In memoriam 2025: a personal list remembering some of the artists who died in 2025. Links lead to Wikipedia articles. January Marianne Faithfull, 78, English singer ("As Tears Go By"), … [Read more...] about In Memoriam 2025: artists who died this year… Singers, Dancers, Actors, Musicians, Writers, Directors
Bolshoi Ballet
Interview: Elizaveta Kokoreva, the Bolshoi Ballet’s youngest star, comes to Rome
Elizaveta Kokoreva makes her debut in the West when she dances in the Les Étoiles galas in Rome on 4 and 5 January. Elizaveta Kokoreva was promoted to the top rank of dancers at the Bolshoi Theatre … [Read more...] about Interview: Elizaveta Kokoreva, the Bolshoi Ballet’s youngest star, comes to Rome
Review: Swan Lake with the State Ballet of Georgia in London
Jonathan Gray sees the State Ballet of Georgia's production of Swan Lake: "Step by step, moment by moment, act by act, I felt my heart sinking." TitleSwan Lake CompanyState Ballet of … [Read more...] about Review: Swan Lake with the State Ballet of Georgia in London
Nina Ananiashvili – A Personal Portrait of Her Life and Work
Margaret Willis looks back at her 40-year-old friendship with Nina Ananiashvili on the eve of the great ballerina's return to London with her company, the State Ballet of Georgia. Imagine you have … [Read more...] about Nina Ananiashvili – A Personal Portrait of Her Life and Work
Review: the autobiography of Anna Maria Prina, director of La Scala Ballet School for more than three decades
The preface to Incontro con la danza (Encounters with Dance) is by writer Paola Calvetti, who opens with: “Anna Maria Prina has always been the ‘Director’,” the ‘direttrice’. ‘La’ Prina (as the … [Read more...] about Review: the autobiography of Anna Maria Prina, director of La Scala Ballet School for more than three decades
Svetlana Zakharova performances in South Korea are cancelled
The Korea Herald reports that Svetlana Zakharova’s planned performances in Seoul have been cancelled. Yesterday, the producers, InArts Production, said, We have been planning and preparing for … [Read more...] about Svetlana Zakharova performances in South Korea are cancelled
The second Dance for Ukraine gala at The London Palladium
Ivan Putrov’s second Dance for Ukraine gala in support of his home country, ahead of the anniversary of the war, will be held on Sunday 18 February 2024. Olga Smirnova will be making her first UK … [Read more...] about The second Dance for Ukraine gala at The London Palladium
Nina Ananiashvili brings State Ballet of Georgia to London in summer 2024
The State Ballet of Georgia based in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi will visit London in 2024. The company’s last visit to the UK was in 2008 when it performed at the Edinburgh International … [Read more...] about Nina Ananiashvili brings State Ballet of Georgia to London in summer 2024
[Review and Photo Album] Olga Smirnova and Jacopo Tissi in Swan Lake at La Scala
A Swan Lake with two of the Bolshoi Ballet Company principals who left the company after Russia invaded Ukraine – Olga Smirnova, one of Russia’s brightest stars, and the Italian Jacopo Tissi who was … [Read more...] about [Review and Photo Album] Olga Smirnova and Jacopo Tissi in Swan Lake at La Scala
After the Bolshoi, Jacopo Tissi joins Dutch National Ballet
Jacopo Tissi has been offered a contract as principal dancer with the Dutch National Ballet (Het Nationale Ballet) in Amsterdam. He left the same position at the Bolshoi Theatre in 2022 after Russia … [Read more...] about After the Bolshoi, Jacopo Tissi joins Dutch National Ballet
La Scala and Manuel Legris remember Pierre Lacotte
Pierre Lacotte: 4 April 1932 – 10 April 2023 The Teatro alla Scala and its ballet company, the intendant Dominque Meyer and the ballet director Manuel Legris, join the mourning dance world for the … [Read more...] about La Scala and Manuel Legris remember Pierre Lacotte
The Bolshoi Theatre’s Ballet Day online
The Russian theatres will not be taking part in World Ballet Day on 2 November, but The Bolshoi Theatre will host its annual live stream of dance on its YouTube channel on the eve of World Ballet … [Read more...] about The Bolshoi Theatre’s Ballet Day online
[Interview] Olga Smirnova on leaving the Bolshoi Ballet – Everyone must deal with their conscience
In an interview with Italy’s Corriere della Sera newspaper, Olga Smirnova – the courageously outspoken Bolshoi star who has left Russia to join the Dutch National Ballet – talked about her bold … [Read more...] about [Interview] Olga Smirnova on leaving the Bolshoi Ballet – Everyone must deal with their conscience
Jacopo Tissi moves from the Bolshoi Ballet to La Scala
From the 2022-2023 season, Jacopo Tissi will be a guest principal dancer with the La Scala Ballet Company. The contract has been agreed with ballet director Manuel Legris and theatre manager Dominique … [Read more...] about Jacopo Tissi moves from the Bolshoi Ballet to La Scala
Extraordinary dancers will dance for Ukraine in Naples and Milan
Some of the dance names that have been making headlines recently will dance for Ukraine in two upcoming galas in Italy: Olga Smirnova, Victor Caixeta, Jacopo Tissi, Iana Salenko, Anastasia Matvienko … [Read more...] about Extraordinary dancers will dance for Ukraine in Naples and Milan
Olga Smirnova leaves the Bolshoi Company for Amsterdam
The Russian principal dancer Olga Smirnova, an outspoken critic of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, has decided to leave the Bolshoi Ballet Company where she is one of its most popular and admired … [Read more...] about Olga Smirnova leaves the Bolshoi Company for Amsterdam
Principal dancers leave the Mariinsky and Bolshoi companies
Principal dancer Jacopo Tissi has decided to leave the Bolshoi ballet company and principal Xander Parish the Mariinsky because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. They are both exceptional as there … [Read more...] about Principal dancers leave the Mariinsky and Bolshoi companies
The Australian Ballet to stream three story-ballets live
The Australian Ballet, now under its new Artistic Director David Hallberg, has announced three new titles as part of its 2022 live stream series: Live on Ballet TV. Anna Karenina will be streamed … [Read more...] about The Australian Ballet to stream three story-ballets live
The Bolshoi’s new principal dancer Jacopo Tissi returns to La Scala with Zakharova
La Scala’s new production of La Bayadère, which was moved from the holiday period to the end of January because of multiple Covid-19 infections among the dancers, has resulted in recasting because of … [Read more...] about The Bolshoi’s new principal dancer Jacopo Tissi returns to La Scala with Zakharova
Italy’s Jacopo Tissi is promoted to Principal Dancer at the Bolshoi
Italian dancer Jacopo Tissi has been promoted to the top rank of the Bolshoi Company dancers in Moscow. Tissi is now a Principal Dancer alongside Artemy Belyakov, Semyon Chudin, Vladislav Lantratov, … [Read more...] about Italy’s Jacopo Tissi is promoted to Principal Dancer at the Bolshoi
#WorldBalletDay 2021 – the global celebration of dance
The Royal Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet and The Australian Ballet have announced that #WorldBalletDay 2021 will take place on 19 October. The global celebration returns for its eighth year, bringing … [Read more...] about #WorldBalletDay 2021 – the global celebration of dance
Bolshoi Ballet director on injury, race, harassment and a new theatre
Makhar Vaziev, artistic director of the Bolshoi Ballet company, talks about some of the most discussed problems in ballet today, as well as wanting a third theatre in Moscow for the Bolshoi opera and … [Read more...] about Bolshoi Ballet director on injury, race, harassment and a new theatre
Violetta Elvin, Royal Ballet prima ballerina, dies at 97
The great Russian dancer, Violetta Elvin, dancer of the Bolshoi Ballet Company and prima ballerina of The Royal Ballet, died on 27 May at the age of 97. Elvin had lived in Vico Equense in the … [Read more...] about Violetta Elvin, Royal Ballet prima ballerina, dies at 97
Russian Ballet: Quarantine, death, and the reality of performing during a pandemic
Many ballet lovers – both online fans and offline friends – have been voicing their resentment that ballet in Europe and America is either not permitted, or has to comply with social distancing … [Read more...] about Russian Ballet: Quarantine, death, and the reality of performing during a pandemic
#WorldBalletDay 2020: The Royal Ballet, Bolshoi and Australian Ballet itineraries for 29 October
World Ballet Day 2020 on 29 October, will be the biggest ever celebration of global dance with 40 dance companies participating in this year’s live streamed event. Dance companies from around the … [Read more...] about #WorldBalletDay 2020: The Royal Ballet, Bolshoi and Australian Ballet itineraries for 29 October
Interview: Who is Jacopo Tissi? The Bolshoi’s enigmatic Italian star talks about Moscow, Milan and London, “It certainly wasn’t easy”
Three years ago, Jacopo Tissi left La Scala to join the Bolshoi Company in Moscow. Makhar Vaziev, the Company’s current director, was previously the director at La Scala and had seen Tissi’s work. It … [Read more...] about Interview: Who is Jacopo Tissi? The Bolshoi’s enigmatic Italian star talks about Moscow, Milan and London, “It certainly wasn’t easy”
Photo album: Gala Les Étoiles at Ravenna Festival with international ballet stars
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
Photo album: Osiel Gouneo as Spartacus with the Bayerisches Staatsballett
The Bayerisches Staatsballett is the first Western European company to dance Yuri Grigorovich’s Spartacus, which he created in 1968 for the Bolshoi Ballet. It has become the trademark Soviet ballet. … [Read more...] about Photo album: Osiel Gouneo as Spartacus with the Bayerisches Staatsballett
Danza in Italia column returns in the latest issue of Dancing Times
The latest issue of Dancing Times magazine, November 2018, is being shipped to newstands as I write. The new Danza in Italia column looks at Rudolf Nureyev's Don Quixote at Teatro alla Scala, with … [Read more...] about Danza in Italia column returns in the latest issue of Dancing Times
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 – ooh yes; Giselle – lovely; Taming of the Shrew? – err. Word of mouth … [Read more...] about The impeccable Bolshoi dancers in Maillot’s slick Taming of the Shrew at La Scala