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Graham Spicer

Attimo, sei bello! in Rome – a photographic exhibition celebrating the beauty of dance

12 December 2022 by Gramilano 1 Comment

LES ETOILES 2022 Vadim Muntagirov with Fumi Kaneko as the white swan, photo by Graham Spicer

“Fragments of eternity that tell of beauty, strength, even pain. Shots snatched from the fluid and passionate movement of dance and framed to become 'forever'.” So runs the blurb of the … [Read more...] about Attimo, sei bello! in Rome – a photographic exhibition celebrating the beauty of dance

Free stream of Les Étoiles ballet gala in Rome from Friday 29 April

28 April 2022 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

LES ÉTOILES 2022 - Daniil Simkin and Maia Makhateli in Don Quixote © Graham Spicer - 4597

A free streaming of the Les Étoiles gala from Rome, filmed earlier this year, will be available from tomorrow, 29 April, on ITsART – the streaming platform for Italian art and culture. ITsART … [Read more...] about Free stream of Les Étoiles ballet gala in Rome from Friday 29 April

Italy’s dance magazine Danza & Danza names winners of 2021 awards

10 January 2022 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Davide Dato in The Rite of Spring, Stravinsky's Love © Graham Spicer

The leading dance magazine in Italy, Danza & Danza, has announced its annual awards and, like last year, they are somewhat modified to include streams and videos of dance that have become new ways … [Read more...] about Italy’s dance magazine Danza & Danza names winners of 2021 awards

A captivating dance tribute to Stravinsky at Italy’s Nervi Festival

19 July 2021 by Gramilano 3 Comments

Davide Dato in The Rite of Spring, Stravinsky's Love © Graham Spicer

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

DANZA&DANZA names the winners of its 2020 Awards

15 January 2021 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Claudia D'Antonio in Don Quixote, photo by Francesco Squeglia

Italy's DANZA&DANZA magazine has announced its prize winners for 2020 with artists and productions from Teatro alla Scala in Milan, Teatro dell'Opera in Rome, Teatro di San Carlo in Naples, Opéra … [Read more...] about DANZA&DANZA names the winners of its 2020 Awards

Ballet treats to view online during the holidays

24 December 2020 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

New York City Ballet’s The Nutcracker © Erin Baiano

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

5 December 2020 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Sergio Bernal in Ricardo Cue's The Swan

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

December’s Dancing Times features Manuel Legris, Eleonora Abbagnato, and other delights

29 November 2020 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Manuel Legris - Dancing Times, December 2020

The latest issue of Dancing Times is now on sale. The December 2020 issue ends the year when the magazine celebrated its 110th anniversary, and even with the cancellation of so many shows the world … [Read more...] about December’s Dancing Times features Manuel Legris, Eleonora Abbagnato, and other delights

Eleonora Abbagnato shines in Four Seasons, created for strange times

5 November 2020 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Eleonora-Abbagnato-in-Giuliano-Peparinis-4-stagioni-01

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

11 August 2020 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Roberto Lori in The Creatures of Prometheus The Creatures of Capucci, photo by Graham Spicer

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

Photo album: Gala Les Étoiles at Ravenna Festival with international ballet stars

26 July 2019 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Diamonds (from Balanchine's Jewels) with Alena Kovaleva and Jacopo Tissi © Graham Spicer, Daniele Cipriani Entertainment 6

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 in Rome – Nuñez, Muntagirov, Novikova, Sarafanov, Alexandrova, Lantratov, Semionova…

14 February 2019 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Marianela Nuñez and Vadim Muntagirov, Sylvia, photo by Graham Spicer

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…

In conversation with Myriam Ould-Braham and István Simon

2 September 2018 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Myriam Ould-Braham and István Simon performing the white swan pdd in Barcelona, photo by Josep Guindo

  The annual, starry, late summer gala organised by American Ballet Theatre’s Xiomara Reyes and Ballets du Monte Carlo’s Elías García for IBStage takes place at Barcelona’s Gran Teatre del … [Read more...] about In conversation with Myriam Ould-Braham and István Simon

Giovanna d’Arco – the background of La Scala’s latest production

6 December 2015 by Gramilano 11 Comments

On 7 December 2015, La Scala’s 2015-2016 Season opens with Giuseppe Verdi’s Giovanna d’Arco, which had its premiere at La Scala on 15 February 1845, but hasn’t been staged at the Milanese theatre … [Read more...] about Giovanna d’Arco – the background of La Scala’s latest production

Florestan’s crepes backstage at La Scala

8 December 2014 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Instead of lounging in the pressroom with glass of something bubbly in my hand during the opening of La Scala’s season, I found myself in the wings holding a mic and trying to describe – and translate … [Read more...] about Florestan’s crepes backstage at La Scala

About me

I am a writer, director and photographer based in Milan, aka 'Gramilano'. I was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy. My articles have … [Read more...] about About me

Sylvie Guillem on why she’s still ‘Mademoiselle Non’

19 June 2012 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Sylive Guillem will be in Venice tomorrow to receive from the Biennale  the Leone d'oro  (Golden Lion) for "having redesigned the form of the dancer, defying the laws of physics". Valeria Crippa … [Read more...] about Sylvie Guillem on why she’s still ‘Mademoiselle Non’

My memories of Jane Russell – a down-to-earth gal: June 21, 1921 – February 28, 2011

1 March 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Jane Russell and I had little in common, but we shared the same birthday, which we both agreed was the best possible day to have a birthday, June 21. When I worked with her, briefly, she joked about … [Read more...] about My memories of Jane Russell – a down-to-earth gal: June 21, 1921 – February 28, 2011

Dame Harriet Walter enter stage left

3 January 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Actress Harriet Walter, who has been made a dame in the New Year Honours, has enjoyed a distinguished career on stage and screen spanning three decades. Dame Harriet, the niece of Sir Christopher … [Read more...] about Dame Harriet Walter enter stage left

All I ask is the possibility of love! – Frankenstein at the National Theatre

3 January 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

The beginning of February sees what must be one of the most highly anticipated productions of 2011 - Frankenstein, directed by Danny 'Slumdog Millionaire' Boyale at London's National Theatre. It is an … [Read more...] about All I ask is the possibility of love! – Frankenstein at the National Theatre

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NEWS

Royal Academy of Dance acquires Dancing Times photographic archive

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GRAMILANO

Graham Spicer is a writer, director and photographer based in Milan, aka ‘Gramilano’. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy. His articles have appeared in various publications from Woman’s Weekly to Gay Times. He wrote the ‘Danza in Italia’ column for Dancing Times magazine.

Since 2022, Gramilano is pleased to welcome guest authors: Alisa Alekseeva, Paul Arrowsmith, Kathrina Farrugia-Kriel, Jonathan Gray, Marina Harss, Matthew Paluch, Jann Parry, Graham Watts, and Deborah Weiss.

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