Three Italian dancers who were on tour in Saudi Arabia died in the desert outside Riyadh after their car went off the road. The dynamics of the incident are not yet clear. The three dancers were on a … [Read more...] about Three Italian dancers die in a car accident in Saudi Arabia
Daniele Cipriani
Choreographer Micha van Hoecke has died at 77
Choreographer and director Micha van Hoecke has died after a long illness, at 77. He was a leading figure in Italian and European dance from the early 1960s. He began as a dancer with Roland Petit, … [Read more...] about Choreographer Micha van Hoecke has died at 77
A captivating dance tribute to Stravinsky at Italy’s Nervi Festival
A programme of dance dedicated to Igor Stravinsky on the 50th anniversary of his death launched the dance season at this year’s Nervi Music Ballet Festival. The pieces on the programme for … [Read more...] about A captivating dance tribute to Stravinsky at Italy’s Nervi Festival
Davide Dato stars in the Italian premiere of Uwe Scholz’s The Rite of Spring
Uwe Scholz's version of Le Sacre du printemps (The Rite of Spring) will be performed for the first time in Italy by Davide Dato, principal dancer at the Vienna State Ballet. The work is part of an … [Read more...] about Davide Dato stars in the Italian premiere of Uwe Scholz’s The Rite of Spring
A new John Neumeier work brings two Italian dancers back home
Jacopo Bellussi and Alessandro Frola return to Italy to perform John Neumeier’s new work Peter and Igor in Stravinsky’s Love – a show commemorating the 50th anniversary of Stravinsky’s … [Read more...] about A new John Neumeier work brings two Italian dancers back home
Stravinsky celebrated in music and dance at Nervi, Ravenna and Rome festivals
On 8 July at the Nervi Music Ballet Festival 2021, a new programme of music and dance called Stravinsky’s Love will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the composer’s death*. The celebrated Russian … [Read more...] about Stravinsky celebrated in music and dance at Nervi, Ravenna and Rome festivals
Les Étoiles online: Nuñez, Muntagirov, Salenko, Kim, Shklyarov et al
ITsART is a new virtual platform dedicated to the digital dissemination of artistic and cultural content from or about Italy. Free content includes journeys through museums, libraries, archaeological … [Read more...] about Les Étoiles online: Nuñez, Muntagirov, Salenko, Kim, Shklyarov et al
Italian dance impresario offers takeaway theatre shows
Takeaway culture was an idea that came to Italian impresario Daniele Cipriani one morning on his way to his local bar in Rome: By now we are used to taking everything away, from dinner to coffee, … [Read more...] about Italian dance impresario offers takeaway theatre shows
Ballet treats to view online during the holidays
Dance programming for the festive period from companies all over the world are many: free, subscription and pay-per-view. Here are some that have caught my eye. Please feel free to signal in the … [Read more...] about Ballet treats to view online during the holidays
All male dance gala of ‘Duets and Solos’ streaming free from Modena
Duets and Solos is a Covid-safe dance gala idea devised by Italian producer Daniele Cipriani when the pandemic crippled the programming plans of the Italian open-air festivals. Social distancing for … [Read more...] about All male dance gala of ‘Duets and Solos’ streaming free from Modena
Eleonora Abbagnato shines in Four Seasons, created for strange times
The Covid-safe dance piece 4 stagioni (Four Seasons) was created for Rome Opera Ballet after the opera, dance and concert summer programme at the Caracalla Baths was cancelled in May. Opera Roma … [Read more...] about Eleonora Abbagnato shines in Four Seasons, created for strange times
[Review] Beethoven’s ballet The Creatures of Prometheus with striking Capucci costumes
Italian producer Daniele Cipriani seems to be resuscitating dance in Italy almost singlehandedly. The first main dance event in the country was conceived by him and presented in mid-July to open the … [Read more...] about [Review] Beethoven’s ballet The Creatures of Prometheus with striking Capucci costumes
Duets and solos in the open-air – live dance returns to Italy
The first live dance event in Italy took place at the Nervi International Festival of Ballet and Music, opening the two-week festival in Nervi’s coastal park with a backdrop to the stage of palm trees … [Read more...] about Duets and solos in the open-air – live dance returns to Italy
World premiere of The Creatures of Prometheus/The Creatures of Capucci at the Spoleto Festival in Italy
Beethoven and haute couture – not the first pairing that comes to mind. Le Creature di Prometeo/Le creature di Capucci (The Creatures of Prometheus/The Creatures of Capucci) celebrates this … [Read more...] about World premiere of The Creatures of Prometheus/The Creatures of Capucci at the Spoleto Festival in Italy
Italy’s first post-lockdown dance event is announced
After theatres were forced to close their doors three months ago, in Italy there is some tentative nudging to open them creating a chink of hope. As with the Arena in Verona, Pesaro and other summer … [Read more...] about Italy’s first post-lockdown dance event is announced
Dancing Times, May Edition with the Danza in Italia column
Life is challenging, but Dancing Times soldiers on, as it has done for 110 years, more than any other dance publication. In all that time, even during world wars, it has never missed publishing an … [Read more...] about Dancing Times, May Edition with the Danza in Italia column
Les Étoiles for three days shone over Rome
The annual orgy of dance that kicks off the year in Rome, known as Les Étoiles, began in 2015 with an evening in the Auditorium della Conciliazione near the Vatican with its 1,700 seats. The gala has … [Read more...] about Les Étoiles for three days shone over Rome
Costume fitting: Roberto Capucci’s costumes for Sergio Bernal and Young Gyu Choi for Les Étoiles
Roberto Capucci, the creator of the most exquisite gowns, now at the age of 90, has designed costumes for the dancers Sergio Bernal and Young Gyu Choi. They will go on stage for three galas, Les … [Read more...] about Costume fitting: Roberto Capucci’s costumes for Sergio Bernal and Young Gyu Choi for Les Étoiles
Les Étoiles Gala in Rome 2020 features the ballet world’s starriest names with some surprises
The annual appointment with Les Étoiles in Rome is certainly a chance to enjoy a thrilling ballet gala, but the producer Daniele Cipriani also finds interesting twists to make each edition unique, so … [Read more...] about Les Étoiles Gala in Rome 2020 features the ballet world’s starriest names with some surprises
Dancing Times, November 2019 edition – with Gramilano’s Danza in Italia column including Sleeping Beauty at La Scala and Pink Floyd in Verona
The latest issue of Dancing Times magazine (out on Friday) contains a double-page spread dedicated to the Gramilano 'Danza in Italia' column reviews, with a look at Rudolph Nureyev's Sleeping Beauty … [Read more...] about Dancing Times, November 2019 edition – with Gramilano’s Danza in Italia column including Sleeping Beauty at La Scala and Pink Floyd in Verona
SHINE Pink Floyd Moon – a dazzling new dance work casts its magic spell
SHINE Pink Floyd Moon is a new dance work from Belgian choreographer, Micha van Hoecke, based on the British band’s most celebrated tracks. Their music is performed live by a ‘tribute’ band, Pink … [Read more...] about SHINE Pink Floyd Moon – a dazzling new dance work casts its magic spell
SHINE – the Pink Floyd Rock-Opera Ballet in Verona’s Teatro Romano, 5 September
"You must understand that you are another world in miniature, and that there is in you sun and moon and also stars." It’s certainly unusual to kick off a press release about a dance show with a quote … [Read more...] about SHINE – the Pink Floyd Rock-Opera Ballet in Verona’s Teatro Romano, 5 September
Rock ballet ‘SHINE Pink Floyd Moon’ by Micha van Hoecke tours Italy’s open air festivals
Belgian choreographer, Micha van Hoecke, has collaborated extensively with conductor Riccardo Muti over the years, providing choreography for operas when the Maestro was head of La Scala, and then … [Read more...] about Rock ballet ‘SHINE Pink Floyd Moon’ by Micha van Hoecke tours Italy’s open air festivals
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
Les Étoiles dance gala closes the 2019 Ravenna Festival
The Ravenna Festival was founded in 1990 by Cristina Mazzavillani Muti, with a rich programme which includes symphonic and chamber music, opera, drama, dance, ballet, musical theatre, jazz, and ethnic … [Read more...] about Les Étoiles dance gala closes the 2019 Ravenna Festival
Dance in Italy – Spoleto Festival’s Dance Gala with Abbagnato, Vogel, Frola, Dato and many more on 30 June
There are many, many Italian dancers scattered around companies throughout the world. Some are in the corps de ballet, others are principal dancers, but all continue the tradition that made Italian … [Read more...] about Dance in Italy – Spoleto Festival’s Dance Gala with Abbagnato, Vogel, Frola, Dato and many more on 30 June
Dancing Times, May edition – including Gramilano’s Danza in Italia column reviewing world premieres of Winterreise and Carmen
Dancing Times’ May issue is out now, with a glorious cover featuring Margot Fonteyn – the only dancer to be given the title prima ballerina assoluta by The Royal Ballet – who was born 100 years ago on … [Read more...] about Dancing Times, May edition – including Gramilano’s Danza in Italia column reviewing world premieres of Winterreise and Carmen
Les Étoiles in Rome – Nuñez, Muntagirov, Novikova, Sarafanov, Alexandrova, Lantratov, Semionova…
Les Étoiles in Rome - Marianela Nuñez, Vadim Muntagirov, Olesya Novikova, Leonid Sarafanov, Maria Alexandrova, Vladislav Lantratov, Polina Semionova, Dmitry Semionov, Tatiana Melnik, Bakhtiyar … [Read more...] about Les Étoiles in Rome – Nuñez, Muntagirov, Novikova, Sarafanov, Alexandrova, Lantratov, Semionova…
Antipasto to the annual Les Étoiles gala in Rome with Russian and Italian ballet stars
As an antipasto to the annual Les Étoiles gala in Rome — this year a sold out two days, next year there will be three — in the luxurious setting of the Hotel de Russie near the Spanish Steps, there … [Read more...] about Antipasto to the annual Les Étoiles gala in Rome with Russian and Italian ballet stars
The world’s ballet Étoiles army arrives in Rome, conquering with its art
It’s become an annual event in Rome – after the Christmas holidays and the last bite of panettone, comes the Daniele Cipriani Entertainment dance gala with some of the best and biggest names in ballet … [Read more...] about The world’s ballet Étoiles army arrives in Rome, conquering with its art