Can art, in this case dance, be a protection from politics? Do you become a collaborator if your work is helping to fill the coffers of the regime? Conductors Furtwängler and Toscanini offer a … [Read more...] about The silence of the cultural elite – moral dilemmas of working in dance in today’s Russia
Nacho Duato
La Scala principal dancer Claudio Coviello on dancing in Nureyev’s Nutcracker
La Scala doesn’t ‘do’ Nutcrackers for Christmas. Its last two productions during the Christmas period were La Bayadère and Sylvia. It flirted briefly with a version of The Nutcracker by Nacho Duato in … [Read more...] about La Scala principal dancer Claudio Coviello on dancing in Nureyev’s Nutcracker
La Scala Ballet Season 2022-2023
La Scala’s ballet company has announced its 2022-2023 season with even more performances than the 2019-2020 had planned. This is a positive move for Italian dance which has seen audience numbers … [Read more...] about La Scala Ballet Season 2022-2023
Les Étoiles in Rome – Nuñez, Muntagirov, Novikova, Sarafanov, Alexandrova, Lantratov, Semionova…
Les Étoiles in Rome - Marianela Nuñez, Vadim Muntagirov, Olesya Novikova, Leonid Sarafanov, Maria Alexandrova, Vladislav Lantratov, Polina Semionova, Dmitry Semionov, Tatiana Melnik, Bakhtiyar … [Read more...] about Les Étoiles in Rome – Nuñez, Muntagirov, Novikova, Sarafanov, Alexandrova, Lantratov, Semionova…
Antipasto to the annual Les Étoiles gala in Rome with Russian and Italian ballet stars
As an antipasto to the annual Les Étoiles gala in Rome — this year a sold out two days, next year there will be three — in the luxurious setting of the Hotel de Russie near the Spanish Steps, there … [Read more...] about Antipasto to the annual Les Étoiles gala in Rome with Russian and Italian ballet stars
In Balanchine’s Nutcracker at La Scala the magic is almost real – three casts reviewed
Balanchine’s The Nutcracker is new to La Scala, in fact, new to Italy. And how the Scala regulars were relishing in the opportunity to grumble and mutter “humbug” during the interval. It’s certainly … [Read more...] about In Balanchine’s Nutcracker at La Scala the magic is almost real – three casts reviewed
Zenaida Yanowsky’s final curtain call
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
BALLET2000’s Special New Year Issue… in English, Italian and French Editions
BALLET2000’s Special New Year Issue, is on the newsstands now. It looks back on a year in dance with, says editor Alfio Agostini, …the best shows, trendiest dancers, most significant companies and … [Read more...] about BALLET2000’s Special New Year Issue… in English, Italian and French Editions
Abdiel Cedric Jacobsen answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… dancers’ edition
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
Berlin dancers say ‘Save Staatsballett Berlin!’ with a Change.org petition
You may remember dancers from the La Scala Ballet Company objecting at the decision to appoint Mauro Bigonzetti as it's new boss and to his programming for his first season? Now dancers at Berlin have … [Read more...] about Berlin dancers say ‘Save Staatsballett Berlin!’ with a Change.org petition
Choreographer Petr Zuska and the Czech National Ballet
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
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
Pereira announces that Carla Fracci will return to the stage of La Scala
La Scala's new sovrintendente, Alexander Pereira, has announced that Carla Fracci, the Italian ballerina par excellence, will return to the Milanese theatre that witnessed many of her triumphs during … [Read more...] about Pereira announces that Carla Fracci will return to the stage of La Scala
Nutcracker-lite at La Scala – très chic Casse-noisette from Geneva
What a disappointment was La Scala's new Nutcracker. A shimmering front-cloth announced "Lo schiaccianoci" as though written in the stars, Tchaikovsky's bewitching overture started and there was that … [Read more...] about Nutcracker-lite at La Scala – très chic Casse-noisette from Geneva
Young American at the Bolshoi: Julian MacKay wins Sochi and Istanbul medals
The (other) American at the Bolshoi, 16-year-old Julian MacKay, has been winning medals at the international ballet competitions at Sochi and Istanbul. Of course there are lots of ballet competitions … [Read more...] about Young American at the Bolshoi: Julian MacKay wins Sochi and Istanbul medals
Natalia Osipova and Ivan Vasiliev’s presence scuppers the Mikhailovsky’s New York plans
The Mikhailovsky Theater scored a coup last fall by luring Natalia Osipova and Ivan Vasiliev from the Bolshoi, and it was to have brought them to the United States this summer for a run of shows at … [Read more...] about Natalia Osipova and Ivan Vasiliev’s presence scuppers the Mikhailovsky’s New York plans
“Who’s pulling the strings in Russia’s ballet revolution?” asks The Observer’s Luke Jennings
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
After Osipova and Vasiliev, Russian tycoon Vladimir Kekhman sets his eyes on David Hallberg
"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
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
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
Nacho Duato, tradition and revolution at the Mikhailovsky Ballet
Ever since Duato breezed into the “dusty and creaky” Mikhailovsky, he has been tearing the place up. “No need for the classical movements here,” Duato tells a dancer in rehearsal. “Forget the port des … [Read more...] about Nacho Duato, tradition and revolution at the Mikhailovsky Ballet
José Martínez replaces Nacho Duato as director of the Spanish National Dance Company
The star dancer from the Paris Opera has been chosen as the replacement for Nacho Duato to direct the Spanish National Dance Company (Compañía Nacional de Danza). José Carlos Martínez won the … [Read more...] about José Martínez replaces Nacho Duato as director of the Spanish National Dance Company
