT, Black Swan and solitude
After Roberto Bolle's Romeo and Juliet with the American Ballet Theatre in New York, Italy's gossip magazine Chi sent their editor Alsonso Signorini to interview him, and photographer Fabrizio Cestari … [Read more...] about Roberto Bolle: I conquered America… ABT, Black Swan and solitude
An interview with Daniil Simkin
While American Ballet Theatre Dancer Daniil Simkin was in Taipei City in Taiwan for an international ballet gala, the Taipei Times took the opportunity to ask him a few questions: You come from a … [Read more...] about An interview with Daniil Simkin
Top 10 actors on IMDb in 2011
International Movie Database's Top 10 Stars list this year: Natalie Portman Mila Kunis Johnny Depp Emma Stone Chris Hemsworth Olivia Wilde Jennifer Lawrence George Clooney Ryan … [Read more...] about Top 10 actors on IMDb in 2011
Ken Russell dies at 84
Ken Russell, the British director of "Women in Love" and "The Devils", has died at the age of 84. In a statement his wife said, It was completely unexpected. He had recently agreed to direct the … [Read more...] about Ken Russell dies at 84
Royal Ballet’s Deborah Bull talks to The Times
Deborah Bull's book The Everyday Dancer (published by Faber and Faber,£14.99) is in the shops. An essential read for those in the ballet world, and interesting for those close by! Bull talked to … [Read more...] about Royal Ballet’s Deborah Bull talks to The Times
Mikhail Baryshnikov on boycotts, ballet, ‘Black Swan’, Studio 54, ‘Sex and the City’, contemporary dance and being a sex symbol
As "In Paris" arrives in Tel Aviv for nine performances, Mikhail Baryshnikov talked to Elad Samorzik of Haaretz: On age and repertoire "Listen, I am 63 years-old. It depends what you're … [Read more...] about Mikhail Baryshnikov on boycotts, ballet, ‘Black Swan’, Studio 54, ‘Sex and the City’, contemporary dance and being a sex symbol
The Royal Ballet’s Deborah Bull: ‘ There is no reason for any of us to be missing lunch’
On the publication of Deborah Bull's new book The Everyday Dancer she talked to The Observer's Kate Kellaway. Here are some of her words: On family It was a singing and dancing family… My mum was … [Read more...] about The Royal Ballet’s Deborah Bull: ‘ There is no reason for any of us to be missing lunch’
Critics round-up: Mariinsky at Covent Garden, Swan Lake
The Mariinsky kicked off their 3-week stay at the Royal Opera House with Swan Lake. An obvious, and right, choice, Immutable is the Mariinsky’s root foundation in classical tradition. Everything they … [Read more...] about Critics round-up: Mariinsky at Covent Garden, Swan Lake
The ‘other’ Italian dancing star: Giuseppe Picone talks about anorexia, lunch with Diana, and the cut-throat world of American ballet
The 'other' Italian dancing star is Giuseppe Picone. For many Italians, especially the ones who rarely go to the theatre, Roberto Bolle is the only ballerino in the world worth watching. Many buy … [Read more...] about The ‘other’ Italian dancing star: Giuseppe Picone talks about anorexia, lunch with Diana, and the cut-throat world of American ballet
Critics’ Roundup: the Mariinsky in London, Swan Lake
In a splattering of mainly four and five-star reviews it was, perhaps surprisingly, the Financial Times's Clement Crisp, maybe the hardest critic to please, who showered compliments over the company … [Read more...] about Critics’ Roundup: the Mariinsky in London, Swan Lake
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 Giancarlo Dotto for Italy's Gioia magazine: Would you have … [Read more...] about Roberto Bolle on why Natalie Portman should give back her Oscar… and more
ABT’s Swan Lake: the unemotional performances meant there probably wasn’t a damp eye in the house
"Unemotional", "expressive limitations", "without real excitement", not a good start to the American Ballet Theatre's current run of Swan Lake. The production maybe doesn't help the principals, as … [Read more...] about ABT’s Swan Lake: the unemotional performances meant there probably wasn’t a damp eye in the house
Matthew Bourne: “a lot of young people think that it’s odd to have women as swans”
Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake will be shown on television 3-D. Ahead of its showing The Times talked to the choreographer. Here are some of the questions he was asked: Where would you be without Swan … [Read more...] about Matthew Bourne: “a lot of young people think that it’s odd to have women as swans”
Natalie Portman’s personal ballet trainer sees business boom by 5,000%
Three years ago, the New York City Ballet dancer and owner of fitness company Ballet Beautiful got a chance to train Natalie Portman for her role in the film ''Black Swan.'' The association with … [Read more...] about Natalie Portman’s personal ballet trainer sees business boom by 5,000%
Tamara Rojo interview: “I start from zero – I go back to the steps to find all the feelings again”
Five minutes in the company of Tamara Rojo and you don’t just want to interview her: you want her to be your best friend. Funny, clever, phenomenally articulate, she responds to each question with … [Read more...] about Tamara Rojo interview: “I start from zero – I go back to the steps to find all the feelings again”
Sarah Lane’s back, this time on ABC, talking about being Natalie Portman’s ‘Black Swan’ Dance Double
In her first television interview on ABC's "20/20's" with Elizabeth Vargas, Sarah Lane, the ballerina who was Natalie Portman's dance double in "Black Swan," accused film-makers of lying about how … [Read more...] about Sarah Lane’s back, this time on ABC, talking about being Natalie Portman’s ‘Black Swan’ Dance Double
José Manuel Carreño and the Feijoo sisters on Dancing with the Stars
As part of Classical Week on America's Dancing With The Stars, the season’s first “Macy’s Stars of Dance” performance featured three of the most famous ballet dancers in America today, though all … [Read more...] about José Manuel Carreño and the Feijoo sisters on Dancing with the Stars
The Guardian says: vote for ballet… online
The question that the newspaper is asking is: "A row has erupted over whether Natalie Portman danced most of her ballet scenes in Black Swan. Does it matter whether it was her or 'ballet double' … [Read more...] about The Guardian says: vote for ballet… online
Darren Aronofsky defends Natalie Portman in ‘Black Swan’ controversy
Responding to claims that Black Swan star Natalie Portman didn’t do the majority of her on-screen dancing in her Oscar-winning role, director Darren Aronofsky released the following statement through … [Read more...] about Darren Aronofsky defends Natalie Portman in ‘Black Swan’ controversy
‘Black Swan’ controversy: ‘Natalie herself did most of the dancing,’ insist filmmakers. Her double disagrees.
A claim by Natalie Portman’s ballet double from the movie Black Swan alleging that the Oscar-winning actress did not perform the majority of that film’s dance sequences has quickly been challenged. … [Read more...] about ‘Black Swan’ controversy: ‘Natalie herself did most of the dancing,’ insist filmmakers. Her double disagrees.
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 … [Read more...] about Lifar’s Suite en Blanc “a clever, intriguing and intricately patterned work”
OSCARs 2011 – quotes and winners
OSCAR quotes: "I have a feeling my career's just peaked." - Colin Firth, upon winning best actor. “I thought it would be nice to celebrate film rather than fashion.” - Bonham Carter said of the … [Read more...] about OSCARs 2011 – quotes and winners
“Grace”, ABC’s new tv drama set in the world of professional dance, will star Eric Roberts
The new ABC pilot follows dysfunctional family drama set in the world of professional dance and it’s from "Grey’s Anatomy" writer Krista Vernoff. Eric Roberts will play patriarch Michael Grace in … [Read more...] about “Grace”, ABC’s new tv drama set in the world of professional dance, will star Eric Roberts
Sara Mearns, swan queen extraordinaire, in a 2006 interview with Time Out magazine: A Swan is Born
Mearns, who joined the New York City Ballet in 2004, became a soloist in 2006 soon after her début in Swan Lake. She became Principal Dancer in 2008. This is an interview she left soon after her first … [Read more...] about Sara Mearns, swan queen extraordinaire, in a 2006 interview with Time Out magazine: A Swan is Born
