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Mats Ek

Critics Round-up: English National Ballet’s Ek/Forsythe/Quagebeur and photo album

22 November 2022 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

09 - Blake Works I - William Forsythe - English National Ballet, photo by Dasa Wharton 2022

Ek/Forsythe/Quagebeur is the latest triple bill from English National Ballet at Sadler’s Wells. Here's a round-up of what some of the critics said with an exclusive photo album by Dasa … [Read more...] about Critics Round-up: English National Ballet’s Ek/Forsythe/Quagebeur and photo album

[Photo Album] The Royal Ballet’s “Beauty Mixed Programme”

25 June 2021 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Mariko Sasaki and Lukas Bjørneboe Brændsrød in Anemoi, The Royal Ballet ©2021 ROH. Photograph by Alice Pennefather 2

Tomorrow, The Royal Ballet unveils a new mixed bill, the Beauty Mixed Programme. It reflects a phrase said by the company's founder Dame Ninette de Valois: Respect the past, herald the future but … [Read more...] about [Photo Album] The Royal Ballet’s “Beauty Mixed Programme”

The Royal Ballet’s Beauty Mixed Programme to be streamed live

17 June 2021 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

The Royal Ballet's The Sleeping Beauty photo by Johna Persson ROH

The Royal Ballet, in its 90th anniversary year, is mounting a broad range of classics and new work during this season and into the next. In honour of the company’s founder, Dame Ninette de … [Read more...] about The Royal Ballet’s Beauty Mixed Programme to be streamed live

Paris Opera’s ballet and opera season for 2021-2022

18 May 2021 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Faust - photo by Monika Rittershaus, OnP-02

The Paris Opéra has announced its 2021-2022 season with 23 operas, 12 ballets of which 14 are new productions: 9 operas and 5 ballets. This adds up to 385 curtain-ups during the season. The … [Read more...] about Paris Opera’s ballet and opera season for 2021-2022

Dancing in the museum: Diana Vishneva’s cross-media project ‘Imprint in Motion’

26 March 2021 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Dancers - Ancient Greece Art Hall - choreographer Konstantin Semenov

Diana Vishneva’s latest project - Imprint in Motion - is a cross-media project fusing the fine arts, contemporary dance, music, and film making, and focuses on the human body in a variety of … [Read more...] about Dancing in the museum: Diana Vishneva’s cross-media project ‘Imprint in Motion’

Patrick Dupond, much-loved ballet star, dies at 61

5 March 2021 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Patrick Dupond at his White Eagle Dance Company

The flamboyant French ballet star Patrick Dupond has died after a "devastating illness" – he was 61. His collaborator, Leïla Da Rocha, said, Patrick Dupond has died after a "devastating illness" – … [Read more...] about Patrick Dupond, much-loved ballet star, dies at 61

Ramasar and Salvi shine in Jiří Bubeníček’s new version of Carmen in Rome

24 February 2019 by Gramilano 2 Comments

Amar Ramasar in Carmen di Jiří Bubeníček ® Yasuko Kageyama 02

Another Carmen? Well, yes, but there is a slightly different slant to this new production for the Rome Opera Ballet because Jiří Bubeníček has used Prosper Mérimée’s novella as his starting point, not … [Read more...] about Ramasar and Salvi shine in Jiří Bubeníček’s new version of Carmen in Rome

The National Ballet of Canada’s first performance in Russia to be livestreamed

12 October 2018 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Guillaume Côté and Greta Hodgkinson in Emergence. Photo by Karolina Kuras.Guillaume Côté and Greta Hodgkinson in Emergence. Photo by Karolina Kuras.

The National Ballet of Canada's first performance in Moscow will be livestreamed across Russia on Yandex. The free livestream will take place on 15 October 2018 from The Stanislavsky and … [Read more...] about The National Ballet of Canada’s first performance in Russia to be livestreamed

Julien Favreau answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

24 March 2018 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Dionysos with Julien Favreau and Kateryna Shalkina, Shanghai 2012, photo Favreau

Q&A When did you start dancing? When I was about 7, in a very small ballet school in France where we were only 4 boys! Why did you start dancing? Maybe because my uncle was a DJ and I wanted … [Read more...] about Julien Favreau answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

La Scala brings Misty Copeland, Marianela Núñez and Roberto Bolle to California in Giselle

27 July 2017 by Gramilano 2 Comments

Roberto Bolle, photo by Brescia e Armisano, Teatro alla Scala

La Scala’s ballet company is in California, warming up for tomorrow’s opening night of Giselle at the Segerstrom Center. The company’s resident principal dancers will only be seen at the Saturday … [Read more...] about La Scala brings Misty Copeland, Marianela Núñez and Roberto Bolle to California in Giselle

Nicolas Le Riche appointed head of the Royal Swedish Ballet

3 July 2017 by Gramilano 5 Comments

Nicolas Le Riche   new director of the Royal Swedish Ballet

Nicolas Le Riche will direct the Royal Swedish Ballet beginning autumn 2017. He has signed a five-year contract with the Royal Swedish Opera and will arrive in Stockholm mid-August. Birgitta … [Read more...] about Nicolas Le Riche appointed head of the Royal Swedish Ballet

Zenaida Yanowsky’s final curtain call

8 June 2017 by Gramilano 2 Comments

Zenaida Yanowsky's Final Curtain Call with Roberto Bolle © ROH 2017. Photo by Alastair Muir (3)

After 23 years with The Royal Ballet, last night Zenaida Yanowsky gave her final curtain call on the Covent Garden stage. Her final performance at the Royal Opera House was in Marguerite and Armand … [Read more...] about Zenaida Yanowsky’s final curtain call

Proscaenium’s Gran Gala with the best of Italy’s dancing talent

6 June 2017 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Gran Gala

Gramilano has already written about Cincia Puricelli’s dancing school Proscaenium, which is based in Gallarate, a town near Milan’s Malpensa airport. An ordinary town, and on the surface an ordinary … [Read more...] about Proscaenium’s Gran Gala with the best of Italy’s dancing talent

Abdiel Cedric Jacobsen answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… dancers’ edition

8 November 2016 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Abdiel Cedric Jacobsen   photo by Brigid Pierce

Q&A When did you start dancing? I began dancing when I was in the womb, taught informally by my mother through the blood memory of her ancestors. My mom is Ivorian - from Côte d'Ivoire - and … [Read more...] about Abdiel Cedric Jacobsen answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… dancers’ edition

Spellbound Contemporary Ballet and Gala DanzaEccellenze at Milan’s Teatro Carcano

26 March 2016 by Gramilano 1 Comment

The Teatro Carcano in Milan is trying to forge ahead with a project to feature dance, especially contemporary dance, on its stage. Dance in Milan tends to be dominated by La Scala, while other … [Read more...] about Spellbound Contemporary Ballet and Gala DanzaEccellenze at Milan’s Teatro Carcano

Mats Ek retires and pulls the plug on his choreography worldwide

6 January 2016 by Gramilano 8 Comments

Mats Ek presents his last ever piece of choreography tonight until 10 January in Paris at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées on the first stop of his farewell tour. He is 70. The programme presents … [Read more...] about Mats Ek retires and pulls the plug on his choreography worldwide

Sylvie’s last dance: a tribute to Guillem, the artist and her career

30 December 2015 by Gramilano 14 Comments

A tribute by Ioannides Yiannakis In 29 December 1984, after a memorable performance of Swan Lake at the Paris Opera, the great Rudolf Nureyev named an extraordinary 19-year-old étoile. Her name … [Read more...] about Sylvie’s last dance: a tribute to Guillem, the artist and her career

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Choreographer Petr Zuska and the Czech National Ballet

22 December 2015 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

The Czech National Ballet is one of the oldest ballet companies in the world. It was founded in 1883 to provide dances for the opera and it also put on the classics of the time introducing creations … [Read more...] about Choreographer Petr Zuska and the Czech National Ballet

Pompea Santoro answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

6 October 2015 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Q&A   in italiano When did you start dancing? In a gym near our house when I was seven-years-old. Why did you start dancing? It was something my mother wanted me to do, and she took … [Read more...] about Pompea Santoro answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

We may be saying ‘bye’ to the dancer, but certainly not to Sylvie Guillem

8 July 2015 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Bye Life in Progress TEATRO COMUNALE DI MODENA, Choreographer; Mats Ek, Dancer; Sylvie Guillem Composer ;Ludwig van Beethoven (Piano Sonata Op. 111, Arietta; Recording played by Ivo Pogorelich) Set & Costume Designer; Katrin Brännström Lighting Designer

Sylvie Guillem is an extraordinary creature: exuding a special aura yet blessed with the common touch. She has almost always been this way, the ordinary (little or no makeup, bare legs in ballet) … [Read more...] about We may be saying ‘bye’ to the dancer, but certainly not to Sylvie Guillem

Ek, Laguna, Mercy and Linke in Rome: over 200 years of dance experience

23 June 2015 by Gramilano 2 Comments

For two nights from tomorrow in Rome there is the possibility to attend a most unusual dance gala. While there are only four taking part, their ages combined total 266 years. The dancers are Mats Ek, … [Read more...] about Ek, Laguna, Mercy and Linke in Rome: over 200 years of dance experience

The first Benois-Massine prize is awarded in Moscow

9 June 2015 by Gramilano 2 Comments

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 … [Read more...] about The first Benois-Massine prize is awarded in Moscow

Mathilde Froustey answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

4 June 2015 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Q&A When did you start dancing? I started at the age of 10 in my hometown Dax, near Bordeaux in southwest France. I was hyperactive so my mother had me do as many activities as I possibly … [Read more...] about Mathilde Froustey answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

Ludmila Pagliero answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

7 February 2015 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Q&A When did you start dancing? When I was 9 years old. Why did you start dancing? Because I was always moving as a child and I had to do something with my body. I asked my mom and she … [Read more...] about Ludmila Pagliero answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

Nicoletta Manni answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

18 November 2014 by Gramilano 3 Comments

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 … [Read more...] about Nicoletta Manni answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

Pos­it­ano Premia la Danza Léonide Massine winners 2014

7 September 2014 by Gramilano 1 Comment

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 … [Read more...] about Pos­it­ano Premia la Danza Léonide Massine winners 2014

Positano Massine Prize 2014: Ek, Laguna, Smirnova and Wheeldon honoured

1 September 2014 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

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 … [Read more...] about Positano Massine Prize 2014: Ek, Laguna, Smirnova and Wheeldon honoured

Critics round-up: Sylvie Guillem at Sadler’s Wells – “Dancers have a cruelly curt use-by date. They’re better fresh. Or are they?”

7 July 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

She's done it again, and everyone's delighted that Guillem still has the possibility to enchant, astonish and all those other adjectives that the press have been hurling around in the last 24 hours. … [Read more...] about Critics round-up: Sylvie Guillem at Sadler’s Wells – “Dancers have a cruelly curt use-by date. They’re better fresh. Or are they?”

Sylvie Guillem evening at Sadler’s Wells – Hope for Japan

21 April 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Sadler’s Wells Associate Artist Sylvie Guillem has added an extra performance to her currently sold out run this July. The proceeds from this additional show, including the transaction fee, will be … [Read more...] about Sylvie Guillem evening at Sadler’s Wells – Hope for Japan

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NEWS

Principal Brandon Lawrence to leave Birmingham Royal Ballet to join Ballett Zürich

Two new opera recordings to be released by Warner Classics/Erato

Four new Principal dancers for New York City Ballet

LaScalaTv, La Scala’s new streaming platform, is now live

Royal Ballet principal dancer Laura Morera to retire

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

Prix de Lausanne 2023 – the full lineup

Principal dancer Jared Angle to give final performance with NYCB

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

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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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