In London in 1970 the 29-year-old prima ballerina Natalia Makarova, performing with Leningrad's Kirov Ballet (now St Petersburg's Mariinsky Ballet) defected to the West. Then in the summer of 1988 at the packed 3,200-seat Business Design Centre in London Makarova danced again with her former company, even though her career was ending (she had announced her retirement in … [Read more...] about [VIDEO] Natalia Makarova’s return to dance with the Kirov Ballet in 1988
Mariinsky Ballet
Dancing Times, August 2018 out now – including latest Danza in Italia column
The latest Dancing Times magazine is now on sale. The August 2018 issue contains my latest Danza in Italia column with thoughts on the new Le Corsaire by Anna-Marie Holmes at La Scala, with company dancers Nicoletta Manni, Timofej Andrijashenko, Martina Arduino and Mattia Semperboni. The theatre also dedicated a series of evenings to Rudolf Nureyev to mark the 80 years since he … [Read more...] about Dancing Times, August 2018 out now – including latest Danza in Italia column
Exciting celebration of Rudolf Nureyev’s life with world ballet stars at Spoleto, tonight 28 July
2018 marks 80 years since Rudolf Nureyev was born and 25 since he died. La Scala in Milan have marked the occasion with a series of Gala celebrations and performances of his Don Quixote, Manuel Legris organised a celebration with the Vienna State Ballet, and many more tributes have been staged to doff a hat to the transfixing force of nature that was Nureyev. At 9.15pm today, … [Read more...] about Exciting celebration of Rudolf Nureyev’s life with world ballet stars at Spoleto, tonight 28 July
Marcelo Gomes to guest in Giselle with the Mariinsky Ballet
Marcelo Gomes will be guesting with the Mariinsky Ballet as Albrecht, with Yekaterina Osmolkina as Giselle. After his surprise departure from the American Ballet Theatre in December, he has been working on a new choreographic project at The Washington Ballet, run by his old old ABT pal Julie Kent. His piece, The Outset – for the Three World Premieres programme – runs until 18 … [Read more...] about Marcelo Gomes to guest in Giselle with the Mariinsky Ballet
Saved by the corps! The Mariinsky under par for Swan Lake in Turin
The buzz of anticipation in the theatre wasn’t matched by the Mariinsky Ballet’s performance at Turin’s Teatro Regio. Maybe the company decided not to field its top players because it was the ‘pensioners’ matinée’ but, for the Mariinsky, this Swan Lake was under par. The first technical feats in the company’s production are presented by the Jester, and Ramanbek … [Read more...] about Saved by the corps! The Mariinsky under par for Swan Lake in Turin
Xander Parish becomes a Principal Dancer with the Mariinsky Ballet
Last night, on the stage of The Royal Opera House which he left eight years ago, Xander Parish was promoted to Principal Dancer of the Mariinsky Theatre. The Mariinsky are in London for a three week run of five different programmes until 12 August. Last night saw Parish as Siegfried in Swan Lake. The 31-year-old dancer from Hull joins Kimin Kim of South Korea as the … [Read more...] about Xander Parish becomes a Principal Dancer with the Mariinsky Ballet
Xander Parish on life with the Mariinsky Ballet
You were recently promoted to First Soloist at the Mariinsky Ballet. Happy? Yes, I was promoted after a show of Giselle back in January and it was quite out of the blue! Leaving the corps Xander Parish joined the Mariinsky as a Coryphée in 2010 after twiddling his thumbs for five years at The Royal Ballet. He was 23, frustrated with his spear-carrying duties and itching to … [Read more...] about Xander Parish on life with the Mariinsky Ballet
Makhar Vaziev leaves La Scala to head the Bolshoi Ballet Company
Makhar Vaziev will leave his position as head of the La Scala Ballet Company and take over at the Bolshoi Ballet on 18 March 2016. The Director of the Bolshoi Theatre, Vladimir Urin, had already announced last July that the current director, Sergei Filin, would not have his contract renewed, which expires on 17 March. 54-year-old Vaziev is a graduate of the Vaganova … [Read more...] about Makhar Vaziev leaves La Scala to head the Bolshoi Ballet Company
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 there was nothing they could do. Mikhail Shvydkoi, former Russian Minister of Culture, said, I always thought that Plisetskaya would live forever. We were preparing to celebrate her … [Read more...] about Russian ballerina Maya Plisetskaya dies at 89
Nominees announced for the 15th National Dance Awards
The Dance Section of the Critics’ Circle has announced the nominations for the 15th National Dance Awards. The Critics' Circle is composed of five sections: Music, Theatre, Film, Dance and Visual Arts and Architecture. Its aims are to promote the art of criticism, to uphold its integrity in practice and to support the advancement of the arts. Currently there are over 400 … [Read more...] about Nominees announced for the 15th National Dance Awards
