70th Anniversary celebrations 2020 marks English National Ballet’s 70th Anniversary with celebrations taking place throughout the 2019-2020 Season that give opportunities for the Company to say, ‘Thank You’ to its audiences, fans, friends and partners. The 70th Anniversary will be celebrated with three special Gala performances at the London Coliseum featuring extracts from a … [Read more...] about English National Ballet announces 2019-2020 70th Anniversary Season
Cinderella
English National Ballet presents Christopher Wheeldon’s Cinderella in-the-round
English National Ballet will perform a new in-the-round version of Christopher Wheeldon’s Cinderella at the Royal Albert Hall from 6-16 June 2019. Working from the dark Brothers Grimm version of the story, Wheeldon created Cinderella for Dutch National Ballet and San Francisco Ballet. Now he and his creative team reunite for the in-the-round re-staging. The production includes … [Read more...] about English National Ballet presents Christopher Wheeldon’s Cinderella in-the-round
Royal Swedish Opera auctions costumes to finance its activities for children
UPDATE 25 October 2018: The auction generated over €48,000 which will go to fund the opera house's activities for children and young people. "With this money, the Opera can offer performances for schools at a discounted prices," said Anna Karinsdotter, artistic director of the Young at the Opera programme. You might be just in time to pick up a prop or costume from The Royal … [Read more...] about Royal Swedish Opera auctions costumes to finance its activities for children
Old and new in English National Ballet’s 2016-2017 Season, Spring/Summer
The English National Ballet’s Spring/Summer 2017 season sees a refreshing nod to the company’s past with a revival of Rudolf Nureyev’s Romeo & Juliet during August of 2017 when the company makes a return to The Royal Festival Hall, its old hunting ground that it hasn’t revisited since 2008. Tamara Rojo has shown with her recent programming that she is investing in the … [Read more...] about Old and new in English National Ballet’s 2016-2017 Season, Spring/Summer
Violette Verdy… some words from Carla Fracci
Carla Fracci’s big break came in 1955 when she had to substitute Violette Verdy as Cinderella at La Scala. The 19-year-old Fracci had been asked to cover the role of Cinderella, and was dancing the Spring Fairy in December 1955. When a call came for Verdy to return to Paris for New Year’s Eve, the choreographer, Alfred Rodrigues, had second thoughts about entrusting the role … [Read more...] about Violette Verdy… some words from Carla Fracci
Mauro Bigonzetti to be the new director of ballet at La Scala
In today’s edition of La Repubblica, it is reported that the new director of the corps de ballet at La Scala will be Mauro Bigonzetti. The announcement is not yet official but apparently the decision has been made and the theatre’s General Manager, Alexander Pereira, has met with union representatives to tell them of his choice. It is a choice that will surprise many as … [Read more...] about Mauro Bigonzetti to be the new director of ballet at La Scala
La Scala’s new Cinderella opens with Polina Semionova and Roberto Bolle
Mauro Bigonzetti’s new Cinderella, set to Prokofiev’s score, opened at La Scala with fine performances from Polina Semionova and Roberto Bolle as the eponymous heroine and her prince. Bolle is in blazing form and he shows off in a very Prince-like/Bolle-ish way, often entering from the wings with a macho series of grand jeté which he does with a bold … [Read more...] about La Scala’s new Cinderella opens with Polina Semionova and Roberto Bolle
Cinderellas and Princes: Fracci, Semionova, Gades and Bolle
Polina Semionova and Roberto Bolle are about to open in Mauro Bigonzetti’s new production of Cinderella for La Scala. The publicity shots for the Corriere della sera’s magazine Io donna, reminded me of a photo of Carla Fracci and the great Spanish flamenco dancer Antonio Gades taken in 1996, the year, for both dancers, that saw their 60th birthday. We often see dancers pouting … [Read more...] about Cinderellas and Princes: Fracci, Semionova, Gades and Bolle
Ballet Nacional de Cuba prepares for its 30 city (yes, thirty!) tour of Spain
The Ballet Nacional de Cuba in early September for Spain on a tour that will take the company to almost 30 cities. They will take their greatest hits repertoire, including Swan Lake, Cinderella and Giselle. Less known pieces include En las sombras de un vals (In the shadows of a waltz), with choreography by Alicia Alonso on Strauss waltzes; Acentos (Accents), and Idilio … [Read more...] about Ballet Nacional de Cuba prepares for its 30 city (yes, thirty!) tour of Spain
Yuhui Choe on what it takes to get to Cinderella’s ball
Korean dancer Yuhui Choe is currently playing Cinderella on the stage of the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden. I try to speak the emotion from my body — the theatre is very big so I want everyone to sense what I’m saying." She talked to today's Times about her performance days. EVENING It is important to eat before I go on stage at 7.30pm, and I’ll usually … [Read more...] about Yuhui Choe on what it takes to get to Cinderella’s ball