Opening in September is Birmingham Royal Ballet’s new project, Black Sabbath - The Ballet. I did a double-blink reading that, reminding me of a similar reaction when Maurice Béjart announced his … [Read more...] about Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Black Sabbath – The Ballet
Maurice Béjart
The second edition of the Carla Fracci gala arrives at La Scala
After the resounding success of the first edition of Gala Fracci – a tribute by La Scala to Carla Fracci – now, two years after her death (she died on 27 May 2021) comes the second edition of what … [Read more...] about The second edition of the Carla Fracci gala arrives at La Scala
[Review] Les Étoiles – international ballet stars woo and wow in Italy
Gala Les Étoiles with Valentine Colasante and Paul Marque (Paris Opera Ballet); Tiler Peck and Roman Mejia (New York City Ballet); Sergio Bernal (formerly National Ballet of Spain); Silvia Azzoni, … [Read more...] about [Review] Les Étoiles – international ballet stars woo and wow in Italy
22 finalists for the Prix de Lausanne competition streaming live today
22 candidates, from 11 countries, have been selected for the Finals of the Prix de Lausanne that will take place today, Saturday 4 February 2023 (and streamed live - links below), after a week of … [Read more...] about 22 finalists for the Prix de Lausanne competition streaming live today
[Review] Luciana Savignano in Tango di Luna: “She came to me in sections”
TitleTango di LunaCompanyDANCEHAUSpiùVenueTeatro Franco Parenti, MilanDate29 October 2022ReviewerGraham Spicer Luciana Savignano would probably loath to read a review that begins by stating her … [Read more...] about [Review] Luciana Savignano in Tango di Luna: “She came to me in sections”
[Interview] Alessandra Ferri, part one: “The voice of the soul is immense”
Alessandra Ferri has had a long career – albeit interrupted for six years when she retired – though ‘career’ is a word she doesn’t like. It implies a job more than a vocation. It implies a … [Read more...] about [Interview] Alessandra Ferri, part one: “The voice of the soul is immense”
Fracci Gala: La Scala celebrates Carla Fracci
How to celebrate a great dancer on stage? How to evoke memories of their artistry without creating a parody of their talent? Certainly, with Carla Fracci and the American Ballet Theatre video of … [Read more...] about Fracci Gala: La Scala celebrates Carla Fracci
La Scala honours Carla Fracci with the first annual gala
On Saturday 9 April 2022 La Scala will present Gala Fracci – First Edition. The director of La Scala’s ballet company, Manuel Legris, has devised a wide-ranging programme that reflects the repertoire … [Read more...] about La Scala honours Carla Fracci with the first annual gala
L’Heure exquise: Happy days for Alessandra Ferri
Alessandra Ferri searched out and produced L’Heure exquise to celebrate the 40th anniversary of her joining The Royal Ballet and embarking on her career. She said, “I was looking for a significant … [Read more...] about L’Heure exquise: Happy days for Alessandra Ferri
Choreographer Micha van Hoecke has died at 77
Choreographer and director Micha van Hoecke has died after a long illness, at 77. He was a leading figure in Italian and European dance from the early 1960s. He began as a dancer with Roland Petit, … [Read more...] about Choreographer Micha van Hoecke has died at 77
The Royal Opera House 2021-2022 ballet and dance season
The Royal Opera House has announced details of its 2021-22 Season, the first full Season since 2019. Opening on Monday 13 September, the Season includes five world premieres from The Royal … [Read more...] about The Royal Opera House 2021-2022 ballet and dance season
Patrick Dupond, much-loved ballet star, dies at 61
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
A magical Luciana Savignano dances Le Sacre
Luciana Savignano is an exotic creature from her unworldly physical movements to her unique, vaguely Asian features and her unquestionably hypnotic gaze. She is petite yet seems a giant onstage with … [Read more...] about A magical Luciana Savignano dances Le Sacre
La Scala announces its opening gala programme
La Scala has announced the programme, though not with full casting, of its Ballet Gala which marks the return of the company to the stage after the cancellation of the theatre's programming in March … [Read more...] about La Scala announces its opening gala programme
Bolshoi dancer, a descendant of the Tsar’s ballerina lover, to dance in Rome
Eleonora Sevenard, the young promising new Bolshoi soloist (she danced both Phrygia and Kitri at Covent Garden during the company's latest tour) will be dancing with her boyfriend, Bolshoi principal … [Read more...] about Bolshoi dancer, a descendant of the Tsar’s ballerina lover, to dance in Rome
Save the best until last – La Scala’s triple bill shows a company in excellent form
Save the best until last. Not a bad programming policy, and with La Scala’s recent triple bill, the last was Maurice Béjart’s Boléro. Obviously, with the first item on the programme being George … [Read more...] about Save the best until last – La Scala’s triple bill shows a company in excellent form
Photo Album: Opening night at La Scala – Roberto Bolle in Bolero, Symphony in C, Petite Mort
BALANCHINE / KYLIÁN / BÉJART Opening night: Saturday 16 November 2019 SYMPHONY IN C Music Georges Bizet Choreography George Balanchine © School of American Ballet Revived by Patricia … [Read more...] about Photo Album: Opening night at La Scala – Roberto Bolle in Bolero, Symphony in C, Petite Mort
Dancing Times, November 2019 edition – with Gramilano’s Danza in Italia column including Sleeping Beauty at La Scala and Pink Floyd in Verona
The latest issue of Dancing Times magazine (out on Friday) contains a double-page spread dedicated to the Gramilano 'Danza in Italia' column reviews, with a look at Rudolph Nureyev's Sleeping Beauty … [Read more...] about Dancing Times, November 2019 edition – with Gramilano’s Danza in Italia column including Sleeping Beauty at La Scala and Pink Floyd in Verona
The magnificent Tokyo Ballet thrills at La Scala
After nine years away, the Tokyo Ballet returned to Milan as part of its Italian tour. The four-day stay saw two programmes with some of the company’s ‘greatest hits’. A triple bill consisted of … [Read more...] about The magnificent Tokyo Ballet thrills at La Scala
Interview with Alessandra Ferri: Maturing I find myself smiling more
I’m enjoying a new chapter in my life having the fortune to play women of my age and not romantic roles like the Giselles, Carmens, Juliets, Manons… all wonderful, but enough, they’re part of another … [Read more...] about Interview with Alessandra Ferri: Maturing I find myself smiling more
The National Ballet of Canada’s first performance in Russia to be livestreamed
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
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 … [Read more...] about Exciting celebration of Rudolf Nureyev’s life with world ballet stars at Spoleto, tonight 28 July
La Scala Ballet Season 2018-2019 announced
The new ballet season at La Scala sees seven programmes, including three pieces being presented at the theatre for the first time, including a newly commissioned work. George Balanchine’s The … [Read more...] about La Scala Ballet Season 2018-2019 announced
Photo Album: Nureyev Gala at La Scala – Zakharova, Louvet, Nuñez, Muntagirov and Bolle (and Nureyev at La Scala facts and figures)
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)
Emerging young talent at La Scala excel in Petit, Béjart and Preljocaj
The Ballet School of La Scala’s Academy have just finished a short run of their “end of year” show. For many, it will be their last appearance as students. An effective défilé by the school (and La … [Read more...] about Emerging young talent at La Scala excel in Petit, Béjart and Preljocaj
Julien Favreau is mesmerising in Boléro at La Scala
And so Julien Favreau shows how it should be done. I find myself in Rome writing this review, and so the phrase “Rome wasn’t built in a day” comes to mind. Favreau has been dancing Maurice Béjart’s … [Read more...] about Julien Favreau is mesmerising in Boléro at La Scala
Julien Favreau answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition
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
Béjart’s Boléro returns to La Scala with Roberto Bolle and others debuting on the red table
Maurice Béjart’s Boléro returns to La Scala in March, with Roberto Bolle dancing the La Mélodie for the first time. The 15-minute work was last seen in the theatre in 2003 when Sylvie Guillem danced … [Read more...] about Béjart’s Boléro returns to La Scala with Roberto Bolle and others debuting on the red table
Rudolf Nureyev died 25 years ago – La Scala pays tribute to the great dancer
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
La Scala Ballet Season 2017-2018 with new Le Corsaire, Bolle’s debut in Bolero, tribute to Nureyev, and the Bolshoi
Since suddenly taking over at the helm of La Scala’s Ballet Company, and now having been confirmed as its director for the next three years, Frédéric Olivieri has presented his first ballet season … [Read more...] about La Scala Ballet Season 2017-2018 with new Le Corsaire, Bolle’s debut in Bolero, tribute to Nureyev, and the Bolshoi
