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La Sylphide

Erik Aschengreen The Critic with a Twinkle in His Eye (1935-2023)

15 September 2023 by Marina Harss 4 Comments

Erik Aschengreen

We will not see the likes of Erik Aschengreen again. The Danish dance critic and historian, mentor of writers, dancers, ballet masters, and choreographers, died on September 9, at the age of 88. … [Read more...] about Erik Aschengreen The Critic with a Twinkle in His Eye (1935-2023)

[Review and Photos] Yellowstone International Arts Festival – the most unique gala I have experienced

12 August 2023 by Graham Watts Leave a Comment

Talisman - Maria Beck and Zecheng Liang, Stars on the Yellowstone, photo Nicholas Mackay MACKAY PRODUCTIONS 636

Graham Watts sees 'Stars on the Yellowstone' in Montana TitleStars on the YellowstoneCompanyYellowstone International Arts FestivalVenueYellowstone Hot Springs and Resort, Paradise Valley, … [Read more...] about [Review and Photos] Yellowstone International Arts Festival – the most unique gala I have experienced

[Review] English National Ballet School 2023 Summer Performances

10 July 2023 by Jann Parry Leave a Comment

ENB School Summer Performance - La Sylphide, photo by ASH - 3

Jann Parry sees English National Ballet School's Summer Performance TitleMixed ProgrammeCompanyEnglish National Ballet SchoolVenuePeacock Theatre, LondonDate8 July 2023ReviewerJann Parry English … [Read more...] about [Review] English National Ballet School 2023 Summer Performances

[Review] BRB2: Carlos Acosta’s Classical Selection – the ups and downs of a mixed bag

15 June 2023 by Jann Parry Leave a Comment

BRB2 Lucy Waine and Oscar Kempsey-Fagg in End of Time. Photo by Johan Persson-01

Jann Parry sees BRB2 during The Royal Opera House's Next Generation Festival TitleCarlos Acosta’s Classical SelectionCompanyBRB2VenueLinbury Theatre, Royal Opera House, LondonDate13 June … [Read more...] about [Review] BRB2: Carlos Acosta’s Classical Selection – the ups and downs of a mixed bag

La Scala and Manuel Legris remember Pierre Lacotte

11 April 2023 by Gramilano 2 Comments

Pierre Lacotte rehearsing La Sylphide at La Scala, photo by Marco Brescia 2005 crop

Pierre Lacotte: 4 April 1932 – 10 April 2023 The Teatro alla Scala and its ballet company, the intendant Dominque Meyer and the ballet director Manuel Legris, join the mourning dance world for the … [Read more...] about La Scala and Manuel Legris remember Pierre Lacotte

Ballerinas Maria Tallchief and Carla Fracci honoured with a stamp and a coin

29 November 2022 by Gramilano 2 Comments

Carla Fracci and Maria Tallchief

Almost contemporary announcements from both sides of the pond have arrived to honour two ballerinas. The Maria Tallchief Quarter will be issued next year in the United States and the Carla Fracci … [Read more...] about Ballerinas Maria Tallchief and Carla Fracci honoured with a stamp and a coin

Remembering Carla: ballet legend Carla Fracci dies at 84

27 May 2021 by Gramilano 3 Comments

Carla Fracci 1964 Giselle photo Erio Piccagliani crop

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

Photo Album: Nureyev Gala at La Scala – Zakharova, Louvet, Nuñez, Muntagirov and Bolle (and Nureyev at La Scala facts and figures)

26 May 2018 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Apollo choreography by George Balanchine© The George Balanchine Trust   Roberto Bolle  Nicoletta Manni Martina Arduino Virna Toppi, photo by  Brescia e Amisano Teatro alla Scala

Last night a Gala to celebrate Rudolf Nureyev was had at La Scala. It is the 80th Anniversary of his birth and also 25 years after his death. The Gala was previewed by a benefit audience on Thursday, … [Read more...] about Photo Album: Nureyev Gala at La Scala – Zakharova, Louvet, Nuñez, Muntagirov and Bolle (and Nureyev at La Scala facts and figures)

Finalists of English National Ballet’s Emerging Dancer competition at the London Coliseum in June

23 January 2018 by Gramilano 2 Comments

Francesca Velicu in Pina Bausch's Le Sacre du printemps with English National Ballet © Laurent Liotardo

On Monday 11 June 2018, English National Ballet’s Emerging Dancer competition will be held at the London Coliseum for the first time. Emerging Dancer is a key part of English National Ballet’s … [Read more...] about Finalists of English National Ballet’s Emerging Dancer competition at the London Coliseum in June

Photo Album: English National Ballet dances Song of the Earth and La Sylphide

16 January 2018 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Song of the Earth, English National Ballet, photos by Dasa Wharton 17

Dasa Wharton took her camera to the London Coliseum to capture the English National Ballet's latest double bill: Song of the Earth and La Sylphide Song of the Earth Choreography – Kenneth … [Read more...] about Photo Album: English National Ballet dances Song of the Earth and La Sylphide

Rudolf Nureyev died 25 years ago – La Scala pays tribute to the great dancer

6 January 2018 by Gramilano 2 Comments

Nureyev as Romeo, 1980 Nureyev, photo by Lelli e Masotti

Rudolf Nureyev’s debut at La Scala was on 9 October 1965 when, finally, the Milanese public had the opportunity to see the Russian dancer that all the newspapers were writing about. With him was … [Read more...] about Rudolf Nureyev died 25 years ago – La Scala pays tribute to the great dancer

English National Ballet’s Emerging Dancer 2017 – judging panel and repertoire

4 May 2017 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Madison Keesler. Photo © Laurent Liotardo

Now in its eighth year, English National Ballet’s Emerging Dancer competition will this year be held at Sadler’s Wells, for the first time, on Thursday 25 May 2017. Through this annual event, … [Read more...] about English National Ballet’s Emerging Dancer 2017 – judging panel and repertoire

Julian MacKay – the teenage American ballet dancer making waves in Russia

6 January 2017 by Gramilano 4 Comments

Julian MacKay as photohraphed by NYC Dance Project

Julian MacKay at 16 was winning medals at the Sochi and Istanbul competitions when he represented his school, the Bolshoi Academy. At 17 he won the Prix de Lausanne and his Harlequin Floors … [Read more...] about Julian MacKay – the teenage American ballet dancer making waves in Russia

Carla Fracci gives her first ever masterclass… Giselle

30 March 2016 by Gramilano 8 Comments

After years of refusing offers from all over the world to share her intimate knowledge of the characters she has portrayed, Carla Fracci has agreed to give her first masterclass. The Ecole Superieure … [Read more...] about Carla Fracci gives her first ever masterclass… Giselle

A good, old-fashioned gala? Pignotti salutes Nureyev

4 April 2015 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Luigi Pignotti was Rudolf Nureyev’s massager then manager. He now has a company which produces evenings of ballet, flamenco and tango… though not together. It was, maybe, obvious that he would … [Read more...] about A good, old-fashioned gala? Pignotti salutes Nureyev

Royal Danish Ballet dancers celebrate Bournonville in London

27 November 2014 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

As a cure for the post Christmas blues - or to help celebrate that the festivities are over, depending on your point of view - principals and soloists from The Royal Danish Ballet alight at London's … [Read more...] about Royal Danish Ballet dancers celebrate Bournonville in London

Royal Danish Ballet break tradition with homoerotic La Sylphide

8 September 2014 by Gramilano 2 Comments

Nikolaj Hübbe seems to be intent on upsetting some of the Royal Danish Ballet's most faithful admirers with his new version of the Royal Danish Ballet's almost sacred La Sylphide. The company have … [Read more...] about Royal Danish Ballet break tradition with homoerotic La Sylphide

Paolo Bortoluzzi: a great Italian dancer remembered

15 October 2013 by Gramilano 4 Comments

Italian ballet dancer Paolo Bortoluzzi died twenty years ago today: 15 October 1993. He died the same year as Rudolf Nureyev, and it was for these two contemporaries that Béjart created his Chant du … [Read more...] about Paolo Bortoluzzi: a great Italian dancer remembered

Who’s afraid of Brigitte Lefèvre? Well Eleonora Abbagnato for one! Drama at the Paris Opera Ballet

29 July 2012 by Gramilano 2 Comments

Brigitte Lefèvre, Director of Ballet at the Paris Opera since 1995, will turn 68 later this year. The Paris Opera Ballet obliges ballerinas to leave at 42 with their pension; like it or not, ètoile or … [Read more...] about Who’s afraid of Brigitte Lefèvre? Well Eleonora Abbagnato for one! Drama at the Paris Opera Ballet

Carla Fracci with Schaufuss, Vasiliev, Cragun, Jude and others on YouTube

23 March 2012 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

  In 1987 a two-part television programme called The Ballerinas featured Carla Fracci, with some of the top male dancers of the period, in a series of reconstructions putting various ballets … [Read more...] about Carla Fracci with Schaufuss, Vasiliev, Cragun, Jude and others on YouTube

Bolshoi prima ballerina Marianna Ryzhkina adds her voice to the chorus of disapproval

1 February 2012 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Things still are not as they should be at the shiny new Bolshoi, says Reuters. Back stage, dancers grumble that practice rooms have become cramped and the Bolshoi has lost the charm that can only … [Read more...] about Bolshoi prima ballerina Marianna Ryzhkina adds her voice to the chorus of disapproval

Paul Chalmer answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

27 December 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Q&A When did you start dancing? Age 6, then National Ballet School, Toronto, age 9. Why did you start dancing? Saw ballet on TV. Which dancer inspired you most as a … [Read more...] about Paul Chalmer answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

Critics round-up: Mariinsky at Covent Garden, Scotch Symphony / Ballet Imperial / In The Night

18 August 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

The fourth Mariinsky programme to grace the Royal Opera stage was another triple bill: Scotch Symphony and Ballet Imperial by George Balanchine, and In The Night by Jerome Robbins. Although this was … [Read more...] about Critics round-up: Mariinsky at Covent Garden, Scotch Symphony / Ballet Imperial / In The Night

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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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