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Mariinsky

Principal dancers leave the Mariinsky and Bolshoi companies

7 March 2022 by Gramilano 8 Comments

Tissi-Parish

Principal dancer Jacopo Tissi has decided to leave the Bolshoi ballet company and principal Xander Parish the Mariinsky because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. They are both exceptional as there … [Read more...] about Principal dancers leave the Mariinsky and Bolshoi companies

Altynai Asylmuratova and Konstantin Zaklinsky’s daughter Anastasia jumps ahead

26 January 2021 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Anastasia Zaklinskaya - 03

There is an interesting debut at the Astana Opera House on 30 January: ballet company soloist Anastasia Zaklinskaya will dance the role of Nikiya in La Bayadère. Many will probably not know her … [Read more...] about Altynai Asylmuratova and Konstantin Zaklinsky’s daughter Anastasia jumps ahead

Bolshoi Ballet’s Italian dancer, Jacopo Tissi, on his first year in Moscow and dancing Diamonds at the Lincoln Center

12 July 2017 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Jacopo Tissi in Le spectre de la rose, photo by Alexander Yakovlev

Last August, young ballet dancer Jacopo Tissi, resigned from the La Scala Ballet to accept the offer a contract with the Bolshoi Company. As I wrote last September, it’s not something that happens … [Read more...] about Bolshoi Ballet’s Italian dancer, Jacopo Tissi, on his first year in Moscow and dancing Diamonds at the Lincoln Center

Andrey Ermakov answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

7 September 2016 by Gramilano 8 Comments

Q&A   [на русском языке] When did you start dancing? I do not remember… probably at the same time that I began to walk. Why did you start dancing? As a child my mother dreamt of the … [Read more...] about Andrey Ermakov answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

Nederlands Dans Theatre director says the Bolshoi must come together

5 July 2013 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

The Nederlands Dans Theatre perform at the Mariinsky's new theatre, Mariinsky II, tonight. Artistic director Paul Lightfoot talked to Izvestia on his thoughts about the recent Bolshoi scandals. I … [Read more...] about Nederlands Dans Theatre director says the Bolshoi must come together

Thiago Soares answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

20 January 2013 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Q&A When did you start dan­cing? I started age 15. Why did you start dan­cing? When I joined the Centro de Dança Rio it felt right, and I felt like I had found something that I had … [Read more...] about Thiago Soares answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

Igor Yebra answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

17 October 2012 by Gramilano 1 Comment

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 … [Read more...] about Igor Yebra answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

Raymonda at La Scala… a year on

7 October 2012 by Gramilano 2 Comments

A year ago at Milan's Teatro alla Scala the ballet company scored a hit with its restaging of that difficult piece Raymonda. The ballet's improbable story, with a lack of obvious dramatic push, can … [Read more...] about Raymonda at La Scala… a year on

Restaurants of Ghent, Brussels and Mechelen during Flanders is a Festival

27 September 2012 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

This is not a food blog, but as food has, in some way, influenced every dancer, musician, actor, and for that matter everyone else on the planet, I though I could squeeze it in. Food had a profound … [Read more...] about Restaurants of Ghent, Brussels and Mechelen during Flanders is a Festival

Tonight Roberto Bolle and Friends alight at the 15,000-seater Roman Arena in Verona

23 July 2012 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Tonight Verona's famous Arena is sold out. All 15,000 seats will be full to watch Roberto Bolle and his 'friends' dance in the open air. It is a magical place. Italy's Il Sole 24 Ore (the … [Read more...] about Tonight Roberto Bolle and Friends alight at the 15,000-seater Roman Arena in Verona

The dance drain: who will save ballet in Italy?

10 July 2012 by Gramilano 2 Comments

Italians are great dancers, but they don't get much opportunity to demonstrate that in their homeland. The history of ballet is adorned with Italian talent: Giuseppina Bozzacchi was the … [Read more...] about The dance drain: who will save ballet in Italy?

Why are Alina Cojocaru, Natalia Osipova and Viengsay Valdés wearing green pointe shoes?

1 July 2012 by Gramilano 1 Comment

What have Alina Cojocaru, Natalia Osipova and Viengsay Valdés got in common? Well yes, they are all ballet dancers. And yes, they have all danced Giselle. But think more deeply... They've all got dark … [Read more...] about Why are Alina Cojocaru, Natalia Osipova and Viengsay Valdés wearing green pointe shoes?

Cecilia Bartoli takes a ship to join Valery Gergiev in St Petersburg

21 March 2012 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Yesterday, before Cecilia Bartoli's highly anticipated concert at the Mariinsky Theater Concert Hall in St Peterburg tomorrow evening, she gave a press conference alongside Valery Gergiev who will … [Read more...] about Cecilia Bartoli takes a ship to join Valery Gergiev in St Petersburg

Keenan Kampa of Boston Ballet to join Mariinsky

20 January 2012 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

One of Boston Ballet’s dancers Keenan Kampa will join Mariinsky Ballet over the next few months, US media say. An official announcement to this effect will be made at the John F Kennedy Center for … [Read more...] about Keenan Kampa of Boston Ballet to join Mariinsky

“Who’s pulling the strings in Russia’s ballet revolution?” asks The Observer’s Luke Jennings

1 January 2012 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

The ballet world was surprised when Nacho Duato (ex-director of Spain's Compañía Nacional de Danza) was headhunted by St Petersburg's Mikhailovsky Theatre, maybe enticed by the fat wallet of general … [Read more...] about “Who’s pulling the strings in Russia’s ballet revolution?” asks The Observer’s Luke Jennings

Being groomed for stardom: Italian ballerina Petra Conti

9 December 2011 by Gramilano 1 Comment

23 year-old Petra Conti is a dancer at La Scala in Milan, who is being slowly brought before the public by director (ex-director of the Mariinsky) Makhar Vaziev. He first saw her when she spent a … [Read more...] about Being groomed for stardom: Italian ballerina Petra Conti

After Osipova and Vasiliev, Russian tycoon Vladimir Kekhman sets his eyes on David Hallberg

1 December 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

"Russian tycoon Vladimir Kekhman made a fortune selling bananas. Now he has a new mission in life: ballet," says Reuters. The ballet world was rocked a couple of weeks ago when Natalia Osipova and … [Read more...] about After Osipova and Vasiliev, Russian tycoon Vladimir Kekhman sets his eyes on David Hallberg

Mikhailovsky Theatre says Vasiliev and Osipova won’t be allowed to perform at the Bolshoi if it makes accusations against their theatre

17 November 2011 by Gramilano 1 Comment

The Bolshoi Theatre told reporters today that Ivan Vasiliev and Natalia Osipova's decision to leave the company and join the Mikhailovsky Theatre in St Petersburg was not helping their last minute … [Read more...] about Mikhailovsky Theatre says Vasiliev and Osipova won’t be allowed to perform at the Bolshoi if it makes accusations against their theatre

Natalia Osipova and Ivan Vasiliev leave Bolshoi to team up with Sarafanov and Duato at the Mikhailovsky Theatre

14 November 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Natalia Osipova and Ivan Vasiliev have decided to leave their home theatre and move to the Mikhailovsky Theatre in St Petersburg. Mariinsky star Leonid Sarafanov made the move in January 2011. … [Read more...] about Natalia Osipova and Ivan Vasiliev leave Bolshoi to team up with Sarafanov and Duato at the Mikhailovsky Theatre

La Scala’s Raymonda “is a true banquet: pomp, circumstance, and an entire world on stage”, says the Financial Times

31 October 2011 by Gramilano 1 Comment

The Financial Times visited Milan's historic theatre to witness Sergei Vikharev’s reconstruction of Raymonda - a production which is sending ripples of interest and excitement around the ballet … [Read more...] about La Scala’s Raymonda “is a true banquet: pomp, circumstance, and an entire world on stage”, says the Financial Times

Kondaurova, Ermakov and the Mariinsky girls triumph in La Bayadère in Turin

27 October 2011 by Gramilano 1 Comment

The Mariinsky Ballet are entering their last week of a three-week run at Turin's Teatro Regio, after a week of their Fokine programme, a week of Bayadères, and now they start on their twelve Swan … [Read more...] about Kondaurova, Ermakov and the Mariinsky girls triumph in La Bayadère in Turin

Olesia Novikova and Friedemann Vogel in Raymonda from La Scala… Live (-ish)

27 October 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

The reconstructed ballet Raymonda, that debuted earlier this month at Milan's La Scala, will be broadcast this evening at 21.30 on Rai5 in a delayed broadcast. Whether the hour and a half difference … [Read more...] about Olesia Novikova and Friedemann Vogel in Raymonda from La Scala… Live (-ish)

The Times celebrates Milan’s Raymonda… but why?

19 October 2011 by Gramilano 6 Comments

Milan's newspaper, the most influential Italian paper, Il Corriere della Sera, almost ignored La Raymonda at La Scala last week, with Valeria Crippa's short article dismissing it quickly. Here the … [Read more...] about The Times celebrates Milan’s Raymonda… but why?

Vogue features Diana Vishneva: she is like a rose, just as beautiful and just as complicated

18 October 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

The September issue of Vogue Russiacontained an interview with the Mariinsky prima ballerina Diana Vishneva. She was about to dance Angelin Preljocaj's Le Parc. When asked to describe Vishneva he said … [Read more...] about Vogue features Diana Vishneva: she is like a rose, just as beautiful and just as complicated

Olesya Novikova’s extraordinary thirty entrechat-quatre en pointe in Raymonda

12 October 2011 by Gramilano 68 Comments

The last great work from the glorious era of the Imperial ballets had never before been performed by the La Scala ballet until last night. The La Scala première marks the most faithful version of … [Read more...] about Olesya Novikova’s extraordinary thirty entrechat-quatre en pointe in Raymonda

La Scala’s Makhar Vaziev: It’s our first time in Oman, but we really hope it isn’t our last”

11 October 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

When Makhar Vaziev, the artistic director of Milan's Scala Ballet, first received an invitation for the company to perform at a new opera house in Muscat, he admits he drew a blank. Honestly, when we … [Read more...] about La Scala’s Makhar Vaziev: It’s our first time in Oman, but we really hope it isn’t our last”

David Hallberg and Sergei Filin speak from Moscow

7 October 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

The new soloist of the Bolshoi Theatre ballet company, American David Hallberg, has started rehearsals in Russia. His début on the Bolshoi stage will be in Giselle on November 4. Sergei Filin, the … [Read more...] about David Hallberg and Sergei Filin speak from Moscow

Newsweek finds out what makes Anna Netrebko tick… and why she hates ‘toska’

26 September 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

  The papers are full of interviews with Russian soprano Anna Netrebko, especially during this, the month of her 40th birthday. They are not exactly carbon copies of each other, but very … [Read more...] about Newsweek finds out what makes Anna Netrebko tick… and why she hates ‘toska’

David Hallberg’s radio interview about joining the Bolshoi Ballet

23 September 2011 by Gramilano 2 Comments

David Hallberg talked to NPR's Melissa Block about his exciting collaboration with the Bolshoi Ballet. Listen to the full interview here; below is a transcription of excerpts from the … [Read more...] about David Hallberg’s radio interview about joining the Bolshoi Ballet

The opulent Royal Opera House in Muscat opens in October with Zeffirelli, Domingo, Fleming, Mariinsky, La Scala and the ABT in the opening season

4 September 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

The Royal Opera House Muscat will open its doors on October 14. The Royal initiative to build a magnificent opera house at Al Sarooj in Al Qurum area is one of innumerable pages of His Majesty’s … [Read more...] about The opulent Royal Opera House in Muscat opens in October with Zeffirelli, Domingo, Fleming, Mariinsky, La Scala and the ABT in the opening season

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Pam Tanowitz’s Secret Things, her second world premiere for The Royal Ballet this season

Prix de Lausanne 2023 – the full lineup

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The Australian Ballet will tour to the Royal Opera House in August 2023

Les Étoiles – the starry Rome gala at the end of January, now with two programmes

Alexei Ratmansky joins New York City Ballet as Artist in Residence

Ballet dancer Denis Vieira dies in Cyprus at 31

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GRAHAM SPICER

Writer, director and photographer in Milan, blogging (under the name ‘Gramilano’) about dance, opera, music and photography for people who are a bit like me and like some of the things I like. I was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy. My scribblings have appeared in various publications from Woman’s Weekly to Gay Times. I write the ‘Danza in Italia’ column for Dancing Times magazine.

You can find me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, or follow my Facebook page.

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