On Saturday 21 March at 2pm, the Royal Academy of Dance will host a Dance for Ukraine event. Darcey Bussell, President of the Royal Academy of Dance, and Ivan Putrov will present a special ballet … [Read more...] about Interview: Ivan Putrov on the Dance for Ukraine gala at the Royal Academy of Dance
Olga Smirnova
Review: Rome Opera Ballet’s magical performance of La Bayadère
Donatella Bertozzi sees La Bayadère in Rome and has a 'magical, priceless evening' with Paris Opera Ballet's Sae Eu Park and Paul Marque. TitleLa BayadèreCompanyRome Opera Ballet VenueTeatro … [Read more...] about Review: Rome Opera Ballet’s magical performance of La Bayadère
Dutch National Ballet ‘corrects’ La Bayadère in a new version
In March 2026 Dutch National Ballet will debut a new production of La Bayadère, based on a revised libretto that “recalibrates the historical context” to correct its inherent cultural … [Read more...] about Dutch National Ballet ‘corrects’ La Bayadère in a new version
Interview: Elizaveta Kokoreva, the Bolshoi Ballet’s youngest star, comes to Rome
Elizaveta Kokoreva makes her debut in the West when she dances in the Les Étoiles galas in Rome on 4 and 5 January. Elizaveta Kokoreva was promoted to the top rank of dancers at the Bolshoi Theatre … [Read more...] about Interview: Elizaveta Kokoreva, the Bolshoi Ballet’s youngest star, comes to Rome
Ballet Icons Gala 2025 arrives at the London Coliseum in March
On 9 March 2025, the Ballet Icons Gala will fulfil its annual promise of presenting dancers from across the world to the London public. Many of the dancers are regulars on the ‘gala circuit’ but … [Read more...] about Ballet Icons Gala 2025 arrives at the London Coliseum in March
Review: Les Étoiles gala in Milan – 21 dancers, 17 pieces, 3 hours of starry dance
Writing about ballet galas is always a challenge and a review can easily turn into a shopping list... he did this, then they did that. The latest Les Étoiles gala from Daniele Cipriani was certainly … [Read more...] about Review: Les Étoiles gala in Milan – 21 dancers, 17 pieces, 3 hours of starry dance
Italy’s Les Étoiles galas arrive in Milan for the first time – from the moon to the stars
Italian producer Daniele Cipriani has been presenting his Les Étoiles galas in Italy and abroad since 2015, the first being in Rome with Svetlana Zakharova, Vyacheslav Lopatin, Marianela Nuñez, and … [Read more...] about Italy’s Les Étoiles galas arrive in Milan for the first time – from the moon to the stars
Review: 17th World Ballet Festival in Tokyo, Programme A
Matthew Paluch sees the Programme A gala at the 17th World Ballet Festival in Tokyo with 33 of the world's top dancers. TitleWorld Ballet Festival, Programme ACompanyJapan Performing Arts … [Read more...] about Review: 17th World Ballet Festival in Tokyo, Programme A
Royal Academy of Dance launches ninth season of its ‘Why Dance Matters’ podcast with Misty Copeland
The Royal Academy of Dance has launched series nine of its podcast, Why Dance Matters. The series begins with the American Ballet Theatre’s first black principal dancer, Misty Copeland, shortly … [Read more...] about Royal Academy of Dance launches ninth season of its ‘Why Dance Matters’ podcast with Misty Copeland
[Review] La Scala’s Gala Fracci shows a company in spectacular form
Gala Fracci at La Scala has reached its third edition. It was La Scala Ballet’s director, Manuel Legris, who had the idea to stage an annual gala dedicated to the great Italian ballerina who died in … [Read more...] about [Review] La Scala’s Gala Fracci shows a company in spectacular form
The second Dance for Ukraine gala at The London Palladium
Ivan Putrov’s second Dance for Ukraine gala in support of his home country, ahead of the anniversary of the war, will be held on Sunday 18 February 2024. Olga Smirnova will be making her first UK … [Read more...] about The second Dance for Ukraine gala at The London Palladium
[Review and Photo Album] Olga Smirnova and Jacopo Tissi in Swan Lake at La Scala
A Swan Lake with two of the Bolshoi Ballet Company principals who left the company after Russia invaded Ukraine – Olga Smirnova, one of Russia’s brightest stars, and the Italian Jacopo Tissi who was … [Read more...] about [Review and Photo Album] Olga Smirnova and Jacopo Tissi in Swan Lake at La Scala
The silence of the cultural elite – moral dilemmas of working in dance in today’s Russia
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
After the Bolshoi, Jacopo Tissi joins Dutch National Ballet
Jacopo Tissi has been offered a contract as principal dancer with the Dutch National Ballet (Het Nationale Ballet) in Amsterdam. He left the same position at the Bolshoi Theatre in 2022 after Russia … [Read more...] about After the Bolshoi, Jacopo Tissi joins Dutch National Ballet
Prix de Lausanne 2023 – the full lineup
The Lifetime Achievement Award 2023 will be given to Carlos Acosta CBE, a Prix de Lausanne Prize Winner in 1990 and current Director of the Birmingham Royal Ballet. The Prix de Lausanne 2023 50th … [Read more...] about Prix de Lausanne 2023 – the full lineup
Rome Opera Ballet – Season 2022-2023
The new ballet season of the Teatro dell'Opera in Roma has been announced by the company's director, Eleonora Abbagnato. Don Quixote by Laurent Hilaire Rome Opera Ballet opens its season with … [Read more...] about Rome Opera Ballet – Season 2022-2023
Extraordinary dancers will dance for Ukraine in Naples and Milan
Some of the dance names that have been making headlines recently will dance for Ukraine in two upcoming galas in Italy: Olga Smirnova, Victor Caixeta, Jacopo Tissi, Iana Salenko, Anastasia Matvienko … [Read more...] about Extraordinary dancers will dance for Ukraine in Naples and Milan
Olga Smirnova leaves the Bolshoi Company for Amsterdam
The Russian principal dancer Olga Smirnova, an outspoken critic of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, has decided to leave the Bolshoi Ballet Company where she is one of its most popular and admired … [Read more...] about Olga Smirnova leaves the Bolshoi Company for Amsterdam
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
#WorldBalletDay 2020: The Royal Ballet, Bolshoi and Australian Ballet itineraries for 29 October
World Ballet Day 2020 on 29 October, will be the biggest ever celebration of global dance with 40 dance companies participating in this year’s live streamed event. Dance companies from around the … [Read more...] about #WorldBalletDay 2020: The Royal Ballet, Bolshoi and Australian Ballet itineraries for 29 October
The Style of Movement: Fashion and Dance – dance photography from NYC Dance Project
Ken Browar and Deborah Ory – the husband-and-wife team behind the NYCDance Project – have their second dance photography book coming out next week: The Style of Movement: Fashion and Dance. Their … [Read more...] about The Style of Movement: Fashion and Dance – dance photography from NYC Dance Project
The impeccable Bolshoi dancers in Maillot’s slick Taming of the Shrew at La Scala
Lots of empty seats were available for the Bolshoi Ballet at La Scala in The Taming of the Shrew. La Bayadère – great; Swan Lake – ooh yes; Giselle – lovely; Taming of the Shrew? – err. Word of mouth … [Read more...] about The impeccable Bolshoi dancers in Maillot’s slick Taming of the Shrew at La Scala
Review: Three casts for La Bayadère with the Bolshoi at La Scala
How secretly gratifying it is when wine experts trip up, rating High Street plonk higher than the Premier cru. Ballet music could benefit from unlabelled listening. Minkus is routinely pooh-poohed, … [Read more...] about Review: Three casts for La Bayadère with the Bolshoi at La Scala
Photo Album and full casting – Bolshoi dancers in Milan
After an 11-year absence, the Bolshoi Ballet returns to Milan. In 2007, the company came with La Fille du Pharaon and The Bright Stream. From 7 to 13 September they will be at La Scala with La … [Read more...] about Photo Album and full casting – Bolshoi dancers in Milan
Bolshoi Ballet’s Vladislav Lantratov on the cancelling of Nureyev: There is nothing worse for an artist…
On 8 July, after the dress rehearsal of the Bolshoi Ballet’s ambitious new ballet on the life of Rudolf Nureyev, the premiere was cancelled. Vladislav Lantratov was to have played Nureyev and, stunned … [Read more...] about Bolshoi Ballet’s Vladislav Lantratov on the cancelling of Nureyev: There is nothing worse for an artist…
Bolshoi Ballet in cinema 2017-2018
The Bolshoi have released their cinema screening programme for the next season. Four are live broadcasts and four have already been transmitted. This is the 5th year that the Bolshoi has been … [Read more...] about Bolshoi Ballet in cinema 2017-2018
Positano Premia la Danza Léonide Massine winners 2014
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
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
Zach’s Diary part four: Auditions and end-of-year show
Zach’s Diary part one: Growing up dancing in Canada Zach’s Diary part two: Starting at Stuttgart’s John Cranko-Schule Zach’s Diary part three: Balanchine, class and holidays My original … [Read more...] about Zach’s Diary part four: Auditions and end-of-year show
Meanwhile in Russia… Vaganova & Bolshoi latest
The Russian Ministry of Culture announced this morning that there would be an external inspection of the organisation of St Petersburg's Vaganova Ballet Academy. It will examine the economic and … [Read more...] about Meanwhile in Russia… Vaganova & Bolshoi latest