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New York City Ballet

Designs and rehearsal photos of La Scala’s new production of Balanchine’s The Nutcracker

11 December 2018 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

A design by Margherita Palli for Balanchine's Nutcracker 02

George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker opens the ballet season at La Scala. The new production has sets and costumes by Italian designer Margherita Palli. 15 December 2018: Preview performance for … [Read more...] about Designs and rehearsal photos of La Scala’s new production of Balanchine’s The Nutcracker

Preview: Nureyev the film is a glorious celebration of an exceptional life

12 September 2018 by Gramilano 2 Comments

Nureyev the film 7

Nureyev is an important new documentary about Rudolf Nureyev’s extraordinary life which will be shown in cinemas around the UK from 25 September. BAFTA nominated directors Jacqui and David Morris … [Read more...] about Preview: Nureyev the film is a glorious celebration of an exceptional life

Emerging young talent at La Scala excel in Petit, Béjart and Preljocaj

6 May 2018 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Défilé, photo by Marcello Chiappalone

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

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

New York dancers come together for the 7th Annual Dance Against Cancer plus special all-male event

4 May 2017 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Dance Against Cancer 2016

The American Cancer Society – Our Mission is to Save Lives, Celebrate Lives and Lead the Fight for a World Without Cancer! – is staging its 7th Annual Dance Against Cancer. Erin Fogarty Bittner, … [Read more...] about New York dancers come together for the 7th Annual Dance Against Cancer plus special all-male event

Photo album: First look at the new Crystal Pite ballet for The Royal Ballet

16 March 2017 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Flight Pattern. Marcelino Sambé and Kristen McNally. cROH, 2017. Photographed by Tristram Kenton.

The Royal Ballet celebrates the diversity and richness of contemporary ballet with a mixed programme that includes an established classic, a recent work and a world premiere: David Dawson’s first work … [Read more...] about Photo album: First look at the new Crystal Pite ballet for The Royal Ballet

Amodio and Luzzati’s worthy Nutcracker on tour in Italy

28 December 2016 by Gramilano 4 Comments

Nutcracker Amedeo Amodio and Emanuele Luzzati 02

I have been visiting Italy for the last 25 years and it has been my home for most of that time. For a quarter of a century I have been hearing about a production of the Nutcracker which was very … [Read more...] about Amodio and Luzzati’s worthy Nutcracker on tour in Italy

Nutcracker in Milan – Bouder and Macario open tomorrow night

1 December 2016 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Nutcracker   Amadeo Amodio and Emanuele Luzzati 01

There is a rare opportunity to see Amedeo Amodio and Emanuele Luzzati's glorious Nutcracker which has been dusted down and is ready to conqueror Italian ballet-goers once again. The famous … [Read more...] about Nutcracker in Milan – Bouder and Macario open tomorrow night

New York Stars Ballet Gala in Rome, 8 March

3 March 2015 by Gramilano 2 Comments

New York City Ballet Principal Dancers Ashley Bouder, Joaquin De Luz, Amar Ramasar and Andrew Veyette are joined by company dancers Emilie Gerrity, Joseph Gordon, Spartak Hoxha, Alexa Maxwell and … [Read more...] about New York Stars Ballet Gala in Rome, 8 March

Black Swan Gala with Bouder, de Luz and Picone, tours Italy

25 March 2014 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

The title may make serious fans of ballet balk: Gran Gala Il Cigno Nero - Black Swan Gala. If Daniele Cipriani, the producer, wants to cash in on some of the publicity from the Darren Aronofsky film … [Read more...] about Black Swan Gala with Bouder, de Luz and Picone, tours Italy

Dancer Ivan Nagy dies at 70

23 February 2014 by Gramilano 30 Comments

Ivan Nagy, one of the great names in dance during the twentieth century, died yesterday in Budapest; he was 70-years-old. Nagy was born on 28 April 1943 in Hungary. He trained first with his mother … [Read more...] about Dancer Ivan Nagy dies at 70

Alexei Ratmansky’s Opera at La Scala

3 December 2013 by Gramilano 3 Comments

If an Alexei Ratmansky ballet is something to look forward to; a new Ratmansky ballet is very good news indeed. Rather like a film with Meryl Streep, Ratmansky's presence is something of a guarantee - … [Read more...] about Alexei Ratmansky’s Opera at La Scala

Alessandra Ferri’s classy comeback

6 June 2013 by Gramilano 2 Comments

There are comebacks and comebacks: the rather sad, end-of-the-pier affair, because money's run out and there's alimony to pay; the small cameo 'because I miss the applause'; and Alessandra … [Read more...] about Alessandra Ferri’s classy comeback

Peter Martins on the New York City Ballet: it’s what you can wish for, only we have it!

9 November 2012 by Gramilano 1 Comment

New York City Ballet is releasing a series of behind-the-scenes videos. Here the company's Ballet Master in Chief, Peter Martins, talks proudly of his dancers and all the collaborators who make a … [Read more...] about Peter Martins on the New York City Ballet: it’s what you can wish for, only we have it!

Bodies Never Lie has been cooking up a storm… again.

21 May 2012 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

In 1966 Balanchine muse Tanaquil Le Clercq published a cookery book called, simply, the Ballet Cook Book. The recipes were contributed by important figures from the ballet world: Frederick Ashton, … [Read more...] about Bodies Never Lie has been cooking up a storm… again.

Bodies Never Lie introduces the Ballet Cookbook Dinner Series, starting with Mr B.

28 February 2012 by Gramilano 7 Comments

Bodies Never Lie, "A blog about dance in New York", has started an intriguing new series of posts, kicking off with Eating George Balanchine: The First Installment of the Ballet … [Read more...] about Bodies Never Lie introduces the Ballet Cookbook Dinner Series, starting with Mr B.

Edward Villella’s ‘forced’ retirement from Miami City Ballet leaves donors and dancers distressed

9 February 2012 by Gramilano 2 Comments

Miami City Ballet is being split by controversy over founder and artistic director Edward Villella’s earlier-than-expected retirement, announced last September in a way that shocked company members … [Read more...] about Edward Villella’s ‘forced’ retirement from Miami City Ballet leaves donors and dancers distressed

“A stripper in heels is like a ballerina en pointe” says University researcher defending lap-dancing clubs

6 December 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Judith Hanna, a 75-year-old grandmother and anthropology professor, spent an afternoon in 2005 on a beach in Jacksonville, Florida, photographing women’s swimsuited backsides, reports Bloomberg … [Read more...] about “A stripper in heels is like a ballerina en pointe” says University researcher defending lap-dancing clubs

Sex And The City creator Candace Bushnell divorces NYCB ballet dancer husband Charles Askegard

5 December 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

The writer behind Sex And The City is to divorce her husband of nine years. Candace Bushnell, 53, married ballet dancer Charles Askegard, who is ten years younger than her, in 2002. The creator of the … [Read more...] about Sex And The City creator Candace Bushnell divorces NYCB ballet dancer husband Charles Askegard

Baryshnikov, Ratmansky, Sutton Foster & Jenifer Ringer head the line-up for the 54th Annual Dance Magazine Awards

21 November 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Mikhail Baryshnikov, Tony Award-winning Anything Goes star Sutton Foster, New York City Ballet principal Jenifer Ringer and choreographer Alexei Ratmansky are among the dance personalities taking part … [Read more...] about Baryshnikov, Ratmansky, Sutton Foster & Jenifer Ringer head the line-up for the 54th Annual Dance Magazine Awards

Excerpts of the Buenos Aires Ballet Gala 2011 on YouTube with Mathilde Froustey, Mathias Heymann, Natalia Osipova, Ivan Vasiliev and Daniil Simkin

30 October 2011 by Gramilano 1 Comment

AwesomeScreenshot 2 Don Quixote Grand Pas De Deux Natalia Osipova Ivan Vasiliev YouTube 2019 07 26 19 07 68

On August 11 and 12 of this years dancers from the American Ballet Theatre, Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, Paris National Opera, New York City Ballet, Bejart Ballet Loussane, Staatts Ballet Berlin, the … [Read more...] about Excerpts of the Buenos Aires Ballet Gala 2011 on YouTube with Mathilde Froustey, Mathias Heymann, Natalia Osipova, Ivan Vasiliev and Daniil Simkin

David I. Mitchell – designer of Barnum, Annie & La Cage aux Folles – dies at 79

4 October 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

David I. Mitchell, who did the scenic design for more than 30 Broadway shows, was nominated for seven Tony Awards and won two, died of cancer on yesterday, October 3, in Los Angeles. He was 79. His … [Read more...] about David I. Mitchell – designer of Barnum, Annie & La Cage aux Folles – dies at 79

Critics Round-up: New York City Ballet’s Ocean’s Kingdom

2 October 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

The review headlines ran "That Sinking Feeling", "Soggy Ocean Kingdom", "All Wet" - you get the idea. But this was Sir Paul McCartney's début in the world of ballet, the company was the great Yew … [Read more...] about Critics Round-up: New York City Ballet’s Ocean’s Kingdom

Peter Martins’ assistant choreographer Paul McCartney shows some moves

22 September 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Sir Paul, who will be 70 next year, will be getting his tux ready for tonight's première of his first ballet, Ocean's Kingdom, with the New York City Ballet. Of course the music is his - though I'd … [Read more...] about Peter Martins’ assistant choreographer Paul McCartney shows some moves

New York’s ‘Fall for Dance’ announce the lineup for 2011

24 August 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Steven McRae will be donning his tap-shoes for the latest edition of Fall For Dance at New York City Center, which will run from October 27 to November 6. Twenty companies and choreographers are … [Read more...] about New York’s ‘Fall for Dance’ announce the lineup for 2011

Critics round-up: Mariinsky at Covent Garden, Scotch Symphony / Ballet Imperial / In The Night

18 August 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

The fourth Mariinsky programme to grace the Royal Opera stage was another triple bill: Scotch Symphony and Ballet Imperial by George Balanchine, and In The Night by Jerome Robbins. Although this was … [Read more...] about Critics round-up: Mariinsky at Covent Garden, Scotch Symphony / Ballet Imperial / In The Night

Jerome Robbins Awards for NYCB dancers

15 August 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Twenty-six former and current performers with the New York City Ballet who worked with the choreographer Jerome Robbins will share this year’s award for excellence in dance from his foundation. The … [Read more...] about Jerome Robbins Awards for NYCB dancers

Twitter is making ballet dancers human?

25 June 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Just over a year ago the New York Times ran an article about Twittering ballet dancers. From London to San Francisco, Moscow to Sydney, we're hearing about muscles and meals, seeing snaps of dressing … [Read more...] about Twitter is making ballet dancers human?

New York City Ballet hitting balletomanes hard with new price rises

23 June 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

New York City Ballet has decided to stop selling most of the low-priced tickets. It is part of a strategy of changing ticket prices and limiting access to certain parts of the theatre to help … [Read more...] about New York City Ballet hitting balletomanes hard with new price rises

Bob-cut Ballerinas

17 June 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Everyone has bad hair days, but just consider the plight of the ballerina: her locks are teased, sprayed and shellacked into submission. For dancers split ends or an unruly cowlick are first-world … [Read more...] about Bob-cut Ballerinas

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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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