Alberto Testa was a walking encyclopedia of dance, always elegantly dressed with never a hair out of place, and was very much of another time recalling Frederick Ashton with his old-school ways. Although he could be childlike and impish in his humour, he commanded great deference from those who collaborated with him and those who […]
Léonide Massine
English National Ballet’s 70th Anniversary Gala at the London Coliseum
As part of its 70th anniversary season, English National Ballet will celebrate its history with three gala performances at the London Coliseum on 17 and 18 January 2020. The gala performances celebrate the many dancers, choreographers, artists, musicians, artisans, technicians and audience members who, over the company’s 70 years, have been part of the English National […]
Antipasto to the annual Les Étoiles gala in Rome with Russian and Italian ballet stars
As an antipasto to the annual Les Étoiles gala in Rome — this year a sold out two days, next year there will be three — in the luxurious setting of the Hotel de Russie near the Spanish Steps, there was an intimate reception hosted by the hotel, with a Sergei Diaghilev theme. The event […]
Do you love dance? Then please read this…
First of all, this article is about getting more people to sign a petition to raise awareness among Italy’s political class about the damage they are doing in allowing so many ballet companies to close. If you’d like to sign – whether you live in Italy, visit Italy, or care about culture – you can […]
The first Benois-Massine prize is awarded in Moscow
The annual Benois de la danse prize-giving ceremony, one of the dance world’s most prestigious awards, was held at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow at the end of May. The prix is awarded not only to dancers and choreographers but also to composers and designers, reflecting Diaghilev’s noble concept that ballet is a fusion of all […]
Positano Premia la Danza Léonide Massine winners 2014
Last night the threatening weather held off, and the gala and award ceremony for the Positano Premia la Danza Léonide Massine on the main beach at Positano went ahead as planned. The exquisite setting on the Amalfi Coast is what attracted artists such as Nureyev, and Massine himself, who made the area their holiday home, and when […]
Positano Massine Prize 2014: Ek, Laguna, Smirnova and Wheeldon honoured
The attraction that Positano and its seascape have always exercised over artists of the dance is the reason that, on 2 August 1969, the Premio Positano was established. Ten years later, on the death of Léonide Massine, the Award was named after him. Now into its 42nd edition, the 2014 Awards will be presented on Saturday 6 […]
Boris Bilinsky: costume and set designer for ballet, opera and film and legendary graphic artist
Boris Bilinsky was born in Odessa in 1900, but left Russia in 1920, escaping from the aftermath of the Revolution. He settled in Berlin where he was still able to collaborate with Russian theatres, but in 1923 he moved to Paris and worked with the Studio Albatros, a production company in Montreuil. Albatros had only been set up […]
Igor Yebra answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition
Q&A When did you start dancing? When I was 13 years old. Why did you start dancing? Because I liked it and in my house it was something normal to see ballet; although first I wanted to be a football or basketball player! Which dancer inspired you most as a child? Fred Astaire, Antonio Gades and Vladimir […]
Vito Mazzeo answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition
Q&A When did you start dancing? At 9 years old. Why did you start dancing? I saw Carla Fracci dancing. Which dancer inspired you most as a child? Carla Fracci and Erik Bruhn for their great partnership. Which dancer do you most admire? Sylvie Guillem for the light that emanates when she dances; Massimo Murru […]
