Guest author Jonathan Gray looks at Kenneth MacMillan’s Mayerling in London and Paris TitleMayerlingCompanyThe Royal Ballet / Paris Opéra BalletVenueThe Royal Opera House, London / Palais Garnier, … [Read more...] about [Review] Mayerling in London and Paris on 30th anniversary of MacMillan’s death
Monica Mason
[Review] Nureyev Legend and Legacy – a programme full of ‘wow wee’ moments
Welcome to this new collaboration between Gramilano and me, Matthew Paluch, to be known affectionately as London Calling. I'm honoured to share reviews and discussions here focusing on the London … [Read more...] about [Review] Nureyev Legend and Legacy – a programme full of ‘wow wee’ moments
Rudolf Nureyev Legend and Legacy – a starry celebration in London
Rudolf Nureyev’s life and career will be celebrated in London with five performances at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, which is where Nureyev made his London debut. Former Royal Ballet principal … [Read more...] about Rudolf Nureyev Legend and Legacy – a starry celebration in London
Anna Rose O’Sullivan – meeting the Royal Ballet’s newest star
It’s full steam ahead for The Royal Ballet’s Anna Rose O’Sullivan. Last year she was promoted to the rank of principal dancer with the company, in January of this year she made her debut as the Sugar … [Read more...] about Anna Rose O’Sullivan – meeting the Royal Ballet’s newest star
Countdown to Bayadère – casting and designs for La Scala’s opening
La Bayadère, one of the key ballets in the classical repertoire, premiered in St Petersburg in 1877. Marius Petipa created a perfect harmony between mass scenes and protagonists, and it was the … [Read more...] about Countdown to Bayadère – casting and designs for La Scala’s opening
Dancing Times, the world’s oldest dance magazine, celebrates 110 years
1910 saw George V ascend to the throne, the trial and execution of Dr Crippen, the publication of E M Forster’s Howard’s End and the birth of Alice Marks, later Alicia Markova, the country’s first … [Read more...] about Dancing Times, the world’s oldest dance magazine, celebrates 110 years
Interview with The Royal Ballet’s Lauren Cuthbertson – so much passion
On 14 March 2020, The Royal Ballet’s principal dancer Lauren Cuthbertson was dancing Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty on the stage of the Mariinsky Theatre. A rare honour. She was partnered by former … [Read more...] about Interview with The Royal Ballet’s Lauren Cuthbertson – so much passion
Free reading from Dancing Times – the complete archive is available from 2000
Dancing Times has opened up the last 20 years of its archives to all until 7 April. The monthly magazine has its think pieces, reviews, articles about technique, dance’s past and present, but I … [Read more...] about Free reading from Dancing Times – the complete archive is available from 2000
After 16 years, Thiago Soares leaves as Principal dancer with The Royal Ballet
Thiago Soares becomes Royal Ballet guest Principal for the 2019/20 Season After 16 years with The Royal Ballet, Thiago Soares has decided to make this Season his last as a Principal dancer with the … [Read more...] about After 16 years, Thiago Soares leaves as Principal dancer with The Royal Ballet
The Sleeping Beauty with Marianela Nuñez and Vladislav Lantratov at the Rome Opera Ballet
Jean-Guillaume Bart, former Étoile at the Paris Opera Ballet, created his version of The Sleeping Beauty for the Yacobson Ballet Theatre in St Petersburg in 2016. His POB colleague Eleonora Abbagnato … [Read more...] about The Sleeping Beauty with Marianela Nuñez and Vladislav Lantratov at the Rome Opera Ballet
Exclusive photo from Royal Opera House archives to remember Kenneth MacMillan
Kenneth MacMillan died of a heart attack on 29 October 1992. It happened during a performance of his 1978 ballet Mayerling. Jeremy Isaacs, then general director of the Royal Opera House, announced his … [Read more...] about Exclusive photo from Royal Opera House archives to remember Kenneth MacMillan
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 … [Read more...] about Xander Parish becomes a Principal Dancer with the Mariinsky Ballet
Photos of the first night cast of The Royal Ballet’s The Sleeping Beauty with Sarah Lamb and Vadim Muntagirov
The Sleeping Beauty holds a special place in The Royal Ballet’s repertory. It was the ballet with which the Company reopened the Royal Opera House in 1946 after World War II, its first production at … [Read more...] about Photos of the first night cast of The Royal Ballet’s The Sleeping Beauty with Sarah Lamb and Vadim Muntagirov
Royal Ballet’s 70th anniversary revival of The Sleeping Beauty – casting and photos
The Sleeping Beauty reopened the Royal Opera House after the war in February 1946 when the Company first took up residence in Covent Garden with Margot Fonteyn dancing the role of Princess … [Read more...] about Royal Ballet’s 70th anniversary revival of The Sleeping Beauty – casting and photos
Peter Wright answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dance Edition
Q&A When did you start dancing? Not until I was 16, as an apprentice with the Ballets Jooss. Why did you start dancing? I was always good at ballroom, and then my mother took me to see … [Read more...] about Peter Wright answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dance Edition
Yasmine Naghdi – the birth of a ballerina
Yasmine Naghdi was born on 25 March 1992 in London. Everyone I meet says, 'Where are you from?', and I say, 'I’m from London', and they say, 'No, where are you really from?'. Well, she has an exotic … [Read more...] about Yasmine Naghdi – the birth of a ballerina
Kevin O’Hare interview: It’s an exciting time for The Royal Ballet
This is an exciting time for The Royal Ballet, which has been on a roll for several years with an enthusiastic public for the sold-out performances at the Royal Opera House, the extremely popular live … [Read more...] about Kevin O’Hare interview: It’s an exciting time for The Royal Ballet
Carlos Acosta at The Royal Ballet: celebrating 17 years
Carlos Acosta at The Royal Ballet is a new book to celebrate Carlos Acosta’s 17 year career with The Royal Ballet from 1998 – 2015. The book, which captures some of his greatest performances as … [Read more...] about Carlos Acosta at The Royal Ballet: celebrating 17 years
Royal Ballet stalwart Derek Rencher dies at 82
Derek Rencher, one of the longest serving members of The Royal Ballet, has died at 82. Rencher was born in Birmingham on 6 June 1932. He joined the Sadler's Wells Ballet in 1953 and was promoted to … [Read more...] about Royal Ballet stalwart Derek Rencher dies at 82
Osipova, McRae and Watson in Marriott’s new Royal Ballet work Connectome
Alastair Marriott’s new work Connectome gets its world première as the centrepiece of the final programme of the Royal Ballet Season. It is sandwiched between two light-hearted classics: Ashton’s The … [Read more...] about Osipova, McRae and Watson in Marriott’s new Royal Ballet work Connectome
Portrait of Dame Monica Mason is unveiled at the National Portrait Gallery
Copyright: Jorge Herrera Photography A newly commissioned portrait of Dame Monica Mason, by artist Saied Dai has been unveiled at the National Portrait Gallery. In the larger than life-size … [Read more...] about Portrait of Dame Monica Mason is unveiled at the National Portrait Gallery
Bennet Gartside answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition
Q&A When did you start dancing? I was probably about 7 years old. Why did you start dancing? Apparently I was energetic as a child - I have no idea where that's gone now! My sister who's … [Read more...] about Bennet Gartside answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition
Critics round-up: Royal Ballet’s “Birthday Offering”, “A Month in the Country” and “Noces”
Monica Mason's last pickings from the Royal Ballet repertoire before leaving her post as the company's director included two works by the Royal Ballet’s founder choreographer, Frederick Ashton … [Read more...] about Critics round-up: Royal Ballet’s “Birthday Offering”, “A Month in the Country” and “Noces”
Royal Ballet’s incoming director Kevin O’Hare leaves his first interview
Although Kevin O’Hare's appointment as the next director of the Royal Ballet was announced months ago, it is only now that he has spoken about his new role. Up until now he has rightly let Monica … [Read more...] about Royal Ballet’s incoming director Kevin O’Hare leaves his first interview
Wayne Eagling will leave the English National Ballet this summer
Wayne Eagling will step down artistic director of English National Ballet, with no clues as to his replacement, said The Times. English National Ballet has announced that Wayne Eagling, who has … [Read more...] about Wayne Eagling will leave the English National Ballet this summer
Young ballet star Sergei Polunin’s shock resignation from the Royal Ballet
It was with considerable surprise that the ballet world received the news of the departure of 21-year-old Ukrainian Sergei Polunin from the Royal Ballet. He was promoted to principal just two years … [Read more...] about Young ballet star Sergei Polunin’s shock resignation from the Royal Ballet
Critics Round-up: Royal Ballet’s Sleeping Beauty
In 2006 Monica Mason decided to go back to the beginning with the Royal Ballet's signature ballet, The Sleeping Beauty: consign the 2003 Makarova disaster ("dramatically shapeless and emotionally … [Read more...] about Critics Round-up: Royal Ballet’s Sleeping Beauty
Critics Round-up: Royal Ballet’s Limen/Marguerite and Armand/Requiem
It seems that the Royal Ballet can't go wrong. The company has been on a winning streak, which is continuing, justly, into Monica Mason's final season as director. This triple bill succeeds in … [Read more...] about Critics Round-up: Royal Ballet’s Limen/Marguerite and Armand/Requiem
Critics Round-up: Royal Ballet in Jewels
This production opens Monica Mason's last season as director of the Royal Ballet. To recall the company as it was 10 years ago, after the dreadful year in which Ross Stretton’s directorship had … [Read more...] about Critics Round-up: Royal Ballet in Jewels
Critics round-up: Royal Ballet Triple Bill – Scènes de ballet – Voluntaries – Rite of Spring
"Whether you regard the triple bill as an evening of highlights or an insubstantial pageant depends on the programme," - says the Daily Express, before going on to review the Royal Ballet's latest … [Read more...] about Critics round-up: Royal Ballet Triple Bill – Scènes de ballet – Voluntaries – Rite of Spring
