The career of dancer and choreographer Amedeo Amodio was celebrated on 2 July at the Nilde Iotti Library in the Chamber of Deputies – the lower house of the Italian Parliament. Amodio, in conversation … [Read more...] about Italian choreographer Amedeo Amodio receives a lifetime achievement award at the Italian Parliament
La Scala ballet school
Review: Hopper Variations – a contemporary dance ‘saggio’ at Milan’s Teatro Paolo Grassi School
Graham Spicer sees Emanuela Tagliavia's Hopper Variations at the Teatro Paolo Grassi School in Milan Well, I’ve been to a lot of ‘saggi’ in Italy, from Ischia to Bolzano. ‘Saggio’, in Italian, can … [Read more...] about Review: Hopper Variations – a contemporary dance ‘saggio’ at Milan’s Teatro Paolo Grassi School
[Review & Photos] La Scala Ballet School performs Balanchine’s Allegro Brillante and Pistoni’s La Strada
There are kids who spend their spare time alone in their bedrooms scrolling through Instagram feeds or gaming, and there are those who take part in end of term dance shows after training regularly … [Read more...] about [Review & Photos] La Scala Ballet School performs Balanchine’s Allegro Brillante and Pistoni’s La Strada
[Interview] Valentino Zucchetti on Anemoi, his work for The Royal Ballet
It is almost a decade since I last spoke to dancer and choreographer Valentino Zucchetti. In that time there have been some major changes in his career, and now his one-act ballet Anemoi, commissioned … [Read more...] about [Interview] Valentino Zucchetti on Anemoi, his work for The Royal Ballet
[Review] La fille mal gardée – an impressive performance at La Scala
When is a ‘saggio’ not a ‘saggio’? When it is La Scala Ballet School’s ‘end of term’ show. Well, mid-April is hardly the end of the school year, and a fully costumed production, with sets, … [Read more...] about [Review] La fille mal gardée – an impressive performance at La Scala
Milan unveils a plaque for Carla Fracci
Four months after her death on 27 May 2021, Milan has remembered one of its most cherished children, the ballerina Carla Fracci, with a plaque on the building where she lived with her family from 1945 … [Read more...] about Milan unveils a plaque for Carla Fracci
Remembering Carla: ballet legend Carla Fracci dies at 84
This is the obituary I never wanted to write, and I certainly didn’t think I’d be writing it in 2021: Carla Fracci has died at 84, someone I imagined being exceptionally spritely well into her 90s. … [Read more...] about Remembering Carla: ballet legend Carla Fracci dies at 84
Pierina Legnani – more than 32 fouettés
Pierina Legnani was born in Milan on 30 September 1868. She spent ten years at La Scala’s ballet school, graduating in 1888, but then continued working on her technique at the private school of … [Read more...] about Pierina Legnani – more than 32 fouettés
La Scala’s ballet school show shows bold programming, with Forsythe’s signature piece making a debut
“That’s brave!”, was my first thought on seeing the La Scala Ballet School’s programme for its annual show: The Kingdom of the Shades act from La Bayadère together with In the Middle, Somewhat … [Read more...] about La Scala’s ballet school show shows bold programming, with Forsythe’s signature piece making a debut
English National Ballet’s Emerging Dancer finalists 2019
Celebrating its tenth year, English National Ballet’s Emerging Dancer competition will be held at Sadler’s Wells on Tuesday 7 May 2019. Through this event, English National Ballet recognises the … [Read more...] about English National Ballet’s Emerging Dancer finalists 2019
Meeting Alice Bellini, winner of English National Ballet’s People’s Choice Award 2018
Alice Bellini, who graduated from The Royal Ballet School last year, has won this year’s People’s Choice Award at the annual Emerging Artists competition held by English National Ballet to promote its … [Read more...] about Meeting Alice Bellini, winner of English National Ballet’s People’s Choice Award 2018
La Scala, Milan: Opera and Recital Season 2018 – 2019
OPERA SEASON 2018 - 2019 La Scala announced its 2018-2019 Opera season today with 15 titles, nine of which are new productions, and two are La Scala premieres. At the heart of the season remains the … [Read more...] about La Scala, Milan: Opera and Recital Season 2018 – 2019
Serata Nureyev – An Evening for Nureyev at La Scala: full casting with Zakharova, Bolle, Nuñez, Louvet, Muntagirov
24*, 25, 26, 29 May 2018 Serata Nureyev – An Evening for Nureyev Remembering the 80th Anniversary of Rudolf Nureyev's birth, 25 years after his death with Corps de ballet of La Scala, Director … [Read more...] about Serata Nureyev – An Evening for Nureyev at La Scala: full casting with Zakharova, Bolle, Nuñez, Louvet, Muntagirov
La Scala ballet school’s Nutcracker in Milan is pure joy
Teatro Strehler in Milan has welcomed the young dancers from La Scala’s Ballet Academy to its stage during the Christmas period for several years. It’s a win-win situation where the theatre sells out … [Read more...] about La Scala ballet school’s Nutcracker in Milan is pure joy
La Scala dancer Jacopo Tissi joins the Bolshoi
Jacopo Tissi, the young Italian dancer who is starting to make waves, has been offered a contract with the Bolshoi Ballet Company. That’s not something that happens every day. The Moscow company, like … [Read more...] about La Scala dancer Jacopo Tissi joins the Bolshoi
Passion, Love, Life… InternationBalLET makes its debut in Italy
InternationBalLET has arrived in Italy for two performances of its programme Passion, Love, Life... The newly-formed group is made up of dancers from the Hungarian State Ballet in Budapest but, … [Read more...] about Passion, Love, Life… InternationBalLET makes its debut in Italy
Introducing Rebecca Bianchi, Rome Opera Ballet’s new Principal ballerina
At the end of The Nutcracker at Rome’s Teatro Nazionale on 20 December last year, 25-year-old Rebecca Bianchi was promoted to Principal Dancer of the Rome Opera Ballet by the theatre’s General … [Read more...] about Introducing Rebecca Bianchi, Rome Opera Ballet’s new Principal ballerina
Ratmansky’s Sleeping Beauty in Milan casts its magic spell
Alexei Ratmansky’s ‘reconstruction’ of The Sleeping Beauty at La Scala made for one of the most interesting and satisfying evenings that I’ve had in the theatre for a long time. It is charming, it is … [Read more...] about Ratmansky’s Sleeping Beauty in Milan casts its magic spell
Kevin O’Hare interview: It’s an exciting time for The Royal Ballet
This is an exciting time for The Royal Ballet, which has been on a roll for several years with an enthusiastic public for the sold-out performances at the Royal Opera House, the extremely popular live … [Read more...] about Kevin O’Hare interview: It’s an exciting time for The Royal Ballet
Russian ballerina Maya Plisetskaya dies at 89
Maya Plisetskaya died of a heart attack today in Munich. She was 89. The director of the Bolshoi Ballet, Vladimir Urin, said, She died of a severe heart attack. The doctors tried everything, but … [Read more...] about Russian ballerina Maya Plisetskaya dies at 89
Carla Fracci’s photo album: opening night at La Scala
One of the most elegant evenings of the Italian cultural calendar wouldn't be complete without one of the Italian artists who symbolises elegance: Carla Fracci. The ballerina, who grew up through the … [Read more...] about Carla Fracci’s photo album: opening night at La Scala
Nicoletta Manni answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition
Q&A in italiano When did you start dancing? I started when I was tiny. Why did you start dancing? It started as a game: my mother had a dancing school and I was always asking if I could go … [Read more...] about Nicoletta Manni answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition
An interview with Vito Mazzeo who’s bringing his ballet ‘friends’ to Italy
Dutch National Ballet principal dancer Vito Mazzeo will bring a group of his colleagues from Amsterdam to Teatro Salieri in Legnago for a 'Dutch Gala' on 22 November. Mazzeo, who was formerly a … [Read more...] about An interview with Vito Mazzeo who’s bringing his ballet ‘friends’ to Italy
More dancers decide to leave Italy… most never come back
Italy's Got Talent. Lots of it. Sometimes that talent finds it difficult to emerge - it's not always what you know but who you know - and sometimes there's not enough room for everyone to show what … [Read more...] about More dancers decide to leave Italy… most never come back
New on YouTube: Bournonville’s Napoli Divertissements with the Paris Opera Ballet, 1985
After having seen the La Scala Ballet School's 'end of year' performance of the Bournonville's Napoli Divertissements, I went digging around to find other versions to watch, and found that on YouTube … [Read more...] about New on YouTube: Bournonville’s Napoli Divertissements with the Paris Opera Ballet, 1985
From Lombardy to London: Interview with the Royal Ballet’s Valentino Zucchetti
Italian dancer Valentino Zucchetti is one of a large number of Italian dancers who go abroad to find work and realise their dreams. Italy has few ballet companies, and La Scala is the only one with … [Read more...] about From Lombardy to London: Interview with the Royal Ballet’s Valentino Zucchetti
Carla Fracci’s autobiography: Step After Step
Based on a long series of conversations with Enrico Rotelli, Passo dopo passo (Step After Step) is Carla Fracci telling her story in her own words. From a simple childhood during the war to the … [Read more...] about Carla Fracci’s autobiography: Step After Step
La Scala Ballet School’s director for 32 years on “Teaching Dance”
versione italiana Anna Maria Prina was the director of the La Scala Theatre Ballet School for thirty-two years, producing artists such as Mara Galeazzi, Massimo Murru, Roberto Bolle, Mick Zeni, … [Read more...] about La Scala Ballet School’s director for 32 years on “Teaching Dance”
The special woman in Roberto Bolle’s life comes forward
Mariuccia is a very special person in Roberto Bolle’s life, but is seldom seen or talked about. The paparazzi don't photograph her, and she doesn't give interviews about her relationship with Italy’s … [Read more...] about The special woman in Roberto Bolle’s life comes forward
Alexei Ratmansky’s Opera is here to stay
Alexei Ratmansky always manages to fascinate. His work is immersed in ballet tradition, yet is never obvious and never fails to surprise. The surprise doesn’t come from executing a familiar step in an … [Read more...] about Alexei Ratmansky’s Opera is here to stay