The new ballet season at La Scala sees seven programmes, including three pieces being presented at the theatre for the first time, including a newly commissioned work. George Balanchine’s The … [Read more...] about La Scala Ballet Season 2018-2019 announced
Federico Bonelli
Photo Album: preview of tonight’s opening cast of Manon with Francesca Hayward and Federico Bonelli
Kenneth MacMillan’s Manon is revived at Covent Garden as part of continuing celebrations of MacMillan’s profound impact on British ballet, to mark the 25th anniversary of his death. Tonight's opening … [Read more...] about Photo Album: preview of tonight’s opening cast of Manon with Francesca Hayward and Federico Bonelli
Yanowsky’s Back! Making a comeback faster than Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra famously retired in 1970 only to make a comeback three years later, after which he continued to sing into the '90s. Former Royal Ballet Principal Zenaida Yanowsky is making a faster … [Read more...] about Yanowsky’s Back! Making a comeback faster than Frank Sinatra
Photo album: Opening night at The Royal Ballet includes premiere of Liam Scarlett’s Symphonic Dances
The latest mixed-programme from The Royal Ballet was unveiled last night and will run until the end of this month. "Virtuoso dance from The Royal Ballet in a programme that includes Forsythe and … [Read more...] about Photo album: Opening night at The Royal Ballet includes premiere of Liam Scarlett’s Symphonic Dances
Sergei Polunin returns to dance with Natalia Osipova at The Royal Ballet
Former Royal Ballet Principal Sergei Polunin will partner Natalia Osipova in June, when he returns to dance in Frederick Ashton’s Marguerite and Armand. Other casting sees another former Royal Ballet … [Read more...] about Sergei Polunin returns to dance with Natalia Osipova at The Royal Ballet
Royal Ballet’s 70th anniversary revival of The Sleeping Beauty – casting and photos
The Sleeping Beauty reopened the Royal Opera House after the war in February 1946 when the Company first took up residence in Covent Garden with Margot Fonteyn dancing the role of Princess … [Read more...] about Royal Ballet’s 70th anniversary revival of The Sleeping Beauty – casting and photos
The Royal Ballet celebrates Peter Wright’s 90th birthday
Last night The Royal Ballet dedicated the performance of The Nutcracker to its choreographer Sir Peter Wright who tomorrow, 25 November,celebrates his 90th birthday. His production of the Christmas … [Read more...] about The Royal Ballet celebrates Peter Wright’s 90th birthday
First glimpse of Wayne McGregor’s new work, Multiverse, for The Royal Ballet
The curtain has just gone down on the Wayne McGregor triple bill at the Royal Opera House, London. The Royal Ballet is celebrating McGregor’s tenth anniversary as its Resident Choreographer with an … [Read more...] about First glimpse of Wayne McGregor’s new work, Multiverse, for The Royal Ballet
Royal Ballet Autumn Season 2016 – 2017 – full dates and casts
The Royal Ballet has released the casting for their Autumn Season, from September 2016 until January 2017. Roberta Marquez will return as Guest Artist to dance two farewell performances in one of her … [Read more...] about Royal Ballet Autumn Season 2016 – 2017 – full dates and casts
Critics round-up: Liam Scarlett’s Frankenstein, The Royal Ballet
Not many critics go back as far as the Financial Times’s Clement Crisp, so his saying that The Royal Ballet’s new Frankenstein is, …a balletic evening as bizarre as any I have known at Covent Garden … [Read more...] about Critics round-up: Liam Scarlett’s Frankenstein, The Royal Ballet
Strapless is Christopher Wheeldon’s latest work for The Royal Ballet
Strapless is Christopher Wheeldon’s latest work for The Royal Ballet and is inspired by the scandalous Portrait of Madame X painted by John Singer Sargent in 1884. Strapless is part of a Wheeldon … [Read more...] about Strapless is Christopher Wheeldon’s latest work for The Royal Ballet
First Look: Carlos Acosta’s Carmen for The Royal Ballet
It is 10.30pm in London, and the curtain has just gone down on The Royal Ballet's new quadruple bill which includes Carlos Acosta's new creation for the company: Carmen. Here are the first … [Read more...] about First Look: Carlos Acosta’s Carmen for The Royal Ballet
Marianela Nuñez leads out the Royal Ballet for their American tour
The Royal Ballet returns to the USA in June 2015 with programmes that reflect both the company’s heritage and its contemporary repertoire. It also brings with it the extraordinary lineup of dancers … [Read more...] about Marianela Nuñez leads out the Royal Ballet for their American tour
Royal Ballet Onegin casting 2015: débuts for Osipova, Golding and Muntagirov
John Cranko's masterpiece, Onegin, returns to the Royal Opera House at the end of this month. Created for the Stuttgart Ballet in 1965, the Royal Ballet first performed this production in 2001 and … [Read more...] about Royal Ballet Onegin casting 2015: débuts for Osipova, Golding and Muntagirov
Casting for Royal Ballet triple bill in March and La fille mal gardée in April
THE FOUR TEMPERAMENTS / NEW HOFESH SHECHTER / SONG OF THE EARTH George Balanchine / NEW Hofesh Shechter / Kenneth MacMillan Music: Paul Hindemith / Koen Kessels / Gustav Mahler 27, 30 March, 8, 10, … [Read more...] about Casting for Royal Ballet triple bill in March and La fille mal gardée in April
Global First: 5 top ballet companies in live streaming on 1 October
The first ever World Ballet Day will see an unprecedented collaboration between five of the world’s leading ballet companies from five different countries: Russia, The United Kingdom, America, Canada … [Read more...] about Global First: 5 top ballet companies in live streaming on 1 October
Osipova, McRae and Watson in Marriott’s new Royal Ballet work Connectome
Alastair Marriott’s new work Connectome gets its world première as the centrepiece of the final programme of the Royal Ballet Season. It is sandwiched between two light-hearted classics: Ashton’s The … [Read more...] about Osipova, McRae and Watson in Marriott’s new Royal Ballet work Connectome
Xander Parish answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition
Q&A When did you start dancing? I started dancing when I was 8 years old. Why did you start dancing? After seeing my younger sister (Demelza Parish currently with The Royal Ballet) … [Read more...] about Xander Parish answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition
The dance drain: who will save ballet in Italy?
Italians are great dancers, but they don't get much opportunity to demonstrate that in their homeland. The history of ballet is adorned with Italian talent: Giuseppina Bozzacchi was the … [Read more...] about The dance drain: who will save ballet in Italy?
Critics round-up: Royal Ballet’s “Birthday Offering”, “A Month in the Country” and “Noces”
Monica Mason's last pickings from the Royal Ballet repertoire before leaving her post as the company's director included two works by the Royal Ballet’s founder choreographer, Frederick Ashton … [Read more...] about Critics round-up: Royal Ballet’s “Birthday Offering”, “A Month in the Country” and “Noces”
Critics Round-Up: An ‘imaginatively crafted delight’ or a ‘thin ballet’? Royal Ballet’s Alice
We know that the Royal Ballet's dancers are exceptional, we've seen that the designs and lighting are magical, but the jury is still out on whether Christopher Wheeldon's Alice's Adventures in … [Read more...] about Critics Round-Up: An ‘imaginatively crafted delight’ or a ‘thin ballet’? Royal Ballet’s Alice
Critics Round-up: Royal Ballet’s Sleeping Beauty
In 2006 Monica Mason decided to go back to the beginning with the Royal Ballet's signature ballet, The Sleeping Beauty: consign the 2003 Makarova disaster ("dramatically shapeless and emotionally … [Read more...] about Critics Round-up: Royal Ballet’s Sleeping Beauty
Critics Round-up: Royal Ballet’s Limen/Marguerite and Armand/Requiem
It seems that the Royal Ballet can't go wrong. The company has been on a winning streak, which is continuing, justly, into Monica Mason's final season as director. This triple bill succeeds in … [Read more...] about Critics Round-up: Royal Ballet’s Limen/Marguerite and Armand/Requiem
Ballet Twitter pics
Smartphone photos linked onto a tweet are a great way to let Twitter followers get a glimpse of where you are and what you're up to. Everyone's at it from Hollywood stars to football louts. Ballet … [Read more...] about Ballet Twitter pics
Critics round-up: Ballo della regina (Balanchine) – Live Fire Exercise (Wayne McGregor) – Danse à grande vitesse (Christopher Wheeldon)
The Royal Ballet's new triple bill brings two new pieces: Balanchine's Ballo della Regina, and a new creation by Wayne McGregor called Live Fire Exercise. The critics were almost all in agreement … [Read more...] about Critics round-up: Ballo della regina (Balanchine) – Live Fire Exercise (Wayne McGregor) – Danse à grande vitesse (Christopher Wheeldon)
That’s a lots of Manons – 8 casts, 15 performances and a sold-out notice guaranteed
The Royal Ballet's signature ballet Manon returns next week for a 15 show run. That's a lot for a narrative ballet that doesn't possess a Tchaikovsky score! But it is the casting that astounds - … [Read more...] about That’s a lots of Manons – 8 casts, 15 performances and a sold-out notice guaranteed
Bolle & Friends: Bonelli, Grossi, Picone et al.
Roberto Bolle's semi-nude magazine spreads and art-books continually dominate the "sexy ballet" top spot. But Italians are a famously good-looking lot, so what about Bolle's fellow Piemontese Federico … [Read more...] about Bolle & Friends: Bonelli, Grossi, Picone et al.