Guest author Jonathan Gray sees two Sleeping Beauty casts at The Royal Opera House, London TitleThe Sleeping BeautyCompanyThe Royal BalletVenueThe Royal Opera House, LondonDate17 and 19 January … [Read more...] about [Review] Awakening the Beauty. Two Royal Ballet Auroras: Anna Rose O’Sullivan and Mayara Magri
Frederick Ashton
The Dancing Times on when a dance critic is a critic no longer
The following is a delightful extract from the ‘comment’ section of The Dancing Times from April 1960 on an incident at the premiere of Frederick Ashton’s La Fille mal Gardée on 28 January 1960 at The … [Read more...] about The Dancing Times on when a dance critic is a critic no longer
The lonely father – Jonathan Gray reviews a new biography of the choreographer John Cranko
I’ve always been interested in how some theatrical works survive the years, and some do not. Giacomo Meyerbeer, for example, was probably the most famous opera composer of the middle years of the 19th … [Read more...] about The lonely father – Jonathan Gray reviews a new biography of the choreographer John Cranko
Dame Beryl Grey: an obituary by Mary Clarke
Beryl Grey, who has died at the age of 95, was a ballerina, director, administrator, and patron of many dance organisations, who had a distinguished international career but was quintessentially a … [Read more...] about Dame Beryl Grey: an obituary by Mary Clarke
[Review] The Snowman – music and dance for all the family
Guest author Matthew Paluch sees the 25th London Season of The Snowman in London TitleThe SnowmanCompanyBirmingham RepVenueThe Peacock Theatre, LondonDate20 November 2022ReviewerMatthew Paluch The … [Read more...] about [Review] The Snowman – music and dance for all the family
[Review] The Royal Ballet: A Diamond Celebration – the importance of the past, present, and future
How should the Royal Opera House celebrate 60 years of The Friends of Covent Garden? Krumping? Balanchine? Don't stress, you don't have to choose, we're getting both in the buffet that is The Royal … [Read more...] about [Review] The Royal Ballet: A Diamond Celebration – the importance of the past, present, and future
A Diamond Celebration in cinema: The Royal Ballet Celebrates 60 Years
The Royal Ballet presents A Diamond Celebration, a special programme to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of The Friends of Covent Garden. It will be broadcast live to cinemas around the world on … [Read more...] about A Diamond Celebration in cinema: The Royal Ballet Celebrates 60 Years
[Review] Men in Motion: the male dance spectacular still delivers, ten years on
Guest author Matthew Paluch sees the 10th-anniversary performance of Men in Motion TitleMen in MotionCompanyIvan Putrov's Men in MotionVenueThe London ColiseumDate6 November 2022ReviewerMatthew … [Read more...] about [Review] Men in Motion: the male dance spectacular still delivers, ten years on
[Review] New York City Ballet’s strange bedfellows: Episodes and Vienna Waltzes
Guest author Jonathan Gray sees New York City Ballet’s Episodes and Vienna Waltzes in New York. TitleAll Balanchine II – Episodes / Vienna WaltzesCompanyNew York City BalletVenueDavid H Koch … [Read more...] about [Review] New York City Ballet’s strange bedfellows: Episodes and Vienna Waltzes
The Royal Ballet’s Mayerling in 1978, and now live in cinemas
The Royal Ballet opens its 2022-2023 cinema season with Kenneth MacMillan’s Mayerling, marking 30 years since the choreographer’s death in 1992. It will be broadcast on opening night, Wednesday 5 … [Read more...] about The Royal Ballet’s Mayerling in 1978, and now live in cinemas
Athelhampton House Gala: Stars of The Royal Ballet dance in charity gala this weekend
The Athelhampton House Gala in Dorset has become an annual happening after the Royal Ballet’s Meaghan Grace Hinkis created the event after the first lockdown in 2020. Hinkis, who has been a first … [Read more...] about Athelhampton House Gala: Stars of The Royal Ballet dance in charity gala this weekend
Rome Opera Ballet – Season 2022-2023
The new ballet season of the Teatro dell'Opera in Roma has been announced by the company's director, Eleonora Abbagnato. Don Quixote by Laurent Hilaire Rome Opera Ballet opens its season with … [Read more...] about Rome Opera Ballet – Season 2022-2023
UK’s top dance schools Unite for Ukraine
Six of the UK’s top dance schools will unite in support of young people who have been affected by the war in Ukraine with a special gala performance, Unite for Ukraine at … [Read more...] about UK’s top dance schools Unite for Ukraine
Fracci Gala: La Scala celebrates Carla Fracci
How to celebrate a great dancer on stage? How to evoke memories of their artistry without creating a parody of their talent? Certainly, with Carla Fracci and the American Ballet Theatre video of … [Read more...] about Fracci Gala: La Scala celebrates Carla Fracci
Royal Opera House: new ballet and opera streams
Wayne McGregor’s The Dante Project is available from the Royal Opera House’s streaming service from Monday 20 December at 19.30 GMT (20.30 CET). The Guardian said: For his new ballet, Wayne … [Read more...] about Royal Opera House: new ballet and opera streams
[Photo album] First look at La Scala’s new Bayadère
After Covid infections forced the premiere and subsequent performances to be cancelled, Monday 21 December will finally see the opening night of La Scala's new production of Rudolf Nureyev's La … [Read more...] about [Photo album] First look at La Scala’s new Bayadère
The Royal Opera House: opera, ballet, cinema in 2022
In January 2022, The Royal Opera Company will celebrate its 75th anniversary. On 14 January 1947, the 'Covent Garden Opera Company' (its name was changed to The Royal Opera in 1968) performed Carmen. … [Read more...] about The Royal Opera House: opera, ballet, cinema in 2022
Countdown to Bayadère – casting and designs for La Scala’s opening
La Bayadère, one of the key ballets in the classical repertoire, premiered in St Petersburg in 1877. Marius Petipa created a perfect harmony between mass scenes and protagonists, and it was the … [Read more...] about Countdown to Bayadère – casting and designs for La Scala’s opening
Royal Ballet stars for the Athelhampton Ballet Charity Gala 2021
Last August, Royal Ballet First Soloist Meaghan Grace Hinkis was in her living room doing a Zoom ballet class when she realised it had been nearly six months since she had set foot on stage. That … [Read more...] about Royal Ballet stars for the Athelhampton Ballet Charity Gala 2021
[Photo Album] The Royal Ballet’s “Beauty Mixed Programme”
Tomorrow, The Royal Ballet unveils a new mixed bill, the Beauty Mixed Programme. It reflects a phrase said by the company's founder Dame Ninette de Valois: Respect the past, herald the future but … [Read more...] about [Photo Album] The Royal Ballet’s “Beauty Mixed Programme”
Royal Ballet First Soloist Beatriz Stix-Brunell heads for Stanford University
The Royal Ballet has announced that First Soloist Beatriz Stix-Brunell is to leave the Company after 11 years. In a move that was deferred due to the global pandemic, she leaves at the … [Read more...] about Royal Ballet First Soloist Beatriz Stix-Brunell heads for Stanford University
The Royal Opera House 2021-2022 ballet and dance season
The Royal Opera House has announced details of its 2021-22 Season, the first full Season since 2019. Opening on Monday 13 September, the Season includes five world premieres from The Royal … [Read more...] about The Royal Opera House 2021-2022 ballet and dance season
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
Paris Opera’s ballet and opera season for 2021-2022
The Paris Opéra has announced its 2021-2022 season with 23 operas, 12 ballets of which 14 are new productions: 9 operas and 5 ballets. This adds up to 385 curtain-ups during the season. The … [Read more...] about Paris Opera’s ballet and opera season for 2021-2022
The Royal Ballet announces 2021-2022 season, the first since 2019
The Royal Ballet has announced early plans for its 2021-2022 season. Detailed information will be announced on 1 June. Also, the Live Cinema season and digital programming will be announced later this … [Read more...] about The Royal Ballet announces 2021-2022 season, the first since 2019
‘Marguerite and Armand’ and ‘Cendrillon’ in streaming from Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House continues its #OurHouseToYourHouse programming, which features online broadcasts, musical masterclasses, and cultural highlights that can be accessed around the … [Read more...] about ‘Marguerite and Armand’ and ‘Cendrillon’ in streaming from Royal Opera House
Full Royal Opera House TV and streaming times for the Christmas period
The Royal Opera House has announced its biggest ever programme of streaming and digital content, across a large range of platforms, “brought straight from our house to your house” over the Christmas … [Read more...] about Full Royal Opera House TV and streaming times for the Christmas period
Royal Opera House announces live performance broadcasts during November lockdown
The Royal Opera House has announced a series of live performance broadcasts, together with some repertory favourites from both The Royal Ballet and The Royal Opera, throughout … [Read more...] about Royal Opera House announces live performance broadcasts during November lockdown
[Interview] The Royal Ballet’s director, Kevin O’Hare, on returning to the Covent Garden stage
The Royal Ballet’s director, Kevin O’Hare, says about lockdown, I needed [the dancers] as much as they probably needed me. I think we have managed to keep the company spirit. Of course, we have … [Read more...] about [Interview] The Royal Ballet’s director, Kevin O’Hare, on returning to the Covent Garden stage
[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
