Les Étoiles, the well-known gala format seen across Italy, returns to the Teatro degli Arcimboldi in Milan this weekend – on 11 April at 9 pm and on 12 April at 5 pm. Unfortunately, Marianela … [Read more...] about Les Étoiles 2026 in Milan 11-12 April with 2 new guests: Natalia Osipova and Aurélie Dupont
Paris Opera Ballet
Interview: Hannah O’Neill, Paris Opera Ballet Étoile, to debut with The Royal Ballet
Paris Opéra Ballet Étoile Hannah O’Neill will make her debut with The Royal Ballet in London as Giselle. Lily Hyde talked with her a few days before her first performance. In a dazzling run of … [Read more...] about Interview: Hannah O’Neill, Paris Opera Ballet Étoile, to debut with The Royal Ballet
Review: Nureyev’s The Sleeping Beauty at La Scala – thrilling in its eccentricity
Graham Spicer sees Rudolf Nureyev's The Sleeping Beauty at La Scala with an electrifying Martina Arduino as Aurora. TitleThe Sleeping BeautyCompanyBallet of La ScalaVenueTeatro alla Scala, MilanDate9 … [Read more...] about Review: Nureyev’s The Sleeping Beauty at La Scala – thrilling in its eccentricity
Hofesh Shechter is awarded Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres by the French Ministry of Culture
The Hofesh Shechter Company has announced that choreographer and composer Hofesh Shechter OBE has been appointed to the rank of Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. This prestigious … [Read more...] about Hofesh Shechter is awarded Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres by the French Ministry of Culture
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
Renato Zanella is the new director of the Ballet of the San Carlo Theatre in Naples
Renato Zanella, the Italian ballet dancer, choreographer and director, succeeds Clotilde Vayer as director of the Ballet of the San Carlo Theatre in Naples. Born in Verona and trained at the Centre … [Read more...] about Renato Zanella is the new director of the Ballet of the San Carlo Theatre in Naples
Review: Contrasts – Paris Opera Ballet perform works by Trisha Brown, David Dawson, and Imre and Marne van Opstal
Matthew Paluch sees the Paris Opera Ballet in Contrasts – a dialogue of styles and executions that makes for a heady night. TitleContrasts – Trisha Brown | David Dawson | Imre, Marne van … [Read more...] about Review: Contrasts – Paris Opera Ballet perform works by Trisha Brown, David Dawson, and Imre and Marne van Opstal
Review: Paris Opera Ballet in Roland Petit’s Notre-Dame de Paris
Matthew Paluch sees Paris Opera Ballet in Notre-Dame de Paris and was appreciative, but not affected by Roland Petit's ballet. TitleNotre-Dame de ParisCompanyParis Opera BalletVenueOpéra Bastille, … [Read more...] about Review: Paris Opera Ballet in Roland Petit’s Notre-Dame de Paris
Review: The Magnificent Return of Serata William Forsythe at La Scala – Blake Works V
Kathrina Farrugia-Kriel and Graham Spicer see performances of William Forsythe's Blake Works V at La Scala – a truly magnificent production. TitleBlake Works VCompanyBallet of La ScalaVenueTeatro … [Read more...] about Review: The Magnificent Return of Serata William Forsythe at La Scala – Blake Works V
William Forsythe on music and mathematics in Blake Works
Tomorrow, 11 November, La Scala begins a run of William Forsythe’s Blake Works V, the fifth programme that William Forsythe devised based on the music of English musician James Blake. Blake Works I … [Read more...] about William Forsythe on music and mathematics in Blake Works
Review: Momentum with London City Ballet – astonishing maturity
Graham Watts sees London City Ballet's return to London with Momentum – the company deserves every success. TitleMomentumCompanyLondon City BalletVenueSadler’s Wells, LondonDate13 September … [Read more...] about Review: Momentum with London City Ballet – astonishing maturity
As queer male representation in ballet soars, queer female representation stays firmly on the ground
Ballet has long served as a haven for queer people. From composers such as Pyotr Tchaikovsky to choreographers like Frederick Ashton and Jerome Robbins, impresarios like Sergei Diaghilev, and, of … [Read more...] about As queer male representation in ballet soars, queer female representation stays firmly on the ground
Review: The Royal Ballet at the Nervi Festival celebrating Ashton and Paris Opera Ballet’s Signature Pieces
Graham Spicer sees The Royal Ballet and Paris Opera Ballet at the Nervi Festival, with the London company pulling aces out of its sleeve. TitleA Celebration of the Works of Frederick AshtonSignature … [Read more...] about Review: The Royal Ballet at the Nervi Festival celebrating Ashton and Paris Opera Ballet’s Signature Pieces
Review: Nureyev’s Swan Lake at La Scala with Alice Mariani and Navrin Turnbull
Graham Spicer sees Swan Lake at La Scala - one of Rudolf Nureyev’s most successful choreographies. TitleSwan LakeCompanyLa Scala BalletVenueTeatro alla Scala, MilanDate10 July 2025ReviewerGraham … [Read more...] about Review: Nureyev’s Swan Lake at La Scala with Alice Mariani and Navrin Turnbull
Interview with dancer Jacopo Bellussi, the new Artistic Director of the prestigious Nervi Festival
On Saturday 28 June, the Nervi International Ballet Festival opens its doors for a month of dance events, most of them under the summer sky. Hamburg Ballet’s principal dancer Jacopo Bellussi is the … [Read more...] about Interview with dancer Jacopo Bellussi, the new Artistic Director of the prestigious Nervi Festival
Review: La Scala Ballet in Pierre Lacotte’s Paquita – a triumph for Nicoletta Manni
Graham Spicer sees Paquita at La Scala – a tribute to choreographer Pierre Lacotte, who died in 2023, but it was Nicoletta Manni's night. TitlePaquitaCompanyLa Scala BalletVenueTeatro alla Scala, … [Read more...] about Review: La Scala Ballet in Pierre Lacotte’s Paquita – a triumph for Nicoletta Manni
Review: Paris Opera Junior Ballet in London – fine artists who were given little chance to shine
Jonathan Gray sees the Paris Opera Junior Ballet and although there was dancing of dashing brilliance the programme let them down. TitleAllegro Brillante - Cantate 51 - Requiem for a Rose - Mi … [Read more...] about Review: Paris Opera Junior Ballet in London – fine artists who were given little chance to shine
Interview: Manuel Legris leaves La Scala’s ballet company in its best shape ever
Manuel Legris has just packed his bags and left Milan after five years at the helm of Italy’s most prestigious dance company. He has had a remarkable effect on the ballet company at La Scala. The … [Read more...] about Interview: Manuel Legris leaves La Scala’s ballet company in its best shape ever
Frédéric Olivieri to become new Director of La Scala’s ballet company
Frédéric Olivieri will take over as Director of La Scala’s ballet company from 1 March 2025. This will be the third time that Olivieri has directed the company. His first five-year stint was from … [Read more...] about Frédéric Olivieri to become new Director of La Scala’s ballet company
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
Review: The Paris Opera Ballet in Paquita – “I didn’t feel the magic”
Matthew Paluch sees The Paris Opera Ballet in Paquita: "If honest, I found it a tad boring and lacking in identity. I need a lot more from narrative ballet." TitlePaquita CompanyParis Opera … [Read more...] about Review: The Paris Opera Ballet in Paquita – “I didn’t feel the magic”
Review: The Paris Opera Ballet in Alexander Ekman’s Play – “a sight I wonder if I’ll ever see again”
Matthew Paluch sees The Paris Opera Ballet in Alexander Ekman’s Play – "It's intelligent, powerful stuff." TitlePlayCompanyParis Opera BalletVenuePalais GarnierDate13 December 2024ReviewerMatthew … [Read more...] about Review: The Paris Opera Ballet in Alexander Ekman’s Play – “a sight I wonder if I’ll ever see again”
Ballets cancelled at the Paris Opera due to dancers’ strike action
The end-of-year boom in box office earnings at the Paris Opera Ballet has been severely hit by strike action. Pierre Lacotte’s 2021 version of Paquita at the Opéra Bastille was programmed from 5 … [Read more...] about Ballets cancelled at the Paris Opera due to dancers’ strike action
Paris Opera Ballet’s 160-year-old promotion competition is suspended
Union representatives of the Paris Opera Ballet (POB) are calling for the abolition of the internal promotion competition for dancers. For the first time, the annual examination, which allows dancers … [Read more...] about Paris Opera Ballet’s 160-year-old promotion competition is suspended
The Palais Garnier and Opéra Bastille to be closed for renovation
The Palais Garnier, home of the Paris Opera and Paris Opera Ballet, will close from mid-2027 for a two-year renovation. The 2,000-seat opera house opened in 1875 and has become a Paris landmark. … [Read more...] about The Palais Garnier and Opéra Bastille to be closed for renovation
Review: Ballet Under the Stars – 15 years of dance at Hatch House
Graham Watts sees Ballet Under the Stars at Hatch House with "outstanding mix of established and emerging talent". TitleBallet Under the StarsCompanyThe Covent Garden Dance CompanyVenueHatch House, … [Read more...] about Review: Ballet Under the Stars – 15 years of dance at Hatch House
Review: Manon at La Scala – Nicoletta Manni/Reece Clarke; Myriam Ould-Braham/Claudio Coviello
Height problems at La Scala led to last-minute casting for Kenneth MacMillan’s Manon, or, as it is known outside the UK, L’histoire de Manon. Alessandra Ferri brought Manon to La Scala – and … [Read more...] about Review: Manon at La Scala – Nicoletta Manni/Reece Clarke; Myriam Ould-Braham/Claudio Coviello
Rehearsal photos: Kenneth MacMillan’s L’histoire de Manon at La Scala
Kenneth MacMillan’s L’histoire de Manon opens at La Scala on 8 July for a short run of seven performances over ten days. Apart from in the UK, the ballet Manon is known as L’histoire de Manon in … [Read more...] about Rehearsal photos: Kenneth MacMillan’s L’histoire de Manon at La Scala
Review: Still I Rise gala in Milan – Alessio Carbone gathers dancers from Paris, Vienna, Berlin, Madrid and Italian companies for a charity event
Gala time. Oh dear, two in three days. No, no, I can’t face it. I’ll just go to the one in Ravenna and leave out Milan. Well, yes, I know it’s for a good cause. Yes, I know there are some interesting … [Read more...] about Review: Still I Rise gala in Milan – Alessio Carbone gathers dancers from Paris, Vienna, Berlin, Madrid and Italian companies for a charity event